Could it really be a coincidend?
78To an old leader will be born an idiot heir,weak both in knowledge and in war.The leader of France is feared by his sister,battlefields divided, conceded to the soldiers.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Is This Why Huckabee is Staying in the Race?
Rumors are swirling that John McCain was involved in an extra-marital affair during the 2000 campaign. What makes this worse is that the woman involved is a Washington lobbyist. Now we've always thought Republicans were in bed with the representatives of Big Business but this takes the cake.
I don't know if this is true or not, and I certainly have no information that anybody else has, but I have to wonder, is Mike Huckabee staying in the race hoping that this blows up before the convention? Everybody is saying that Huckabee is destroying his own credibility among Republicans by staying in the race, but if and this is a big IF, this does blow up on McCain, then as the man with the second most number of delegates he would be the obvious choice to replace McCain as the nominee.
And even a loss by Huckabee under these circumstances would mean a lot of power in the GOP for the Huckster.
I don't know if this is true or not, and I certainly have no information that anybody else has, but I have to wonder, is Mike Huckabee staying in the race hoping that this blows up before the convention? Everybody is saying that Huckabee is destroying his own credibility among Republicans by staying in the race, but if and this is a big IF, this does blow up on McCain, then as the man with the second most number of delegates he would be the obvious choice to replace McCain as the nominee.
And even a loss by Huckabee under these circumstances would mean a lot of power in the GOP for the Huckster.
Available Soon in New Tuna Flavor
I guess I'm not making the connection. Maybe cherry is a better flavor.
Monday, February 18, 2008
But it was all about the stupid people who took out the loans...
Appears the FBI is investigating the practices of many of the large Wall St companies who brought us the Sub-Prime crisis. Everything from insider trading to accounting fraud to manipulated home appraisals.
It is probably too much hope at this point for a lot of people to go to jail over this, but it should be a fun ride.
It is probably too much hope at this point for a lot of people to go to jail over this, but it should be a fun ride.
Today's Deregualtion Tidbit
In the news today...
Sure it sounds like just an ordinary case of a rotten apple in the business world, but wait it gets better. This rotten apple from the business world sold 37 million pounds of possibly contaminated meat to the USDA before being caught and shut down. I know I know lets cut the budget for the USDA and deregualte the industry some more. That'll solve this issue!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Sunday that a California
meatpacking company had launched the recall of 135 million pounds of beef -- the
largest meat recall in U.S. history -- following questions about the company's
treatment of cattle that were slaughtered even though they could not stand up.
Sure it sounds like just an ordinary case of a rotten apple in the business world, but wait it gets better. This rotten apple from the business world sold 37 million pounds of possibly contaminated meat to the USDA before being caught and shut down. I know I know lets cut the budget for the USDA and deregualte the industry some more. That'll solve this issue!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Dumb and Arrogant? Yep.
I wonder what right wingers think about when they read articles like this one by Susan Jacoby which discusses that Americans are not just getting dumber but are arrogant about the fact.
It goes along way to explaining why America is beginning to be surpassed in the world. Too many people who believe in Free Trade without thinking about what it really means. And it certainly isn't open trade borders on our side while other countries protect their own markets.
Global Warming denial.....
Sub-Prime Mortgage crisis....
Iraq & Afghanistan...
These and many other problems caused by people who have a one size fits all ideological approach to every problem in the world and ofcourse George W. Bush is the ultimate poster child for this. Remember in 2000 when it didn't matter that the man who was to become President didn't give a rats ass about anything that happened outside of Texas?
It goes along way to explaining why America is beginning to be surpassed in the world. Too many people who believe in Free Trade without thinking about what it really means. And it certainly isn't open trade borders on our side while other countries protect their own markets.
Global Warming denial.....
Sub-Prime Mortgage crisis....
Iraq & Afghanistan...
These and many other problems caused by people who have a one size fits all ideological approach to every problem in the world and ofcourse George W. Bush is the ultimate poster child for this. Remember in 2000 when it didn't matter that the man who was to become President didn't give a rats ass about anything that happened outside of Texas?
