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random September 19th, 2008
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John McCain (today): “Barack Obama’s campaign took a donation from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and now they’re out of business” Educated voter: “But, John McCain has received donations in Flordia from people who have outright said that they donated nothing, and would donate nothing. In some cases, they were even ineligible to donate. Names were pulled out of a hat so that donations larger than the $2300 could be made to John McCain from one person. This practice is illegal” ——————- John McCain (July, 2008): “Look, I know the area, I’ve been there, I know wars, I know how to win wars, and I know how to improve our capabilities so that we will capture Osama bin Laden — or put it this way, bring him to justice… We will do it, I know how to do it.” Me: And you won’t share this with us unless we elect you, I’m guessing. ——————- John McCain (24 times since January): The fundementals of our economy are strong. John McCain (Yesterday): Oh, that’s not what I meant to say 24 times, I meant to say that the American People are some of the hardest workers in the world. That’s what I meant by the fundementals of our economy. The people. I just misspoke at least 24 times. ——————- John McCain(30 seconds ago): [Obama's] tax increase is the surest way to bring about a recession and will increase the burden on middle class Americans. Financial Analysts: Analysts say Obama offers three times the tax break for middle class ——————- John McCain(30 seconds ago): Obama has voted in the past to raise taxes for someone making just $42,000 a year. Truth: This is only true if he’s talking about a single person that does not qualify for anything more than the standard exemption… and the annual tax increase would be just over $15. If that same person made $58,000, the increase would be $30. If that person had a child, they would not be “burdened” with that $15 dollar increase until they made $58,600. A family of four would have a $30 tax increase if they made $90,000 or more. I am sick of seeing lies and mistruths spread all over the airwaves. He can not make a speach or an ad unless it is to support some sort of bull that his campaign has decided to spread.When even Karl Rove calls you a liar.. you have problems Tags: $42000, democrat, economy, lies, mccain, obama, politics, republication, taxes
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Paul on Politics: Market versus Government Economy
Posted by paul on February 7th, 2009
Government distorts the market My guest writer today on the Rickety blog is my uncle Paul. Your comments are welcome. A Productive Economy Money for services and service jobs arises out of a productive economy — not vice versa. Moreover, service jobs are useful to the economy only if the service furnishes increased value to the products we make to sell in our markets and foreign markets. That truism leads to the distinction between government and private services. More Government Than We Need We need to purchase some government service. The difficulty is we purchase more government services than we need because of political power rather than market demand. Our private economy is self-regulating when the producers and their labor must compete in a free market. Government service jobs do not. If a company cannot manufacture a competitive product it will not survive economically. Government service jobs are creatures of political power, therefore are regulated by political force. The role of government in this instance is to keep the market honest. Contrary to popular assertions by politicians, free market forces did not cause the monetary breakdown we are experiencing. Introducing government into the market always distorts market value by addling costs. It was distortion of the market through congressional action that set the scene for failure. If left to its own devices, the market would drive out inefficient money houses. Moreover, government bailouts created larger monopolies on the premise that money entities are “…really are too big to (let) fail.” Government further degrades the market by choosing who receives the bailout monies. Monopolies are anti market and detrimental to free trade. For example: Out of necessity to build lending capital, a normal market will pay higher interest to attract capital and replenish their funds. Because banking is a percentage game, banks live on revenue from a percentage of the money it lends. The bailout does just the opposite by propping up inefficient markets in an attempt to shore up prices and continue bloated valuation. Self-serving politicians rationalize their poor decisions by declaring the entities are “too big to fail.” Keep Government Out of the Market Keeping government out of the market allows housing and other goods to seek their value furnishing prices that are cheaper for average citizens. Investors collect more interest from the increased sales that fills government tax coffers and furnishes investment capital facilitating new business. Furthermore, by its action, government loses money from the treasury exacerbating the predicament because taxes collected from artificially imposed low interest rates to savers maintains unsustainable prices and moves the day of reckoning farther into the future. It is worth repeating that purchases of expanded services arise out of healthy income from production and not vice versa. We cannot exist as a great nation on a service economy. The production of goods makes the national worth greater by adding value through work thereby creating greater money reserves that fund new economic activity. Work Note that the operative word is work. The notion that a nation or anyone else can create wealth by spending money we don’t have is baseless and will result in a catastrophic occurrence of the economy. If deficit spending were the antidote we all ought to go out and get many more credit cards. There is no easy way or quick fixes. We must allow a resettling of the economy to sustainable levels that reflect worth before we can recover. And we must go back to work. Bear in mind the words of politicians who admit they don’t have a clue about what they are doing or what the results may be. They, out of ignorance, say all they know to do is borrow big and spend! Spend! Money grab Make Work Jobs Because government by definition does not produce new products for sale in foreign markets and our own, government diminishes wealth through taxation that could have been used by entrepreneurs for new investment in production. Moreover, government collecting taxes to employ people in “make work jobs” simply takes money from the investment pool and transfers funds to the non-productive parts of our service economy. An argument may legitimately be made that a service such as building a new highway to facilitate m

...he chooses his friends in politics based on his whims. Meendum Rajini?......Posted by Vijay Narayanan People, Politics Subscribe to RSS feed ...

