Why is it that everyone in the country is aware of the implosion taking place within the Clinton campaign, except for Sen. Hillary Clinton?
The polls show her lead down to single digits in Texas and Ohio, two states that she must win by huge margins in order for her candidacy get off of life support. And yet, during debates she speaks to Sen. Obama as if they are having tea, but on the stump, she is as angry as a wild boar!
The world is full of men and women who feel some sense of entitlement - I work with hundreds of them - but the Clinton machine is at a point where the evidence is so overwhelming, that it is almost impossible for her to win; the voters are gravitating towards a candidate by the millions, the same candidate whom she has tried to destroy with negative after negative ads to no avail.
And yet, sadly, with her campaign staff exhausted and afraid to tell her that it is time to pack it in, she will fight to the death, to a point of utter embarrassment.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Health Care & The Obama Tsunami
I can't wait for baseball season to start.
It will give me something even more exciting to watch. Well, what could be more exciting than watching presidential hopefuls say the same pathetic lines, "my friends", "yes we can!" and now I recently heard Sen. Clinton yell, "yes we will!". It seems like an awfully desperate tactic; to borrow part of a battle cry from your opponent.
In another post, I commented on how disingenuous Sen. McCain sounds when he says, "my friends" about 3 dozen times in his speeches. Not only does it sound fake, but often, he sounds as if he wish he had something better to say. It is okay to open a sentence with, "my friends..." once or twice in a speech. But for me, it just sounds so nauseating at times, especially when the guy who is saying it sounds like a robot. Turn the channel?
I can't.
This election has not given us the best candidates. And now that McCain will be the GOP nominee, I am still wondering if I like one of the Dems. The other night, Sean Hannity of Hannity & Colmes argued that, in the end, Sen. Obama does not have the experience to be president, but wasn't very clear on exactly what kind of experience someone would need. None of the other debaters challenged him on the experience our current President had before he took over the White House.
But the one thing that is vexing me about the Democratic candidates is this thing on universal health care.
Both Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton claim that they will provide "universal health care", but a review of their plans and some analysis by Factcheck.org shows that neither one of their plans will cover everyone. Clinton's idea of garnishing wages of those who do not participant does not coincide with what her website says about you "being in the driver seat.." Moreover, how do you garnish wages of someone who is not working? It seems that this will be a large part of the population that will benefit from the so called "universal health care" which really isn't universal, because everyone does not get covered.
If I vote for a Democrat, I am particularly concerned about universal health care, because it is unclear as to how things will be for me since I have an employer sponsored plan which also covers my wife. Will I have to wait 3 weeks just to get an appointment to see my doctor?
On a separate note, recently an adviser to Clinton, Harold Ickels said that she will have the nomination wrapped up by June. The tragedy of this assertion is that it has denial written all over it. The reality is that Sen. Clinton's campaign is on life support. She has tried everything possible to stop Sen. Obama's momentum, from making loans to her campaign; shifting staff around, using her daughter, Chelsea and anything else necessary to gain significant momentum.
The margins that Sen. Obama has been winning by are daunting for her.
When Obama takes Wisconsin and Ohio, the effects of his momentum could be like a tsunami.
The party establishment will have no choice but to go to Sen. Clinton and politely encourage her to step aside, lest she drowns in a "sea of change" unknown to the political spectrum.
It will give me something even more exciting to watch. Well, what could be more exciting than watching presidential hopefuls say the same pathetic lines, "my friends", "yes we can!" and now I recently heard Sen. Clinton yell, "yes we will!". It seems like an awfully desperate tactic; to borrow part of a battle cry from your opponent.
In another post, I commented on how disingenuous Sen. McCain sounds when he says, "my friends" about 3 dozen times in his speeches. Not only does it sound fake, but often, he sounds as if he wish he had something better to say. It is okay to open a sentence with, "my friends..." once or twice in a speech. But for me, it just sounds so nauseating at times, especially when the guy who is saying it sounds like a robot. Turn the channel?
I can't.
This election has not given us the best candidates. And now that McCain will be the GOP nominee, I am still wondering if I like one of the Dems. The other night, Sean Hannity of Hannity & Colmes argued that, in the end, Sen. Obama does not have the experience to be president, but wasn't very clear on exactly what kind of experience someone would need. None of the other debaters challenged him on the experience our current President had before he took over the White House.
