to alter or to abolish

Don't let that Promise slap you upside the head.

2008-10-29T08:33:00.001-07:00

Having witnessed one of the greatest disappointments in motor vehicle history, GMs EV1, the announcement of Microsoft's Operating System, Windows 7, brings me pause.

I lived in Los Angeles when the EV1 was available for lease. I saw California shell out serious bucks to install charging stations at supermarkets and other commonly accessed locations. I drove daily into downtown Los Angeles and drooled every time I took the exit ramp transferring from the 10 to the 415. The sight of solar panels above the parking spots in accross the street from the LA convention center commanded green envious stares from rubber necks on that transfer ramp. The few EV1s that used the charging station were like bright shiny toys for grown ups. Everyone that I knew wanted one. They were okay with the idea that the battery packs would need to be changed every couple of years.

So, fast forward a few years to 2008. With every Prius I see, I think "Wow, that could have been an EV1 with better batteries, an EV2, EV3, or even an EV7." But a more prevalent thought than the success of the Prius is that many people remember the promise of the EV1. The broken promise of the EV1 resulted in the high demand for the Prius. It is most likely the reason why I hear EV enthusiasts say that they will never again another GM product ever again. Maybe this is why GM is focusing on the VOLT with Laser accuracy.

However, the same product syndrome is taking place with Microsoft's Vista. After such a disappointing OS release, one which for got to have the simple function of 'Ctrl X, C, or V', many folks are saying: "Never again!" I just want an OS that will work and isn't going to be yanked away from me after a year. The Apple/MAC frontal assault on Windos may have been even more successful that the Prius revolution.

Why am I writing this in my political blog? Promises Promises. It's all about the promises kept, and the broken ones too. I don't want to talk about all the Promises that are flinging around out there right now, except to say that everyone should probably keep their heads down so that they don't get slapped upside the head with another foul smelling promise.

I would like to remind of the consequences of the upcoming election.

In scenario one: Obama Moves into the White house, Pollsters get more street cred than ever, and Biden moves from the Senate floor to preside over the senate, where undoubtedly McCain will be sitting.

In Scenario two: McCain moves into the white house, Pollsters lose any street cred that they thought they ever had and Palin gets to preside over the senate, where undoubtedly, Obama and Biden will be sitting.

Either way, the fun is about to begin.

The real question is, what will make anyone never ever vote the way they will have voted in the up coming election, ever again?

Rules? What rules?

2008-10-07T19:49:00.000-07:00

So, let me get this straight, the pundits are not going to consider how many times either candidate actually followed the rules that their own campaigns set up for the debate?

Oh, wait, I sit corrected, they will simply blame their campaigns, for setting up such dumb rules!

Twas the night before.

2008-07-02T22:13:00.001-07:00

The battle lines have been drawn. The markets a still, resting till the morning when the voices will shout. Not a movement will be made till the assault is clear. Unending infliction continuing from within in, or a hope that the enemy will soon disembark on what we have made, our own mistakes to be, a high rising interest in them, versus we.

This was written on the night before the European Central Bank decided to raise, lower or be still with their lending interest rates. An unprecedented action in American History. Even though the inflation in the US is less than that of the European states, Europe has always followed in an affirming way toward the FED. This moment, this night when the markets stood still for that anticipated word is far from over. Many hours are awaiting the rise of the sun over the eastern block and scaring the Stars of the Southern Island, along with the Sunrising nation. For they will have the ultimate say in the direction of the worlds' value on what most hold dear. From here on out.

And not does one citizen of our great nation have much to say about it at all.

Deaf Leadership?

2008-03-14T06:09:00.000-07:00

In my early teens I was taught the power of observation during the first interaction. It goes something like this: Look beyond the first impression. Notice how someone interacts with you as a person, during the whole of the first interaction. This will give you a good idea as to how someone is going to act in further interactions.