Junkie Revenues
The funniest part of this article from the NYT on the proposed 'crack tax' in New York is learning that Nebraska already has one.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
John McCain on Healthcare
You can go here to see John McCain's proposals on Healthcare reform for the US. Aircav over at ABP has decided that I'm an asshole because I was making fun of McCain, saying I didn't realize he had a plan beyond saying if you don't have health insurance don't plan on getting it anytime soon.
So here is John McCain's plan as posted on his website:
Bringing costs under control is the only way to stop the erosion of affordable health insurance, save Medicare and Medicaid, protect private health benefits for retirees, and allow our companies to effectively compete around the world.
File this under the heading 'No shit, Sherlock'
Families should be in charge of their health care dollars and have more control over their care. We can improve health and spend less, while promoting competition on the cost and quality of care, taking better care of our citizens with chronic illness, and promoting prevention that will keep millions of others from ever developing deadly and debilitating disease.
So it begs asking, how many of you don't have control over your own care right now? Are you prevented from researching different options, going to see the doctor you want, and otherwise price shopping? No? What this really means is that Republicans want people to bare the costs of Healthcare so that they will ration how much they consume, not based upon educated assessments of what value the treatment has but rather based upon costs. Patients can't make truely informed decisions about Healthcare simply because they don't have all of the education necessary to really determine what the best treatment options are. Doctors study for years to make those determinations, if their judgement can be analyzed by the average car mechanic, why do we even need doctors? Perhaps later we'll read about how McCain is proposing to send every person in the US to med school.
While we reform the system and maintain quality, we can and must provide access to health care for all our citizens - whether temporarily or chronically uninsured, whether living in rural areas with limited services, or whether residing in inner cities where access to physicians is often limited.
Another for the 'NSS' file.
America's veterans have fought for our freedom. We should give them freedom to choose to carry their VA dollars to a provider that gives them the timely care at high quality and in the best location.
Rough translation. Privatize VA hospitals.
Controlling health care costs will take fundamental change - nothing short of a complete reform of the culture of our health system and the way we pay for it will suffice. Reforms to federal policy and programs should focus on enhancing quality while controlling costs:
Promote competition throughout the health care system - between providers and among alternative treatments.
Promote competition throughout the healthcare system? Is there a doctor's cabal out there we're unaware of? Doctors and Hospitals do compete for patients now. The problem goes back to the fact that consumers do not have the requisite amount of information to make informed decisions between treatments. This is why HMOs and Managed Care options were formed, to provide on the consumer side a party who could evaluate the treatment options and make the determination based upon medical training whether a treatment was valid or worthwhile. Ofcourse that didn't work because the doctors employeed by the HMOs and MCs options found themselves pressed to work in the best interests of the Insurance Company and not necessarily the best interests of the consumer of healthcare.
Make patients the center of care and give them a larger role in both prevention and care, putting more decisions and responsibility in their hands.
Restating the same. How do you put the responsibility in the hands of patients for their care if they don't have the necessary information to make those decisions? Hey Mr. Jones you have chronnic heart failure. Here are a couple of pamphlets documenting some treatment options. When you decided which treatment option is best for you, please call the nurse and set up an appointment and we'll get you fixed right up. Make sense? Not in the least.
Make public more information on treatment options and require transparency by providers regarding medical outcomes, quality of care, costs, and prices.
Providers are happy to provide you with a listing of their prices already. Pooled insurance is able to negotiate better prices. The quality of care issue is a good thought. Zagut ratings for doctors maybe? Medical outcomes is a far more sticky subject, reporting on that would interfere with patient confidentiality.
Facilitate the development of national standards for measuring and recording treatments and outcomes.
Sounds like a good idea. But doesn't do anything to provide insurance to those who don't have it.
Reform the payment systems in Medicare to compensate providers for diagnosis, prevention, and care coordination. Medicare should not pay for preventable medical errors or mismanagement.
What does this even mean? Medicare should not pay for medical errors or mismanagement?
Dedicate federal research on the basis of sound science resulting in greater focus on care and cure of chronic disease
Are we presently dedicating federal research on the basis of unsound science? If so I agree that should change.
Give states the flexibility to, and encourage them to experiment with: alternative forms of access; risk-adjusted payments per episode covered under Medicaid; use of private insurance in Medicaid; alternative insurance policies and insurance providers; and, different licensing schemes for medical providers.
This says to allow the states to have power to use different licensing schemes for medical providers.
Build genuine national markets by permitting providers to practice nationwide.
