By Rick Christie

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Updated: 7:49 a.m. Monday, Nov. 30, 2009

JUPITER — Friends and family of four victims of a tragic Thanksgiving Day shooting here are expected to memorialize two of them tonight.

Meanwhile, the manhunt continues for Paul Michael Merhige, who police allege, that on Thanksgiving night opened fire, killing his aunt, Raymonde Joseph, his twin sisters Carla Merhige and Lisa Knight, and 6-year-old Makayla Sitton. Two others attending the dinner also were shot.

Police said Sunday they hope a $10,000 reward will yield tips that lead them to Paul Michael Merhige. The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force offered the reward for information leading to Merhige’s arrest. The Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office has issued an arrest warrant for Merhige for four counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder.

Police are looking for Merhige, 35, in Florida and Michigan.

Merhige was last seen driving a blue 2007 Toyota Camry with the Florida license plate W42-7JT.

Authorities ask anyone with information about Merhige to contact Jupiter police at (561) 746-6201.

The heartbreaking account of how a mentally troubled relative broke bread with his estranged family and then systematically began killing them has provoked an outpouring of sympathy from strangers.

It has also garnered national attention. This morning, CBS’ Early Show interviewed Jim and Muriel Sitton — parents of little Makayla — at their home about the tragedy.

Channel 5 said many people are asking where to send flowers and cards to the Sittons. It directed them to the Sittons’ church, Calvary Chapel Palm City, 1633 SW 34th St., Palm City, Fla. 34990.

At 7:30 tonight at Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Miami, family and friends will gather for a memorial to the twin sisters.

Patrick Knight, Lisa’s husband, was also shot. He remains hospitalized but is expected to recover.

Family members of the victims told Jupiter police that Knight was pregnant, but a spokesman for the police said they had not independently confirmed that by Sunday. If they do, it would be up to the state attorney’s office whether to charge Merhige in the death of the unborn baby.

In 1973, Merhige’s aunt killed her husband, her two children and herself.

Suzanne Merhige, a cousin to the family, said on Sunday that words couldn’t begin to express the shock the family is going through.

“There is nothing evil in any of this family,” said Merhige, who lives in Daytona Beach. “These are good, sincere, people. They may have been suffering with Paul, but what I do know is that this is a very good family.”

In 1998 and 2006, Carla Merhige accused her brother Paul of domestic violence, although the cases were dropped.

Vanessa Archer, a co-worker and friend of Carla’s, said she never showed any signs that she felt she was in danger.

“God no,” Archer said. “She was a great person and a wonderful colleague. She gave so much to foster care children. It’s a huge loss for the community.”

In Jupiter, the Sittons returned to their home Sunday afternoon for the first time since the Thanksgiving shooting spree killed their daughter and three other relatives.

The Sittons hosted a Thanksgiving meal for 17 people at their house on Via Veracruz in Jupiter. At 10 p.m., police allege, Paul Michael Merhige opened fire.

The Sittons allowed a Channel 5 co-worker to film their daughter’s bedroom Sunday, and Jim Sitton told the station he had feared the emotions that he would face upon seeing it. Instead, with the ruffled bed neatly made and the dolls and toys straightened just so, the Bible marked where she had been reading, the room seemed to bring him peace.

“I was dreading coming in here,” he said. “But once I did, I just see all the evidence of her specialness and uniqueness.”

He held up the last photo ever taken of her, in a pretty Thanksgiving holiday frock. “She’s beautiful,” Sitton said.

Staff writers Jeff Ostrowski, Andrew Abramson and Stacey Singer contributed to this report.

Thanksgiving Sales Attract more Shoppers, Less Average Spending

Nov. 30 (Bloomberg) — more consumers went shopping overthe Thanksgiving holiday weekend, yet spent less than last yearas they hunted for bargains on toys and electronics, accordingto the National Retail Federation.

Spending at stores and on Web sites from Nov. 26 to Nov. 29rose 0.5 percent to an estimated $41.2 billion from $41 billiona year earlier, the Washington-based trade group said yesterday,citing a survey conducted by polling firm BIGresearch. Thehigher turnout and lower average spending were in line withexpectations, the NRF said. The group is sticking to a forecastfor a 1 percent drop in spending this holiday season.

