Who do you like?

[wil]

As the McCain train moves on Ron Paul is still tagging along. The question is when we hit the convention will he be a wave, a splash or a little plink in the pond? If we remember it was gonna be a tough fight but Gulliani was the one to beat...and McCain was thought to be an also ran. Many more had much more power, much more buzz but somehow Ron Paul touched the public enough to continue to raise funds and be a thorn in the side, and be completely ignored by all media for how long now??

Now Bill says Hillary is winning and there is a vast conspiracy to keep her down, funny how that was her saying the same about him for a decade or so...and it worked. Will it work again? She still claims popular vote, and has got the white vote and the female vote, and the poor vote and the elderly vote, but she aint playing race or gender and neither is Obama...right? It is appears it will go down to the wire.

Anyone heard anything from Nader or the Greens?

The Libertarians have voted and they had a both Democrats (gavel) and Republicans (Barr) jump ship to participate in the convention last weekend. So any thoughts on the Barr/Root ticket?

I've always been a third party voter, and these guys might get my vote. Obama I'm interested in just to shake up this nation and expose our continued racism once and for all. A Barr/Root candidacy will take more from the Reps than the Dems and probably be the spoiler that will get Obama elected, two birds with one stone? It will also quell the patriot act and the war mongering and the continuing erosion of the constitution and personal rights and freedoms in this country. A significant third party vote will get the two parties in charge shaking in their boots like they did with Perot.

Currently leaning Libertarian go Barr/Root!!

[bob x]

Originally Posted by wil

As the McCain train moves on Ron Paul is still tagging along. The question is when we hit the convention will he be a wave, a splash or a little plink in the pond?

He is unlikely to make even an audible plink.

Originally Posted by wil

Currently leaning Libertarian go Barr/Root!!

Barr has a good chance to double the Libertarian showing, and get all the way up to 2%.

[wil]

Originally Posted by bob x

He is unlikely to make even an audible plink.

Barr has a good chance to double the Libertarian showing, and get all the way up to 2%.

I think Ron Paul intends to make a little stink, and he may have to be acknowledged since he has some delegates and has not dropped out.

As for the libertarians, interestingly enough WAR (Wayne Allyn Root) ran on a 16 year plan. First year get his name out and assist in increasing Libertarian presence. Four years later duplicate those efforts on both his name recognition and the Libertarian presence. Four years after that be a viable candidate on the national scene. Four years after that win the election for President. WAR is the vice presidential running mate of Barr, we'll see how he does if he can get into some of the national debates.

If they actively seek the disgruntled Hillary camp to vote for them instead of McCain it could be interesting.

Speaking of the disgruntled Hillary camp, anyone watch any portion of the DNC committee meeting...it was as close to parlament as our politics gets!

[China Cat Sunflower]

I did watch the DNC meeting. That was very interesting. I think that Hillary will concede tomorrow night.

Chris

[wil]

Originally Posted by China Cat Sunflower

I think that Hillary will concede tomorrow night.

I will be shocked. As it stands she has a point. We have to remember the electoral college and the winner take all nature state by state. Look at the states that Gore won in 2000 or Kerry won in 2004 and consider, can Obama win all those states? The answer is no, and there aren't any other states formerly Republican states that he will likely swing his way.

She is carrying the states needed for a Democratic win, and she will not be able to convince all of her voters to vote for Obama. The best chance the Dems have this year is a Hillary/Obama ticket and let the US get used to a black man near that office and give him the experience card that is called against him now.

Either that or hope for a large Barr/Root vote to be McCain's Nader.

[bob x]

Originally Posted by wil

there aren't any other states formerly Republican states that he will likely swing his way.

Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Nevada are all good chances. Iowa he is very likely to take (Kerry should have had it last time). Ohio and Florida of course are troublesome, but he is in fact slightly leading in Ohio at the moment.

[wil]

Originally Posted by bob x

Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Nevada are all good chances. Iowa he is very likely to take (Kerry should have had it last time). Ohio and Florida of course are troublesome, but he is in fact slightly leading in Ohio at the moment.

With Hillary as a running mate maybe, as her followers will cooperate. Without the south is lost to the racists as is the midwest and Nevada. Colorado is a maybe.

[wil]

Funny we hear that during a phone conversation that when Hillary was asked about the veep slot she was open to it. I understand her actual comment was "I would consider being running mates" To me she still considers herself top dog.

Reality is she has a point, she has the potential to garner more electoral votes than Obama still.

We have to remember this is the electoral college, it is pretty much winner take all state by state and you need the electoral college votes. I still believe there are more McCainocrats then there are Obamublicans. The question is always, will you draw votes from the other party, will you get all your parties votes and will you draw from the swing. Obama's largest contigency outside of political choice is black, not minority, but black. Reality is there are still more rednecks and racists in this country than blacks.

