Can New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg make a serious run at the presidency as an Independent? Countless stories this past week suggest that the Mayor is going to do it, come hell or high water.
As a billionaire candidate financing his own campaign he doesn't have to answer (give special favors) to donors. As an Independent he can do whatever he wants, and doesn't have to please a party of single minded people.
This is a first folks! OK a second, I remember the ears.
Bloomberg has been studying the campaign of Ross Perot, and he is planning on duplicating the fellow billionaire's efforts with even more success.
A CNN/Opinion Research Poll this past week showed that people are open to an independent candidate:
Clinton (D) 41%
Giuliani (R) 38%
Bloomberg (I) 17%
Obama (D) 40%
McCain (R) 34%
Bloomberg (I) 21%
Keep in mind that this poll is conducted before Bloomberg has even begun a campaign. These numbers would be fantastic if he had been campaigning for months. I personally get excited when I see an Independent pull more than a percentage point!
How do these other candidates who have their "myspace" websites, texting for dollars, consultants attached to the hip, flying around shaking hands, kissing babies, and waving at folks, feel when this guy mentions that he might run for president and he instantly pulls in 20% of a poll, without the backing of the 'sacred' party?
It means that Obama was right. We are ready for a (real) new kind of politics.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Any Change in Iraq?
A story in the Washington Post makes you realize how bad the living conditions in Iraq really are. Forget the Democrat and Republican accusations and complaints, just read the article.
These people are just like us, but they rarely have electricity, are dying from heat exhaustion, and their lives are in danger at all times in their own homes.
"He pays no more attention to the helicopters that roar overhead than he would to a passing truck, except that the street in front of his house is blocked off by concrete barriers. The rat-a-tat of AK-47s is so frequent that it's possible not to hear it anymore. And the new rooftop pool has eased his family's cabin fever, offering a refreshing substitute for visits they no longer make to parks, clubs, markets and friends' homes."
The Iraqi citizens have no faith at all in their government, "Forget about reconstruction -- what we are waiting for is change in the whole state," he said. "I just want one sincere, honorable person running Iraq. If he rules, even if we have to wait five or six years, there will be hope. But with the people we have now, even if you build 100 power plants, there's no hope."
In 115 degree heat having no power is the last thing you want, add suicide bombings, and the sound of AK-47s all around you it almost fits the description of hell.
"A June 12 study by the National Security Network, a private advocacy group, found that while the United States has spent $3.1 billion to improve electricity in Iraq, the power generated in May was 6 percent less than prewar levels. "Over the past three weeks, Baghdad has suffered severe power and water shortages of up to 23 hours a day," the study said."
It seems that our government is arguing over things that don't even matter, and won't improve anything. Congress spends weeks on things such as the $3.1 billion to improve electricity, yet it doesn't help the Iraqis out at all.
So as you sit there enjoying the benefits of electricity think of some ways that our government can actually produce change in Iraq...it all starts with ending the political bickering that just takes us in circles.
I know the subjects of the slew of emails I will now receive, and its a sad state of affairs that whenever I say something negative about Iraq I am called a 'left winger.' Our minds are in the completely wrong spot! Think about what can be done to cause change, not wonder if your idea would be OK with your 'party leader' who doesn't know your name.
Detach yourself from 'your' party and think for yourself once in a while!
These people are just like us, but they rarely have electricity, are dying from heat exhaustion, and their lives are in danger at all times in their own homes.
"He pays no more attention to the helicopters that roar overhead than he would to a passing truck, except that the street in front of his house is blocked off by concrete barriers. The rat-a-tat of AK-47s is so frequent that it's possible not to hear it anymore. And the new rooftop pool has eased his family's cabin fever, offering a refreshing substitute for visits they no longer make to parks, clubs, markets and friends' homes."
The Iraqi citizens have no faith at all in their government, "Forget about reconstruction -- what we are waiting for is change in the whole state," he said. "I just want one sincere, honorable person running Iraq. If he rules, even if we have to wait five or six years, there will be hope. But with the people we have now, even if you build 100 power plants, there's no hope."
In 115 degree heat having no power is the last thing you want, add suicide bombings, and the sound of AK-47s all around you it almost fits the description of hell.
"A June 12 study by the National Security Network, a private advocacy group, found that while the United States has spent $3.1 billion to improve electricity in Iraq, the power generated in May was 6 percent less than prewar levels. "Over the past three weeks, Baghdad has suffered severe power and water shortages of up to 23 hours a day," the study said."
It seems that our government is arguing over things that don't even matter, and won't improve anything. Congress spends weeks on things such as the $3.1 billion to improve electricity, yet it doesn't help the Iraqis out at all.
So as you sit there enjoying the benefits of electricity think of some ways that our government can actually produce change in Iraq...it all starts with ending the political bickering that just takes us in circles.
I know the subjects of the slew of emails I will now receive, and its a sad state of affairs that whenever I say something negative about Iraq I am called a 'left winger.' Our minds are in the completely wrong spot! Think about what can be done to cause change, not wonder if your idea would be OK with your 'party leader' who doesn't know your name.