This says states shouldn't be able to set licensing restrictions for people practicing in their state. So which is it.
Promote rapid deployment of 21st century information systems.
Promoted by whom? The Government? And what exactly is preventing this from happening now?
Support innovative delivery systems, such as clinics in retail outlets and other ways that provide greater market flexibility in permitting appropriate roles for nurse practitioners, nurses, and doctors.
Again, what exactly is preventing this from happening now? Pharmacies are starting to put in retail clinics. As far as permitting the appropriate roles for nurse practitioners, doctors and nurses. Do the states not already have this power?
Where cost-effective, employ telemedicine, and community and mental health clinics in areas where services and providers are limited.
Where cost-effective? How about this, we allow it where it is outcome-effictive? And dial-a-doc sounds like such a great policy. Getting diagnosed and treated by somebody who has never met you, seen you, run test on you, or hell, even gone so far as to take your blood pressure sounds like such a great way to conduct business. Just like getting Viagra over the internet.
Foster the development of routes for safe, cheaper generic versions of drugs and biologic pharmaceuticals. Develop safety protocols that permit re-importation to keep competition vigorous.
Another that makes no sense. The reason we don't have these routes now is that it isn't very profitable to research and test a drug for 10 years simply to allow your competitors to market it as soon as it is deemed acceptable for market. And developing safety protocols that permit re-importation? Dubya isn't going to be happy about that. And I thought this was supposed to be the personal responsibility plan? How about we just allow re-importation?
Pass tort reform to eliminate frivolous lawsuits and excessive damage awards. Provide a safe harbor for doctors that follow clinical guidelines and adhere to patient safety protocols.
Don't you like this system? You are responsible for your own medical treatment not your doctor, and when your doctor fucks up that treatment, well, you are responsible for that too.
Protect the health care consumer through vigorous enforcement of federal protections against collusion, unfair business actions, and deceptive consumer practices. John McCain believes that insurance reforms should increase the variety and affordability of insurance coverage available to American families by fostering competition and innovation.
Is he admitting that the current administration isn't vigorously enforcing the federal protections against collusion, unfair business actions and deceptive consumer practices? Well I applaud him for that.
Reform the tax code to eliminate the bias toward employer-sponsored health insurance, and provide all individuals with a $2,500 tax credit ($5,000 for families) to increase incentives for insurance coverage. Individuals owning innovative multi-year policies that cost less than the full credit can deposit remainder in expanded health savings accounts.
$2500 per indiviual and only $5000 per family? So a family of 4 is credited the same amount as an unmarried couple? A unmarried couple with 2 kids would qualify for $7500 in tax credits but a married family with 2 kids would only qualify for $5000. Somehow I don't think James Dobson is gonna like that.
Families should be able to purchase health insurance nationwide, across state lines, to maximize their choices, and heighten competition for their business that will eliminate excess overhead, administrative, and excessive compensation costs from the system.
So states should be required to try innovative insurance methods, but should have no control over who practices in their state.
Insurance should be innovative, moving from job to home, job to job, and providing multi-year coverage.
What the hell does this mean? Job to home? Multi-year coverage?
Require any state receiving Medicaid to develop a financial "risk adjustment" bonus to high-cost and low-income families to supplement tax credits and Medicaid funds.
'Risk adjustment' bonus? Again I not sure what this means, but I have a feeling it means that we should provide health insurance to poor people but find a way to punish them for using it.
Allow individuals to get insurance through any organization or association that they choose: employers, individual purchases, churches, professional association, and so forth. These policies will be available to small businesses and the self-employed, will be portable across all jobs, and will automatically bridge the time between retirement and Medicare eligibility. These plans would have to meet rigorous standards and certification. John McCain Believes in Personal Responsibility
Again, what is preventing this from happening now? Is there some form of law that prevents churchs from offerning health insurance? And you can get insurance that isn't related to your job, the problem isn't availablity it is cost. Large employers get volumn discounts for buying insurance. If you make each man an island in the health insurance game, you eliminate that pooled buying power thus making it easier for insurance companies to charge higher prices. Honestly, who do you think gets the better deal when buying a new car, you with your little Blue Book, or Hertz Rentacar?
We must do more to take care of ourselves to prevent chronic diseases when possible, and do more to adhere to treatment after we are diagnosed with an illness.