Price cuts on small appliances, toys and winter clotheshelped bring shoppers into chains including Macy’s inc., J.C.Penney Co. and Wal-Mart Stores inc. on so-called Cyber Mondaytoday, 96.5 million people plan to shop on the Internet to takeadvantage of limited-time offers and free shipping, according tothe NRF. that would be a 14 percent increase from 2008.

“People are going to be very disciplined,” said GerrickJohnson, an analyst at BMO Capital Markets in new York. “Theyknow their budget and they have a budget.”

Thirteen percent more shoppers visited at least onedepartment store this year, the NRF said. Internet spending onBlack Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, rose 11 percent from ayear ago, to $595 million, ComScore inc., a Reston, Virginia-based research firm, said yesterday in a statement.

Target Corp., the second-biggest U.S. discount chain afterBentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart, for the first time thisyear advertised an online-only sale on Thanksgiving. J.C.Penney, the third-largest U.S. department-store company, startedCyber Monday specials a day earlier this year.

Amazon.com inc., based in Seattle, is the largest onlineretailer and plans a series of “lightening deals” for limitedtime periods today.

The average shopper spent $343.31 in stores and online overthe holiday weekend, less than $372.57 a year ago, the NRF said.The number of shoppers rose to 195 million from 172 million ayear earlier, according to the NRF. The group is the world’slargest trade association, according to its Web site.

“Shoppers proved this weekend that they were willing toopen their wallets for a bargain,” said Tracy Mullin, NRF’spresident and chief executive officer, in a statement. “Whileretailers are encouraged by the number of Americans who shoppedover Black Friday weekend, they know they have their work cutout for them to keep people coming back through Christmas.”

Average spending declined as prices for flat-screentelevisions dropped and retailers offered a greater number ofitems at unprofitable prices to lure shoppers, Scott Krugman, aspokesman for the NRF, said on a conference call yesterday.

Vee Weaver, a certified nurse’s aide from Atlanta, bought aset of knives, a red shirt and a purse at Macy’s and J.C. Penneyafter she was persuaded by a friend to shop on Black Friday.

“I have a job and I’ve saved all year,” Weaver, 65, saidat The Shops at Wiregrass, an outdoor shopping mall near Tampa,Florida. The black leather purse she got was $14.97 marked downfrom $59.98. “I had to jump up and down and blink,” she said.

On Black Friday, Richfield, Minnesota-based best buy Co.,the biggest electronics chain, had bigger early-morning crowdsand more online visitors than last year, CEO Brian Dunn.

“Those are both directionally important indicators forus,” he said in a Nov. 27 Bloomberg Television interview.

Holiday sales make up a third or more of retailers’ annualprofit. The International Council of Shopping Centers, anotherindustry trade group, predicted sales at stores open at least ayear will advance 1 percent in November and December after ayear-earlier 5.8 percent decline, the worst in 40 years.

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, attracted consumerswith $298 Hewlett-Packard laptop computers and other specialsthat went on sale at 5 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving. Thestock declined 33 cents to $54.63 in new York Stock Exchangecomposite trading on Nov. 27.

Renee McDonald, 40, started waiting at 5 a.m. outside aWalmart in Houston, hoping to purchase a television. When thestore ran out, she bought a digital camera instead.

Black Friday shopping at J.C. Penney stores was strongthroughout the U.S., the Plano, Texas-based retailer said in ane-mailed statement on Nov. 28. J.C. Penney and other retailersplan to report November sales on Dec. 3. The retailer fell $1.07to $29.57 on Nov. 27 on the new York Stock Exchange.

At the Macy’s in new York’s Herald Square, shopper trafficappeared greater than a year ago, and continued to flow in afterthe initial rush, Chairman and CEO Terry Lundgren said. Jewelryand housewares were selling “briskly,” he said. Macy’s, basedin Cincinnati, dropped 59 cents to $16.97 in Nov. 27 trading.

“Last year we were just getting rid of the inventory webought six months before,” Lundgren said. “This year we’ve hada year to think through what is the sales trend.”

To contact the reporter on this story:Lauren Coleman-Lochner in new York at llochner@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 30, 2009 00:01 EST

As the Thanksgiving holiday weekend wrapped up, San Diego Countyhad recorded fewer roadway fatalities and drunken-driving arreststhan last year, a California Highway Patrol spokesman said.

The North County saw no roadway fatalities in the first 84 hoursof the weekend, a period that started 6 p.m. Wednesday and ended 6a.m. Sunday, CHP Officer Jesse Udovich said.

