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Brief Summary on Candidates Policy Plans...
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When researching the plans each candidate had to accomplish their various goals, I had no idea who I was going to vote for. To tell you the truth, I still don't know. During the process I recognized a few things I thought I would share...especially since some of you asked me to summarize their policies in a shorter format.
Firstly, I like Dennis Kucinich, and he was originally going to be included in the chart. Ultimately, he was not included because 1) When you go to his site you will notice that he has great ideas, goals, and platforms...but his website and other information researched was scant on the details of how he would pursue those goals...there simply was not 10 specific plans on each of the 5 issues highlighted. 2) The point of the issue chart was to focus on specific plans to achieve goals, not to list what the candidates say their goals are. 3) One of the 3 leading candidates are assured of gaining the Democratic nomination, no matter how you look at it, and we wanted to provide purely objective information.
Second, I will support whomever is nominated. No matter how much I dislike one candidate or another, all of the Democrats are better than Republican choices. I will not support some 3rd Party candidate to make a statement this year, because we have too much to lose if another war and fear-mongering candidate gets into office. I did the same research on the Republicans that I did on the Democrats, and let me tell you...it's scary!
Hopefully this link works this time...if you haven't seen the complete summary, click here
(Click Read More for the rest of this post)
Finally, a brief summary analysis:
The economy and how to solve our financial woes is a difficult subject for most to understand and analyze. From what I can see, each of the candidates are making reasonable efforts to 1) transition us into a green economy, 2) support workers right to unionize, and 3) provide targeted tax cuts. There is a difference between the candidates tax plans that seems evident. Clinton seems to be addressing the middle and upper middle-class with her tax cuts via AMT reform, and tax credits aimed at the middle class. Obama seems to address more of the middle to lower class, specifically, with a plan to eliminate taxes on seniors with income less than $50,000, a raising and indexing of minimum wage, and $500 tax credit for all. Edwards clearly makes his case for a war on poverty with a tripling of the EITC, raising minimum wage a specific amount and indexed to inflation, and 'Work Bonds' for low to moderate income workers to save for their future. Obama and Edwards both want to close tax loopholes for offshore US companies.
On the environment, I think we can look forward to a President that will truly work to transition our economy and policies to address key environmental issues. All of the candidates plans solidly outline how to make the transition to an environmentally friendly economy, and I look forward to the dialogue finally rising into mainstream politics. I like the aggressive benchmarks that they have all set for us to achieve. I do have to say, however, that the cap-and-trade system seems a little suspect to me. It seems too easy for a company to continue to pollute and just pay a little extra as a cost of doing business, then pass that cost on to consumers. Personally, I would like to see a little more teeth in the plan in the way of penalties that will drive big polluters that choose not to reduce emissions, out of business.
On health care, every candidate plan falls way short of Universal or Single Payer health care. One good thing that they all support, is a law to prevent health insurers from denying coverage for preexisting conditions, medical history, etc., but that may actually drive the price of health care higher. Hillary's plan seems to mandate that everyone pay for care up front with a small tax credit on the back end, and adds in a federal plan as if it is just another company to choose from, that you will still have to pay for. Obama aims to subsidize those that cannot afford it based on income, and requires employers to subsidize plans for people that work. Edwards has a plan similar to Obama's, and also requires drug companies to stop advertising their drugs directly to the public, which may ultimately lower our cost of drugs. Both Obama and Edwards also want to create a centralized place for people to go to to fairly evaluate plans. In all cases, there is no true effort to actually lower the cost of health care...there are efforts to reduce our out of pocket costs, but ultimately we will pay the difference through our taxes or decreased salaries from employers paying for our health care. All plans seem woefully compromised with insurance industry interests, and seems to do nothing with the problem of people being denied for care based on a company trying to horde profits.
On national security, Obama seems to be the most concerned about homeland security and protecting things like our water supply, chemical and nuclear plants, as well as negotiating reductions in nuclear stockpiles around the world. Obama is also very eager to reach out to our friends, as well as enemies, to open dialogue and try to repair our our image and standing with the world. Clinton's strategy is to appoint good people to do her planning and negotiating for her, as well as engaging our enemies with diplomacy. She also wants to deploy new technology to stop the flow of illegal immigration, and help fund an effort for universal education throughout developing nations. Edwards wants to improve our intelligence agencies ability to supply accurate information to thwart terrorism, and reach out to China and Russia to devise ways to help their economy without aiding Iran's efforts for nuclear power. He also intends on igniting diplomatic efforts in the Middle East to devise a solution to deter terrorism in that part of the world. All of the candidates say they want to bring the troops home, but differ on the pace...Clinton does not define a timeframe, and leaves it to the military to decide, and Obama sets a timeframe of 16 months where Edwards suggests 10 months. None of the candidates plan to leave a base behind in Iraq.
On government and corporate accountability/responsibility they all support some sort of new reporting system so the public can easily see who our elected officials are meeting with, what they are asking for, and how much money they are contributing to their campaigns. Obama supports publicly financed campaigns with free TV and radio time, but I didn't see a specific plan to achieve that. Edwards has a plan for a hybrid system of public and private financing while banning federal lobbyists and requiring accurate tracking of anonymous donations. He also wants to break up media monopolies, but I saw no specific plan for that. Clinton and Edwards both support federally mandated auditable paper ballots, and I didn't find anything on Obama's stand on paper ballots...but I think I have heard him come out in support of it in the past (I'm not sure).