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Nov12 Rajnikanth to politics? News from Chennai is that L.K. Advani, BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, met with Rajnikanth at his Poes Garden house yesterday. And speculation is rife that this might signal Rajnikanth’s arasiyal pravesam. My opinion is that Rajni should keep out of politics, even campaigning. And that too, not for the BJP, which has proved during the past 4 years that it is out of touch with the common man, out of touch with India’s national interests, and is worse than the Congress. Bumbling on ideology, inconsistent on issues, and with a dangerous mindset that opposes the selfsame programmes under the Congress regime that the BJP proposed in the past, the BJP’s intellectual void is as glaring as its inability to forge and retain alliances. Supporters of Rajni think that just because MGR was successful in politics, so will their thalaivar be. But they forget that MGR had a long association with politics. And he did not debut as a Chief Minister. Contrast this with Rajnikanth, whose situation is similar to that of the BJP above. He has had no single policy stance; he cannot articulate his positions clearly; he chooses his friends in politics based on his whims. Meendum Rajini? What do you think? SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Rajnikanth to politics?", url: "http://www.vkpedia.com/2008/11/12/rajnikanth-to-politics/" }); Related posts:Politics, in four wordsSupporters of Hillary Clinton: “Help Hillary make history!” Supporters of Barack Obama: “Help make Hillary history!” SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Rajnikanth to...His last bow?[cross-posted in TN Assembly Election '06]Rajnikanth’s decision to stay away from the political theatre this time around is probably his...Politics, in three wordsBarack Obama: “Yes, we can!” Hillary Clinton: “Yes, we scam!” (Wow, this is becoming some kind of a feature! Here...BJP loses big!I’m surprised that the headline on CNN-IBN’s website reads “Cong., BJP win and lose, no verdict for 2009“. Is IBN...Kamal, Vaali, Rajni, Vairamuthu…I am of the opinion that an actor, however much talented he might be, must be an egomaniac if he... Tags: Advani, BJP, Chief Minister, Congress, Rajnikanth Posted by Vijay Narayanan People, politics Subscribe to RSS feed 3 Responses to “Rajnikanth to politics?”

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Apr13 politics 101 Sir Isaac Newton was also a member of the Parliament of England from 1689 to 1690 and in 1701, but according to some accounts his only comments were to complain about a cold draught in the chamber and request that the window be closed. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "politics 101", url: "http://www.vkpedia.com/2009/04/13/politics-101/" }); Related posts:Rajnikanth to politics?News from Chennai is that L.K. Advani, BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, met with Rajnikanth at his Poes Garden house yesterday....Politics, in three wordsBarack Obama: “Yes, we can!” Hillary Clinton: “Yes, we scam!” (Wow, this is becoming some kind of a feature! Here...Politics, in four wordsSupporters of Hillary Clinton: “Help Hillary make history!” Supporters of Barack Obama: “Help make Hillary history!” SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "politics 101",... Posted by Vijay Narayanan Miscellaneous Subscribe to RSS feed 4 Responses to “politics 101”

Home What is wrong with being a celebrity in politics? ? July 26, 2009 | By Ashley In Elections | After All, most republicans and democrats alike thought Reagan was one of the best presidents we ever had. Reagan was an Actor, the biggest celebrity possible. So why all the hype over Obama being a celebrity?Real Gold Cufflinks Other Related Posts: 9 Comments so far

... A Primer for Canadian Politics in 2008 Dec 11, 2008 Politics Oh!......many Canadians. I took Canadian Politics in University, and recall learning......archives. My understanding of Canadian Politics - like most Canadians has......the confidence of the house. Canadian Politics Today: So what is going......have it a little Canadian Politics 101 for today. Perhaps some......to “A Primer for Canadian Politics in 2008” ...

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A Primer for Canadian politics in 2008
Dec 11, 2008 Politics
Oh! the drama in Canadian politics. Did the Canadian politicians feel left out when most Canadian’s were paying more attention to US politicians? So much so, they decided to throw a little conflict onto the Hill? Well, Canadians are taking the bait and running with it. It seems you are either for or against the coalition. But, I have to wonder how many people actually understand what is going on. There are e-mails and websites popping up that are rampant with misinformation - bound to confuse many Canadians. I took Canadian politics in University, and recall learning about the Parliamentary system throughout High School, but like the Quadratic Formula and my French verbs I filed them away in the archives. My understanding of Canadian politics - like most Canadians has been flavoured by watching too much American television (West Wing anyone?) So, before I judged, and before I wrote this post I did a little “Googling” to bring me up to speed. (I am not a political blogger, so feel free to correct me where needed and I will update the post). Parliamentary Democracy 101 In the US the President is both the Head of Government and the Head of State. In Canada, the “Head of Government” is the Prime Minister (for my non-Canadian readers – this position is currently held by Stephen Harper) while the Governor General (Queen’s representative is Michaëlle Jean) is the “Head of State” and she is also the Commander in Chief of the Canadian Forces. During an election we vote for a Member of Parliament (MP) NOT a leader. That MP represents a party, and the leader of the party with the most seats (MPs) becomes Prime Minister (appointed by the GG). The runner-up becomes Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. The important thing to note: If the party chooses a new leader when they are in power – we get a new Prime Minister. No election is necessary! MPs sit in the house (Parliament) and vote on motions. A motion can only be passed if the majority of MPs say, “Yes”. So, the number of seats a party holds is obviously important in a Parliamentary system. If the leading party has enough MPs (Majority Government) they can pass motions with no help from the Opposition. However, if the party does not have enough MPs elected then they need the opposing party to agree to get motions passed (Minority Government). The Prime Minister remains the