tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post1406051672509405139..comments2024-03-26T09:25:02.198-04:00Comments on Hey Jenny Slater.: Miracle drugs, better angels, and the real meaning of hope.Astronaut Mike Dexterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01498197770701096363noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-81421491077456821042008-01-31T23:11:00.000-05:002008-01-31T23:11:00.000-05:00I have been following the responses tom this topic...I have been following the responses tom this topic for a while now, and the only person that I agree with <I>entirely</I> is Will. In a nutshell, "...Teflon Reagan shifted the center to the right. Obama's could shift it the other way" is unbelievably astute analysis. Of course, even though it may be correct, it really isn't an argument for Barack, because I always thought Reagan was an idiot who just managed to con a bunch of folks even more idiotic than him. That's the sort of thing that cuts both ways.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-29451029339356713292008-01-31T21:17:00.000-05:002008-01-31T21:17:00.000-05:00I was very young when JFK was first elected and I ...I was very young when JFK was first elected and I grew up in the Northeast so you can imagine that I was indoctrinated as a young age into the liberal higher education mindset of that area. It seems that ever since JFK the Democrats have seemed to want to find the "next" JFK. As a young idealist in college I voted for John Anderson instead of Reagan. I thought that the $.50 gas tax was a brilliant idea. I just never warmed to Ronnie who seemed like a nice old guy but never had to do anything but give a good speech and then take another nap. <BR/><BR/> As I aged I became more conservative and more disillusioned with the Democratic party. I certainly have issues with certain groups who the Republicans have tended to answer to or aligned themselves with. However, the Democrats have become a group that has no identity and seems to have no focus. Maybe I have grown somewhat cynical after Jimmy, Walter and Duke but I just dont see that either of these candidates has the talents to lead this country. B.O. has been a US Senator for three years and Hillary left a lucrative career as an options trader to become first lady. Nothing like exploiting your husbands former position to help you get a Senate seat. A real role model would have kicked to the curb a husband who is getting BJs in the oval office and passing out Whitman poetry books to his conquests. <BR/><BR/>I will be voting for McCain next Tuesday. I certainly dont agree with many of his positions. However, I find him the one that I trust the most. I think its about time we have a president who knows something about foreign policy, been around the block more than a few years and we can trust to make the tough decisions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-12966989502063893662008-01-31T15:13:00.000-05:002008-01-31T15:13:00.000-05:00Good thing none of Obama's proposals for repealing...Good thing none of Obama's proposals for repealing Bush's tax cuts use 100K/year as the threshold. It's 220K or 250K (I forget)...same with raising the 15% tax on folks earning all their money from the market. Now if you pick some miracle stocks one year and turn a quarter million in profit, sorry, you'd get taxed at the same rate as Warren Buffet. But that's better than my tiny 401K earnings getting taxed the same as the 8 figure sums hedge fund managers get.<BR/>I listened to (and occasionally still listen to) Boortz for over a decade, so I've got that stigma against "class war" pretty ingrained...but the more I look at real wage growth for the past 30 years, the harder it is to say that the top 1% haven't been getting it at 100x better clip than everyone else.<BR/>And this is why Obama's Reagan comments are dead on: he wants to be the leftwing/Progressive antithesis to Reagan. Folks remember Reagan and largely voted for him because he was The Great Communicator, and he made us feel all warm and fuzzy. They ignored his Goldwater-esque foreign policy and (somewhat) radical economic policies and union busting. Lovable, Teflon Reagan shifted the center to the right. Obama's could shift it the other way.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075308307848122779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-54289458302594563042008-01-31T15:09:00.000-05:002008-01-31T15:09:00.000-05:00In short, no one is worried about Obama being a de...<I><B>In short, no one is worried about Obama being a definitive Socialist. But they are worried he will be more than a gradual step in that direction. And Hillary would be even worse.</B></I><BR/><BR/>And John McCain would be.........?