This morning I wonder who is going to step up to the plate in Florida and be a leader in solving the delegate count for the DNC. If either Barrack or Hillary want to be the next president. I want to see them focus more on a serious problem that is existing right now, rather than some hypothetical 3 a.m. phone call. Are either of them going to let Florida voters be disenfranchised yet again? Didn't they start this? How about if they sucked it up and tried to solve this problem before it continues to cause the implosion of the DNC?

Please, if you want to be commander in chief, solve this small problem from within. This will win some of our respect and admiration, and may just lead us to believe that further interaction that you are attempting to have with the nation will be inclusive of Floridians, and the rest of us whom you do not hear.

Last Saturday night at Mickey's Bar

2008-03-10T09:14:00.000-07:00

Black Man: Hey Mickey, get us a round of shots!

Mickey: There's only three of you back eh?

Ex POW: Yeah, the Southern Baptist Minister went back to preachin'

Ex First Lady: I thought you two were 'in love' with each other on a certain wave length?

Ex POW: That's what everyone thinks about you two.

Mickey: What'll you have?

Black Man: The National Drink, neat.

Ex First Lady: Hey, what's love got to do with it? Politics is a business, just like the IRS.

Ex POW: Speaking from experience?

Black Man: You guys want some peanuts or pretzels?

Ex POW: Yeah, pass the pretzels, you know they've been banned at the White House.

Ex First lady: Won't matter to you even if you do win it. The geriatric nurse will be blending all your food.

Ex POW: How'd you know that my wife is a newly certified geriatric nurse?

Ex First Lady: She is?

Mickey: Here you go. That'll be 12 dollars. Want to open a tab?

Ex First Lady: No paper work! I'll get it. Here's a twenty. Keep the change.

Black Man: What's this? Bourbon? I ordered cool aid.

Race for the white house? What race?

2008-03-06T19:25:00.000-08:00

While Clinton and Obama are busy beating each other to a pulp, the DNC is trying to figure out a way to end this mess. Florida is coming into question, YET AGAIN.

Well, just remember who didn't want your vote counted this time around. I dare say, that is one for one. No? That is if you're counting.

Now that the one of the two big parties are half way toward reunification, do you think that the third party pundits will make their case for another super candidate? Or should we call it a fourth party?

Hurray for the end of dualism.

Won on the right, war on the left.

2008-03-05T11:09:00.001-08:00

It was awkward enough to see McCain with his white hair standing next to President Bush with his not so white hair, and watching both of them as they tried to relax for the cameras. Does one stiff shirt deserve another?

Meanwhile, Obama and Clinton have got to be getting ready for an all out frontal attack on each other over Pennsylvania. Having looked at enough of the red phone ad commentaries on the whole negative campaigning tactics, the fact that it is now being attributed as something that worked is a wonder to me. How will they proceed? If this is in fact the way that each campaign views it.

Strange because Obama is still ahead, just as he was on Monday. We're a long way away from the Kodak Theater moment when both of them were on the stage together and the audience was more in favor of seeing them on the same ticket TOGETHER, than we will be over the next few weeks.

Well, does this mean that the Republican party is more united than the (divided???) Democratic party? Let see if the media plays that card! I doubt it, especially after the weirdness of the Bush endorsement for McCain. With the conservative base wandering in the wilderness, it will be too easy a target to drive a wedge in between them and the rest of the country.

Who's got the last laugh now?

2008-03-03T14:35:00.000-08:00

They all laughed at Obama ran for Senate.
They all laughed at Johnny and his sagging face.
They laughed at Mike on the Weekend update.
They laughed at Hillary and Amy.

But oh oh oh , Whose gonna have the last laugh now?

Now it's got to be the Nader.
He's the only one who's left to...
...get a laugh on S N L
Then they'll have to eat their pie.

Gentlemans' agreement.

2008-02-29T08:27:00.000-08:00

It looks like McCain has become an apologist for Islam. But let me chip in my two cents. I believe that he's calling a truce on religious attacks because he doesn't want to come under fire like he saw Romney: fodder on the cannon of the political trail to the white house. After all, this political season makes for great jokes.