Prime Minister until any of the following happen: they die, 5 years are up, their party chooses a new leader, they ask the GG to call an election and dissolve Parliament (this is what Stephen Harper did in September of 2008, hoping he would gain a majority), or they lose the confidence of the house. Canadian politics Today: So what is going on now? Our current government is a minority which means the Prime Minister has to function in a cooperative spirit with the Opposition or they won’t be able to accomplish much. If the government tries to pass something with a “confidence motion” attached to it, and they lose that motion then it is said to have “lost the confidence of the house”. September On September 7, 2008 the Prime Minister asked the Governor General to call a federal election, saying that there was no spirit of co-operation in the house, although there hadn’t as of yet been a loss of a confidence vote, and despite the act he passed in May 2007 amending the Elections Act providing for fixed four-year elections with the election scheduled October 2009. October The Conservatives won a second minority in October with an increased number of MPS from 127 to 143 seats. November At the end of November following the resumption of Parliament, Harper put forth an economic strategy, which included removing federal election subsidies to all parties. Canada’s five major political parties receive $1.95 per vote they receive (as long as they receive 2% of popular vote), the funds are then used to pay expenses. This move to eliminate the subsidies would save $30 million a year but could cripple the opposition. Initially you may think this would hurt the Conservatives the most because they garnered the most votes. However, the Conservatives have a strong fundraising base compared to the Opposition. According to a CBC article the subsidy represents only 37 per cent of the Conservative party’s revenue. By comparison, the subsidy amounts to 63 per cent of the Liberals’ funding, 86 per cent of the Bloc’s, 57 per cent of the NDP’s and 65 per cent of the Greens’. The Prime Minister made this economic updates a confidence motion, essentially putting Parliament into quite a predicament! Vote yes, or force an election only a few weeks after Canadians had already gone to the polls (and the government spent lots of money doing so to effectively change nothing…minority government to minority government!) But, surprise! The Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois said they would not support the update because it contained no stimulus package to spur Canada’s slumping economy and protect Canadian workers during the crisis. Harper’s aggressive bully approach failed as the Opposition decided to form a coalition – a combination party consisting of the Liberal party and the NDP and supported by unofficial members - the Bloc and the Green Party. This coalition with the majority of seats in the house could thus become the leading party (with Dion, for now in the role of PM) and push the Conservatives to the role of Opposition. Poor Mr. Harper, was called foul by the Opposition, and he wasn’t happy about it. He tried some name calling in an attempt to keep his job: He said it is undemocratic. Many conservatives have called this a “coup” or “overthrowing the government” and have implied or claimed outright that it is illegal. Uh…no. It isn’t undemocratic. It is perfectly legal, has precedent in this country, in fact, the current Prime Minister himself suggested the exact same thing to the Governor General in 2004, when he was the opposition. Proof. Remember we vote for Members of Parliament – NOT THE PRIME MINISTER! He says that it is a “betrayal of the best interests of our country” because it includes the Bloc, a Quebec only party. The Bloc as mentioned above is not technically part of the coalition; they simply support the coalition, as does the Green Party. Not only that – but take a close look at the letter Mr. Harper wrote in 2004….notice the signatures…. It looks like in 2004 even Mr. Harper signed a deal with “the devil”! Note: These claims are some of the same claims made on Right-wing websites enticing Canadians to write to their MPs. These same sites make grandiose claims such as: our dollar will go down, will cause a West vs. East divide, and interest rates will go up! So with the coalition at hand, and no confidence in the house the PM had a choice –go to the GG and quit, suspend parliament, dissolve parliament or wait until there is a vote at which time it will likely fail and an election will have to be called again. In this case, Harper has requested to prorogue (a funny word that means suspend) parliament until January. The GG has allowed the suspension of Parliament until late in January. Giving the Conservatives time to come up with a new economic package, consult with and try to gain support of more MPs – or risk a loss of confidence vote upon the return to the hill. In the meantime looks like the Liberals will have a new leader. There you have it a little Canadian politics 101 for today. Perhaps some of you have found this post because you wanted to learn more (as I did) about what is happening – and good for you. What do you think about what is going on? Update: Thanks to a Twitter post from @shireenJ, who can be found blogging at Shireen Jeejeebhoy for this note: @michellekostya Good post! Better to post than not at all!! One add’l point: prorogue in face of non-con is unusual, never done before. Absolutely - I think a lot of people were surprised the GG agreed to prorogue parliament when a non-confidence vote hadn’t happened yet. Share and Enjoy: Random posts:Canadian Coalition Causes Buzz on TwitterI Can’t Help Myself: Sarah Palin Pranked by CanadiansTwittering Television“Provinces in Peril”How scr%$ed are we? Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Tags: canada, canadians, coalition, conservatives, government, liberals, parliament, Politics, stephen harper
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Hillary Should Listen to Danica Patrick
April 23rd, 2008 by admin