Detach yourself from 'your' party and think for yourself once in a while!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Bloomberg/Schwarzenegger 2008?
A story from the AP suggests that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants The Governator to run with him.
That would be a very strong ticket, and with Bloomberg leaving the GOP this week it would be a bipartisan ticket!!It's about time!
There is just one problem, The Governator is not eligible to be president or vice-president because he is a naturalized citizen, he (obviously) wasn't born here.
However, these laws have never been challenged in the courts, and could be changed. Schwarzenegger is a great Governor, and is truly the only politician today that could care less about partisanship, my kind of guy!
The 12th Amendment bars any naturalized citizen from becoming vice-president. This law should be challenged, as should the constitutional requirement that only allows natural born citizens to become president.
These laws were created to ensure that no foreign person would have power in the early stages of the United States. It is no longer 1776, and every potential candidate for any elected office is put through the ringer. We find things out about candidates that we don't even want to know.
I don't think that the day Arnold becomes Vice President he will only speak in German and suddenly take over the world.
That would be a very strong ticket, and with Bloomberg leaving the GOP this week it would be a bipartisan ticket!!It's about time!
There is just one problem, The Governator is not eligible to be president or vice-president because he is a naturalized citizen, he (obviously) wasn't born here.
However, these laws have never been challenged in the courts, and could be changed. Schwarzenegger is a great Governor, and is truly the only politician today that could care less about partisanship, my kind of guy!
The 12th Amendment bars any naturalized citizen from becoming vice-president. This law should be challenged, as should the constitutional requirement that only allows natural born citizens to become president.
These laws were created to ensure that no foreign person would have power in the early stages of the United States. It is no longer 1776, and every potential candidate for any elected office is put through the ringer. We find things out about candidates that we don't even want to know.
I don't think that the day Arnold becomes Vice President he will only speak in German and suddenly take over the world.
$$ Plse? Are you kidding me?
According to the NYT's political blog John Edwards is rolling out a text for dollars campaign tonight.
The Edwards campaign will send out nearly 13,000 text messages to supporters asking for last minute (of the quarter) support. I don't know how you would feel, but getting a text message asking for money would only ensure that the candidate would lose my vote!
Apparently Edwards is not the only texter! Obama and Hillary have similar text "services." These campaigns text campaign updates to their supporters. Honestly, what can these texts possibly say?
Message from: Hillary
I love America, I need more money
That's about it. What kind of updates are there at this stage in the campaign? Who needs updates on their phone about a campaign? Isn't reading about it online and in the paper enough? This isn't a fast moving sporting event, text updates are not needed!
All these campaigns are trying to do is keep in touch to raise more money. There is no actual news or benefit for the supporter.
Why is it that only Democrats are employing these odd campaign techniques?
The Edwards campaign will send out nearly 13,000 text messages to supporters asking for last minute (of the quarter) support. I don't know how you would feel, but getting a text message asking for money would only ensure that the candidate would lose my vote!
Apparently Edwards is not the only texter! Obama and Hillary have similar text "services." These campaigns text campaign updates to their supporters. Honestly, what can these texts possibly say?
Message from: Hillary
I love America, I need more money
That's about it. What kind of updates are there at this stage in the campaign? Who needs updates on their phone about a campaign? Isn't reading about it online and in the paper enough? This isn't a fast moving sporting event, text updates are not needed!
All these campaigns are trying to do is keep in touch to raise more money. There is no actual news or benefit for the supporter.
Why is it that only Democrats are employing these odd campaign techniques?
Look at me!
The 2008 presidential candidates are going high tech. As if the myspace type websites wern't enough, the campaigns are now throwing their money at political blogs and google adsense.
According to the Wall Street Journal, in the entire 2004 campaign the parties and candidates spent a total of around $17,000 for ads on political blogs. During one week last month Democrat John Edwards spent 'nearly the same amount' on more than 25 liberal blogs.
In the first quarter alone Edwards spend $37,981 on ads on political blogs. Chris Dodd spend $24,653, Hillary Clinton $23,277, Barack Obama $12,036, Mitt Romney (the only Republican listed) $4,207.
Ads on blogs are cost effective when compared to traditional advertising. At this stage in the campaign the candidates are trying to appeal to the most extreme of their parties, as they are typically the only voters in primary elections. The majority of these party loyalists read blogs on a daily basis. By having ads on these blogs the candidate is putting his or her face in front of these prized voters in a very efficient way.
Candidates are also experimenting with Google AdWords. Sen. McCain is aggresively using this service. McCain's text running ads are pegged to some 2,500 words. Mitt Romney is using AdWords with a coupld hundred key words. How well does AdWords work? You tell me!--------------->
According to the Wall Street Journal, in the entire 2004 campaign the parties and candidates spent a total of around $17,000 for ads on political blogs. During one week last month Democrat John Edwards spent 'nearly the same amount' on more than 25 liberal blogs.