How would you start this one? An Ex POW, A Black Man, an Ex First lady, and a Southern Baptist Minister are running for president.

So the Ex POW says to the Black Man: "I won't pick on your religious heritage if you don't mention my flip flops."

Black Man: "Flip flops? You confusing your self with my predecessor?"

Ex First Lady: "Excuse me, is this the boys club? Can I be a part of it?"

Southern Baptist Minister: "Is she trying to speak? Don't you know that women aren't allowed to speak in Church matters or in Islam?"

Black Man: "My ancestors were religious, I'm not, but I can preach to the choir better than SHE can."

Ex POW: "Name, Rank and Serial Number!"

Ex First Lady: "Wow, he looks flush!, should we call for a doctor?"

Southern Baptist Minister: "There she goes again! Someone needs saving and I think it's her."

ExPOW: "NAME, RANK AND SERIAL NUMBER!!!"

Black Man: "None of your business, Senator, and the IRS has it on File!!!"

Ex First Lady: "I second that motion."

Southern Baptist Minister: "Anyone want to join Mitt and I for a Rusty Nail at the corner bar?"

Black Man: "I would If I could but my ancestors forbade me from drinking."

Ex First Lady: "Do you think they serve Tequila? Cause I can use a little Latino in me."

Ex POW: "I'll join you, but I'm going to stick with water for now."

Black Man: "I thought you gave that up?"

Ex POW: "I thought we weren't going to mention my flops?"

Okay, let me get this straight!

2008-02-28T11:46:00.000-08:00

1st, Clinton opened with the whining of the first question from the commentator at the debate. Okay, so she got pounced on by the press in a big way.

2nd, Obama stated that he was under the impression that all candidates would have know what the nature of a political campaign was in regards to Hillary's whining over the brochures or pamphlets that the Hillary campaign found with erroneous information.

SOMEONE PLEASE STOP THE PRESS!!!

I thought that Obama was supposed to be the candidate for CHANGE? What's with the assumption that Hillary should have know what she was getting into? That this is a typical political campaign. Nobody even mentioned this before the next bomb hit yesterday.

Now, The two most played clips on the Al-Qaeda in Iraq only go back to the response that McCain had for Obama, and Obama's SECOND response to that. The ORIGINAL comment that made McCain say something was that Obama (in present tense) stated that IF Al-Qaeda established anything in Iraq.

Well, Obama is a great speaker. In both of these instances, he was able to make either Hillary or McCain not respond to either of these jabs. That's some good politicking. Almost as good as the argument for not being patriotic enough if you disagree with the status quo. Which is where the media is with this story by not being critical of the whole story.

Character

2008-02-25T11:23:00.001-08:00

With Obama and Clinton duking it out, it's no wonder that Huckabee is trying to get others to laugh.

McCain is sore from the lobbying from 8 (?) years ago, but most importantly, he failed to engage Huckabee. Looks like Mike can try to make us laugh a little. I wonder how much that will make a difference in the rest of the primary season.

Even if it doesn't have an impact on the actual election, as Nader will.

The Honorable way out....

2008-02-22T06:21:00.000-08:00

Now that we know that Obama is the front runner and can debate Plato and Aristotle out of rhyme and reason, then mop the floor of the stage at the University of Texas in Austin with the ex-first ladies dyed hair.... and withstand a direct Nuclear attack from the media, will he be treated as the obvious choice in this delegate hunting process?

Really, it's not about the delegates. They don't count. At least not as much as what popular opinion is about the race today. What ever happens now, won't matter at the end of the mock race.

I'm just wondering if Hillary is going to take the Honorable way out of this race. Now that she's all but subdued in the candidacy quest. Will she be able to be as 'honorable' as to the DNC as Romney was to the RNC. And step aside in some wacko and weird honorable way. Or is she just trying to save face for her supporters?