<BR/><BR/>When the Republicans hand the keys to the kingdom over to that doddering old fool then you will know we are officially screwed. Why a Democrat would be disappointed in a McCain presidency is beyond me. Come November the democrats win folks. No matter who runs or who wins. Everybody on the bus has the same world view. Get used to it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-66512037534082817722008-01-31T09:34:00.000-05:002008-01-31T09:34:00.000-05:00I didn't write that "he IS a Socialist". I wrote t...I didn't write that "he IS a Socialist". I wrote that he would need to hash "out his details with half a country that THINKS he'll step a bit too far into Socialist territory for comfort." <BR/><BR/>Nationalized Healthcare is a move towards a socialized system. No one can even pretend that it's not "healthcare by beauracracy".<BR/><BR/>"Taxing the rich" is a thin euphemism for what amounts to punitive taxes for individual success, which is particularly distressing when "the rich" tends to be defined as any household making $100K or more per year. In Sioux Falls, that may be considered rich. But<BR/>in NY or San Fran or LA? You'll still be paying rent.<BR/><BR/>Wishing to legislate federal provisions for seizing oil profits beyond taxation for forced redistribution to social agendas isn't exactly a capitalist move.<BR/><BR/>In short, no one is worried about Obama being a definitive Socialist. But they are worried he will be more than a gradual step in that direction. And Hillary would be even worse.<BR/><BR/>"A moral obligation to fight Global Poverty". "a War on Poverty". Redistribution of national wealth and forced creation of jobs through government agencies. C'mon - that's just leaning on the Marxist playbook.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-58936259767550988922008-01-30T17:35:00.000-05:002008-01-30T17:35:00.000-05:00Josh - Obama is planning on nationalizing American...Josh - Obama is planning on nationalizing American industry? Establishing an income ceiling with punitive income taxation? No? Then he's not a Socialist, sorry to disappoint.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-37342762703116258102008-01-30T14:16:00.000-05:002008-01-30T14:16:00.000-05:00Obama can get away with inexperience and lack of r...Obama can get away with inexperience and lack of realistic detail in the primaries. Liberal proponents tend to embrace the warm and fuzzy platitudes of "change" without bothering to verify reality out of the feel good rhetoric. I live in a deeply liberal town and I see this played out in real time everyday. <BR/><BR/>If he can dodge the Clinton political knives to land the nomination (and keep in mind the Clintons pretty much built the current variation of the Dem nomination machine), the real fireworks/flaws and potential implosions will begin.<BR/><BR/>He'll have to face an opponent of far greater experience regardless of who gets the GOP nod. "Change", identity politics and the perceived JFK halo won't cut it at that point. He'll have to get real, and start hashing out his details with half a country that thinks he'll step a bit too far into Socialist territory for comfort. Pining about Fighting Global Poverty (which is a fool's game that only works on the young idealists and/or naive voters...much like 'Middle East Peace') won't help.<BR/><BR/>Granted, I can't stand Hillary. But I would like to see Obama defined. He's warm and fuzzy right now, but completely out of focus outside of liberal circles.<BR/><BR/>Not to throw cold water on your candidate of choice. I'm just saying he's got his work cut out for him. Beware the Clintons starting to really push the race card against him. The further they slip, the uglier they are going to make it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-70224596837396337822008-01-30T12:05:00.000-05:002008-01-30T12:05:00.000-05:00Yo, I just voted down here in Baldwin County. Supe...Yo, I just voted down here in Baldwin County. Super Tuesday=Fat Tuesday, so of course drunkenness wins and we can vote early. Quite a few people out, even though it turned cold as heck overnight. Most voting Republican, of course(the most republican county in the state) but I hollad at ya boy, Doug. They ask me who I vote for, I just tell em the next President of the United States.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-22650951110761554552008-01-30T10:28:00.000-05:002008-01-30T10:28:00.000-05:00will, don't be too relaxed about this: just as soo...will, don't be too relaxed about this: just as soon as they can find a donkey strong enough to wear the lead coat <I>and</I> carry the surplus Pakistani warhead, they're coming to New York.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-2541472463208712312008-01-30T09:29:00.000-05:002008-01-30T09:29:00.000-05:00Yes Dawgy, that must be it, we're safe because Dub...Yes Dawgy, that must be it, we're safe because Dubya is so great at protecting us. Not because maybe, just maybe the terrorists really are a bunch of moderately (if that) funded nutjobs largely hiding out in the mountains near Pakistan. The USSR had 50 megaton nukes, and means to drop them on NYC at a moment's notice, but to hear the GOP tell it, the whackos in Waziristan are a greater threat to the US. Sorry, I don't see it.