[bob x]

Originally Posted by wil

With Hillary as a running mate maybe, as her followers will cooperate. Without the south is lost to the racists as is the midwest and Nevada. Colorado is a maybe.

WITH Hillary as a running mate, the South is thoroughly lost. She does better than Obama in the Great Lakes, but she is absolute poison south of the Mason-Dixon.
Colorado is fairly strong for Obama in any case.

[wil]

I've got the transcripts from the secret meeting last night somewhere in DC

Hillary answers the door like a spider luring a fly into her web, "So glad you could make it Barak"

B, "Thank you Hillary, thank you for a great race, will be great to work with you to take this country back from the Republicans"

H, "Of course, party unity and oneness is all about, we need to work together to make this happen"

B, "Now this talk of you looking at the veep job, I would not have thought you'd be interested in it"

H, "Oh no, what I am interested in is just as you said, putting our best foot forward to win this election. Now what swing states do you think you'll have the most trouble in?"

B, "Oh this is great, you mean you and Bill will put all your clout and influence behind me in the troubled states?"

H. "Yes and no, you see we feel you'll make a great president, but currently your lack of experience and the fact that the US is not really ready for a black president is a problem we don't think we can overcome. What you've actually done is plowed the ground work for some future black president, you've planted the seed."

B, "Then what can we do?"

H, "Well the fact of the matter is, me as a veep won't help, it isn't like I have any more experience than you. I've only been a senator a few years longer, my biggest claim to fame is marrying Bill Clinton, and staying married to Bill Clinton, and being the first lady in a governorship and the white house, other than that, I'm like you, no experience. But in American politics name recognition gets actors and wrestlers elected."

B, "So what do we do?"

H, "We've got it all planned out, we get you 8 years of experience, 8 years more name recognition, 8 years the US can become more comfortable with you in the office, and then you'll have a much better chance at winning the election!"

B, "Eight years of what experience?"

H, "Why my vice president of course."

[China Cat Sunflower]

I'll be surprised if Hillary is Obama's VP pick in November. In recent days we've seen Obama cut back toward the middle with his support of telecom immunity and NAFTA. Even though I supported Obama over Hillary I understand the angst of Hillary's second wave feminist supporters. This really was the best chance to get a female president we'll see in a long time.

Chris

[Garnet]

Hillary should be Obama's choice, IMO. I like her & her policies (especially on health care) & think the two of them would really be the "Dream Team".
I'd like to see her for another reason; there are enough people who don't like her to ensure Obama's safety.
As the comic Richard Belzer said of the first President Bush: "Dan Quail is the best bullet-proof vest Bush could have".

[China Cat Sunflower]

What do you all think about this? http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/29981/original.jpg

Chris

[Operacast]

Originally Posted by China Cat Sunflower

What do you all think about this? http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/29981/original.jpg

Chris

I am a Democrat and I also find Obama one of the most perceptive and thoughtful members of my party, and I'm delighted he has gained the nomination and have every intention of voting for him. But I have to wonder how many will end up joining me at the voting booth if even favorable and thoughtful publications like The New Yorker give in to this Trojan horse that is called "identity politics" and that has been sneaked into my party, torpedoing due progress toward viewing everyone as simply Americans first.

Yes, I know that this cover is intended as satire of those who have traded in the most viciously false rumors against Obama. But it is satire grounded in precisely the obsessive "identity politics" that is threatening (again) to burn down the Troy that was my Democratic party. It is not constructive -- not constructive for this nation, let alone for Obama, whatever the intent. McCain indeed doesn't talk in these terms, either as a badge or as a stigma. Only hate-filled e-mailers do -- and here's The New Yorker heedlessly giving them a toehold in the public marketplace with these repulsive images, whatever The New Yorker's low opinion of them may be.

Operacast

[wil]

Originally Posted by China Cat Sunflower

What do you all think about this? http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/29981/original.jpg

Chris

The funny thing about political humor is for most people it is only funny when it is aimed at the other party. Caracatures of the other guy, no problem, taking things out of context, exagerations, snide implications are all ok if it isn't pointed at us.

We need to quit appreciating it when it is aimed away or start appreciating it when it is our favorite son. (or daughter).

VEEPS is the question...for me, unless either of them come up with strong veeps that I am interested in seeing run the country some day, neither have my vote.

The libertarians voted in folks that aren't libertarian, the greens are as far off as dems and reps for being a whole picture. Nader, is well Nader. Still looking for my third party choice this year.