Danica Patrick won her first Indy car race in Japan. While this did get significant media attention, I wonder if it got the attention, it deserves. Patrick is the first woman to win an Indy car event. Until this win, most pundits believed she was “just a pretty face” and not a capable professional race car driver. Patrick has been a better promoter than driver until this win. Patrick has made millions from endorsements but she is often criticized not for her racing but for her racy photographs. Danica’s Winning Strategy While Indy car racing has lost a lot of its luster in recent years, this is still a major victory for Patrick and women generally. Patrick won against an all male field. The “playing field” was the same. The challenge to control an open wheel car going at outrageous speeds was the same for all competitors. In winning, Patrick’s strategy as well as her driving skill helped her win. She conserved fuel so that near the end of the race she would not need to make a pit stop. While other drivers had to stop for fuel, Patrick was able to continue on to the finish line for her first victory. A few days after Patrick’s win, Senator Hillary Clinton won the Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary. For Clinton, the first woman to be a serious contender for the U.S. presidency, this was a vital win. Had she lost,the Clinton campaign would have ended in failure. While the New York senator won the primary convincingly, her path to the presidential nomination is still very difficult. Hillary’s Failed Strategy Senator Clinton trails Senator Obama in the number of delegates won, the popular votes cast and the number of states won. The Clinton campaign must either “help” Senator Obama unravel as a viable candidate or create great momentum by winning all the remaining primaries. She must become the inevitable choice of the party’s “super delegates”. This is indeed an almost impossible task at this stage of the campaign. It is hard to imagine how Senator Clinton got to the point in this campaign where her chances of winning the nomination are so slim. When the Democratic race for the presidential nomination began, almost everyone believed that Hillary Clinton would win in a “cakewalk”. Polls of probable Democratic voters showed that Clinton enjoyed overwhelming support. In the national November3 2007 Gallup Poll, Senator Clinton led the race with 50%, Senator Obama had 22%, former Senator Edwards had 15%, and New Mexico Governor Richardson had 4%. A Marathon Not a Sprint In the April 23, 2008 Gallup Poll Senator Clinton trails Senator Obama 42% to 50% nationally . The Clinton campaign has made many mistakes since November of 2007. The Clinton’s have alienated African American voters. They have failed to address the negative perceptions of the New York senator’s honesty and trustworthiness. The campaign has not been able to control former President Clinton’s rants and ravings on the campaign trail. However, most of all the Clinton campaign began this race as if were a sprint. They believed that the Senator was the inevitable choice of the nation’s democrats. The campaign’s brain trust assumed that by the February 5, 2008, Super Tuesday primaries ,Clinton would have the nomination locked up. Because they believed in her inevitability, the campaign did not aggressively compete in many of the states that held caucuses instead of primaries. So nearing the end of the race the Clinton campaign is behind and running out of fuel. If only they had talked to Danica about how to win at the end of the race. Share and Enjoy: Share this post with the world.
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Roger Clemens and Jeremiah Wright: Two Troubled Souls
May 1st, 2008 by admin
Roger Clemens Rev. Jeremiah Wright With apologies to Greg Maddux, Roger Clemens is probably the greatest pitcher in the last twenty plus years of baseball history. Clemens has won 354 games and lost 184 in his 24-year career. He won the Cy Young award seven times. The Cy Young award signifies that during that season, Clemens was the best pitcher in his league. Clemens has won three games and lost none in his World Series appearances with the New York Yankees. Clemens has always presented himself as a “real man’s man.” He is an articulate, college-educated athlete and appeared to represent the best, baseball had to offer. During his career, Clemens made more than $100 million dollars in salary from his teams. He has also been very successful in endorsing products and services of corporate America. He has been in demand for speaking at events and memorabilia and card shows. The Mitchell Report Changes Lives Clemens’ life and reputation changed dramatically on December 13, 2007. On that day, the Mitchell Report was made public. In the report, Roger Clemens was identified as a player who had used performance-enhancing drugs. Brian McNamee, a former trainer, said Clemens used performance enhancers on several occasions. McNamee also identified Andy Pettitte, as another of his clients who used banned substances. While Clemens denied McNamee’s claims, Pettitte admitted to using performance enhancers. Clemens and McNamee went “toe to toe” before a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. McNamee forcefully repeated his accusations. Clemens vehemently denied that he ever used banned substances. Republicans on the committee seemed to believe Clemens while Democrats on the committee seemed to support McNamee. In the end, the committee voted to ask the Justice Department to investigate both Clemens and McNamee to determine which one had committed perjury. Clemens compounded his problems by appearing on the CBS television program “60 Minutes“. In his “60 Minutes” interview , Clemens suggested that everyone is lying but him. Making the Beast with Two Backs Clemens reputation took another hit when the New York Daily News reported that Clemens had a number of extra marital affairs with a variety of women. The first woman identified as “making the beast with two backs” with Clemens, was Mindy McCready a troubled, country singer whom Clemens first met and invited to his hotel room when she was fifteen years old. Clemens denies having an “inappropriate relationship” with McCready.On the other hand McCready, seems to suggest that her sexual relationship with Clemens did not occur until after she turned eighteen. The Daily News has identified several other women, including one of golfer John Daly’s ex-wives, who were intimately, involved with Clemens. For Clemens who often declared that his wife and family were the most important parts of his life, these revelations are particularly damaging. Jeremiah Wright - Another Successful Career Like, Roger Clemens the Rev. Jeremiah Wright has had an outstanding career. Wright a decorated member of the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Navy was riding high .In Chicago, as pastor, preacher, teacher, scholar, and community activist Wright was one of the best. He helped build the ministries of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago to the point where this church became one of the most important and vital churches in the city. Oprah Winfrey and other local movers and shakers were often members and visitors in Wright’s congregation. For African Americans visiting Chicago, Trinity was a must stop in the same