So that's my 'brief' summary...enjoy :-)
For the complete summary, click here.
Super Bowl 42 is actually Super Bowl 41.........can anyone figure it out why? I know.....
Al Gore
recently uploded 2 new videos to Current .com
Gay Men and Women Should have the Same Rights
and adovcates for marriage.
and
Who Makes the Decision, a women should maker her own decisions.
82.
my second home -- Sierra Leone (just like with Howard Dean, I offer kudos to another doctor -- Samuel Kargbo for staying with the struggle):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7202278.stm
Last Updated: Tuesday, 22 January 2008, 12:32 GMT
Survival is tough in Sierra Leone
Kumbah Marrah's son Sheku remains vulnerableBBC Medical Correspondent Fergus Walsh has been to Sierra Leone which has the highest rate of child mortality in the world. In the past ten days I have seen dozens of newborn babies and I have been present at several births.
But although all children may be born equal, their life chances very much depend on where they are born.
In Sierra Leone one in four children will die before their fifth birthday. In Sweden it is one in 350.
...
Little infrastructure
The almost total lack of infrastructure is one reason.
The roads - or tracks - are in appalling condition making the transport of medical supplies - and sick patients - a lengthy struggle.
In Kabala itself, a sprawling settlement of more than 100,000 people, there is no mains electricity or sanitation.
...
Samuel Kargbo stayed in Sierra Leone throughout the horrendous civil war.
He brought basic health services and vaccines to children who lived in the rebel areas.
He had to negotiate his way across checkpoints and his life was frequently at risk.
Now he is one of just two doctors in a region of nearly 300,000 people.
Having trained in Russia, Germany and the UK, Dr Kargbo could easily get a job overseas.
But he refuses to leave. "A lot of doctors who qualify in Freetown, go abroad", he said.
"Some forget that the greatest need is here".
He earns around $200 - £100 - a month.
Emergency operation
We watched as he performed an emergency Caesarean section.
The baby was blocked and would die unless it was delivered.
Apart from the operating table and an overhead lamp there is almost no equipment in the room.
Facilities are rudimentary
The matron acts as anaesthetist; the mother's blood pressure is checked by holding her wrist.
And yet despite the severe limitations a baby boy is safely delivered.
Dr Kargbo says that had this happened a year ago before the maternity unit opened the baby and possibly his mother, would have died.
...
Fox Wrote:
The rates are lower because our rate of inflation is 25%-40% lower than most European economies.
Untrue of course. Our "official" Inflation rates are bogus--calculated in a way to obfuscate the true rate, thereby allowing lower COLAs for pensioners, social security recipients and government workers with indexed salaries.
Our real inflation rate is currently over 10%, headed through the roof with the Bush-Democratic "stimulus package", designed to protect politicians and their wealthy friends, but to screw the rest of us.
I appreciate the Al Gore updates Linda
Off to work in the rain
4. rdorgan - DNC Chair Howard Dean. Sorry to be technical but I'm just sayin'!!
Maureen Dowd: Two Against One
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/opinio...
BTW, I thought Bill Clinton looked like a used car salesman yesterday. I suppose that's appropriate. No offense intended to all the honorable used car salesmen.
our inflation numbers exclude food and energy because they are "volitile"
tell that to someone balancing the checkbook
Judy for Dean......enjoy your evening with Governor Dean.
I got another home heating oil delivery this week -- it's up 10 cents a gallon from a month ago.
($ 3.49 a gal)
John,
The published inflation rate is marked down by excluding factors that would make it too high to attract foreign dollars. If the rate was actually a true picture of our family economies, China wouldn't borrow money to finance our wars and maybe no longer be able to sell us their cheap crap.
BANDAIDS
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_rob_kall_080123_screw_the_bandaids__.htm
It would be nice if the nation's leadership-- congress or the Whitehouse-- could flip a switch and correct the problems we face. But that doesn't happen in reality USA. Doesn't happen with Petraeus in Iraq, doesn't happen with the housing crisis, the subprime mortgage crisis, the impending credit-tightening crisis, health care and so many more.
Yesterday, Bush and off the table Pelosi and do nothing Reid got together to discuss the size of the bandaids to be used on the massively hemorrhaging economy.
The solution to these kinds of problems is simple-- inspired, visionary, courageous leadership that supports strong government and enforcement of regulations already in place to police abusive corporate behaviors.
Easy to say, not so easy to find. This kind of solution does not fend well with 15 second sound bytes or smarmy, know it all TV political commentators. Serious, earnest, visionary leaders are laughed at and mocked by the mainstream media, maybe because the solutions these leaders offer threaten the uber corporate owners of the corpstream media.
15.
I appreciate what you're saying Dog. But comparing our bogus inflation rate to other countries is an "apple and oranges" deal.
Other countries include smoothed, running averages of the "volatile" components that our government conveniently ignores
BTW, I thought Bill Clinton looked like a used car salesman yesterday.
I began revising my opinion of the Clintons several years ago and it's still revising downward.
rdorgan - Last time we lived in Washington state - we had propane. I'm so glad we don't have that now...
Life Without People on the history channel is an excellant production. I highly recommend it....very factual with excellant graphics and computer simulations. I though the one scene of the WH, delapidated and with an overgown lawn with deer and animals running thru it was telling.
Matt wrote "What does that increase in GDP produced by the workers have to do with buying (I think you mean purchasing) power of the individual worker?"