Liability

2008-02-20T14:21:00.000-08:00

With the pre-declaration of Senator Clintons' LOSER status that is floating in the airwaves, I have to wonder, who or what is the greatest liability in this presidential race.

Ties to the old establishment?
Lack of establishment?
Stagnation?
Presence?
Stage presence?

Obama May have taken Hawaii, but didn't Chelsey just stump for mama?
And if relatives are any indication of who people are most like, why did Michelle's quote get preemptively defended with a swift-boat style approach?

Oh, let me guess: She didn't learn a thing about Kerry four years ago:

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SHUT UP AND THE WHITE HOUSE IS YOURS.

But, with people sticking their foot in their mouths, and each others, somehow I doubt that anyone is going to live up to the title to preside over. Rather, it is the candidate with the least casualties of campaign that will leave and lead to lessor liabilities. This is whom the white house will go to this presidential campaign season.

My prediction: Both the Republican and Democratic candidates will be decided at their respective conventions. Except, that McCain will have some kind of health issue, removing him from the race. Romney will reinstate his campaign, but will still be discriminated against because of his Mormonism.

Leaving who ever is left standing on the republican side to run against who ever is standing right on the democratic side. Phun intended.

do you know where you're going to?

2008-02-18T11:23:00.000-08:00

While Huckabee is off in the Cayman Islands making some bank, McCain is standing in front of the older Bush. Does anyone notice that 41 looks younger than McCain?

Obama is reminding people of the circumstances that they find themselves in. Tell the people what they already know. Then relates to them and gives them some hope. No vision, at least not a clear one like Hilary is trying to shape. Change is great, when its in the piggy bank.

So Chelsea is out in Hawaii stumping for her mom. Is this legal? Well, of course it is. After all, its not to any of the other candidates advantages to have their kids campaign as much as it is for Chelsea. She truly looks like her either of her parents.

The real question is....Is she avoiding the media questions because she just doesn't want to chance a Monica topic? That would be awkward. Maybe Chelsea should run on a third party ticket. That would win a lot of votes, including mine. Oh wait, she's not old enough for that.

the Divided States of America

2008-02-14T19:17:00.000-08:00

It's refreshing to see that most media entities are now using the topical word for what they are reporting. No longer do I see the word 'politic' in any of its forms to describe the report that I am about to read or see in regards to the action of the people in the election process. In some cases, this focus on the detail is very much missing from the story but not from title. But my guess is that the word election has a better sound to focus groups than does politic.

I was going to let go of something that Mary Snow said on CNN two days ago, but I just can't stop thinking about it and it's really bugging me. Hence why the introductory paragraph was complementary.

Mary, in describing the McCain vs. Huckabee contest in the GOP nomination process, was reporting on how the GOP and the republican base is 'divided' between conservatives supporting Huckabee and McCain. I understand that's what she was going for, but 'divided'? Does what one person thinks, divide them from someone else? That's like so 2004, or should I say 2000?

Pardon me for borrowing the "field goal" pun-t, however, I must reference some of Huckabee's speeches. Mary? Would you say that fans and team should be united in the cause of finding a winning team before the end of the game? Maybe they can play the first quarter and then let the referees decided who played best during that 15 minutes, then toss another coin and see who is the winner with having to risk injury. Well, at least that way, the teams wouldn't have to be so rough with each other. The reporters and fans can just go home without sore throats.

It looks like about three quarters of the GOP voters were united in their support of McCain during the Potomac Primaries. Is that the opposite of divided? Is that a United republican majority?

Well, if this is the case, it looks like the GOP is more united than the DNC, which is currently running about half and half for both of their candidates. But we don't hear anyone that is covering the DNC use the word divided. Why? Because Obama and Clinton are tight in the final bend, rounding the race track into the last quarter mile. They can see the finish line at the end of their noses. They're running neck n neck. Galloping through the mud slinging that could have been if it had rained a little harder the night before.