way that Rev.T.D. Jakes’ Potter’s House is in Dallas. In 2007, Jeremiah Wright was about to retire from the active pastorate. A successor was in place and Wright was about to be honored and recognized by churches, seminaries, and civic organizations across the nation. Wright was being honored for his outstanding body of work. On top of these accolades, one of Wright’s congregants, Barack Obama, was becoming the first African American with a serious opportunity to become the nominee of his party for President of the United States. YouTube Changes Lives For Jeremiah Wright, YouTube changed his life. Snippets of Wright’s sermons form several different dates appeared on YouTube. In those snippets, Wright blasts America for its treatment of African Americans. In one clip he suggests that the American government may be responsible for the spread of AIDS among African Americans. For many the most disturbing clip involved Wright saying,”Not God Bless America but God Damn America.” Wright the decorated former Marine was now seen as “unpatriotic”. The pastor who helped develop a dynamic program to address the issues of HIV/AIDS in the African American community was now called a “nut case.” The spiritual adviser to a potential U.S. President was now being called “a dangerous old man”. The national media descended on Wright’s church and congregants looking for more examples of Wright’s “inappropriate words and deeds.” Wright compounded his problems with speeches he made before the Detroit NAACP and the National Press Club. These were nationally televised speeches and Wright seemed intoxicated by the presence of the television cameras. Following these speeches, Barack Obama felt it necessary to totally repudiate Wright’s words and to some degree distance himself from Wright the man. Obama said that Wright was now a caricature of a once talented and distinguished pastor. The Tragic Flaw in Clemens and Wright To see two men who have had such successful careers fall so far in the estimation of the public is deeply disturbing. Roger Clemens the great pitcher and competitor is now the butt of jokes about sex and drugs. Jeremiah Wright the great preacher and pastor is now a racist “madman” in the eyes of many Americans. For many African Americans the Rev. Jeremiah Wright is now a “dream killer”. In both cases, the body of work that was celebrated not long ago will be forever tarnished and in some cases dismissed. Both these men are exceptionally talented but their flaws have brought them to this difficult time in their lives. In the Greek tragedies, it was hubris that brought great men down to their knees. In today’s world, it is the television camera and hubris, that can bring great men down to their knees. “The fault dear Brutus is not in our stars, but in ourselves…..” Share and Enjoy: Share this post with the world.
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 1st, 2008 at 2:12 pm
and is filed under Barack Obama, Mitchell Report, Perfromance Enhancing Drugs, Presidential Politics, Roger Clemens, Steroids, Uncategorized.
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5 responses about “Roger Clemens and Jeremiah Wright: Two Troubled Souls”

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Attention Must Be Paid to Hillary Clinton
May 8th, 2008 by admin
Since her blowout loss in North Carolina and a razor thin win in Indiana, there are increasing demands for Senator Clinton to drop her campaign.In response to these demands, the New York senator says that, she plans to continue her campaign until a nominee is chosen. NBC’s Meet the Press host Tim Russert ,has declared that we now know who the nominee is and it is Obama. The Two Georges, Will and McGovern Urge Clinton to Quit Former Democratic Party presidential candidate George McGovern has joined a growing number of political leaders urging Clinton to quit the race. Newspapers and the “blogosphere “ , cable news, and radio talk shows are jammed with articles and commentaries pointing out the futility of Clinton continuing her efforts to secure the nomination. The arithmetic is certainly against Clinton since she cannot win more states, get more votes, nor win more delegates than Obama. Even conservative columnist George Will has joined the cause urging Clinton to quit in a column, Yankee Fan Go Home. Remember the Wisdom of Mrs. Loman In a moving scene in Arthur Miller’s classic play Death of a Salesman, Mrs. Loman tells her son who is deeply disappointed with his father that “attention must be paid to such a person”. Mrs. Loman’s wisdom now should apply to Senator Clinton’s current situation. Clinton started this race as the odds on favorite to win the nomination. She has won a number of large states including New York, California, Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Senator Clinton has a passionate following of older women. For many women Clinton symbolizes the same world-changing phenomenon as Obama represents for African Americans. The Clinton brand in the Democratic party is powerful. The Clinton presidency with all its foibles was a time of peace and prosperity in the nation. It is important to remember that less than a year ago, Clinton seemed to be the almost certain nominee. Nevertheless, after raising over 100 million dollars and making personal loans of more than 11 million dollars to her campaign, Clinton has apparently lost the nomination. Not only has she lost but also she lost to a first term senator with little experience at the national level but who can give a good speech. She has lost to an African American when just a few months ago African Americans revered the Clintons. In addition, young women and well-educated women have turned against Clinton. The world of politics, the Clinton’s have known has changed dramatically. I am sure the Clintons are asking themselves how could this happen? Older White Women Are People Too I believe it is not appropriate to demand that Senator Clinton quit the race. She is the only one who can decide when and how to end her campaign. Democrats owe the Clintons the opportunity to exit the stage with dignity. Passionate Clinton supporters will be sensitive to the way she leaves the race. Will Obama treat Clinton as a loser or as a powerful former opponent? The Obama campaign needs to treat the New York Senator respectfully. The Obamas will need the Clintons to help them connect to the various components of the Clinton constituencies. In football terms, it is time for the Obama team to just run the ball up the middle and not try any long passes. Obama must save the long passes and the “razzle dazzle” for John McCain. The clock is running out on the Clintons. Share and Enjoy: Share this post with the world.