Why is purchasing power any better a description of the principle than buying power?
AT THE RISK OF BEING VILLIFIED BY OBMANIACS.................
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-mudcat-saunders/only-john-edwards-can-bea_b_82734.html
Surely, I'm not the only one who can see this six-foot rabbit named Harvey. John McCain is going to be the Republican nominee. How do I know? Because "institutional memory" also reminds me that the Democratic Party I love can't count. And regardless of what you think of the Republicans, they can.
It should be clear to anybody with over a 50 IQ that John Edwards, with his combination of red state electoral experience and toughness, is the only candidate who can beat John McCain. Whether you believe polls or not, polls from CNN to Rasmussen say just that.
And it should be equally as clear to anybody with over a 25 IQ that Obama and Clinton are going to render each other totally unelectable against any Republican, especially John McCain, by the time we get to the convention.
All the Republicans have to be loving this. Because the Democrat they don't want to face, John Edwards, is getting sandwiched between the coverage of this murderous cat fight between two so-called "historical" candidates who, when all is said and done, will be just that. HISTORY.
Super Bowl 42 is actually Super Bowl 41.........can anyone figure it out why?
Because the first SB wasn't called SB0.
Same as why the real new millenium started in 2001 -- there was no year 0.
From John's Huffington Post quote "It should be clear to anybody with over a 50 IQ that John Edwards, with his combination of red state electoral experience and toughness, is the only candidate who can beat John McCain. Whether you believe polls or not, polls from CNN to Rasmussen say just that."
An entire post on electability and election predictions. No wonder you were such a John Kerry enthusiast.
mary vb
Wed, 01/23/08
Reply to this
rdorgan - Last time we lived in Washington state - we had propane. I'm so glad we don't have that now...
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mary vb -
I have propane too (just a 100 lb, 60 gal tank outside upright; doesn't have to be buried, because is small), which is just for dryer, stove and oven. Yes, propane (which is largely domestic production in U.S.) price is even higher than heating oil (largely imported).
The heating oil is for just that -- heating the house (since oil burner is tankless, like what dog soldier has, includes hot water too).
GOING BANKRUPT
http://www.alternet.org/story/74620/
There are three broad aspects to our debt crisis. First, in the current fiscal year (2008) we are spending insane amounts of money on "defense" projects that bear no relationship to the national security of the United States. Simultaneously, we are keeping the income tax burdens on the richest segments of the American population at strikingly low levels.
Second, we continue to believe that we can compensate for the accelerating erosion of our manufacturing base and our loss of jobs to foreign countries through massive military expenditures -- so-called "military Keynesianism," which I discuss in detail in my book Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic. By military Keynesianism, I mean the mistaken belief that public policies focused on frequent wars, huge expenditures on weapons and munitions, and large standing armies can indefinitely sustain a wealthy capitalist economy. The opposite is actually true.
Third, in our devotion to militarism (despite our limited resources), we are failing to invest in our social infrastructure and other requirements for the long-term health of our country. These are what economists call "opportunity costs," things not done because we spent our money on something else. Our public education system has deteriorated alarmingly. We have failed to provide health care to all our citizens and neglected our responsibilities as the world's number one polluter. Most important, we have lost our competitiveness as a manufacturer for civilian needs -- an infinitely more efficient use of scarce resources than arms manufacturing.
Nice write-up about the Howard Dean movie by Heath Eiden, playing next week in Burlington and Montpelier.
http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080123/NEWS02/801230316/1003/NEWS02
"MONTPELIER – Five years after he met Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and three years after Dean's insurgent presidential campaign ended where it started in Burlington, documentary filmmaker Heath Eiden is ready to show his movie on the campaign.
"This story was just something I had to do," said Eiden, a resident of Stowe who "always had an affinity for politics." Eiden said he got his interest and inspiration in politics while growing up in Minnesota following the career of Sen. Paul Wellstone. He also won awards and a college scholarship for the historical documentaries he made in his native state.
Two sneak previews of the movie about the movement Dean spawned will be shown in Montpelier on Saturday Jan. 26 at the Savoy Theater and in Burlington on Jan. 27 at 11 a.m. at Merrill's Roxy Cinema for a donation of $10 or "whatever you think it's worth at the end," he said.
The 90-minute feature film, "Dean And Me: Roadshow Of An American Primary," follows Howard Dean in his run for President through the 2006 mid-term elections. Along the way, Eiden, an amateur journalist and historian who moved to Stowe with his wife from Manhattan, set out to capture the daily ins and outs of the campaign, which he felt "the mainstream media was somehow missing" (video clips can be seen at http://thegrassrootsmovie.com).
....""Vermonters should feel proud as they watch what is happening today on America's political landscape," said Eiden. "The people are saying 'enough' to Bush and the conservative mess that's being passed on to our children. Democratic National Committee Chairman Dean's warning in 2004 is now being trumpeted throughout the country by today's presidential candidates."
Tom wrote:
An entire post on electability and election predictions. No wonder you were such a John Kerry enthusiast.
Pretty lame Tom, as well as totally untrue.
My posts from 03-04 were consistently Anti-Kerry. I did vote for him (supressing my gag reflex) in a vain attempt to help defeat Bush.
Don't expect me to supress my gag reflex this year.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080123/pl_nm/usa_politics_poll_dc_1
Obama leads Clinton in South Carolina: poll
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent
Wed Jan 23, 1:11 AM ET
...