VOCAB time out for Mary Snow: 10 days.

The good old days...

2008-02-13T17:32:00.000-08:00

Well, as this election season progresses, and we are looking forward to change in our government, and national policies, I can eagerly say that I am really looking forward to both conventions this summer.

It looks like it's going to be there that the presidential candidates will be nominated by their parties.

Just like the good old days.

IRS Going out of Business?

2008-02-12T09:06:00.000-08:00

Without the IRS, who would collect FICA and all those other little taxes on payroll stubs?
This might be worth considering. Imagine all the tax prepares that use the tax season as an excuse to gain another 50 pounds. Maybe they can transfer into FICA collectors, or 'Sales Tax Adjusters'.

Hmmm.... Since there is no 'law for the IRS to exist, does Huckabee intend to issue an executive order to shut it down?

Not sure if the consumption tax will be all that better, except that it may cause people to want to save more. Unless of course it's hidden in the price, as is the fuel tax.

Albeit, this is the closest that the IRS having a 'Going out of Business' hanging on the front door has ever come.

Can this be the beginning of a Huckabee / Paul ticket?
This would be a stronger stance than the other three candidates are offering on the economy.
I can't imagine what an America would be like with withholdings. Forget the $500/1000 stimulus package. This would be like 52 stimulus packages every year. Of course everything would be a little more expensive. Ah, this can hurt the brain to think about, what would be taxed? What would be exempt? Food, clothing, shelter?

by the numbers

2008-02-11T11:47:00.000-08:00

It's so easy to get caught up in the hopes and dreams of reporters and how they react to what is going on in the world. Let's get pragmatic for a moment.

For the Democratic Presidential Nomination there are a total of 4,049 delegates.

Clinton has 1,148 and needs 877 for a total of 2,025.
Obama has 1,121 and needs 904 for a total of 2,025.

1,781 have been awarded so far.
There are 2,268 remaining Democratic Delegates. (56% have not yet been awarded)

For the Republican Presidential Nomination there are a total of 2,380 delegates.

McCain has 723 and needs 468 for a total of 1,191.
Huckabee has 217 and needs 974 for a total of 1,191.
Paul has 16 and needs 1,175 for a total of 1,191.

1,242 have been awarded so far.
There are 1,138 remaining Republican Delegates. (47% have not yet been awarded)

So another way to look at it is this:

Candidates in winning order determined by how many delegates they need for their party's nomination are:

1st Place: McCain
2nd Place: Obama
3rd Place: Clinton
4th Place: Huckabee

Paul is eliminated by default, since even if he won all the remaining 1,138 Republican Delegates, he would still be 37 delegates short.

That was easy, gosh why can't we hear this from reporters?
Are they speaking to the lowest common denominator?

On her own....

2008-02-09T12:53:00.000-08:00

Well, after the humbling apology by Bill for Defending his wife, it brings to question the whole idea of having a first woman president. It would be very tempting to vote for Hillary at this point, but don't you think that the first woman president should get there on her own terms?

It's just doesn't ring well: The first woman president was the last first lady. It just seems like there is something that doesn't fit. Like gosh, wouldn't it have been great if the first Woman President was married to an artist, a teacher, or a non-political figure?

Rather than riding to the candidacy of President on her husbands coattails, it would be refreshing to see a woman who is all that and a bag of chips. I would vote for such said woman. I hope she finds her way to the political arena in my lifetime.

And in the left corner.....

2008-02-08T12:05:00.000-08:00

It looks like Hilary and Obama are gearing up to do battle with each other. That's such a shame since after the Kodak Theater debate, just about everyone I heard speak of the event told me they wished that they were both on the same ticket.

The 7 million that Obama raised since Super Tuesday could be offsetting the 5 million that Hilary just wrote a check for. Together they could wipe the snot out of the November General election.