In San Diego County, one person died on the road in that period.a 46-year-old woman whose name has not been released was found deadon Highway 163 in Mission Valley early Friday, the apparent victimof a hit-and-run accident, the medical examiner’s office said.

Last year, the county saw two roadway fatalities, Udovichsaid.

San Diego County CHP officers made 94 DUI arrests in the first84 hours of the weekend, down from 108 in 2008, Udovich said. Thosenumbers do not include arrests made by other agencies, he said.

Statewide, the number of roadway fatalities was up by Sundaymorning, with 30 deaths compared to 24 last year, Udovich said.However, the number of DUI arrests by the CHP was down, with 1,314this year compared to 1,397 in 2008, he said.

November 29: Thanksgiving massacre: Paul Merhige’s search continues. a Florida man who allegedly shot dead four people, including his sisters, in the coastal town of Jupiter may be held soon after sleuths issues an arrest warrant.

The US Marshals are out on the road to spot the 35-year-old Paul Michael Merhige.

The man, who left the scene of crime after Thanksgiving Day shooting, faces four counts of first-degree murder. Besides, charges will also be slapped on him for attempting first-degree murder. The accused Merhige used a blue 2007 Toyota Camry with Florida license plate number W42 7JT to escape from the spot.

This was announced by the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office.

Those who were at the receiving end of his shooting assault, include Merhige’s 6-year-old cousin, Makayla Sitton; his 33-year-old twin sisters, Carla Merhige and Lisa Knight; and 76-year-old Raymond Joseph, police said.

Shockingly, one of the victims — Knight — was pregnant.

A police spokeswoman told local reporters that the two others — Patrick Knight and Clifford Gebara — were wounded.

Further investigation by the cops in the case has thrown some disturbing facts like Merhige “had ongoing resentment” for some of his relatives, said Sally Collins-Ortiz, a spokeswoman for Jupiter police.

By JENNIFER WATERS

Consumers who skipped the Black Friday deluge of deep discounting haven’t necessarily missed out on all the best deals of the holiday season. But shoppers who hold out too long, thinking retailers will cave with major price cuts late in the game, may find themselves out of luck.

Retailers this year didn’t fire all of their best shots on the traditional opening weekend after Thanksgiving. Electronics, apparel, department, warehouse and even grocery stores have a number of strategically planned promotions on tap from now until Christmas, retail companies and analysts say.

Bloomberg News

Shoppers enter a Toys “R” Us store in New York on Black Friday.

“Every weekend is going to be Black Friday weekend,” says Marshall Cohen, chief industry analyst for retail consultant NPD Group.

But last-minute shoppers should take heed: If you see something you like and the price sounds good, get it because it might not be there later. Retailers want to avoid the panic-induced sales they had to institute last year to clear holiday merchandise so they are keeping much tighter reins on inventory. as a result, consumers will see fewer sweaters and home goods on shelves and coats and pants on racks.

Last-Minute Shoppers Lose Out

“This is not the year to play chicken with retailers,” says Scott Krugman, vice president for the National Retail Federation. “If you’re a last-minute shopper, you’re going to be disappointed.”

Also, be sure to read the fine print. Many retailers will offer hot products in limited numbers. Toys “R” Us, for example, will have the popular Zhu Zhu Pets in stock for $9.99, but will only sell one per household, until supplies are exhausted.

While consumer spending hasn’t collapsed this year, it hasn’t been robust either. that has already touched off price wars among some of the biggest discount retailers, hoping to lure whatever business is out there.

Wal-Mart Stores is involved in a few, one with Toys “R” Us on $10 toys and another with Amazon.com and Target over online book sales. Certain titles are $9 at Amazon, $8.99 at Target and $8.98 at Wal-Mart. Amazon and Wal-Mart even are tussling over Easy-Bake ovens. The toy oven was originally priced at $28, until Wal-Mart slashed it to $17. Amazon responded by cutting its price to $18.

So don’t be afraid to ask a retailer to match a competitor’s advertised price. Both Wal-Mart and Target, for example, will honor lower prices on identical products, though they will exclude early-bird, door-buster or limited-time deals. most other major retailers are doing the same.

“That’s why it’s such a good time to be a consumer,” Mr. Krugman says.

