Hard News: Another Big Day
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Oh, and this is interesting. John Nichols reckons that there are two potential outcomes from super Tuesday: a draw or an Obama win.
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Mac vs PC candidates. Republicans would surely be the AS400 Who is the Linux candidate?
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Bush's budget proposes $410 billion deficit.
And even then, he's using growth predictions no one believes and fiddling Iraq war costs.
These people are really not good. But it certainly doesn't leave much for the Dems to play with ...
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We were joking the other day about how, given Obama's cadence and style, there would be a generic-house/Public Enemy-style track sampling him at some point (ala MLK).
Don't you mean Malcolm X ??
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http://www.suitablyflip.com/suitably_flip/2008/02/super-tuesday-f.html
Chap's theory: bad weather forecasts potentially favour not-McCain and presumably not-Obama.
Speaking of linux candidates, the guy from the geek web comic XKCD declared for Obama the same day the Kennedys did:
When putting together tech policy (to take an example close to home for xkcd) others might have gone to industry lobbyists. Obama went to Lawrence Lessig, founder of Creative Commons (under which xkcd is published) and longtime white knight in the struggle with a broken system over internet and copyright policy. Lessig was impressed by Obama’s commitment to open systems — for example, his support of machine-readable government information standards that allow citizens’ groups to monitor what our government is up to... Obama stands against bad governing not only in his support of specific practices like open data standards and basic network neutrality, but in his work against corruption from day one.
I have an old Doonesbury where one of the journalists caught up by Bill Clinton's campaign says "He's going to break our hearts, isn't he?"
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It leaves heaps for the Democrats. Item one, cut ridiculous military costs by ending enormous pointless military engagement in Iraq.
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Sure you've all seen it already, but electoral compass asks your opinion on various topics and tells you which candidate is closest to your position.
I got Obama. Furthest away from Huckerbee. Both of these make me happy.
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And Clinton, whatever else you might say about her, has probably had everything remotely resembling a bone plucked from hers long before now.
Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about that. I rather doubt Michelle Obama is going to be the occasion for stories like this:
Over the last decade, former President Bill Clinton has raised more than $500 million for his foundation, allowing him to build a glass-and-steel presidential library in Little Rock, Ark., and burnish his image as an impresario of global philanthropy. The foundation has closely guarded the identities of its donors — including one who gave $31.3 million last year.
Now, the secrecy surrounding the William J. Clinton Foundation has become a campaign issue as Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton seeks the Democratic presidential nomination with her husband as a prime source of strategy and star power. Some of her rivals argue that donors could use presidential foundations to circumvent campaign finance laws intended to limit political influence.
And this:
The monster deal stunned the mining industry, turning an unknown shell company into one of the world’s largest uranium producers in a transaction ultimately worth tens of millions of dollars to Mr. Giustra, analysts said.
Just months after the Kazakh pact was finalized, Mr. Clinton’s charitable foundation received its own windfall: a $31.3 million donation from Mr. Giustra that had remained a secret until he acknowledged it last month. The gift, combined with Mr. Giustra’s more recent and public pledge to give the William J. Clinton Foundation an additional $100 million, secured Mr. Giustra a place in Mr. Clinton’s inner circle, an exclusive club of wealthy entrepreneurs in which friendship with the former president has its privileges.
Mr. Giustra was invited to accompany the former president to Almaty just as the financier was trying to seal a deal he had been negotiating for months.
And this is the pro-Clinton New York Times, remember. What the hell do you think is going to fall out when the Republicans decide to start asking questions?
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BenWilson said
It leaves heaps for the Democrats. Item one, cut ridiculous military costs by ending enormous pointless military engagement in Iraq.
Don't underestimate how much it's going cost to withdraw from Iraq!
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Here's another Obama ad (played during Superbowl). In it he says "We can end a War". By rights he should also add "... that we started" !!
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid353515028/bctid1402023943
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It leaves heaps for the Democrats. Item one, cut ridiculous military costs by ending enormous pointless military engagement in Iraq.
Let me play the devil's advocate for a moment: In the gut where retail politics lives -- and the curtained booth where ballots will be cast --, I don't think people give a shit about Iraq, unless it directly affects someone close or they perceive their economic self-interest is at stake.
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Don't underestimate how much it's going cost to withdraw from Iraq!
Has to happen sometime. Until then it's just a bottomless pit of cost.
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Craig, I think increasing numbers of Americans both know people affected by the war AND see that it's never been in their economic self interest. But I agree that the majority of the human cost, borne by the Iraqis, is a matter of only minor concern to the US voter.