But then there's what I'm going to call the 'West Virginia effect'. That is, when the West Virginia GOP came together on Super Tuesday, they had to vote twice to see who would be awarded all the states' delegates.

The West Virginia voting in the first round had Romney with the most votes, McCain in second and Huckabee in third.

The effect occurred like this: When those results were revealed, the voters abandoned McCain and voted for Huckabee. My only thought on this is that for a clear choice; the matter of having a religious president, often associated with conservatism, the voters would rather have an ordained Baptist minister than a layman Mormon, even if he happens to be a savvy business executive. (Governorships making all thing equal).

McCain only had 1% of the vote at the end of the second round.

The other side of this story is that Romney was the first in this election cycle to be compared to a previous president, that was when he made the JFK like speech addressing his own Mormonism.
Ever since, all the candidates have been arguing over who was more like JFK or Reagan, and so forth. In the end, Romany compared himself to Reagan as he stepped out of the limelight. This is foretelling, since Reagan's' bid for the Presidency in 1980 was not his first.

Now, when I look a the field, I see a Clinton who looks like a Clinton. An Obama that didn't care to enjoy the wallows of the rhetoric that was thrown at him during his quest for the Senate. McCain who looks like if he did a simple calisthenic work out would keel over and have a heart attach followed by a ruptured aorta. Huckabee: Nixon. It's the eyes and the posture.

Hope Arkansas, go figure! Wouldn't you think that there would be more coverage about Hope, and how it was able to produce two presidential candidates? Did they go to the same schools? Did they have the same teachers? Did they play on the same little league field? Was one inspired by the other? Or did the local politics have an impression on their aspirations?

All in all, if the 'West Virginia effect' begins to occur again, the remaining question would be:

Is America ready willing and able to handle a Huckabee Colbert ticket?

you put your left foot in...and take your right foot out...

2008-02-07T10:10:00.000-08:00

So then, let see the fallout of Super Tuesday....

Clinton is broke.
Obama is 7 mil ahead.

Romney is joining Edwards on the side lines.
McCain is grinning from ear to ear.

And Huckabee probably thinks he still has a chance.

So, now the media is going to cozy up to the National GOP camp and start to dig for skeletons in McCain's closets. Meanwhile, the dems are going to have a little time to figure out who's going to be able to go on. The GOP will now be able to solidify the base of their campaign all the way to the convention.

You do the hokey pokey and that's what its' all about!

It's 10:00 a.m. PST, do you know where your political processes are?

2008-02-06T09:56:00.000-08:00

McCain's in Front, the Dems are split. It looks like the media is either fed up that they have to continue covering multiple campaigns or are just happy that they will be receiving more revenue from future advertising from them all.

What a mess! This couldn't be too far from the historics of Florida a few years ago. Yes, I meant historics, not hysterics.

Alabama was called for John McCain by MSNBC on their website at 8:20 p.m. CST then changed moments later to Huckabee, while CNN was reporting different numbers.

So, now that about half of the DNC wants Hillary and over one third of the GOP wants McCain, can we drop the 'change' rhetoric? Although it would be nice, it's clearly not what the majority of people want from the way they voted.

It's 10:00 a.m. PST, do you know where your political processes are?

on a day such as this

2008-02-05T12:26:00.000-08:00

When so much is said, the people are quietly making their voices heard.

Maybe this will silence the voices inside some of these candidates heads.

He said he's not like her, or him, or the other guy.

2008-02-04T10:34:00.000-08:00

Obama is stating that the dems need a candidate that is different than the Republicans.

Romney is stating that McCain is just like the dems.

The message from the two, who are currently both in second place according to a scientifically conducted poll I conducted this morning* is virtually the same. They are different than the front runners of their parties, who are just like each other.

Does this make them alike?

*Polling data is private and will not be disclosed. The candidates may realize who they are if the information were to become public.

fusing yesterday to the future

2008-02-02T21:14:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I concluded that my generation had nothing to say.