Expect to see plenty of deals on flat-panel TVs, Blu-ray disc players, fine jewelry and lots of household goods.

“Consumers have really shifted toward more essential spending on basic things,” says Michael Niemira, chief economist for the International Council of Shopping Centers. “Retailers have embraced that this year and will be selling more home or stay-at-home types of goods.”

Sears is selling a three-gallon air compressor, good for many household chores, for $79.99. Kmart has a 26-inch high-definition LCD TV on sale for $250. Staples is giving $60 off the price of a Hewlett-Packard personal computer and a wireless printer.

Apparel, still the most popular gift under the tree, will be competitively priced nearly everywhere. J.C. Penney is selling women’s boots for as low as $29.99 and long-sleeve T-shirts for $6.99. Macy’s is selling men’s cashmere sweaters half off at $105.

Many apparel retailers are turning to an old favorite known as “BOGO,” or “buy one, get one.” Customers who buy one pair of jeans at Express stores can get 50% off a second pair. Pacific Sunwear has had a “buy two, get one free” promotion on flannel and denim.

Even gift cards will be on sale. Costco has six $15 iTunes gift cards on sale for $74.99. Kroger is giving customers $10 gift cards for every $100 spent.

Don’t expect every retailer to have big holiday sales. Nordstrom just ended its women’s half-yearly sales and won’t start the men’s version until Dec. 26. until then, the retailer has “sharpened prices in a lot of categories,” but won’t be hosting any holiday sales, says Nordstrom spokesman Colin Johnson.

Shopping Tips

Here are some strategies for this holiday season:

If you see something you have to have, get it. Chances are it won’t be there later for a cheaper price.

Make a list. Stick to it. Retailers use big sales on items like TVs as a “loss leader,” meaning they’ll get you in the store and hope you’ll buy more than what you planned.

Don’t count on fire sales. “There won’t be any amazing deals except for door busters this year,” says NPD’s Mr. Cohen.

Be prepared to see “out of stock” on many items.

Plan on shopping more. Tight inventories mean you’ll have to look around at different stores for that perfect gift.

Don’t wait till after Christmas for a better deal. “If you can’t find much now,” says the ICSC’s Mr. Niemira, “you’ll find even less after Christmas.”

Write to Jennifer Waters at jennifer.waters@dowjones.com

I’m going to make a preemptive strike here. An end-around, if you will, to head them off at the pass.

I’m getting my own iron hot. not enough time to wait for others to reach the proper temp.

This is for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and those who would petition him on their behalf.

Keep your stinking paws off our Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit.

Maybe the rumblings have already started. maybe I’m not the early bird that I think I am.

The Lions lost, 34-12, on Thursday to the Green Bay Packers. That’s what the Lions do anymore on Thanksgiving—they lose by scores like 34-12. It’s been so bad lately that 34-12 is actually one of the better ones, truth be told.

That’s six straight losses on Turkey Day. And those outside of our fair city are crying fowl.

It began a few years ago, when the Lions were starting a new tradition of getting the stuffing beat out of them on Thanksgiving.

“Take the Thanksgiving Day away from the Lions and give it to a team more deserving—or at least one that’s easier on the stomach.”

One of the biggest instigators was the late Lamar Hunt, the erstwhile owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, who whined yearly about the Lions and their Thanksgiving tradition.

Rotate the game, Lamar said. let other teams get in on the fun. Other teams like his, for example.

The movement gained momentum. Hunt garnered more and more support, until it was forgotten by many that it was Hunt’s idea in the first place. You could almost see the pitchforks and torches gathering in front of the league office.

Hunt, among other things, thought that the quick turnaround from Sunday to Thursday benefited the Lions, who were used to doing it, so therefore they must have some sort of an advantage.

The Lions, after their latest Thanksgiving Day turkey, are now 33-35-2 on the holiday. Yeah—that’s some advantage, alright. they really clean up on Thanksgiving, don’t they?

The NFL went out and started scheduling its own Thanksgiving Night game on its own network, but that still hasn’t stopped the moaning about the 12:30 kickoff in Detroit.

At issue is the Lions as a team, not a franchise. It’s nothing personal, the pitchforkers and torchers say. They’d just rather see a better brand of football at 12:30.

So here’s my scientific, heavily-researched, highly analytical response to that argument.

We have precious few football traditions in Detroit. If we didn’t host a couple of Super Bowls, the Vince Lombardi Trophy wouldn’t have even crossed the state line.

