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Who's In For The Long Haul?
May. 31st, 2007 11:52 pmWell, it seems that our may rain showers are starting to go away and the Summer heat will be building in. If it wasn't raining so much, our Spring would have been really nice this year. Still, I do love being able to look out of all the windows at work and see the thunder and lightning come up over the forest-line and over the pond.
Well, the topic tonight is Presidential Candidates. I haven't rally said anything about current events lately, so I'll some quick observations about the big candidates. Of course I do have to say that this is way to early for these people to be running, and I wish that the money being spent on these damned campaigns could go to something good - like saving sea turtles or something, but if people want to throw their money away right now, then so be it.
On the Republican side there's three front runners and one shadow candidate that will start his run officially next month. of course there's Ron Paul, congressman from Texas who's really more Libertarian than Republican since he isn't for the war, isn't for spending programs, and isn't for legislating morality. It's funny, but two out of three of those issues Spending programs and legislating morality aren't true conservative issues - you know, less government, less intrusion. Just goes to show you that there's little conservatism being practiced these days.
The Republican Party is trying to quash Ron paul right now to keep him from challenging the other contenders who are mostly on the same page. They tend to play a game of "I'm more moral than you." It's Rudi Guliani's game to lose there.
So, let's start with Rudi, the 9-11 Mayor. The guy running on the events of one day, and it's aftermath. Still, he was hated for his job running New York City prior to 9-11. I can't see how he can run on that record, so he doesn't. He runs on a platform of security and continuing the war on terror as is. Well all of that needs a serious overhaul, and none of the Republican Candidates seem to be for that.
What scares me about Rudi most is he's a total control freak. Where Bush has worked to add powers to the presidency I'd expect rudi to really try to use them. When we need to be reconfirming the separation of powers, well, that's not Rudi's way. All of those Bush signing statements saying that he doesn't have to abide by laws, expect that and more with Rudi.
McCain is nuts. I liked him back in 2000. He seemed to have his own opinions, but that was before the war. now he seems hell bent to support the war, even though he could probably get some milage about wanting to get out of Iraq. he really doesn't have much else to say though. it's like every issue he had back then has been dismissed by the war. Where's our reformer?
One good thing about McCain is hat he's against the use of torture. I wish that all the candidates, Democrat or Republican would take this stance. I'd also like to hear the candidates clearly say that they will restore Habeus Corpus. another issue the current administration has given us and no one talks about.
Then there's Romney. Mitt is the guy who has no real convictions, he just wants to get elected and will say anything he thinks will work. He's a career politician. The Mormon thing doesn't bother me too much, but he's just a non-substantive Ken doll trying to run from the things he said to get elected the first time.
Lastly on the Republican side (well, I'm not covering all 11 candidates) is former senator and actor, Fred Thompson. You loved him on Law and Order, and we've already had an actor for a President, so why not? He seems more like an actor being placed in the role by people who don't think the other candidates are any good, rather than really doing this for himself. We'll see how good of an actor he really is.
On the Democratic side there's John Edwards, who despite having a great last name, and more policy positions out there than just about anyone, still doesn't seem to have the gravitas of other candidates. It's kind of sad really, because he brings up good issued, but everyone things of him as Captian Goodhair. Why people seem to dismiss Edwards, but listen to Romney I'll never understand.
Then there's Hillary Rodham Clinton. There's something really offputting about her, and also something that just screams opportunistic. I'd like to think that it isn't because she's a woman, and women in power...well, they are often thought of as bitches. Really, haven't we gotten past that? She does lead the pack in making everyone place healthcare as a major issue in this election. What's funny is that her and Obama's health car proposal is very similar to what Romney was proposing in Massachusetts, but wouldn't dare bring up in the national campaign.
Hillary just makes me worry about having a another Clinton administration. It's not that I don't like Bill, but I liked GHW Bush, but look what he next Bush in office gave us. I think we might be better off to have a different family and different advisors in the White House.
Obama seems to be the most intriguing. maybe it's because we still feel that there's something fresh about him, and we don't know everything about him yet. as the campaign wears on, that may change, but his message seems to be hopeful, not shrill. I'd love to see one of his speeches. He seems to be much more impassioned than the others. What I really want to know more about is what he'd do as opposed to the feel good stuff, but I suppose that will come. I'm just wondering, when we need diplomacy, will he be up to the challenge of foreign policy? Would he be a JFK, or more of a Carter, who got in but wasn't always sure what to do in the job?
Lastly, there's one candidate that I would vote for right away if he were to run, and that's Al Gore. I think he has the best experience and is the most presidential guy out there. yes, i do think he's raise taxes and make more expenditures on cleaning the environment, but i think that's a bullet we're just going to have to bite. any candidate who says he won't raise taxes is just driving us into the ground after the spending frenzy of the Bush years. I think Gore is one of the only people who could actually sell that to the people and not have a horrible backlash.