The economy was listed as the top issue among South Carolina voters, by 49 percent, with the war in Iraq second at 24 percent.
Obama led consistently among almost all sub-groups, including men, women, liberals, conservatives, young voters, low-income voters, high-income voters and union households.
Clinton edged Obama out among the oldest voters, above age 70, usually her greatest strength. Edwards led Obama among Republicans.
...
It should be clear to anybody with over a 50 IQ that John Edwards, with his combination of red state electoral experience and toughness, is the only candidate who can beat John McCain.
For some reason Edwards isn't even included in the most recent polling.....hmmmmmmm.
The polls are all over place. So this whole "McCain will win" and "only Edwards can win" stuff is just a bunch of hooey.
Did anyone see Bill Moyer's show last nite? It was excellent. Great guests.
Troubling times we are in and it ain't getting any better folks.
Give aways to the likes of Warren Buffet. Disgusting.
John wrote "Pretty lame Tom, as well as totally untrue."
I take real umbrage at the charge of lameness, but the "untrue" remark is deadly accurate because of the sarcasm I employed in my original comment. I'm a little too subtle for my own good.
The unpalatable alternative is to adopt Indy's device and write "[obvious snark]" after the comment, but I'm not lowering myself to that level for anyone, even myself.
hey, I thought I was the lame one ?
+++
ok, Tom has a point when he says, in essence, that my attempt at humor on the blog, is lame (and I was wondering why Comedy Central wasn't returning my calls but was returning my forwarded copies of some of my material).
Well, I'll watch The Oprah Winfrey Show today, to see if I can pick up any comedic tips from --
-- a guy named Chris:
http://www2.oprah.com/index.jhtml
...
What Makes America, America
See what happens when Chris Rock finds out about his roots. Then, it's a celebration of all things American! Hamburgers, a music legend and a priceless American treasure.
MORE COWARDICE FROM PELOSI &CO
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Contempt_citations_on_hold_as_Dems_0123.html
Last week it was "pretty certain" that House Democrats would quickly move forward with contempt citations against two Bush administration figures who were stonewalling Congress. Then the economy started circling the drain more quickly.
The planned citations now appear to be on hold as Congress and the White House work on a bipartisan economic stimulus package, the central tenet of which involves cutting virtually everyone an $800 check.
Democratic leaders and aides tell The Politico that pursuing the contempt citations in conjunction with the stimulus package would "step on their message" of bipartisanship.
JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THINGS COULDN'T GET WORSE
I'll be sorely tempted to post an "I told you so" on November 5
from Southern CA:
http://www.sdcitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/our_endorsements/6577/
Our endorsements...
By CityBeat Staff 01/22/2008
...
President—Democrat
Because we’re a liberal newspaper—and damn proud of it—we understandably feel much better about the Democratic contenders, especially after eight years in presidential hell. With any of them, we’d likely have a pro-union president who’d appoint a pro-choice judge to the Supreme Court, favor diplomacy over a rush to war and halt the tax breaks for the country’s wealthiest citizens and focus on the other 90 percent of the citizenry.
All things being equal, we’d be tempted to endorse Dennis Kucinich, as we did four years ago; we agree with just about all of his positions. He’s the only candidate who’s entirely against the death penalty, he’s against the North American Free Trade Agreement, he’s for a single-payer nonprofit healthcare system, he’s against marginalizing immigrants and he’d get out of Iraq immediately. Sadly, though, all things aren’t equal, and Kucinich has no chance of winning. Hell, the gatekeepers won’t even let the man into the debates. That leaves us with Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards.
Clinton and Edwards are saying all the right things, in our view, as is the custom in presidential primary season, when Democratic candidates try to outflank each other from the left. We especially appreciated Edwards’ “two Americas” theme from the 2004 race, the gist of which he’s continued in the current campaign. Were he to lead with such a populist approach, we’d have ourselves a first-rate president.
But one thing continues to gnaw at us about both Clinton and Edwards: They voted in favor of giving Bush the authority to invade Iraq. While Edwards’ expressed regret for his vote is nice, the fact remains that they knew in 2002 that the case for war was total bullshit. It’s clear to us that their votes were calibrated toward a presidential run; they were unwilling to risk a no vote on what was a foolhardy yet popular invasion. As a result, they’re part of a weak Democratic delegation that is partially responsible for the unnecessary deaths of nearly 4,000 American servicemen and women and the life-changing permanent physical and psychological injuries of tens of thousands more.
Obama wasn’t in the Senate when the Iraq vote came up, but, despite what Bill Clinton’s been saying lately, Obama’s position in 2002 was unambiguous: “I don’t oppose all wars,” he said. “What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz and other armchair, weekend warriors in this administration to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne.”
We admit it: We’re taken with Obama’s eloquence and his ability to inspire hope
...
John wrote "I'll be sorely tempted to post an 'I told you so' on November 5."
If what you've told us is correct, you should do so by all means. Knock yourself out.
Sitka
Wed, 01/23/08
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Nice try..............it was called '"The World Championship of Professional Football"...................Super Bowl 2 commenced with that name.
Next question(no wonder we cant win elections in this country)...............how did the term "Super Bowl" come about..............I suppose I better lay out a hint..........whamo
Huron John
Wed, 01/23/08
___________________________________________________________________________
Keep up the posts Huron.........only thing worth reading here these days..............