In the first quarter alone Edwards spend $37,981 on ads on political blogs. Chris Dodd spend $24,653, Hillary Clinton $23,277, Barack Obama $12,036, Mitt Romney (the only Republican listed) $4,207.
Ads on blogs are cost effective when compared to traditional advertising. At this stage in the campaign the candidates are trying to appeal to the most extreme of their parties, as they are typically the only voters in primary elections. The majority of these party loyalists read blogs on a daily basis. By having ads on these blogs the candidate is putting his or her face in front of these prized voters in a very efficient way.
Candidates are also experimenting with Google AdWords. Sen. McCain is aggresively using this service. McCain's text running ads are pegged to some 2,500 words. Mitt Romney is using AdWords with a coupld hundred key words. How well does AdWords work? You tell me!--------------->
Monday, June 18, 2007
¿Un español que habla a presidente?
Would being fluent in Spanish increase the effectiveness of our next president?
With our immigration crisis and rising Hispanic population I believe it is a necessity for our leader to be able to speak directly to this large population. Of all the current 2008 candidates only two (Richardson and Biden) speak Spanish fluently.
Many candidates believe that if they hablan español their poll numbers will improve. I have read that there are even weekly Spanish lessons for all members of Congress. After all Hispanics are the largest minority in America, nearly 15% of the American population . This is a huge group of potential voters.
It seems that most foreign heads of state speak English, but our presidents never speak their language. Why is that?
According to The New York Times, Michael Bloomberg and Newt Gingrich are currently honing their Spanish skills. Barack Obama tried to deliver a radio broadcast in Spanish, but was choppy and most likely took numerous takes.
The immigration crisis needs to be solved, and a Spanish speaking president will be a great step forward.
With our immigration crisis and rising Hispanic population I believe it is a necessity for our leader to be able to speak directly to this large population. Of all the current 2008 candidates only two (Richardson and Biden) speak Spanish fluently.
Many candidates believe that if they hablan español their poll numbers will improve. I have read that there are even weekly Spanish lessons for all members of Congress. After all Hispanics are the largest minority in America, nearly 15% of the American population . This is a huge group of potential voters.
It seems that most foreign heads of state speak English, but our presidents never speak their language. Why is that?
According to The New York Times, Michael Bloomberg and Newt Gingrich are currently honing their Spanish skills. Barack Obama tried to deliver a radio broadcast in Spanish, but was choppy and most likely took numerous takes.
The immigration crisis needs to be solved, and a Spanish speaking president will be a great step forward.
Obama faulters
Presidential hopeful Barack Obama's call for a "different kind of politics" is slowly evolving into a mere reflection of traditional politics.
Recently the Obama campaign clandestinely distributed documents that suggest former president Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Clinton have received money from Indian-Americans and companies that do business in India.
Obama has since disavowed these documents saying that they were "stupid and caustic," and that neither he nor his senior staff had previously seen them.
As you may already know, I am going to be the last person to defend a Clinton. But when you punch someone in the face you can't say "oh, I take that back." Whats done is done!
If you ask me, it was a very "Clinton-esque" move by Obama. Releasing documents, getting the thought of how greedy the Clintons can be in (undecided) voters heads, then as these voters realized that it was odd that this was released by Obama, the Senator "takes it back." It is actually very smart politics.
He put some doubt in undecided voters, and he doesn't look bad for doing it because he "never saw" the documents before. It was a "mistake" by his research team. More like a calculated effort on the part of his senior political advisers, but hey that's politics right?
After all of Obama's preaching for a new kind of politics, he does this. He has taken a step back in my eyes.
But we do live in America, where a president can commit perjury, be impeached, and his poll numbers go up.
Courtesy of the New York Times, you can read the documents that Obama never saw here:
Document on Hillary Clinton
Document on Bill Clinton
Recently the Obama campaign clandestinely distributed documents that suggest former president Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Clinton have received money from Indian-Americans and companies that do business in India.
Obama has since disavowed these documents saying that they were "stupid and caustic," and that neither he nor his senior staff had previously seen them.
As you may already know, I am going to be the last person to defend a Clinton. But when you punch someone in the face you can't say "oh, I take that back." Whats done is done!
If you ask me, it was a very "Clinton-esque" move by Obama. Releasing documents, getting the thought of how greedy the Clintons can be in (undecided) voters heads, then as these voters realized that it was odd that this was released by Obama, the Senator "takes it back." It is actually very smart politics.
He put some doubt in undecided voters, and he doesn't look bad for doing it because he "never saw" the documents before. It was a "mistake" by his research team. More like a calculated effort on the part of his senior political advisers, but hey that's politics right?
After all of Obama's preaching for a new kind of politics, he does this. He has taken a step back in my eyes.
But we do live in America, where a president can commit perjury, be impeached, and his poll numbers go up.
Courtesy of the New York Times, you can read the documents that Obama never saw here:
Document on Hillary Clinton
Document on Bill Clinton
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