But the one thing that is vexing me about the Democratic candidates is this thing on universal health care.
Both Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton claim that they will provide "universal health care", but a review of their plans and some analysis by Factcheck.org shows that neither one of their plans will cover everyone. Clinton's idea of garnishing wages of those who do not participant does not coincide with what her website says about you "being in the driver seat.." Moreover, how do you garnish wages of someone who is not working? It seems that this will be a large part of the population that will benefit from the so called "universal health care" which really isn't universal, because everyone does not get covered.
If I vote for a Democrat, I am particularly concerned about universal health care, because it is unclear as to how things will be for me since I have an employer sponsored plan which also covers my wife. Will I have to wait 3 weeks just to get an appointment to see my doctor?
On a separate note, recently an adviser to Clinton, Harold Ickels said that she will have the nomination wrapped up by June. The tragedy of this assertion is that it has denial written all over it. The reality is that Sen. Clinton's campaign is on life support. She has tried everything possible to stop Sen. Obama's momentum, from making loans to her campaign; shifting staff around, using her daughter, Chelsea and anything else necessary to gain significant momentum.
The margins that Sen. Obama has been winning by are daunting for her.
When Obama takes Wisconsin and Ohio, the effects of his momentum could be like a tsunami.
The party establishment will have no choice but to go to Sen. Clinton and politely encourage her to step aside, lest she drowns in a "sea of change" unknown to the political spectrum.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Obama: The Untenable Candidate
Politicians can be some of the most ridiculous and embarassing public figures in the country.
Thomas Jefferson, who was no saint, said that there is always a moment when the public will not trust elected officials. Even the French laughed at him when he argued "liberty" while housing hundreds of slaves! In fact, I imagine the French were probably roaring with laughter when Jefferson talked about liberty... That would have been funny on youtube.
You can go to youtube and just look at some of the speeches and goofs, or read their comments from the past to get an idea of what I am talking about. I don't think they have anything on Jefferson.
America, we are an interesting and insanely laughable group of people.
Nowadays, if you really want to know what people think about the realistic possibility of this country having the first African-American president, then all you need to do is listen to the near moronic explanation Gov. Ed Rendell gave when he was asked to clarify his comment that some white people in Pennsylvania are not ready for a black candidate. (maybe he polled them himself or something)
Mr. Rendell does not want to acknowledge that Sen. Obama won in a state (Iowa) which is home to some of the most racist groups around (e.g., the Aryan Nation).
Rendell is a superdelegate for the Democratic party, who happens to harbor racist feelings.
Odd.
The polls and results of the Democratic contest are compelling. There is a good chance that come January 2009, we will be swearing in a black President. And Gov. Rendell's attempt to convince the PA Voters that a vote for the black candidate would be counterproductive will, in retrospect, seem silly.
I have found that Sen. Obama, while not the smarter of the two Democratic candidates, has evolved to a point where he has so much momentum and support that he is untenable.
You can go to CNN's election site to read the data on delegate counts etc.
Thomas Jefferson, who was no saint, said that there is always a moment when the public will not trust elected officials. Even the French laughed at him when he argued "liberty" while housing hundreds of slaves! In fact, I imagine the French were probably roaring with laughter when Jefferson talked about liberty... That would have been funny on youtube.
You can go to youtube and just look at some of the speeches and goofs, or read their comments from the past to get an idea of what I am talking about. I don't think they have anything on Jefferson.
America, we are an interesting and insanely laughable group of people.
Nowadays, if you really want to know what people think about the realistic possibility of this country having the first African-American president, then all you need to do is listen to the near moronic explanation Gov. Ed Rendell gave when he was asked to clarify his comment that some white people in Pennsylvania are not ready for a black candidate. (maybe he polled them himself or something)
Mr. Rendell does not want to acknowledge that Sen. Obama won in a state (Iowa) which is home to some of the most racist groups around (e.g., the Aryan Nation).
Rendell is a superdelegate for the Democratic party, who happens to harbor racist feelings.
Odd.
The polls and results of the Democratic contest are compelling. There is a good chance that come January 2009, we will be swearing in a black President. And Gov. Rendell's attempt to convince the PA Voters that a vote for the black candidate would be counterproductive will, in retrospect, seem silly.