Mike wrote "Next question (no wonder we cant win elections in this country)."
I have to be honest and say I had not made the connection between failing to win elections and tedious pro football tripe.
Wow, David Reiter. So you TOO are a fascist! Excluding Dennis Kucinich from your "Brief Summary on Candidates Plans?" Your first 2 reasons for excluding him are biullshit. If any candidate has clear plans about his positions it is Dennis Kucinich, and the people that voted him NUMBER 1 on you poll several months ago (REMEMBER?)- which you also LIED about by not granting him an endorsement afrter he CLEARLY and DECISIVELY won!—know precisely that he is the only candidate that doesn't rely on double-speak and political rhetoric to demonstrate his plans. What more do you need? I actually doubt you even did any investigating at all. You simply, and with great cowardice, only applied your 3rd rule for you summary—"3) One of the 3 leading candidates are assured of gaining the Democratic nomination, no matter how you look at it, and we wanted to provide purely objective information." That is not democracy. That is FASCISM! You are depriving American citizens who frequent your site to read and compare each candidates positions as well as plans to implement such positions once tghey become President, and are so manipulating information. You are no better than the war profiteers that have been censoring Congressman Kucinich throughout his campaign. No, actually you are WORSE, because you are doing it under the false pretense of being a fair and Democratic organization. SHAME ON YOU! Al Hidalgo
Mike wrote "Keep up the posts Huron.........only thing worth reading here these days."
You too, Mike. This blog would be lost without your pro football game predictions and Super Bowl trivial pursuit.
Nice try..............it was called '"The World Championship of Professional Football".
I watched it and remember it being called the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl IJanuary 15, 1967 - Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumGreen Bay Packers 35Kansas City Chiefs 10
One day Lamar Hunt, architect of the AFL and owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, came across his daughter's Super Ball and was given the inspiration for the name of the championship game between the upstart American Football League and the old-guard National Football League.
"Why not," he wondered, "call our championship game the Super Bowl?"
The name caught on quickly and thus, an American tradition was born.
Al Hidalgo wrote "Wow, David Reiter. So you TOO are a fascist! Excluding Dennis Kucinich from your 'Brief Summary on Candidates Plans?'"
Not to mention Mike Gravel. We have all been done a grave injustice.
Tom Bearse
Wed, 01/23/08
___________________________________________________________________________
Just some fun stuff...........even Olberman and your Presidential candidates are invoking the name John Mccain............also mentioned WPA which I think Jo in Vt asked for my solutions last week and I happened to mention FDRs CCC and WPA...............
Go Johnny Go!
Real Issues, Real Change,
John Edwards for America.
Dogma is out of surgery and everything went fine. Yay!
Tom Bearse
Wed, 01/23/08
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Hmm, let me think......how about when it comes to winning elections, the Democratic party is the Detroit Lions of politics................is that better?
Miike wrote "Just some fun stuff...........even Olberman and your Presidential candidates are invoking the name John Mccain."
Ergo, McCain will be the Republican nominee. This primary voting stuff is for kids.
Mike wrote "the Democratic party is the Detroit Lions of politics................is that better?"
They would have to lose for 50 years running for that to be accurate. Your political and football acumen appear to be on a par.
Al Hidalgo wrote "Wow, David Reiter. So you TOO are a fascist! Excluding Dennis Kucinich from your 'Brief Summary on Candidates Plans?'"
Not to mention Mike Gravel. We have all been done a grave injustice.
It's becoming increasingly curious why Edwards continues to be taken seriously.
Well, he did win one primary back in 2004 -- never mind it was his home state.
Good news, jjem.
Agreed, Tom Bearse. Agreed. Gravel has also been shut also, And in turn so have we.
Al wrote "Agreed, Tom Bearse. Agreed. Gravel has also been shut also, And in turn so have we."
Fine, but now you understand why Dave left Kucinich off of his summary. At least he had the kindness and industry to include Edwards.
It's becoming increasingly curious why Edwards continues to be taken seriously.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
might it be because he has the same record of beating Hillary as Obama does (one out of three)
Phil wrote "might it be because [Edwards] has the same record of beating Hillary as Obama does (one out of three)."
This would be the mainstream media view of the results, but a savvy veteran of caucuses like you is fully aware that Obama has either won or tied for the most delegates in every state contest so far.
it seems Governor Richardson was untruthful again. Last year whe he was pushing the the Train service from ABQ to santa fe, he said "not to worry, this is a state project". Now he is trying to push through tax increases on all the counties that the train goes through.
Secondly, however, I don't appreciate the condescending tone in your indirect remarks to me (through Tom bearse in comment 47). My use of caps and exclamation points are used as devices to demonstate emphasis of a word or phrase. Plus the exclusion of Dennis Kucinich AGAIN (see how I did that) continues to piss me off).
And by the looks of it, if I'm not mistaken, you are an Obama supporter. Good luck. Unfortunately this election has already been decided for Hillary. And you can argue you all you want, but he was ROBBED in New Hampshire and will continue to be second to her in all future primaries as long as the MSM continues to manipulate and promote her campaign.
Sorry, but we are experiencing soft fascism, my friend. And shamefully, even the DFC is a flagrant participant.
I'm with Linda that we should move the discussion of candidates to quality of talk show appearances and coiffure.
I've noticed that Obama rarely has a hair out of place during his public appearances. He sort of has that JFK quality in that regard.
Here is a good blog question;
What will you do with your $800?