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 8th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
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McCain! Learn from Al Davis
May 21st, 2008 by admin
Al Davis and John McCain In the 1970,’s I lived in Northern California and owned one-half of a season ticket for the Oakland Raider football games. The Raiders were an exciting team and the atmosphere at the games was exciting. On Sundays when my turn came to use the tickets, we would assemble at a neighborhood restaurant have brunch board a bus and begin a Sunday morning rolling cocktail party. By the time the bus reached the stadium, many on our bus were “well oiled.” The Raiders’ Black Hole Raider games in those days and in many ways today, were parties as much as football games. The story that was spread then was that the Raiders built their fan base by selling tickets to bars and restaurants that like us traveled to the game in large groups. While I had been to N.F.L. games in other cities, none compared to the energy and excitement of a Raider game. A major characteristic of Raider games was the racial diversity of the fans in the stadium. Again, the story was that the Raider fan base was built from the black, white, and Hispanic neighborhood bars. The Raider teams were always different from most other teams. Al Davis the managing partner was devoted to wide-open football that emphasized the long passes. Darryl Lamonica, the “mad bomber, “might connect for seventy yards with the likes of Warren Wells on any given play. Kenny Stabler who succeeded Lamonica as quarterback, had Cliff Branch and Fred Biletnikoff to grab his throws. Al Davis created a team filled with sometimes wild and crazy personalities. He had, for example, the “Mad Stork”, Ted Hendricks. The Raiders had Otis Sistrunk, an alumnus of the “University of Mars”, George Blanda, a quarterback who played well into his 40’s, and Warren Wells, a man troubled with a variety of legal and personal issues. The Raiders were the last refuge for talented players who had troubles in college or with other N.F.L. teams. Just Win Baby The Raiders’ motto was and is, Commitment to Excellence. Al Davis’ personal mantra was and is, “Just Win Baby”. Moreover, Davis and his Raiders have been winners for many years. The Raiders throughout their history have been one of the most successful teams in the National Football League. The Raiders have also been Super Bowl winners. In addition, Al Davis has been in the forefront of important changes in professional sports. Davis hired the first African American head coach and the first Hispanic head coach in the N.F.L. Davis , is the man who elevated a young assistant coach named John Madden to head coach. Madden is now and more known for his television work and video games than his stint as Super Bowl champion coach. Davis involved himself in on-going disputes with N.F.L. commissioner Pete Rozelle and several of his fellow team owners. Davis won court decisions that in part changed the way the N.F.L. does business to this day. It is important to remember, that Davis was once an assistant football coach in the old American Football League who rose to become commissioner of that League and through his shrewd moves became the managing partner of an N.F.L. Many sources report that Davis’ net worth now exceeds 100 million dollars. Tony Dungy’s Tampa Two In recent years, however, the Raiders have fallen on hard times. They have been perennial losers. They have had a revolving door of coaches and have selected a number of players who have not succeeded in the N.F.L. The Raiders, who were once at the top of professional football, are now the subject of ridicule and scorn. As great as Al Davis has been in the past, he is now and aging, disabled man who has let the game pass him by. Tony Dungy’s, “Tampa Two”, defense that has been adopted by many N.F.L. teams, has neutralized the long pass. Defensive players in the league are so big and fast that many of the plays that once worked do not work as well today. The so-called “west coast offense” perfected by the late Bill Walsh which emphasizes short passes is the predominate offense in today’s N.F.L. Despite the changes in present day football, Davis continues to build his teams the same way he did in the 1970’s and 1980’s. He has let go two of the league’s best head coaches, Mike Shanahan and John Gruden and now has a 33 year old, former college assistant coach, Lane Kiffen who he wanted to get rid of after one season. Another thing that has changed in today’s N.F.L. is the salaries paid to players. In Davis’ heyday, players’ salaries were modest compared to day. The world has changed and Al Davis has not. A Cautionary Tale for McCain John McCain needs to look carefully at Al Davis’s current situation. Although McCain has had a reputation as independent and a maverick Republican member of the U.S. Senate in his run for president, he has adopted the standard Republican Party orthodoxy. McCain thinks the solution to the nation’s current economic woes rests on the continuation of the tax cuts that President Bush has touted as producing prosperity. The credit crisis, the growing wave of house foreclosures, the skyrocketing price of gasoline, the falling U.S. dollar are just some of the challenges that McCain needs to address. McCain wants to see the Iraq War through to a successful completion. The people of America want a swift end to the war. Similarly, most Americans want the nation to regain its role as a leader of the world but McCain argues to continue the unsuccessful international policies of the current administration. Can old warriors change? Al Davis has not. Will John McCain change? Share and Enjoy: Share this post with the world.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 at 10:20 am
and is filed under Al Davis, John McCain, McCain & Iraq, McCain's Vision, Presidential Politics, Uncategorized.
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Will Feminists Overturn Roe v. Wade ?