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Obama leaves me strangely cold with all his rhetoric dressed up as poetry. It must be the Aspie in me.
It is a pity there will be little chance of an Clinton-Obama ticket (or vice versa, whatever floats your boat) but McCain-Huckabee in the White House has a great chance of the Baptist becoming president as the grim reaper is surely poised over McCain and his great age.
One should also pay attention to the House and Senate races, because a president needs a majority unless lame duckery is appealing.
Fascinating daily poll meta-analysis here: http://www.electoral-vote.com/ -
And another outburst of the Waitangi Day day luv (or is it Bob Marley's Birthday working its spell:
Taito Philip Field pleads guilty... lto offences under the Building Act
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Just to supply a link for Craig: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0802/S00055.htm
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Obama leaves me strangely cold with all his rhetoric dressed up as poetry.
That's the impression I got too. I thought something isn't quite right when a political speech can slide that easily into song lyrics.
It reminds me of some '80s sitcom when an underachieving student realises he can learn stuff at school when he turns his study notes into hip hop rhymes.
Yo.
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It got to the NYT editors though- who have already endorsed Clinton.
I'm impressed with Michelle Obama, too. How can a family handle that much rhetorical flair? Personally, I prefer to be inspired after breakfast- or at least a coffee... -
Craig,
Re: Bill Clinton's ongoing sleeze. Good point! Why in god's name does he need to do mineral deals with dictators?
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It reminds me of some '80s sitcom when an underachieving student realises he can learn stuff at school when he turns his study notes into hip hop rhymes.
Putting soemthing you have to learn into song is a damn good way of remembering it.
That's how I memorised the Scout Law.
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Lydon:
Thanks -- the PC's been a real Hillary all day. :)
Re: Bill Clinton's ongoing sleeze. Good point! Why in god's name does he need to do mineral deals with dictators?
Building a library seems to the ex-presidential equivalent of the mid-life crisis Lamborghini -- all good judgment, especially fiscal, goes down the crapper at warp 10. Otherwise, I decided long ago that the mind of William Jefferson Clinton, like the peace of God, surpasseth human understanding. I just think he's been a mixed blessing for his wife on the campaign trail, and its only going to get worse if she wins the nomination. OTOH, I find it very hard to feel sympathy if Clinton faces a problem entirely of her own making.
Seriously, I don't think it's mere talking points to say the rabid right want Clinton. It suits them to run a retro-campaign where its ultimately about Bill's cock for both sides, all over again. Obama and McCain win - perhaps we might just see a campaign fought between grown-ups, where the rabid right and the loony left either take a maturity pill, STFU or their heads explode Cronenberg-style. Any or all of the above work for me.
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I thought something isn't quite right when a political speech can slide that easily into song lyrics.
Here's my concern: apart from Scarlett, we've got the actress who plays Addison Montgomery, Nicole from the Pussycat Dolls, John Legend, and Will.I.Am? Poor showing, celebrities! (On the other hand, it's nice to see Aisha Tyler again.)
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I'm impressed with Michelle Obama, too. How can a family handle that much rhetorical flair?
When their daughters hit those tetchy teenage years, I don't fancy their chances of winning an argument over the dinner table. Ever. :) I saw some footage of her at that California rally with Oprah and Mrs. Governator, and she didn't strike me as a woman you'd want to get in bitch-off with at the PTA, because she'd politely but firmly serve your your arse in six different ways.
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It leaves heaps for the Democrats. Item one, cut ridiculous military costs by ending enormous pointless military engagement in Iraq.
My concern would be how long it would take to withdraw from Iraq. I would guess the only plan that does it within a year is just a complete abandonment into a completely different colour of crap than it is now. A full speed withdraw - just simply getting all the troops out - I read somewhere would take... 8 months? With no concern for how that leaves Iraq.
Some sort of staged withdraw with Iraq taking over segments and expanding personal control. 3, maybe 4 years? That's your entire first term. You'd be telling generals to move their troops out fast just so when you run for your second term you can say it's done, while the opposition hits you with 'he said he would get us out of Iraq. Three and a half years, and the last troops still have their feet on the ground...'.
A serious case of the guy before you fucking everything up so all you get to do is clean up shit for four years.
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I saw some footage of her at that California rally with Oprah and Mrs. Governator, and she didn't strike me as a woman you'd want to get in bitch-off with at the PTA, because she'd politely but firmly serve your your arse in six different ways.
I wonder if they've had someone ask her the question of what she would do if her husband had an affair. Be a good way to raise that Clinton history, without doing so yourself, and she'd just have to say "he'd be out on his ass if he ever did that to me, politics be damned" and they'd pick up 3 points overnight.
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