How much would your neighbor have to make before you would tell them they don't get one?
63.
Al, it's just when I see caps and !s, it sounds like you are shouting, it sounds shrill.
Think about it (Ross Perot supporters used to be that way, with their WAKE UP AMERICA !!! billboards, when Ross was running; in the very beginning of the '92 campaign I supported Ross for president but when he said "You people" and then when those shouting billboards came out, I switched my support to Bill Clinton).
When I email someone, I rarely use caps and !s -- it's called shouting (and it's like an insult to readers; it's like saying "hey, since you can't hear that well, I'm going to shout to get your attention).
So be it with blogs too.
Matt wrote "Here is a good blog question; What will you do with your $800?"
It doesn't strike me as that great a question.
* rdorgan
Wed, 01/23/08
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My typoing skills are bad enough with lower case letetrs never mind upper case.......
might it be because he has the same record of beating Hillary as Obama does (one out of three)
Good one. But of course that was a bare second place finish -- and Edwards has been going downhill since. High tide of the confederacy, so to speak.
70.
Michael -
It reminds of those tv ads showing the consequences of dropped calls (ie. trying to find out how to make a certain hamburger, etc.) touting it's better to have a stable verbal connection with Verizon.
All we got here is the dropped calls (ie. written pages).
* rdorgan
Wed, 01/23/08
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Good recall on the 92 Perot gaffe in front of the AA group, I cannot recall the name at the time but I too was leaning toward Perot at that time but thats not the reason why I went for Clinton, but Perots gaffe(I was just shaking my head at that one) didnt score him any points............
If I can think back, maybe it was the military endorsement of Clinton by several Generals that led me to believe we had a chance, although I still thought Bush would win it........my only loss in Presidential elections.............it was a good loss.....I partied all nite when Clinton won.
1/23/08
11:05 AM
At Last: Introducing John Edwards, the Minority Candidate
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/01/at_last_introducing_john_edwar.html
Here is a good blog question; What will you do with your $800?"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Super Bowl ticket down payment...........
I think I would buy round trip tickets to see my daughter in Tempe for my wife and I on Southwest. Ding fare could leave enough for the rental car.
Pay debts already incurred.
Of course, Fox's question was intended to make us feel grateful to Bush the handful of peanuts while the real dough keeps being funneled into the coffers of his corporate sponsers.
Governor Rendell of PA to endorse Clinton. No surprise there - another slimey pol for Clinton.
Clinton ignores rural voters:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1...
This just doesn't surprise me. The Clinton's do not believe in the 50 state strategy. Period. This is how Obama gained more delegates in Nevada.
Those who blow their own horns do so because no one else will.
80.
Indeed, HDTV tv (requirement by Feb 09, unless purchase a converter) purchase, is still down the road for me; as for plasma, that's a blood component, right ?
Old credit card debt paydowns sucks any of my disposable income.
Best Buy, I hardly know ya.
This just doesn't surprise me. The Clinton's do not believe in the 50 state strategy. Period. This is how Obama gained more delegates in Nevada.
I posted an article on a previous thread in which the Clinton camaign openly boasted they will steal delegates from Obama as the convoluted caucus system winds its way through the county, district, and state conventions.
Caucuses suck.
But the scary thing is not that you were once one of his supporters (absolutely you're right) but that you switched over to Clinton over semantics - that whole "You people" thing was truly blown out of proportion by the MSM. I would hope that people vote for canduidates based on policy and not an innocent slip of the tongue.
...and by the way, as much as I was not a supporter of Perot, he was dead on right about NAFTA (not all caps in this instance - just an acronym...). "The great sucking sound," as he put it. If only we'd listened...
Governor Rendell of PA to endorse Clinton. No surprise there - another slimey pol for Clinton.
Every scale on him is DLC.
Hillary was in Arizona yesterday and is today in New Mexico. Quite surprising for the few votes we have.
Can we remember please, who ever keeps talking about candidates getting rid of Howard Dean's 50 state strategy, there are a few that come to mind that would be tempted to do so but it is still just an attack with no merit.
Howard Dean had EVERY candidate sign a pledge to keep the 50 state strategy.
any stimulus package should include elements aimed directly at the cause of the current downturn, (and it isn't the pinched profits to the mortgage companies it is their response taking it out on customers) and the likes of a weatherization package to any homeowner currently getting heating assisstance for starters to get the building supply businesses hiring along with a massive FHA program to rehabilitate and find occupants for foreclosed on older homes
funded health care for kids
increased child care credits
and a crash infrastructure acceleration program, including green energy
coupons good for a tune up?
the upper limit? twice the poverty line(maybe median average wage and below)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
thinking outloud here but there are direct actions that the government could do that would have double benefits
passing out checks that exactly match the profits that Exxon sucked out of the economy so people shop at WalMart isn't my idea of how to give the economy a boost in the right direction
"Governor Rendell of PA to endorse Clinton. No surprise there - another slimey pol for Clinton."
So when they endorse Clinton, they are slimey, but when they endorse Obama, that makes them something else?
Linda wrote "Howard Dean had EVERY candidate sign a pledge to keep the 50 state strategy."
I was not aware of that. Do you happen to have handy the terms of the pledge? Does it extend past his own tenure as Party Chair?
87.
Al -
That was not the only reason I switched my support from Ross to Bill. I also checked into the company he started up and ran. Ross didn't seem to treat his employees all that well.
So that influenced my decision too.