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075308307848122779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-70310395178882932142008-01-29T21:50:00.000-05:002008-01-29T21:50:00.000-05:00Red hair is totally hot if it is right for your sk...Red hair is totally hot if it is right for your skin tone. Jes' sayin'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-67166377483662745072008-01-29T18:53:00.000-05:002008-01-29T18:53:00.000-05:00Terrorists have had a zero success rate in the U.S...Terrorists have had a zero success rate in the U.S. since I went back to what I think may have been my original haircolor. We're fine as long as I stay brunette. I'm considering going red again, though, so we all might want to brace for Threat Level Auburn.ACGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08911195407453653241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-4215781736579268022008-01-29T15:11:00.000-05:002008-01-29T15:11:00.000-05:00Obama is no JFK! Not even close.BTW, besides being...Obama is no JFK! Not even close.<BR/><BR/>BTW, besides being a great speaker, what does he bring to the table? What's his plan for fighting the war against terrorism? Let me guess...diplomacy. Say what you will about Bush but, since 9-11 the terrorists have a zero success rate in the U.S. Maybe they're scared of Barney Frank, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and Chappaquiddick Teddy. <BR/><BR/>If John Wayne were still alive he would kick your ass Dougie.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-60650404990325954522008-01-29T14:51:00.000-05:002008-01-29T14:51:00.000-05:00I wrote something on here yesterday and it must ha...I wrote something on here yesterday and it must have been deleted or something. Anyway, you're htting it on all cylinders Doug. I'm heading to the polls right after work.Universal Remonsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01912161242735374190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-62328091846195459012008-01-29T13:46:00.000-05:002008-01-29T13:46:00.000-05:00Megs, I certainly agree with you about the importa...Megs, I certainly agree with you about the important of solid foreign policy, especially as concerns foreign aid and global poverty. I've always felt, personally, that anyone with a ridiculous wealth of resources has a moral, if not political, obligation to help out those who have little to nothing.<BR/><BR/>But I also have this concern: Who are we to be helping anyone right now? Not that we don't have the resources or the moral obligation, but in terms of both economic and foreign policy, our national shit is seriously not together. We're fighting a war on two fronts, pouring $275 million a day into a country whose people hate us a little bit more every day we're there. We've pissed off a great many former allies who could have, at one time, enthusiastically followed our leadership in addressing issues like poverty and disease prevention. We're staring down the barrel of a recession that has the potential to drag world markets down with us. We used to be the Conrad Hilton of the world, and now we're the Paris Hilton; I think that's something we need to address before we'll really be able to get anything accomplished globally.<BR/><BR/>It's like DC Trojan said: That $275 million <I>per day</I> that we're currently spending in Iraq could mean a whole lot of foreign aid directed elsewhere. I'm all about plans and strategy, and I'd love to see a concrete plan from Obama outlining precisely how he'd like to address issues like global poverty, but I can't entirely fault him for his priorities.ACGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08911195407453653241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-60422472406215682262008-01-29T12:00:00.000-05:002008-01-29T12:00:00.000-05:00megs, at the risk of being cynical, the US could p...megs, at the risk of being cynical, the US could plow $500 billion into poverty reduction and it still wouldn't solve much of anything because it doesn't address macro issues. <BR/><BR/>I think Edwards is right to focus on primary education because many other desired outcomes will follow from that... but fundamentally, existing trade and ownership patterns in the developing world are going to have to change in parallel to a change from the bottom up.