Susan. i would be higher on Obama if 1) he had a record to run on.  2)He favors universal health care, which while a nice idea in theory, would rest very heavy on the country in terms of spending and a giant step towards socialism and a huge unyieldy bureau. I remember Hillary's disasterous attempt to envoke universal health care in 1993. Obama is a liberal, if he were more of a centrist , I would be more enthusiastic about him. He has a likeable personality for sure. I would like to see a pragmatic moderate Dem however.

I like Giuliani as my pick, I hope divorces and a couple big city positions on abortion and gun control don't sink his ship with the socially conservative base. That would cost the Reps the white house I am sure.  

Isn't the newness of the candidates refreshing to us all ? So long to old played out candidates like Kerry and Gore and Bush and Cheney. Now, McCain is IMO too old and depressing, for want of a better term, and Hillary brings baggage fron last century, but otherwise the candidates are a fresh of breath air.  

Obama's universal health care plan doesn't make too much difference to me, Raymond.  Not because I favor it, but it is like any of those issues in presidential campaign speeches -- talk.  He may think it's a fine idea but he alone cannot implement it.  Discussing any such plan's intricacies will take Congress more than one term in office and even then, it wouldn't be a fait accompli.  Even with a Democratic majority.  Sure, the voters would love to be told they no longer have to pay for their own health care or their own insurance premiums, and their political candidates will be happy to oblige.  But that's not the reality of what's gonna happen.  

Think about it. When Clinton ran in 1992, I was very excited about his program for college students to do alternative service with some kind of national peace corps plan and that would pay for their education.  I cannot remember the details right now, but I liked it. Did it come to pass?  Actually, I don't think so. 

Clinton didn't run on Welfore Reform, but when it came to pass with a Republican Congress, he signed on and that was for the better. Not sure how long the whole process took, but it is slow. Had it turned out to be the disaster some had predicted, it would have been changed back or altered in some way. 

When Hillary came up with her universal health care, it turned into a huge debacle. Massive backlash and not just because it was coming from the First Lady, which many resented. The mood of the public may be different now, but the legislators know the peril of making a bad thing worse. They'll debate it to death before any change would come about. I srongly doubt we'll go Canadian. Haha, then where would all those disgruntled young Canadian doctors go should the US adopt their system? That would be a tragedy right there.

When Bush ran in 2000, what most perked my interest was his tort reform plan. Did that happen? I don't think so. What about his whole educational plan -- "the something or other of low expectations" -- not sure much came of that. Who knew the President was in charge of national educational plans either?  Social Security reform?  Nope.  Dealing with the imminent failings of Medicare?  No way, Jose!  Even when there was a Republican majority.

So, I'm not concerned about the plans detailed in your basic Dem or Rep stump speech, Inaugural Address or State of the Union speech.  I listen to them without putting much weight on their plans because I know the biggies are pretty much unachievable. The wheels of Washington DC move too slowly.

What I'm looking for in a president, especially right now, is what I already detailed. Experience ain't everything. Politically speaking, not having a long career of glad-handing special interest groups and hammering out compromises, seems a plus.  I'm looking for wisdom, leadership, soundness of character, strength and integrity. Most of all the ability to communicate the aforementioned. By virtue of the fact that the job of President of the United States is beyond anyone's abilities, whoever has it will screw up. The president's actions will impact millions of human beings on the planet. It's a given that he (or... hahaha..."she"...hahaha) will be resented and despised across the world by many. No one person has the ability to be all things to all Americans. No one ever has. But some are better than others. In the end, as a voter or as a candidate, it's a crap-shoot.

Conservative base and abortion? Yesterday, I heard someone on the radio say that she was a conservative but believed in legalized abortion, though she thought late term was wrong. She was questioning whether she should vote Democrat. The response was that the greater distinction between Rep and Dem on abortion than that.  He told her that while the majority of Reps also do not want to criminalize abortion, they believe abortion is basically morally wrong. The majority of Dems do not want to see abortion criminalized either, but they are generally not willing to make a judgment call on the procedure itself. Having danced all over that subject myself as a Dem and a Rep, I thought that was fair enough.  Most Americans are NOT in favor of third trimester abortion on demand regardless of their party. Most Americans are in favor of allowing abortion in the first trimester regardless of whether they personally believe it is immoral or not.  So, although politicians like to stress the polarizing view of abortion, I don't think the subject really creates that wide of a gulf for most of us. Furthermore, I am convinced that a Republican who ran with a platform of criminalizing all abortion could not possibly win the Republican presidential primary.  