I have found that Sen. Obama, while not the smarter of the two Democratic candidates, has evolved to a point where he has so much momentum and support that he is untenable.
You can go to CNN's election site to read the data on delegate counts etc.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Gravitating Towards The Electable Candidate
It's funny how a big contest like Super Tuesday can change the reality of the presidential election! Prior to Feb. 5th, my thinking was that Sen. Clinton, who still leads Sen. Borack Obama in delegates, would somehow destroy him.
But as it turns out, Obama won more states, even though he still lags behind Clinton in delegates.
Even though Sen. Obama's health care plan is vague, if not, totally viable and even though his goal of getting troops out of Iraq is a little too optimistic, I got to thinking that over the past few months, he has matured on the campaign trail. Maybe it was the whipping Hillary's husband gave him in public, or maybe his campaign staff quietly worked on him, polishing him up a bit. But whatever the case, my wife and I agree that he has improved.
A recent CNN and Time Poll also confirmed his momentum. In both polls, Obama leads McCain by over 7 points! When asked about Sen. Clinton, the numbers point to a statistical dead heat.
I am not sure who I like. But I think I know who the public likes.
One thing for sure, it is quite embarassing when you have to lend money to your campaign, although it is not unheard of. And it is even more troubling, as a candidate, when the voters - most of whom are lower and middle class Americans - find out that you are worth upwards of $50 million dollars! The problem is not the wealth. The problem is the appearance of Republican characteristics.
My wife says that everyone has a right to earn a living, and if it happens that someone earns millions then so what. True, but when a candidate argues about tax issues and suggests that the richest Americans are not paying their fair share, it implies (depending how the speech is crafted) that she is not one of them, although her networth dwarfs many of the GOP candidates!
The fact remains, according to one WSJ columinist, that Sen. Clinton's quest for president has been undermined lately by financial problems which include reports that senior staff members have agreed to go without pay. Meanwhile, Sen. Obama continues to raise records sums of money. The establisment and the electorate is gravitating towards an electable candidate.
It is possible, yes, that we will have either a female or black president. But the momentum building with the possibility - the sheer unprecedented nature of it all - of a black president is refreshing and exciting to a lot of people. While I do not believe Sen. Obama is "the more qualified" candidate, I also didn't believe President George Bush was the more qualified candidate. But "qualified" is a relative turn, and voters come out when they see that their vote has meaning; and that their vote can really - this time! - effect change.
But as it turns out, Obama won more states, even though he still lags behind Clinton in delegates.
Even though Sen. Obama's health care plan is vague, if not, totally viable and even though his goal of getting troops out of Iraq is a little too optimistic, I got to thinking that over the past few months, he has matured on the campaign trail. Maybe it was the whipping Hillary's husband gave him in public, or maybe his campaign staff quietly worked on him, polishing him up a bit. But whatever the case, my wife and I agree that he has improved.
A recent CNN and Time Poll also confirmed his momentum. In both polls, Obama leads McCain by over 7 points! When asked about Sen. Clinton, the numbers point to a statistical dead heat.
I am not sure who I like. But I think I know who the public likes.
One thing for sure, it is quite embarassing when you have to lend money to your campaign, although it is not unheard of. And it is even more troubling, as a candidate, when the voters - most of whom are lower and middle class Americans - find out that you are worth upwards of $50 million dollars! The problem is not the wealth. The problem is the appearance of Republican characteristics.
My wife says that everyone has a right to earn a living, and if it happens that someone earns millions then so what. True, but when a candidate argues about tax issues and suggests that the richest Americans are not paying their fair share, it implies (depending how the speech is crafted) that she is not one of them, although her networth dwarfs many of the GOP candidates!
The fact remains, according to one WSJ columinist, that Sen. Clinton's quest for president has been undermined lately by financial problems which include reports that senior staff members have agreed to go without pay. Meanwhile, Sen. Obama continues to raise records sums of money. The establisment and the electorate is gravitating towards an electable candidate.
It is possible, yes, that we will have either a female or black president. But the momentum building with the possibility - the sheer unprecedented nature of it all - of a black president is refreshing and exciting to a lot of people. While I do not believe Sen. Obama is "the more qualified" candidate, I also didn't believe President George Bush was the more qualified candidate. But "qualified" is a relative turn, and voters come out when they see that their vote has meaning; and that their vote can really - this time! - effect change.
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