More of a lecture than a solution. This is implementable how?
Childhood obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure are all on the rise. We must again teach our children about health, nutrition and exercise - vital life information.
Public health initiatives must be undertaken with all our citizens to stem the growing epidemic of obesity and diabetes, and to deter smoking.
Like implementing food qualities laws?
So my overall impression of the McCain plan is as follows. In order to fix our healthcare system the solution is the exempt employers, doctors, and insurance companies from any responsibility in the system. Doctors shouldn't be required to direct treatment or be responsible for their medical errors, insurance companies shouldn't be responsible for providing good service while controlling prices, and we shouldn't have employer paid health insurance.
On its face is says that McCain belives with no regard to history or economics, that individuals acting in the market place would be able to negotiate better prices than any pooled conumer group. But that is just the selling angle really, the same as the $2500/$5000 tax credit. They realize that some form of healthcare reform is going to happen, and all this plan really says is that the way to change it is to convince people to limit their own consumption of healthcare to what they can personally afford to pay for.
It is the height of modern Movement Conservative thought process. No problem can be solved through direct action. Instead problems can only be solved though a combination of dancing around the problem, cutting taxes, and elimating the responsibility of business to be a part of the solution. And you guys say McCain isn't a Conservative. Funny.
So here is John McCain's plan as posted on his website:
Bringing costs under control is the only way to stop the erosion of affordable health insurance, save Medicare and Medicaid, protect private health benefits for retirees, and allow our companies to effectively compete around the world.
File this under the heading 'No shit, Sherlock'
Families should be in charge of their health care dollars and have more control over their care. We can improve health and spend less, while promoting competition on the cost and quality of care, taking better care of our citizens with chronic illness, and promoting prevention that will keep millions of others from ever developing deadly and debilitating disease.
So it begs asking, how many of you don't have control over your own care right now? Are you prevented from researching different options, going to see the doctor you want, and otherwise price shopping? No? What this really means is that Republicans want people to bare the costs of Healthcare so that they will ration how much they consume, not based upon educated assessments of what value the treatment has but rather based upon costs. Patients can't make truely informed decisions about Healthcare simply because they don't have all of the education necessary to really determine what the best treatment options are. Doctors study for years to make those determinations, if their judgement can be analyzed by the average car mechanic, why do we even need doctors? Perhaps later we'll read about how McCain is proposing to send every person in the US to med school.
While we reform the system and maintain quality, we can and must provide access to health care for all our citizens - whether temporarily or chronically uninsured, whether living in rural areas with limited services, or whether residing in inner cities where access to physicians is often limited.
Another for the 'NSS' file.
America's veterans have fought for our freedom. We should give them freedom to choose to carry their VA dollars to a provider that gives them the timely care at high quality and in the best location.
Rough translation. Privatize VA hospitals.
Controlling health care costs will take fundamental change - nothing short of a complete reform of the culture of our health system and the way we pay for it will suffice. Reforms to federal policy and programs should focus on enhancing quality while controlling costs:
Promote competition throughout the health care system - between providers and among alternative treatments.
Promote competition throughout the healthcare system? Is there a doctor's cabal out there we're unaware of? Doctors and Hospitals do compete for patients now. The problem goes back to the fact that consumers do not have the requisite amount of information to make informed decisions between treatments. This is why HMOs and Managed Care options were formed, to provide on the consumer side a party who could evaluate the treatment options and make the determination based upon medical training whether a treatment was valid or worthwhile. Ofcourse that didn't work because the doctors employeed by the HMOs and MCs options found themselves pressed to work in the best interests of the Insurance Company and not necessarily the best interests of the consumer of healthcare.
Make patients the center of care and give them a larger role in both prevention and care, putting more decisions and responsibility in their hands.
Restating the same. How do you put the responsibility in the hands of patients for their care if they don't have the necessary information to make those decisions? Hey Mr. Jones you have chronnic heart failure. Here are a couple of pamphlets documenting some treatment options. When you decided which treatment option is best for you, please call the nurse and set up an appointment and we'll get you fixed right up. Make sense? Not in the least.
Make public more information on treatment options and require transparency by providers regarding medical outcomes, quality of care, costs, and prices.