Hell, we don’t even have Matt Millen to rip anymore, so there goes one of our pastimes, right there.

Yeah, the Lions are bad—been bad for this entire century, so far. the Lions wear bad like rice wears white. no argument there.

So you don’t like them soiling your television set from 12:30-4:00 p.m. eastern time every Thanksgiving Day? Then turn the channel, or turn the TV off and talk with your family—until the Cowboys come on. or plan the meal for that time slot. I’m sure you can manage.

There’s this, too: WE have to watch them, so why should YOU be any different? who died and made you Kings of Football?

You don’t seem to understand. This is all we have here in Detroit when it comes to the Lions. every year, when the new NFL schedule is released, the first thing we do is ask, “Who’s the Thanksgiving opponent this year?” the second thing we do is get our magnifying glasses out and look for possible wins for the Lions on the team’s agenda—and squint realllllly hard.

That’s pretty much it—for now.

I don’t care that the Lions stink. I don’t care that they’ve been the Washington Generals to the other team’s Harlem Globetrotters for the past six years. I don’t care that the game starts at 12:30 and the outcome is usually decided by 1:00.

The game is ours. Period. the ritual started in 1934, so that means we’re now in our second great economic depression of providing pro football on Thanksgiving Day.

Besides, you have your precious rotating game on the NFL Network during prime time, so shutty.

You think the Green Bay Packers want to take the game away from the Lions? Thursday’s stinker makes two shellackings they’ve laid on the Lions in the past three years. I’m surprised they haven’t called dibs on it by now.

Thanksgiving Day is special in Detroit. It’s enjoying the parade in the morning, then traipsing to Ford Field to watch the Lions get whacked in the afternoon. Then it’s back home to have dinner in the evening and bitch about how the Lions got whacked in the afternoon.

And you’d take that away from us?

Look, all I know is that I don’t recall any blubbering about this game until Millen took over the Lions and turned them into a punch line. Talk about kicking a team’s fan base while it’s down.

Finally, as much as I hate to invoke bill Ford Sr. as a heroic figure, the truth is that the NFL owes a whole lot to the Ford family. they pumped big time advertising dollars, via Ford Motor Company, into the league in the 1960s and ‘70s, when it was sorely needed.

So quit your moaning and get your grubby hands away from our Thanksgiving Day game.

We wouldn’t even know what to do with ourselves at 12:30. If you met some of our families, you’d see how attractive the Lions look, too.

By Meena Kar
Denver, Nov. 27, (THAINDIAN NEWS) this year some of the thrilling matches were scheduled on the Thanksgiving Day. the NFL match between Denver Broncos and New York Giants, which was scheduled on Thanksgiving Day on the home ground of the Denver Broncos team witnessed Denver Broncos emerging as the winner. Denver Broncos team displayed a good form in this match against the Giants and did not allow the Giants to make much moves in the match. Broncos who had taken the control of the match from an early stage became victorious when the final score of the match was declared 26-6.

Denver Broncos team has displayed an attacking spirit throughout the game and restricted the New York Giants to take a lead in the game. They have dominated the game and scored twenty six points without much difficulty. Giants who were under pressure throughout the match tried to break the defense of the Broncos but failed and could manage a score of only six points in reply to Broncos’ twenty six.

Though the whole team of Denver Broncos played well in the match against New York Giants, Brian Dawkins’ performance deserves special mention. this safety player of Broncos has completely reformed the defensive line up of the team and strengthened it to resist the attacks of the Giants. As the defense was strong, the offense line up of the team could make attack on the Giants and contribute more points in favor of their team. Matt Prater and Kyle Orton also played well for the Broncos, which increased pressure on the Giants and they failed to stand against Broncos in the game.

DENVER — Four weeks after getting ripped for taunting opponents during warmups, Denver coach Josh McDaniels was caught on TV cursing at his bumbling Broncos. This time, he was the object of an apology from the NFL Network instead of league-wide criticism for jawing with San Diego’s linebackers. Oh, and the Broncos finally won a game again, beating the New York Giants 26-6 on Thursday night.

McDaniels is an emotional coach who stocked his roster with passionate players, and that was on full display Thanksgiving night in the Broncos’ R-rated win that sent the Giants to their fifth loss in six games.