May 26th, 2008 by admin
Geraldine Ferraro Geraldine Ferraro, a former Democratic Party nominee for Vice President of the United States, says that if Barack Obama is her party’s nominee for President she might not vote for him. Ferraro believes that Obama has run a sexist and unfair campaign. She believes that Obama played the “race card “against her when she made a statement, “If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman of any color, he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.” Will Clinton Supporters Vote for McCain? Ferraro is not alone among avid female supporters of Senator Hillary Clinton. Ben Smith in the Politico reports ,an Ohio-based group of Democratic Hillary Clinton supporters say they’ll work actively against Sen. Barack Obama if he becomes the nominee, arguing that Clinton has been the subject of “intense sexism” by party leaders and the media. “ Taylor Marsh a talk show host and avid Clinton supporter says that the anti-Obama sentiment among women who support Clinton has hardened to the point that these women will not vote for Obama under any circumstances The anger at the way some women believe that Senator Clinton has been treated in the campaign is extremely intense. There are active campaigns that call for boycotts of television networks and their sponsors because of the perceived basis against the New York senator. McCain is Committed to Overturning Roe v. Wade Traditionally, for most feminists the “litmus test” for candidates they will support concerns the candidate’s commitment to support the principles of the Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade. This decision affirmed the right of women to terminate pregnancies without government prohibitions. Republican presidential candidate, Senator John McCain, has made clear that he not only opposes Roe v. Wade but that he will appoint Justices to United States Supreme Court who will overturn the 1973 Court’s decision. In addition, Senator McCain opposes equal pay for equal work legislation, legislation to allow victims of gender discrimination to have more time to legally protest their situation, and the extension of family leave. For many of the issues that feminists say they are committed to, McCain opposes including ending the war in Iraq, providing universal health care, and helping people facing home foreclosures. Will Feminists Vote for Senator McCain? With Senator McCain at odds with most issues that feminists have held dear for so many years, will women support McCain to spite Obama? Will this be the time when women’s issues take a backseat to the anger generated by the rough and tumble primary campaign between Senators Clinton and Obama? Share and Enjoy: Share this post with the world.
This entry was posted on Monday, May 26th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
and is filed under Barack Obama, Democrat Politics, Feminists, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, McCain's Vision, Presidential Politics, Roe v. Wade.
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13 responses about “Will Feminists Overturn Roe v. Wade ?”

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NBA’s David Stern : Obama’s Vice President?
June 16th, 2008 by admin
David Stern Watching NBA Commissioner David Stern respond to the latest salvos from felonious referee Tim Donaghy, I think it is clear that Stern needs to move on. Most fans believe that Donaghy is telling the truth when he says that referees made calls that favored one team over another. Donaghy Says the Fix Was In The motive Donaghy says was to extend playoff series in order to generate more revenue or to make sure that large market teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers advanced. Specifically the former referee who was convicted for gambling on NBA games points to a 2002 playoff game between the Lakers and Sacramento Kings. In that game, there were a number of non-calls and phantom calls that helped the Lakers win. Washington Post columnist Michael Wilbon among others was highly critical of the referees at the time of the game. Stern the Lawyer is not Believed Commissioner Stern is struggling to get fans to believe that NBA referees are not conspiring to fix the outcome of basketball games. I think Sterns problem is he sounds too much like a lawyer defending his client. In fact, Stern is a lawyer and cannot shake off his advocacy training to convince non-lawyers that Donaghy is the only rogue among NBA officials. Lawyer talk does not make the average fan feel comfortable that bad calls by referees are not deliberate attempts to fix the game. Stern Knows Diversity The overwhelming majority of players in the National Basketball Association are African American. There is a growing presence of players from countries around the world. Today’s NBA has players from Europe, Asia, and North, South and Central America. Stern has also presided over the birth of the WNBA, a major professional sports league for women. One test of Stern’s success with diversity is, when African American coaches and executives are hired and later fired, race is usually not mentioned. Stern the Businessman is First Rate Stern took over an NBA that was struggling financially. NBA championship games were often shown on tape delay on network television. NBA arenas often had many fans cleverly disguised as empty seats. Today the NBA is a major professional sport and business. It still has challenges, but Stern has made professional basketball relevant again. Not only is the NBA Championship series on primetime television, but the NBA is everywhere on cable and satellite television in the United States and around the world. Stern Knows Globalization Stern has transformed the NBA into an international phenomenon. Players from around the world are joining NBA teams. More than 200 million people in China watched a game this year between the Houston Rockets and the Milwaukee Bucks. The game featured two Chinese players Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian. Stern has internationalized basketball in a way that few other businesses in America have been able to do. I have personally seen youngsters in Morocco, Spain, France and Israel in recent years playing soccer (football) wearing NBA jerseys. Stern for Vice President Whatever you might think about Stern, he is a very smart man. He is a strategic thinker who has made the NBA successful. He understands globalization better than most of America’s corporate executives. Stern is a tough businessperson who knows transformational economics. This is just what the United States needs today. Finally, Stern knows diversity and in the United States today, that is valuable. Ralph Nader for NBA Commissioner I heard Ralph Nader on the Dan Patrick Show the other day, complaining about NBA referees. Nader says he wrote Stern a letter after the 2002 playoff game that Donaghy says the referees fixed. Nader said that because NBA fans are consumers they have the right to expect that NBA referees would be like “Caesar’s wife”, completely above reproach. Ralph Nader Like Stern, I believe Nader also needs a new job. Becoming NBA commissioner, he would be a strong consumer advocate. The NBA position would also keep Nader from destroying his legacy by putting an end to his “Quixotic” run for President of the United States. Share and Enjoy: Share this post with the world.
This entry was posted on Monday, June 16th, 2008 at 10:39 am
and is filed under Barack Obama, David Stern, Democrat Politics, NBA, NBA Referees, Nader and NBA, Presidential Politics, Ralph Nader.