Providers are happy to provide you with a listing of their prices already. Pooled insurance is able to negotiate better prices. The quality of care issue is a good thought. Zagut ratings for doctors maybe? Medical outcomes is a far more sticky subject, reporting on that would interfere with patient confidentiality.
Facilitate the development of national standards for measuring and recording treatments and outcomes.
Sounds like a good idea. But doesn't do anything to provide insurance to those who don't have it.
Reform the payment systems in Medicare to compensate providers for diagnosis, prevention, and care coordination. Medicare should not pay for preventable medical errors or mismanagement.
What does this even mean? Medicare should not pay for medical errors or mismanagement?
Dedicate federal research on the basis of sound science resulting in greater focus on care and cure of chronic disease
Are we presently dedicating federal research on the basis of unsound science? If so I agree that should change.
Give states the flexibility to, and encourage them to experiment with: alternative forms of access; risk-adjusted payments per episode covered under Medicaid; use of private insurance in Medicaid; alternative insurance policies and insurance providers; and, different licensing schemes for medical providers.
This says to allow the states to have power to use different licensing schemes for medical providers.
Build genuine national markets by permitting providers to practice nationwide.
This says states shouldn't be able to set licensing restrictions for people practicing in their state. So which is it.
Promote rapid deployment of 21st century information systems.
Promoted by whom? The Government? And what exactly is preventing this from happening now?
Support innovative delivery systems, such as clinics in retail outlets and other ways that provide greater market flexibility in permitting appropriate roles for nurse practitioners, nurses, and doctors.
Again, what exactly is preventing this from happening now? Pharmacies are starting to put in retail clinics. As far as permitting the appropriate roles for nurse practitioners, doctors and nurses. Do the states not already have this power?
Where cost-effective, employ telemedicine, and community and mental health clinics in areas where services and providers are limited.
Where cost-effective? How about this, we allow it where it is outcome-effictive? And dial-a-doc sounds like such a great policy. Getting diagnosed and treated by somebody who has never met you, seen you, run test on you, or hell, even gone so far as to take your blood pressure sounds like such a great way to conduct business. Just like getting Viagra over the internet.
Foster the development of routes for safe, cheaper generic versions of drugs and biologic pharmaceuticals. Develop safety protocols that permit re-importation to keep competition vigorous.
Another that makes no sense. The reason we don't have these routes now is that it isn't very profitable to research and test a drug for 10 years simply to allow your competitors to market it as soon as it is deemed acceptable for market. And developing safety protocols that permit re-importation? Dubya isn't going to be happy about that. And I thought this was supposed to be the personal responsibility plan? How about we just allow re-importation?
Pass tort reform to eliminate frivolous lawsuits and excessive damage awards. Provide a safe harbor for doctors that follow clinical guidelines and adhere to patient safety protocols.
Don't you like this system? You are responsible for your own medical treatment not your doctor, and when your doctor fucks up that treatment, well, you are responsible for that too.
Protect the health care consumer through vigorous enforcement of federal protections against collusion, unfair business actions, and deceptive consumer practices. John McCain believes that insurance reforms should increase the variety and affordability of insurance coverage available to American families by fostering competition and innovation.
Is he admitting that the current administration isn't vigorously enforcing the federal protections against collusion, unfair business actions and deceptive consumer practices? Well I applaud him for that.
Reform the tax code to eliminate the bias toward employer-sponsored health insurance, and provide all individuals with a $2,500 tax credit ($5,000 for families) to increase incentives for insurance coverage. Individuals owning innovative multi-year policies that cost less than the full credit can deposit remainder in expanded health savings accounts.
$2500 per indiviual and only $5000 per family? So a family of 4 is credited the same amount as an unmarried couple? A unmarried couple with 2 kids would qualify for $7500 in tax credits but a married family with 2 kids would only qualify for $5000. Somehow I don't think James Dobson is gonna like that.
Families should be able to purchase health insurance nationwide, across state lines, to maximize their choices, and heighten competition for their business that will eliminate excess overhead, administrative, and excessive compensation costs from the system.
So states should be required to try innovative insurance methods, but should have no control over who practices in their state.
Insurance should be innovative, moving from job to home, job to job, and providing multi-year coverage.
What the hell does this mean? Job to home? Multi-year coverage?