Susan

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Well then, it looks like Obama is going to have to make do with Tom and Katie's endorsements if you won't back him, Raymond.

You know I'm still with Giuliani if he runs. 

Susan

 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

20 months to go Susan, this is a marathon, not a sprint. And a new dance card without Gore, Kerry, Cheney and Bush is refreshing. I wonder if Tom is sizing Barrack up for joining the Hubbard crew along with Beckam ? Not sure that pic is the best Hollywood photo for team Obama to be featuring. Right ? 

Truth be known I will back whoever is elected president. It is a selfish stance. If my president does well chances are I will do well. An old concept of a loyal opposition which has fallen by the wayside the last 6, maybe 10 years now.

Agreed, Raymond.

I've been reading the Obama "Audacity of Hope" book I bought last weekend and finding him ubiquitous online as well.  Two lengthy front page stories in both the LA and the NY Times today plus this one from the UK Times Online.  

I still like him.

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

That would be John Edwards, my Dem pick for 2004, as I recall. Now if you know me at all, you know I do not begrudge people having large estates. Hey, I am known for my defense of Marie Antoinette! But I do wonder how this new Edwards compound will play in the upcoming campaign. Will Edwards still use the "Two Americas" theme?

Susan

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

By comparing the possibilities on the Dem side Barrack is probably the the most attractive. He is something of a tabula rosa which may be an advantage. He is yet to completely develop.

For the Reps- I'd choose Giuliani over the others. These two guys would most likely avoid a good deal of the rancor and constant sniping of the media and tend to be more popular leaders and better communicators.  That would be a welcome change for the country. With all respect for John McCain, he seems too old, maybe a little too cranky to be president and his long captivity in Hanoi must have had a lasting effect on his psyche. 

Agreed, what a person has in wealth is fine, except when they try something like that 2 Americas bit. It just becomes suspect.

OT : Oh Susan, Mrs. M. avoided jury duty-- her response about not wanting someone's  fate in her hands, what if i make a mistake, I'm too nervous--worked ! ( The truth by the way ) She sends her thanks and will fulfill her duty in a few years when she can juggle it.

Roger Simon may have a point on Edwards' Folly -- I mean, compound, er ... home.  But Roger lives in LA and maybe he's not thinking North Carolina land and construction costs.  Still, 28,000 square feet, huh! 

Behind our house, our neighbors have spent the past 3 years building a mega-mansion on 2 1/2 acres. In 8 months they expect it will be completed. It is 12,000 square feet.  They are a couple with a seventeen-year-old son who will soon be graduating from high school.  When the wife showed me around the other day, all I could think about was how many windows there were to wash!  How many things to go wrong. 

Oh well.  The Prius may be a good idea!

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

I was listening to NPR on the weekend, and firstly they come across as very anti-Bush and anti-Republican - does anyone else find that?  In Australia their equivalent is the ABC which has been anti-conservative for years...in fact it's part of their culture.

Anyway, one comment that had me concerned was that many Americans are already tired of this election race...and it's still 600+ days away.  I just found that amazing.

This American is way tired of political races. the Demicans and the Republicrats are equally terrible. You get screwed by both.

It is easy to see a fatique concerning the political contests. It has been practically nonstop for years. The constant hits on Bush and Clinton in his second term have become so old hat and repetitious that media political coverage is tiring, predictable and certainly no fun. It is a depressing show.  Now after the 2004 race and then right on the heels of that the midterm coverage has been too much. So add this early start of a  21 month marathon for the 2008 presidential election and it is easy to see the overkill.

It would be wonderful to have a president who was somewhat popular and immune from nonstop attacks by the media. Face it the last ten years have sucked regarding political coverage. Perhaps with whomever wins in 2008 things can get back to a more normal level. Even nice long periods where the next election will be dormant on the back shelf.  

Haha, Raymond, I just noticed your OT on your friend Mrs. M.  I could write an informative little brochure entitled "How to Avoid Jury Duty" while being the only one who actually would LOVE to be on a jury.

I just came across this article and think it's good news!  

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

That Dick Morris is a slippery devil, but he knows the Clintons as well as anyone. I listen to his takes on political matters for the inside well informed almost sleazy type of guy he is. I hope he is wrong on Hillary becoming president.