In this prez election, I've noticed something of the same thing regarding Ron Paul supporters. I see, in essence, graffitization (there's no such word, so sorry about that) taking place -- with Ron Paul bumper stickers on post office mailboxes, on sides of buildings, etc. For what it's worth, that gets my attention -- but in the wrong way (it turns me off).
Hillary was in Arizona yesterday and is today in New Mexico. Quite surprising for the few votes we have.
It remains to be seen if her Rudy strategy -- concede immediate defeat and wait for Obama to catch up down the road -- will work.
Obama has been blitzing PHX with positive ads.
Phil wrote "passing out checks that exactly match the profits that Exxon sucked out of the economy so people shop at WalMart isn't my idea of how to give the economy a boost in the right direction."
No, but as a bribe it functions splendidly. Ask John Boehner.
Dude has never made a positive comment in his life. How unhappy must you be to complain about EVERYTHING, all the time. I would suggest a better life through pharmacutical care. Or as my mom would say, they have a pill for that now.
add $100 to any tax refund that is e-filed on a 1040 EZ and watch how quick that money gets into the economy if you just want to do that (and save a few trees in the process)
Rendell is smack in the middle of the DLC camp, should be no surprise he went for Clinton, he was part of the stop Howard movement too
97.
The drink and drug remedies, posted to each other here on this blog, is IMO the lowest form of discourse.
Besides -- the alcohol and pharmecutical industries do fine on their own, without us here doing free promoting and advertizing for them.
CIA document talks of need to "remove" Martin Luther King from leadership of "Negro movement"
Wayne Madsen Report | January 23, 2008
On the occasion of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday and amid attempts by the Hillary Clinton campaign to "revise" the history of the civil rights leader in a blatant attempt to tarnish the candidacy of her rival, Senator Barack Obama, it is noteworthy to point out that Dr. King was assassinated as part of a U.S. government plan, documented in a CIA memo, to replace the Nobel Peace Prize winner as the leader of the "Negro movement."
The May 11, 1965, memo for the record, given to this editor by a member of the King family, recounts a conversation between an individual whose name was redacted and the CIA's Morse Allen, the CIA's research director who was responsible for Project Artichoke and MK-ULTRA, two of the CIA's behavior modification programs that, in part, sought to create willing assassins.
(Article Continues Below)
The memo bemoaned the anti-Vietnam war activities of civil rights leaders like A. Philip Randolph and King. It also warns of the attempt by the "Communist left" to infiltrate the "Negro movement." The mindset of the CIA is interesting. They saw the civil rights movement not as a broad based attempt by a number of Americans to secure equal rights for African Americans, but as a "Negro movement" that was seen as a potential Fifth Column for the Communists.
Allen was concerned that Communists would take advantage of a break by the civil rights movement with President Lyndon Johnson over the Vietnam War and a resulting "violent disruption of the Negro [emphasis added] Civil Rights Movement. Allen was also concerned that King might be assassinated "before his exposure" and that would make him a martyr. During the time the memo was written, FBI director J. Edgar Hoover was trying to "expose" King. Hoover ordered the FBI to bug King's hotel rooms and tape record his alleged trysts. Hoover mailed one of the recordings to King's wife, Coretta Scott King, with a note urging Dr. King to commit suicide.
The most revealing part of the CIA memo is the following: "It is [redacted]'s belief that somehow or other Martin Luther KING must be removed from the leadership of the Negro movement, and is removal must come from within and not from without. [Redacted] feels that somewhere in the Negro movement, at the top, there must be a Negro leader who is 'clean' who could step into the vacuum and chaos if Martin Luther KING were either exposed or assassinated."
On April 4, 1968, King was assassinated in Memphis. The King family never accepted the full guilt of the accused assassin, James Earl Ray.
King was succeeded as the head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). In 1980, Abernathy endorsed the Republican ticket of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush over President Jimmy Carter. Abernathy founded the American Freedom Coalition along with Christian Right leader, Dr. Robert Grant. The organization received funding from Sun Myung Moon's quasi-fascist Unification Church.
The CIA memo stating that King should be replaced by someone "clean." Abernathy fit the bill.
Hillary Clinton, who is close to the right-wing Christian Fellowship Foundation cult leader David Coe and was a "Goldwater Girl" during the time the right-wing plot was being hatched against King in the mid-1960s, has played the "race card" in her campaign against Obama.
Truthfully, Linda, they all have some smarmy types supporting them. I can't stand Daschle for example who is supporting Obama. I have never cared for Rendell personally. And as you may have noticed I'm not a Clinton fan just as you are not an Obama fan. I came to support Obama very late in the game as I believe you came late to support Edwards,
Off for a haircut.
Cheney Impeachment News.....
Rep.Robert Wexler will be presenting John Conyers with a letter to begin invenstigation in the Judiciary Comm. A number of Reps. have signed on to it, including some surprising names.
He is opening up the signatures to all Congress members and is asking us to sign up and request our own Rep. and Senators to sign on.
We can do all of that in a minute. Just go to
Democratic Underground.com Cheney Impeachment News.
You can make the request to your Rep. (don't have to know the name) your senators, and leave your own message if you want, all at once.
Please do this.
Globalists Want a Tax on Television and Video Games
Truth News | January 23, 2008
Kurt Nimmo
David Rockefeller, Maurice Strong, and the Earth Summit folks, including the United Nations Environmental Program, want to tax your television and video games.