Require any state receiving Medicaid to develop a financial "risk adjustment" bonus to high-cost and low-income families to supplement tax credits and Medicaid funds.
'Risk adjustment' bonus? Again I not sure what this means, but I have a feeling it means that we should provide health insurance to poor people but find a way to punish them for using it.
Allow individuals to get insurance through any organization or association that they choose: employers, individual purchases, churches, professional association, and so forth. These policies will be available to small businesses and the self-employed, will be portable across all jobs, and will automatically bridge the time between retirement and Medicare eligibility. These plans would have to meet rigorous standards and certification. John McCain Believes in Personal Responsibility
Again, what is preventing this from happening now? Is there some form of law that prevents churchs from offerning health insurance? And you can get insurance that isn't related to your job, the problem isn't availablity it is cost. Large employers get volumn discounts for buying insurance. If you make each man an island in the health insurance game, you eliminate that pooled buying power thus making it easier for insurance companies to charge higher prices. Honestly, who do you think gets the better deal when buying a new car, you with your little Blue Book, or Hertz Rentacar?
We must do more to take care of ourselves to prevent chronic diseases when possible, and do more to adhere to treatment after we are diagnosed with an illness.
More of a lecture than a solution. This is implementable how?
Childhood obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure are all on the rise. We must again teach our children about health, nutrition and exercise - vital life information.
Public health initiatives must be undertaken with all our citizens to stem the growing epidemic of obesity and diabetes, and to deter smoking.
Like implementing food qualities laws?
So my overall impression of the McCain plan is as follows. In order to fix our healthcare system the solution is the exempt employers, doctors, and insurance companies from any responsibility in the system. Doctors shouldn't be required to direct treatment or be responsible for their medical errors, insurance companies shouldn't be responsible for providing good service while controlling prices, and we shouldn't have employer paid health insurance.
On its face is says that McCain belives with no regard to history or economics, that individuals acting in the market place would be able to negotiate better prices than any pooled conumer group. But that is just the selling angle really, the same as the $2500/$5000 tax credit. They realize that some form of healthcare reform is going to happen, and all this plan really says is that the way to change it is to convince people to limit their own consumption of healthcare to what they can personally afford to pay for.
It is the height of modern Movement Conservative thought process. No problem can be solved through direct action. Instead problems can only be solved though a combination of dancing around the problem, cutting taxes, and elimating the responsibility of business to be a part of the solution. And you guys say McCain isn't a Conservative. Funny.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Venus Vs Serena in the Badger State
John Cole over at Ballon-Juice brought it to my attention today that critics are slamming Obama today saying that he can't speak well without using a teleprompter.
So I'm watching him give his speech tonight on MSNBC and lo and behold it strikes me. He is panning back and forth so quickly between his teleprompter screens that he looks like he is giving a speech while watching one hell of a tennis match.
I wonder who won?
So I'm watching him give his speech tonight on MSNBC and lo and behold it strikes me. He is panning back and forth so quickly between his teleprompter screens that he looks like he is giving a speech while watching one hell of a tennis match.
I wonder who won?
Monday, February 11, 2008
Reverse Southern Strategy
Robert Novak is at it again. In todays edition of his bizarre reality he writes a scribe saying that Democrats are racist because Obama's poll results leading up to the California primary were dramatically different than the outcome on primary day was much different than the polls.
It sure sounds convincing doesn't it? But ofcourse a quick look at the real data shows his whole premise is crap. Real Clear Politics has it this way:
Reuters/CSpan/Zogby
02/03
- 02/04
895 LV
49
36
Obama +13.0
SurveyUSA
02/03
- 02/04
872 LV
42
52
Clinton +10.0
SurveyUSA
02/02
- 02/03
853 LV
41
53
Clinton +12.0
Suffolk
02/01
- 02/03
700 LV
40
39
Obama +1.0
Reuters/CSpan/Zogby
02/01
- 02/03
967 LV
46
40
Obama +6.0
Rasmussen
02/02
- 02/02
798 LV
45
44
Obama +1.0
Reuters/CSpan/Zogby
01/31
- 02/02
1141 LV
45
41
Obama +4.0
Mason-Dixon
01/30
- 02/01
400 LV
36
45
Clinton +9
The reality is prior to the California primary the polls were all over the place. Mason-Dixon and Survery USA nailed the results. Zogby and Rasmussen were way off base. The question isn't what happened to Obama's votes. The question is what happened to Zogby (as usual) and Rasmussen?