The rest of the candidates are just sideshows, and I think most of them will drop out over the summer when their money dries up - dries up much sooner because of the early start. of course starting this early also means that by next february we won't want to vote for any of these guys anymore!
Well, the topic tonight is Presidential Candidates. I haven't rally said anything about current events lately, so I'll some quick observations about the big candidates. Of course I do have to say that this is way to early for these people to be running, and I wish that the money being spent on these damned campaigns could go to something good - like saving sea turtles or something, but if people want to throw their money away right now, then so be it.
On the Republican side there's three front runners and one shadow candidate that will start his run officially next month. of course there's Ron Paul, congressman from Texas who's really more Libertarian than Republican since he isn't for the war, isn't for spending programs, and isn't for legislating morality. It's funny, but two out of three of those issues Spending programs and legislating morality aren't true conservative issues - you know, less government, less intrusion. Just goes to show you that there's little conservatism being practiced these days.
The Republican Party is trying to quash Ron paul right now to keep him from challenging the other contenders who are mostly on the same page. They tend to play a game of "I'm more moral than you." It's Rudi Guliani's game to lose there.
So, let's start with Rudi, the 9-11 Mayor. The guy running on the events of one day, and it's aftermath. Still, he was hated for his job running New York City prior to 9-11. I can't see how he can run on that record, so he doesn't. He runs on a platform of security and continuing the war on terror as is. Well all of that needs a serious overhaul, and none of the Republican Candidates seem to be for that.
What scares me about Rudi most is he's a total control freak. Where Bush has worked to add powers to the presidency I'd expect rudi to really try to use them. When we need to be reconfirming the separation of powers, well, that's not Rudi's way. All of those Bush signing statements saying that he doesn't have to abide by laws, expect that and more with Rudi.
McCain is nuts. I liked him back in 2000. He seemed to have his own opinions, but that was before the war. now he seems hell bent to support the war, even though he could probably get some milage about wanting to get out of Iraq. he really doesn't have much else to say though. it's like every issue he had back then has been dismissed by the war. Where's our reformer?
One good thing about McCain is hat he's against the use of torture. I wish that all the candidates, Democrat or Republican would take this stance. I'd also like to hear the candidates clearly say that they will restore Habeus Corpus. another issue the current administration has given us and no one talks about.
Then there's Romney. Mitt is the guy who has no real convictions, he just wants to get elected and will say anything he thinks will work. He's a career politician. The Mormon thing doesn't bother me too much, but he's just a non-substantive Ken doll trying to run from the things he said to get elected the first time.
Lastly on the Republican side (well, I'm not covering all 11 candidates) is former senator and actor, Fred Thompson. You loved him on Law and Order, and we've already had an actor for a President, so why not? He seems more like an actor being placed in the role by people who don't think the other candidates are any good, rather than really doing this for himself. We'll see how good of an actor he really is.
On the Democratic side there's John Edwards, who despite having a great last name, and more policy positions out there than just about anyone, still doesn't seem to have the gravitas of other candidates. It's kind of sad really, because he brings up good issued, but everyone things of him as Captian Goodhair. Why people seem to dismiss Edwards, but listen to Romney I'll never understand.
Then there's Hillary Rodham Clinton. There's something really offputting about her, and also something that just screams opportunistic. I'd like to think that it isn't because she's a woman, and women in power...well, they are often thought of as bitches. Really, haven't we gotten past that? She does lead the pack in making everyone place healthcare as a major issue in this election. What's funny is that her and Obama's health car proposal is very similar to what Romney was proposing in Massachusetts, but wouldn't dare bring up in the national campaign.
Hillary just makes me worry about having a another Clinton administration. It's not that I don't like Bill, but I liked GHW Bush, but look what he next Bush in office gave us. I think we might be better off to have a different family and different advisors in the White House.
Obama seems to be the most intriguing. maybe it's because we still feel that there's something fresh about him, and we don't know everything about him yet. as the campaign wears on, that may change, but his message seems to be hopeful, not shrill. I'd love to see one of his speeches. He seems to be much more impassioned than the others. What I really want to know more about is what he'd do as opposed to the feel good stuff, but I suppose that will come. I'm just wondering, when we need diplomacy, will he be up to the challenge of foreign policy? Would he be a JFK, or more of a Carter, who got in but wasn't always sure what to do in the job?
Lastly, there's one candidate that I would vote for right away if he were to run, and that's Al Gore. I think he has the best experience and is the most presidential guy out there. yes, i do think he's raise taxes and make more expenditures on cleaning the environment, but i think that's a bullet we're just going to have to bite. any candidate who says he won't raise taxes is just driving us into the ground after the spending frenzy of the Bush years. I think Gore is one of the only people who could actually sell that to the people and not have a horrible backlash.
The rest of the candidates are just sideshows, and I think most of them will drop out over the summer when their money dries up - dries up much sooner because of the early start. of course starting this early also means that by next february we won't want to vote for any of these guys anymore!