Hill's performance at an all Jewish meeting last night where she argued for talking with Adminijad and company no matter what transpires ( Achmad's Iran has called for Isreal to be wiped of the map [ with nukes] ) did not go over well at all. She is no good off the cuff and failed to triangulate for this group !  Some 80 % of Jews vote Dem ( the exception being the Orthodox ) a fact that is confounding. The Dems would sacrifice Isreal's position in a heartbeat, whereas the Reps would not. IMO. Why this factor does not register with secular and reform/conservative Jews does not compute. Susan, can you explain that to me ? Can/will that change now ?

Hold off on the above post just a moment.  Hillary has announced that she wants to ipso facto out and out seize Exxon's record profits and use them as a fund for developing alternative energy. Man, what a dictator this one is, Yeah, Hillary while you are at it why not we seize your obscene profits of 9 million from your book and set up a fund to aid educational reading for slow student readers in the country. Same  exact principle. This headstrong maniac is showing her dictatorial stripes early in this marathon. I can't believe this headstrong egomaniac had the nerve to proclaim such a decree !!! What gall. 

And John Edwards is proposing to raise all peoples taxes to underwrite some half reasoned, ill conceived health insurance program. Why not sell your 28,000 sq foot compound to get things going. No way. Edwards has used every tax evading/avoiding trick in the book to avoid paying anywhere near his share of taxes every year of his political life. And this wagon chaser has made his millions suing health practitioners !  Only spend other people's money with these demagogues !! 

Hillary will not be elected unless a disaster occurs again, a la 9/11. If she IS elected, she will be a horrible element for our future. You WILL see socialism in our time...

AND, talking with I'minajihad will only embolden him and give him time to nuke Tel Aviv. I don't think he'll nuke Jerusalem, as the Arabs also hold it dear, but everywhere else in israel, Sayonara, folks!

Interesting that Chirac said last week that the missiles would not leave the ground in Tehran before it was obliterated. Those wily Frogs! They'll nuke Tehran FOR us!

Hugo Chavez would not say what Hillary did concerning the "appropriating" of the Exxon profits. Her plan is a call for theft plain and simple.  One of the craziest proposals I have heard a US politico make. This woman is beyond dangerous. O K ,Give me that Barrack Obama as a candidate. he is a self proclaimed liberal , but that is a country mile from Hillary's proposal.

And Hillary's affront to that Jewish meeting a few days ago shows where her alliance is besides her stupid political instinct at that meeting !  I can recall Hillary embracing Arafat's wife just a few short years ago.  

Yes Erwin. Hillary is way to the left of Bill despite her stance on being a moderate Dem on the Iraq War.. Bill did not declare war on business, he had a pretty good Secretary of the treasury -a guy named Robert Rubin, and Bill listened to old Alan Greenspan the head of the " Fed". Bill was not anti business-- to his credit and success.

I am serious. What Hillary proposed, I honestly don't believe Hugo Chavez, the socialist dictator of Venezuela would propose ! As a matter of fact  ( Susan ) after what I heard Hill and Edwards proffer this week , count me in the Obama camp ! 

To me with his 28,000 sq foot " house" and his talk of 2 America's Edwards seems a phony and a windbag. Obama doesn't talk of 2 Americas, he talks of ONE America. When I compare Obama to Edwards and Hillary and her right wing conspiracy negativity , I would like to see Obama win the Dem primary for the good of the country should the Dems win. Yes, he is light on experience and he talks a lot of liberal talking points, but, when compared to these other worn out ( I include Algore here) calculating, insincere rivals the choice to me is clear. Obama is the best Dem prospect.

Give me Giuliani for the Reps and i will feel content.  (I am in no way saying I would consider a vote for Obama lets make that clear.) I will hopefully vote for Giuliani-- no question. He would be the comfortable best leader for the country.

There was a fella around here awhile ago who thought Rasmussen made the best of the polls. Here is the latest national one.

February 23, 2007

Geffen backs Obama

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6387615.stm

That post is interesting Lets. Man, I think the best race for the good of the US and the world would be Obama and Giuliani.  Can a divorced Giuliani, a Ginny , tolerant of abortion as a person's business, not the governments ( my position) gun control ( I like my guns -but one can't have a perfect candidate), and OK , you want same sex unions for tax benefits-OK my gay friends and family member. Ha, as Neff points out, you may be walking into more problems than you think !

Side point, what do you folks think of the political correctness that allow one to deprecate with names one's own ethnicity? Like I can call Giuliani a Ginny because I am one, so it is " OK ", Blacks can do similarly with names. Is that cool ?