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Jesse Jackson and Willie Mays: Knowing When to Quit
July 13th, 2008 by admin
When Rev. Jesse Jackson said on a Fox News set that Obama was talking down to Black America and he wanted to “cut his nuts off”, it became clear that it is time for Jackson to leave the American political scene. A “hot microphone” picked up Jackson’s comments during a break in the show. Jackson apologized profusely to Obama but at the same time tried to emphasize that Obama’s achievements are the culmination of the work of a variety of heroes who have made it possible for an African American to be a serious candidate for President of the United States of America. Jackson pointed to the efforts of leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Fannie Lou Hamer, and of course himself. Willie Mays Messed Up Also My son reminded me that Jackson was not the first to “stay to long at the fair”. He reminded me that one of my childhood heroes, Willie Mays continued to play baseball long after his skills had declined. I followed Mays’ career for more than 30 years. As a small child, I saw him play for the New York Giants in the Polo Grounds and later as part of the San Francisco Giants in Candlestick Park. Mays was one of the greatest baseball players of all times. He could do everything. He could run, hit, hit for power, catch, and throw. At the tail end of his career, Mays left the San Francisco Giants and joined the New York Mets .But as a Met, Mays was a shadow of his former self and he embarrassed himself on a number of occasions by his inability to play the outfield. Rather than praise him for his illustrious career, fans and commentators began to laugh at his present failures. Jackson Should Have Learned From Mays Like Mays, Rev. Jackson does not know when to quit. In making his vulgar statement about Obama, Jackson is now the subject of ridicule. He is being psycho analyzed by journalists, bloggers, and pundits. Many say his egomania has gotten the best of him and that he is in a struggle to try to assert his continued relevancy. Others say that Jackson is suffering from “Obama Envy”. Added to his earlier anti-Semitic remarks, Jackson has now alienated another major segment of American progressives. Obama Strikes Fear in Many African American Leaders As we have written here before the Obama campaign strikes fear in many traditional African American leaders. Like Jackson , people like Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Andrew Young, and BET founder Bob Johnson will find it difficult to be significant players in “Obama World” should he win the presidency. In addition, a number of elected officials who supported Sen. Hillary Clinton and attacked Sen. Obama will probably not be the high on the White House invitation list. Remember Willie Mays! Share and Enjoy: Share this post with the world.
This entry was posted on Sunday, July 13th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
and is filed under Barack Obama, Bob Johnson, Democrat Politics, Fox News, Hillary Clinton, Jesse Jackson, Presidential Politics, Willie Mays.
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Barack Obama’s Inauguration 20 January 2009 Michael Szumielewski 2 Comments Politics Today, history has been made. Barack Obama officially became the 44th president of the United States of America. In his inauguration speech he clearly points out that the country is in a recession and hard times must be faced. He stated various issues his administration is about to change and appealed to the people to not give up hope and get to work. We will see what effects President Obama will have on the U.S. economy in a manner of time. The challenges America has to face for the next few years have to be met fast and precisely. As an investor you should now follow the news about significant changes the Obama administration is about to introduce, be it in health care or renewable energies. There will be companies which will clearly benefit from his presidency. Barack Obama’s Inauguration Speech You can read the full text of Barack Obama’s speech given before nearly two million watchers on Washington’s National Mall on the website of the Chicago Tribune. A short extract may be given here: U.S. President Barack Obama: “Today, I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America–they will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.” Video of Barack Obama’s Inauguration Speech 2 Comments »

...other Americans, my attitude towards politics in the past were lukewarm......and didn’t really care about politics because I felt immune to......about.  Whether you’re interested in politics or celebrity news or in...

RSS Tutorial Contact Guest Posting RSS Feed Is Twitter Responsible for Getting More People Interested in Politics? The other day I was watching/listening to Fox News and felt my ears perk up when the news anchor announced that he was presently logged in to Twitter.  I turned around to face the television, and sure enough, the news anchor wasn’t only logged in to Twitter, he was showing TV viewers the profiles and responses that a few people had made regarding the US economy. My thoughts at that moment? If Twitter was a cold, then it seems as if everyone has caught the bug. I quickly went over to my computer, still glancing up at the television screen, and asked my boyfriend to read out the twitter name of the news anchor (which was scrolling across the bottom of the screen) so that I could follow him. Like so many other Americans, my attitude towards politics in the past were lukewarm if that.  I was in college and didn’t really care about politics because I felt immune to it.  After all, I was on a full scholarship and wasn’t working, so what did I care?  However, after college ended and I walked out the doors and right off the cliff, plunging into the “real world,” my feelings quickly changed.  Suddenly, I wanted to know where and how my money was being spent.  How was it that I was being told that I was getting paid one thing but then when I looked at my paycheck it said something different? The Political Movement and Social Media Nowadays, social media is having greater and greater tie-ins to politics.  Twitter provides us with an excellent example of this.  If you look, for instance, at a network such as Fox News, their Twitter profile is rapidly approaching 20,000 followers (despite the fact that they aren’t following anyone).  Even the extremely liberal television networks such as CNN have well over 28,000 followers on their Twitter profile. So what does all of this say about the influence of social media when it comes to politics?  Heck, even Obama has an extremely generous following when you look at his Twitter profile…over 320,000 people- and he is supposedly following most of them right back!  It seems that social media is the ‘cool’ thing to do now.  It is also one of the most practical.  But do most of us really think that we can build a meaningful relationship with someone like Obama via Twitter or anyone else for that matter? There are all sorts of questions that can be raised; for instance, when I send a DM to someone like Britney Spears via Twitter, how do I know that it’s really her when I get a response back? But that’s what social networking is all about.  Whether you’re interested in politics or celebrity news or in what your best friend did this morning, it’s about networking and building relationships. Check Out SEO Podcast Show! March 02 2009 02:00 am | Marketing and Social Networking 2 Responses to “Is Twitter Responsible for Getting More People Interested in Politics?”