I am reminded of this since it is no longer 2008, but a merge of 1960 and 1980.

I'm still not clear on whom I should vote in the upcoming presidential race, but sure the next 10 months will make it clear as to whose side I should stake my future on,

John Kennedy or Ronald Reagan.

the 100 year war?

2008-02-01T11:50:00.000-08:00

During the last two nights of debates, there was mention about staying in Iraq for 100 years. The sentiment being that we as a country do not want this and cannot afford it.

We are already half way there in Korea. It looks like we've profited from being the occupying force there. But really, what is the benefit for us to protect the South Korean people?

Oh wait, Ron Paul did mention that he wanted to withdrawal troops from Korea. I wonder what the other candidates think of this? Is there an urgency to bring ALL of our troops home?

Incidentally, the United States of America did not declare War in the Korean conflict.

to smear or not to smear

2008-01-31T09:56:00.001-08:00

Is that the question? Wow, McCain seemed rather smug last night. Let's see, what did you get out of the debate?

He was a 'leader' in the largest (flying unit) in the navy, got shot down and spent 5 years as a POW in North Vietnam. Somehow, that, according to himself, qualifies him to be an expert in economic leadership for the country.

Did Paul look younger than McCain? Cause if McCain closed his eyes, I bet he would've fallen asleep.

Let's see, launching negative ads with Romney's own money equals, how'd Mitt put it? "Land-mine old style Washington tactics"? Well, seems like nothing has changed since McCain ran against Bush. Or was that Bush's smear campaign against McCain that was so effective?

Just like one generation passing it down to the next.

Maybe this time the POW should be thrown out with the bath water.

we'll miss you....

2008-01-30T12:50:00.000-08:00

Guliani and Edwards have stepped aside.

Gosh, and to think, if Kerry had not stuck his foot in his mouth so many times, Edwards would be picking Hillary or Obama as his running mate.

Guliani, everyone thinks his dropping was a surprise, but don't you think the country is ready for some young blood on either side?

I look forward to an Obama vs. Romney battle.

Does anyone really want a Clinton or an ex-POW in the white house?

overextended?

2008-01-29T14:11:00.000-08:00

what the? Did I see that right? Congress passed the Economic stimulus package for folks who earn less than $75,000 single and $150,000 for married couples? $500 and $1,000 respectively.

Uh, excuse me, you're overextended. If you are lucky enough to only earn $50,000 and think that a $500 check is going to help, then you need help. That is only 1% of you annual income.

That would mean that the other 99% of your income is spoken for somehow.

Get real, get a life, get a financial future. No wonder financial talking heads are so popular.

Is the IRS going to be abolished?

2008-01-28T11:53:00.000-08:00

I saw an ad from Mike Huckabee, he wants to eliminate the IRS. I've heard this argument from libertarians for quite some time. Stop taxing how much we earn and start taxing what we spend.

This did work in Chile' a few years ago, it turned their economy around.

Two responses that I've heard are 1., if you eliminate income taxes, this would hurt public education. Well, that is a pretty sad way to think about it, since 95% of funding for public schools generally comes from local property tax revenues.

The second response is about Chile', "Do you really think that Chiles' economy and the USAs' economy are comparable? I think that that the difference is not in the size of the economy, it's the realization that the individual will have when they are faced with the additional taxes that they would see at the register.

Of course, we could then, as a nation, do the same with what has been done with the fuel tax, hide it in the price so that nobody knows exactly how much they're paying for.

the next first lady

2008-01-26T18:24:00.000-08:00

may just be the first African-American first lady.

same old same old

2008-01-26T11:06:00.000-08:00

Republican and Democratic Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates since 1980:

1980 Ronald Regan, George H.W. Bush vs. Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale

1984 Ronald Regan, George H.W. Bush vs. Walter Mondale, Geraldine Ferraro

1988 George H.W. Bush, Dan Quayle vs. Michael Dukakis, Lloyd Bentsen

1992 Bill Clinton, Al Gore vs. George H.W. Bush, Dan Quayle

1996 Bill Clinton, Al Gore vs. Bob Dole, Jack Kemp

2000 George W. Bush, Richard B. Cheney vs. Al Gore, Joseph Lieberman

2004 George W. Bush, Richard B. Cheney vs. John Kerry, John Edwards

Eight times out of the last seven presidential elections, there has been a Bush or a Clinton on their respective party ticket. Time for fresh meat? Young blood? Time for change? Or you know, the same old same old.....

war? what war?