<BR/><BR/>Which brings me to your earlier complaint about Obama's focus on national security issues. You could say that's old-fashioned and parochial, yet $275 million a day for Iraq a lone, and thousands of dead people say it's pretty much the central problem in US foreign policy. Or, put it this way, you could pay for Edward's aid program with 20 days' worth of the direct costs for being in Iraq. <BR/><BR/>My complaint would be that we're not focusing on the right security issues: we've tried and failed to co-opt the Pakistanis, we're not taking the Chinese seriously because they're happily holding the mortgage to our future, we're missing the boat on energy and managing carbon emissions, and our latest gift to the rest of the world is the risk of global recession because of "investment packages" that were a way to move mortgages off the books so that banks could swerve the law and issue more. <BR/><BR/>I respect your stance that candidates should have positions, and should be honest about how they are going to do what they are going to do. But what gets lost in primaries sometimes is the fact that you're supposed to be in a Presidential campaign to win it. I flat out don't buy that Senator Clinton can do that, and I'm willing to take a chance on Senator Obama, details or not, even if all I were to get out an Obama presidency was a four year breakwater against the Congressional Republicans.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-8857825337118655422008-01-29T09:34:00.000-05:002008-01-29T09:34:00.000-05:00And God bless, someone else puts it even better th...And God bless, someone else puts it even better than I do: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/28/opinion/28krugman.html?ex=1202274000&en=0dd23392cae95bb8&ei=5070Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-51918331501118611782008-01-29T08:46:00.000-05:002008-01-29T08:46:00.000-05:00Re: plans vs. goals:I remember a State of the Unio...Re: plans vs. goals:<BR/><BR/>I remember a State of the Union speech a few years ago in which Bush pledged US$ 5 billion to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS in Africa. And I got goosebumps. I thought, "I really hate this guy, and think he's terrible for America, but I really agree with this goal, and if he gets this done, it will be a huge step in the right direction." But he didn't outline his plan, which was to stuff all that money into abstinence-only sex education in Africa! These programs aren't even allowed to TALK about condoms! I'm not saying that money hasn't had any impact, but I'm saying the impact has only been a fraction of what it could have been.<BR/><BR/>I'm using this as an example of why I want to hear not only the goal, but how Obama hopes to achieve it. I know as well as anyone how plans change when you try to implement them on the ground, and you need to be flexible and adapt, but an explanation now as to the HOW is important. HOW you intend to do something says just as much about you as WHAT you want to do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-76528368076696196812008-01-28T23:39:00.000-05:002008-01-28T23:39:00.000-05:00That's an article that makes me go "hmmmmm". I'm g...That's an article that makes me go "hmmmmm". I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you did well on essay tests in school. (An essay? Okay, "Shovel please..."). But, you are starting to make me think he might be an answer. I said before I liked him, but wasn't supporting him because I didn't think he had the experience, or for that matter, a specific program that I could identify as a position. In Georgia, he has run TV ads with him speaking saying something like "I will get universal health care by <I>uniting Democrats and Republicans</I>." Really. That's not an exact quote, but it's pretty close. And I thought when I heard it that if that was all there was to it - uniting dems and pubs, why the hell hasn't someone already done it?<BR/><BR/>But, after reading the piece, maybe a plan really isn't the answer. Plans are going to be picked apart and criticized and will have to be changed to meet political realities, and when that happens he'll be declared a failure. Maybe it is more important simply to have <I>goals</I>. Clear goals, desirable goals, but just goals.<BR/><BR/>I don't know. The jury is still out so to speak, and now that he is less and less 'under the radar', the pub attack machine will set in and do worse than Hilary ever thought about; if he can survive that, I may climb on board.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-27409752199584349352008-01-28T22:23:00.000-05:002008-01-28T22:23:00.000-05:00Hobnail boot, morning came to America every day b...Hobnail boot, morning came to America every day before January, 1981. Glib comebacks cut both ways. <BR/><BR/>The adult approach to the issues confronting issues facing America is for Republicans and Democrats to put aside the Newt Gingrich/Karl Rove approach of dividing Americans and work to find common ground. The adult thing for us everyday Americans to do is to share the responsibilities of liberty, rather than claim we can reshape the world at no cost to us individually. <BR/><BR/>Obama is calling upon us all to be loyal to America and not to party, and to be responsible for improving our lots in the world. Sounds pretty adult to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-8981385581756196502008-01-28T18:58:00.000-05:002008-01-28T18:58:00.000-05:00Damn