Brian Dawkins’ inspired play led a Denver defensive revival and the offense did its part by controlling the clock in a win that snapped a four-game losing streak.

The NFL Network accidentally aired a clip of McDaniels cursing at his players after they committed three false starts and dropped a pass in a five-play sequence in the first half that really got his blood boiling.

“No — not our coach!” tight end Tony Scheffler retorted in mock surprise.

While the Broncos (7-4) still aren’t effective enough in the red zone and draw too many yellow flags for McDaniels’ taste, their month of misery is over.

Kyle Orton drove them on six scoring drives, Matt Prater kicked four field goals and Dawkins led a ferocious defense 48 hours after calling a players-only meeting that obviously struck a chord.

Elvis Dumervil dumped Eli Manning twice, extending his NFL-leading sack total to 14, and his second one resulted in a fourth-quarter fumble that sealed Denver’s first win since Oct. 19.

“Defense is all about emotion, wanting to get the ball,” Dumervil said.

So is offense, suggested Brandon Marshall, who made two incredible one-handed catches, one on each sideline. He even had a celebration planned with rookie Knowshon Moreno, with whom he got into a sideline spat last week.

But Moreno’s 1-yard TD run came with Marshall on the sideline, so the fake fight they had planned was shelved.

“We were going to run at each other, push each other,” Marshall said. “That was a serious celebration so hopefully we wouldn’t get fined for that. But maybe we’ll do it next week.”

It won’t be a surprise then, and the officials will be ready with their hands on their handkerchiefs.

“Well, maybe we’ll come up with something different,” Marshall said. “Maybe we’ll kiss or something.”

Hosting their first Thanksgiving game since 1963 in the AFL, the Broncos returned to the physical style of play that marked their 6-0 start.

Behind three takeaways, the Broncos halted their freefall and pulled within a half game of AFC West leader San Diego. New York (6-5), which snapped its four-game losing streak on Sunday, fell two games behind Dallas, which beat Oakland earlier Thursday, in the NFC East.

“We didn’t have any tempo and we didn’t make any plays,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. “We keep talking about winning the physical battle and controlling the line of scrimmage. We thought this would be the night and it wasn’t.”

The Giants have lost five of six since their 5-0 start.

“We’re a good football team,” Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora said. “We just played bad today.”

The Broncos outgained the Giants 213-38 in the first half but settled for field goals on three drives, including their first two trips inside the Giants 10-yard line as they continued their red zone struggles.

That led to the NFL Network’s embarrassing mistake.

Their second trip inside the Giants 10-yard line turned into a game of flag football as tight end Daniel Graham, left tackle Ryan Clady and center Casey Wiegmann all were whistled for false starts, and the Broncos sent out Prater for a second straight chip-shot field goal, this one making it 6-0.

Coming out of a commercial break, the NFL Network showed a clip of McDaniels yelling at his players on the sideline saying, “All we’re trying to do is win a (expletive) game!”

The vulgarity was clearly audible to viewers, and announcer Bob Papa immediately apologized on air.

NOTES: The Giants trailed 16-0 at halftime, the first time they took a goose egg into the locker room since Jan. 8, 2006, in a wild-card playoff game against Carolina. … Moreno ran for 88 yards on 19 carries and would have had 34 more yards were it not for two holding calls against Graham.

I have always loved Thanksgiving. It is my favorite national holiday. It reminds Americans how fortunate we are to be Americans. And it unites Americans around gratitude, the greatest human trait. Gratitude is the mother of both goodness and happiness. the ungrateful cannot be either happy or good.

So, it is with a heavy heart that I write that my mood on this Thanksgiving will not be the same as on any other I have ever experienced.

My gratitude will be marred by a dark cloud.

Not the cloud of economic crisis; Americans have lived through worse economic crises.

Not the cloud of war. America is at war in Afghanistan, and troops remain in Iraq in the war against Islamic terror; but Americans have fought far more bloody wars.

Not the cloud of politics; whatever an American’s political persuasion, every American has lived through political battles and political losses.

No, this is a new cloud. This is the cloud of “transformation.” This is what candidate Barack Obama promised; this is what President Barack Obama seeks to achieve — nothing less than the transformation of America.