2008-01-25T10:43:00.000-08:00

Did everyone decide to not talk about the war in Iraq?

Last night Ron Paul mentioned that it was the republican party to end the Korean and Vietnam wars.

While the Iraq war / occupation / nation building has taken up the nations attention for the past few years, it's easy to forget about all these other issues like the economy, health care, and all the white people running for the white house.

I wonder, if Obama is elected President, will he call it the black house? Come to think of it, Bill didn't, I don't think Hilary would either.

Seems like Ron Paul has a better way to beat up on his fellow candidates than the dems do. He just reminds them that they are not hard core republicans. Is everyone else either party running as a centrist already?

Maybe the new third party should be the Republicrat or Demopublican. Or how about the name Centrocrat? Or Democentrairians. Yeah I think that's it! I can envision a Democentrairian making a real mess out of things, ending the war by not mentioning and talking about things that won't have a snowballs' chance in hell at getting fixed.

no place for second best

2008-01-24T10:11:00.000-08:00

At one time in our nations' history, the Vice President would be the candidate that received the second most votes in the general election.

This forced the opposing parties to work with each other, because if one party won, they knew that the other would be presiding over the senate.

Does anyone see any of these current candidates having the social graces to be able to do this?

the new third rail

2008-01-23T07:16:00.000-08:00

11 million immigrants. At minimum 6 bucks an hour. 40 Hours a week. $240 paycheck. 10% is withheld. $13,728,000,000 of annual taxes that congress would have a hard time letting go of.

This is why the immigration issue will not be solved by a former or current congress member.

Really, what are the options? Kick the immigrants out? Lose the revenue? How about doubling their with holdings? Would that be fair?

Remember, this is money that the IRS does not have to give back. The immigrants will not file a 1040 if they are here illegally.

Would eliminating the IRS as a whole solve this problem? No, then what? Do nothing. that is the solution to continued revenue.

The congress is their own lobbying group for this purpose.

the Kerry effect

2008-01-22T07:16:00.000-08:00

Dems have this habit of talking too much. Last nights' debate reminded me of Kerry all the way.

1. There was no election in recent history that should have been as much of a gimme as was the last run for the White House. However, the overly intellectual John Kerry couldn't keep his mouth shut.
2. Between the Hilary, Barrack and Edwards, the one who learned the lesson most was the quietest. Not only was there little opportunity for Edwards to respond simply on the basis of his not being black of a woman, but that 'son of the south' knows how and when to take the opportunity to be silent.

Analysts for the DNC might want to hire some down to earth kinds of folks and listen to what they have to say, before all the candidates continue to speak in higher academic tones.

There's one thing to for an audience to be challenged into following a script (as when watching West Wing, Studio 60, or a great Thriller) but it's another thing to have to sift through what a candidate is trying to say about something as simple as campaign issues that they are responding to.

Run for the house

2008-01-21T07:57:00.000-08:00

Ok Bill, enough. You had your chance, now give your wife hers.

I see other spouses of the candidates say somethings prior or post the candidates stepping up to the microphone, but not responding to or making long winded speeches.

I like what you're saying Bill, but Hilary should be saying it, so give her that chance.

Also, why do you think that you, with white hair, should be allowed to participate in this race? Take a note from your wife, and pass it along to Johnny, get some hair dye, live it up! Make the rest of the retired class feel like they're not insane for coloring.