So what exactly is Right Wing tool Novak trying to accomplish? I think it is a reverse Southern Strategy. Hispanics are becoming more and more important in Democratic politics, and there are competing interests and possibly even some anomosity between hispanics and african
americans. So the right is trying to convince blacks that their place in the Democratic party
is getting pushed aside by racist Hispanics in hopes that they will turn to the Republican party.
Still playing the racist game after all these years.
Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, an African American Democrat, unexpectedly lost his 1982 campaign for governor. His defeat came as voters told pollsters that
they preferred the black candidate and then voted the other way. In
California's primary last Tuesday, Obama lost by a landslide 10 percentage
points despite one late survey showing him ahead by 13 points and two others
giving him a one-point lead.
It sure sounds convincing doesn't it? But ofcourse a quick look at the real data shows his whole premise is crap. Real Clear Politics has it this way:
Reuters/CSpan/Zogby
02/03
- 02/04
895 LV
49
36
Obama +13.0
SurveyUSA
02/03
- 02/04
872 LV
42
52
Clinton +10.0
SurveyUSA
02/02
- 02/03
853 LV
41
53
Clinton +12.0
Suffolk
02/01
- 02/03
700 LV
40
39
Obama +1.0
Reuters/CSpan/Zogby
02/01
- 02/03
967 LV
46
40
Obama +6.0
Rasmussen
02/02
- 02/02
798 LV
45
44
Obama +1.0
Reuters/CSpan/Zogby
01/31
- 02/02
1141 LV
45
41
Obama +4.0
Mason-Dixon
01/30
- 02/01
400 LV
36
45
Clinton +9
The reality is prior to the California primary the polls were all over the place. Mason-Dixon and Survery USA nailed the results. Zogby and Rasmussen were way off base. The question isn't what happened to Obama's votes. The question is what happened to Zogby (as usual) and Rasmussen?
So what exactly is Right Wing tool Novak trying to accomplish? I think it is a reverse Southern Strategy. Hispanics are becoming more and more important in Democratic politics, and there are competing interests and possibly even some anomosity between hispanics and african
americans. So the right is trying to convince blacks that their place in the Democratic party
is getting pushed aside by racist Hispanics in hopes that they will turn to the Republican party.
Still playing the racist game after all these years.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Obama the Untouchable
I'm starting to get a little big chaffed by the members of the African American Elite who seem to feel that Barrak Obama needs to be treated with kid's gloves in this election.
Britebart is reporting that former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder 'is not ready to excuse comments former President Bill Clinton made about Barack Obama. ' This is regarding Bill Clinton's comments calling Obama's claiming that he has a different opinion from Hillary on Iraq a fairy tale that the media has played into.
The comments from Clinton were a fair play on Obama's stance, and were especially accurate in their portrayal of Obama's record in the Senate being the same as Hillary Clinton's record.
Obama and his supporters should be wary of these tactics. If they are allowed to continue and someone as liberal as I am is turned off by them, this could backfire on Obama in the general.
Most people in our country look forward to the day when we have our first African American President and our country has worked hard to come to realize the day when people can be judged by 'the content of their character rather than the color of their skin'. However a sense of entitlement or an expectation that an African American candidate needs to be treated specially only shows us that we haven't gotten there yet.
Britebart is reporting that former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder 'is not ready to excuse comments former President Bill Clinton made about Barack Obama. ' This is regarding Bill Clinton's comments calling Obama's claiming that he has a different opinion from Hillary on Iraq a fairy tale that the media has played into.
The comments from Clinton were a fair play on Obama's stance, and were especially accurate in their portrayal of Obama's record in the Senate being the same as Hillary Clinton's record.
Obama and his supporters should be wary of these tactics. If they are allowed to continue and someone as liberal as I am is turned off by them, this could backfire on Obama in the general.
Most people in our country look forward to the day when we have our first African American President and our country has worked hard to come to realize the day when people can be judged by 'the content of their character rather than the color of their skin'. However a sense of entitlement or an expectation that an African American candidate needs to be treated specially only shows us that we haven't gotten there yet.
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