But those of us who love America and its unique value system don’t want either America or its value system transformed. the former can always be improved , but should never be transformed . And the latter should always remain what it has been for centuries: the American Trinity — E Pluribus Unum, In God We Trust and Liberty — as well as limited government and individualism. It also includes an abiding belief in American exceptionalism, meaning that America has usually known better what is good for the world than any world body, that America’s moral compass is generally more accurate than that of other nations, let alone the United Nations. This is not because Americans are born better or any such nonsense, but because American values have produced a particularly uncynical, idealistic nation, more willing to die for others than any nation in recorded history.

Every element of this is being transformed, perhaps permanently. the American economy and/or its health system may be fatally damaged if either the House or Senate health care bill is passed. America will descend under a mountain of debt that may permanently undermine the power of the dollar.

If this happens, America will no longer be the preeminent economic power of the world. the terrible political and human consequences of this will be felt around the globe.
The abandonment of American exceptionalism — President Obama said recently that he believes in American exceptionalism just as Brits believe in British exceptionalism and Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism — will lead to America becoming just another nation. when you no longer consider yourself special, you cease doing much that is special.

Here is the bottom line: I take nothing good for granted. That includes the future of the blessed country in which I live. A country as good as America is an aberration. There is no reason to believe that it will always remain an aberration; and those in power on Thanksgiving 2009 loathe the idea of America being different from all other nations.

Every great civilization has declined. There is nothing that guarantees America will be any different. And those in power on Thanksgiving 2009 see America more as a pompous civilization than a great one. So its decline from its self-perceived greatness is not only not a tragedy, but it’s a welcome respite from arrogance.

The idea that people should first take care of themselves, then their family, then their neighbors and then other nations is also an American aberration. the norm, advocated by those in power on Thanksgiving 2009, is to want to be taken care of by the state, have the state take care of everyone else and abandon other countries (such as Afghanistan) to their fate, just as other nations are willing to do.

As it happens, I am in Africa this Thanksgiving, volunteering with my son to distribute mosquito nets and other lifesaving necessities to the poorest of the poor in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Not coincidentally, it is an American charity (Rock of Africa) that has organized this trip. while half a world away, my heart is in America this Thanksgiving. But for the first time, it is a worried and unsettled American heart.

Nevertheless, though my mood is dark, it is not pessimistic. the very narrow victories in the House and Senate on health care reform, despite Democrats’ overwhelming majorities in both Houses, tell me that Americans are not ready to abandon the values that make our country unique. And that is something to be thankful for on this troubled Thanksgiving 2009.

Dennis Prager hosts a nationally syndicated radio talk show and is a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. he is the author of four books, most recently “Happiness is a Serious Problem” (HarperCollins). His website is dennisprager.com.

COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS.COM

1. Prager: why President Obama Was Awarded the Nobel Prize
2. Dennis Prager: Americans are beginning to understand the Left
3. Prager: the Silver Lining of the Left in Power

US-based British sports-writer Simon Veness looks ahead to a Thanksgiving feast – as well as some NFL action

It’s that time of year here in the US when the supermarkets are packed to overflowing – and it’s definitely a good time NOT to be a turkey.

Thanksgiving is such a big meal (think of our Christmas dinner, then multiply it by about 100), every family needs to stock up with about ten car-loads of shopping and then spend at least two days cooking and preparing.

And then we all collapse in front of the TV for what promises to be about a 10-hour NFL viewing-fest of spectacular proportions. Forget the London Marathon, Le Mans or the IronMan Triathlon, this is what endurance is REALLY all about!

Until about 3.59pm last Sunday, endurance – and suffering – were also high on the list of prerequisites for Detroit fans. but then there was the final minute at Cleveland and a stunning last-second touchdown throw from rookie Matt Stafford that clinched the unlikeliest of 38-37 victories and breathed new life and hope into every Lions follower.

For about the past 10 years (and certainly as long as I can remember from my recent experience of this corner of Michigan, which dates back to 2004), the ‘other’ big Thanksgiving tradition of Detroit football has been almost as indigestible as some of the meals (i.e. heavy, turgid and, ultimately, highly unappetising).

Years of mis-management and poor performances from their highest-paid ’stars’ had left the Lions like toothless, old crones; more mildcat than wildcat, and the stars of their own unofficial version of America’s Biggest Losers (a TV weight-watching programme of truly wince-making proportions).

But then came 4pm on Sunday and that one-yard pass from Stafford to Brandon Pettigrew as time expired, and a nation’s clamour to have Detroit forcibly removed from their position as prime time Thanksgiving fare was finally muted.