�The Sierra Club is proposing a tax on video games and televisions with the proceeds going to programs that encourage families to get kids off of the couch and into the mountains,� reports KOB, New Mexico. �Mike Casaus of the Sierra Club says families hiking a mountain trail together are becoming scarce as childhood diabetes and obesity is soaring, which is why the organization is proposing the one-percent tax.�
In other words, you're too stupid and lazy to do anything about your diabetes and obesity and yet another tax will get you motivated. Of course, the state doesn't care if you're overweight, it is simply looking for another excuse to fleece you. Mike Casaus of the Sierra Club might be distressed at the lack of mountain hikers, but you can bet the people behind the Sierra Club couldn't care less.
It's all about the global agenda, not your waistline. Maurice Strong served as director of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and over the years the IUCN has connived with the Sierra Club, National Audubon, National Wildlife Federation, Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund, etc., to impose a globalists agenda on us, the witless commoners.
Oh and Sitka - time for you to post your pootie pics again! LOL
102.
I keep several distillers out of Bankruptcy on my own each year. It is what I do for the economy!!
as if Obama doesn't have enough historical precedence to overcome on his plate, he also has family back home in Kenya :
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=25&newsid=115142
COMMENTARY
Kenya has come too far to waste gains
Story by BARACK OBAMA
Publication Date: 1/23/2008
I have been deeply troubled by the recent events in Kenya. The ongoing political impasse and the tragic violence pose an urgent and dangerous threat to Kenyans, Kenyan democracy, and stability and economic development in a vital region.
...
I have personally been touched by this generous, democratic spirit through my ties to my own family, and during my travels to Kenya — most recently as a US Senator in 2006. This thirst for democracy was on display in Kenya’s recent election, when Kenyans turned out to vote in record numbers, and in a peaceful way.
While participating in our own presidential elections in America, I have closely followed the tragic events that unfolded after Kenya’s polls closed. My thoughts and prayers and those of my family have been with the more than 650 victims of the violence and their families, as well as the 250,000 Kenyans who have been displaced.
...
There is no doubt that there were serious flaws in the process by which presidential votes were tabulated. There is also no doubt that actions taken by both sides in the aftermath of the election have deepened the stalemate.
...
When I recently spoke with Opposition leader Raila, I urged him to enter into talks with President Kibaki without preconditions — mass protests and violence are not the way out of this crisis. I have also reached out to President Kibaki in order to encourage him to refrain from further steps that would exclude meaningful opposition participation in the government.
...
Americans stand together in our friendship with the people of Kenya. I have spoken to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and I support the message delivered by assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer during her visit to Nairobi.
...
I have spoken to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and underscored my strong support for the efforts being made by Kenya’s friends to help facilitate dialogue. The future of Kenya is critically important to the future of Africa. While only Kenyans can resolve this crisis, all Kenyans should welcome the assistance of their concerned friends in this difficult time.
...
Kenya has come too far to throw away decades of progress in a storm of violence.
And keeping my three employees, ya know, employed.
Tom, no, I don't know the language, this is about all I can find in print, but I'm no expert Googler
ASDC President and Michigan Chair Mark Brewer kicked off the morning by welcoming everybody and discussing the commitment of the state parties to Governor Dean’s “50-state strategy”. He pointed participants to the study done by Harvard’s Elaine Kamarck showing that the 50-state strategy helped boost Democratic victories in 2006. He discussed the ASDC’s efforts to get Presidential campaigns to sign a written pledge to support and continue the 50-state strategy if they are nominated / elected. So far, the pledge has been signed by the Clinton, Dodd, Obama and Richardson campaigns.
18. -
I began revising my opinion of the Clintons several years ago and it's still revising downward.
Ditto!
The more I realize the damage that Clinton did that outweighed the good in the longrun, the more I realize the Clinton twins may be even more damaging now that they are so deeply indebted to the lobbyists.
Better than a Republican perhaps, but there is really not much difference. They have learned a lot of Rovian tricks.
audrey.nc
Wed, 01/23/08
they never clean there own house! not going to happen the rabbit hole goes deeper than dick! jail fit him better!
new Dean christened and troll free thread awaits
mary vb wrote: Truthfully, Linda, they all have some smarmy types supporting them. I can't stand Daschle for example who is supporting Obama. I have never cared for Rendell personally. And as you may have noticed I'm not a Clinton fan just as you are not an Obama fan. I came to support Obama very late in the game as I believe you came late to support Edwards,
_________________
That's fine, but what does that have to do with with to say "Governor Rendell of PA to endorse Clinton. No surprise there - another slimey pol for Clinton."
me responding
92.Linda in NMSo when they endorse Clinton, they are slimey, but when they endorse Obama, that makes them something else?99.
mary vb
Wed, 01/23/08
92. Yeh, something like that...___________________________Because I support Edwards, and not the others, I don't go around name calling and or being hypocritical just because he's not the candidate I'm supporting.
94,
About working for Ross Perot.
After I got out of college and as a disable vet, Ross Perot hired me to work for EDS. The work was demanding, the pay very good, and we were very predatory. I enjoyed my work there and found him an honest taskmaster; but a taskmaster.
Everyone worked lots of hours and we had to make quick decisions so we were all quick studies and had staffs with a broad knowledge of issues.
I quit when he sold it to GM.
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Videos of some of the 64 House Healthcare Heroes standing strong for a public health insurance option
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