straight Doug!! I am 32 years old and feel t...Damn straight Doug!! <BR/>I am 32 years old and feel that Obama is the first candidate who truly represents my generation. As for people concerned about electibility issues, I am a white male who voted for Bush in 2000 ... and I have contributed hundreds of dollars to Barrack's campaign. I can't remember being this excited about a presidential candidate, ever. Unfortunately the elderly retirees in Florida will likely hand that primary over to Hillary, but we need to make a push on super Tuesday.Ulysseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05264984765461949164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-10805271467134795922008-01-28T18:22:00.000-05:002008-01-28T18:22:00.000-05:00Camelot was a fictional place.Time to step aside a...Camelot was a fictional place.<BR/><BR/>Time to step aside and let the adults talk now, Obama.Hobnail_Boothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02312299983915781696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-81169931433275765992008-01-28T14:57:00.000-05:002008-01-28T14:57:00.000-05:00I've got about a week left to decide here, and I d...I've got about a week left to decide here, and I don't think any of the electable 3 Dems (remember, Mike Gravel's still in this thing, and he has actual first-hand experience in getting the US out of an unpopular war...and the same odds of winning as Fulmer winning a popularity contest in Athens, GA) are "ideal."<BR/><BR/>Neither Clinton nor Obama has shown me a damn thing from a leadership perspective this past in year the Senate and that bugs me a lot. Iraq funding, or--and this is a huge issue for me--the FISA spying nonsense: where were the impassioned floor speeches from Obama on these issues? Or the "building consensus" from Hillary?<BR/>I like a lot of John Edwards' positions now--but where were they when he was in the Senate?<BR/>The use of "we" vs. "I" is probably why I'm leaning lukewarmly towards Obama, but it'd be nice to see the two sitting Senators actually lead from their existing jobs some too.<BR/><BR/>And if worse comes down to it, I am prepared to hold my nose and vote for Hillary in November, if only to watch Hannity, Chris Mathews et al choke on their own rage. Plus all the yahoos at LGF and RedState. And I'll say this for D.Underground. I went there back in '03 or so after one of Boortz's rants about them, checked out the "tinfoil hat" guy talking about the PNAC folks...and damned if they weren't right about that particular group of neoconservative asshats.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075308307848122779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-6584275161247412972008-01-28T14:42:00.000-05:002008-01-28T14:42:00.000-05:00Doug, Great thoughts. I am 54 years old. Although...Doug, <BR/><BR/>Great thoughts. I am 54 years old. Although I was a kid during the JFK years I remember the legacy of Camelot and the "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" feeling. I realize that Obama doesn't have 10 point policy positions for every issue under the sun. That doesn't bother me in the least. Presidential candidates have policy plans just like generals have battle plans. Eisenhower once said, best I can quopte it, "plans mean everything; plans mean nothing." I was told that means that while a battle plan is indispensable, once the shooting starts conditions change and affect the battle plan. Once a president is elected his or her agenda goes to congress and it gets changed. The important thing to me, then, is what is the candidate's basic vision, and how will he or she use the political process to protect his overall vision. <BR/><BR/>Obama strikes me as the most likely of the candidates to inspire and energize Americans to look beyond partisan points of view to address international relations and economic policy from as close to a what's best for all of us reference rather than what's best for a group than can get the most electoral votes point of view.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11250715.post-36952434538835167112008-01-28T10:55:00.000-05:002008-01-28T10:55:00.000-05:00As a conservative, the idea of Obama winning the n...As a conservative, the idea of Obama winning the nomination scares the boo-boo out of me. The guy is definitely electable, so much so even I've had my "Hell, I'll vote for him, he's better than the Republicans" moments - until I remember some of his positions.<BR/><BR/>Thank goodness, then, that Hillary is still going to get the nomination, and an election that should be absolutely unwinnable for the Republicans will be made very much so.<BR/><BR/>(And no, I really wouldn't vote for a Democrat. Only because seeing the Democrat Underground-style crowd in misery has just been too fun for me).Josh M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04054764121030646400noreply@blogger.com