To be fair, that clamour had been building for at least the past six seasons and culminated this time last year when the Lions redefined the word feeble with an utterly miserable effort against Tennessee (in this year’s dictionary, next to ‘Feeble, (adj.),’ it just says, ‘Titans 47, Lions 10′). the home team were 35-3 down eight minutes BEFORE half-time and most TV viewers had turned off before Mom had even poured the gravy.

However, since then Detroit have rebuilt and re-tooled under new head coach Jim Schwartz and, while there have still been some distinct growing pains (a 2-8 record to date and three performances where they have failed to improve even on last year’s outing against Tennessee), there is now some hope in both their Michigan heartland and the TV control booth.

Starter

No longer do the pundits expect their Thanksgiving ’starter’ against Green Bay (live on SS3 from 5.30pm on Thursday) to be a one-sided blowout that will have armchair viewers reaching for the ‘off’ switch as well as the Rennies.

The Packers themselves have been consistent only in their inconsistency, and they have yet to record three successive wins at any stage this season. In fact, on current form, they are due to enter the ‘L’ column yet again, as evidenced by:

W-L-W-L-W-W-L-L-W-W…

So, that should certainly be enough to tempt viewers out from behind the back of their sofas, ready to let their TV remotes sit idle for a few hours.

The ‘main course’ of the Thanksgiving programme sees Oakland travel to Dallas (live on SS3 from 9pm) for another game that could certainly be titled “Anything Goes.”

Anyone who has witnessed the star-crossed fortunes of these two franchises in recent weeks could be forgiven for thinking this is a train wreck in the making. At 3-7, the Raiders hardly offer the look of anything substantial, even after axing the maddeningly lackadaisical JaMarcus Russell at quarterback in favour of the ’safe’ option of Bruce Gradkowski.

Somehow, the signal caller U-turn turned up trumps in the ambush of Cincinnati last Sunday which left even the seasoned denizens of the Black Hole shaking their heads in disbelief (just 20 points, total, in the previous 119 minutes – a 16-10 defeat by Kansas City, then a 17-10 deficit against the Bengals – and then a winning 10-point burst in the final 60 seconds).

But it has served notice to the Cowboys – hardly the model of consistency themselves – that a genuine battle is on the cards. the pundits here love the thought of Tony Romo going up against Oakland star Nnamdi Asomugha, but Romo himself may not be quite so keen on the strength of the 7th-year cornerback’s three interceptions in the past two games and Tony’s own recent failings.

True, Dallas have chalked up two wins in their last three to stay out in front of the snapping, scrapping NFC East, but scores of 20-16, 7-17 and 7-6 do not inspire huge dollops of confidence, while Romo’s production has declined alarmingly in that period (307, 251 and 158 yards, along with just 3 TDs and 3 INTs).

Game on

It is very much ‘Game on’ in the new Cowboys Stadium – as it is in the ‘dessert’ course on Thursday night (actually 12.30am on Friday on SS3), as reeling Denver take on the newly-recharged new York Giants.

After four games of increasingly desperate proportions, Broncos fans could be forgiven for being fairly fatalistic about the impending possibility of loss no 5. but, with the Giants defence doing an increasingly realistic impression of Casualty and power-back Brandon Jacobs also a potential victim, nothing is a given in the rarefied air of Invesco Field at Mile High.

All that Thanksgiving Day gratification just leaves me two quick paragraphs to sum up this Sunday’s offerings, as seen through the eyes of the US media.

First off, Indianapolis at Houston (live on SS2 from 5.30pm) is portrayed as a long overdue ‘down-to-earth’ moment for the Colts, with their increasingly shaky winning resume (the last four by a total of 10 points) and for Matt Schaub v A very Banged-Up Secondary. the Titans quarterback looks primed for a major offensive explosion, but equally Peyton Manning can toss the occasional TD bomb himself, so stay tuned for a potentially epic duel.

And then there is Chicago at Minnesota (also on SS2 from 9pm), which provides another view of the Sainted one, aka Brett Favre. the former Green Bay legend has turned things up to a remarkable degree, even by his record-setting standards, and the media now hang on his every pass with pure incredulity. A 69.7% completion rate (a full 3.2 points above his previous career best) and a ridiculous TD:INT ratio of 21:3 will do that for you. and that can only be bad news for the Bears.