January 31, 2008 – Capitol Hill Blue

United We What ?

January 31, 2008

United We What?

Clinton and Obama look like they might have a chance. McCain looks like the other side’s choice.
Obama says he can unite America as President. He does not understand that most of us do not want a united America.
We want someone who will repair the mess Worst President Bush created in the last eight years. Bush has built a
Gordian knot which must either be undone by patient work or given a mighty sword blow to split it open. We do not
have time or ability to unite all the diverse views in our land.

Air your security gripes on TSA blog – I DON’T RECOMMEND IT!

January 31, 2008

Air your security gripes on TSA blog (See yahoo News)

Considering what we learned recently about Homeland Security’s computer program called TIA, I would not recommend complaing on this site. https://www.tsa.gov/blog

You might find yourself on the WATCH LIST and that is no fun at all. And it’s practically impossible to get off of so it will haunt you forever whereever you travel.

With TSA, you will bend over and submit and like it because it’s all for your own protection. NOT!

I will say it for the umteenth time. WE ARE NOT SAFER TODAY THAN WE WERE BEFORE 911.

Some Thoughts on Tribalism and Democracy

January 31, 2008

When, oh when, are we Westerners going to finally wake up and realize that people who populate such far off places as Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan are simply NOT like us?

In most of South Asia and the Middle East, humans are primarily viewed NOT as individuals, but as agents of family, tribe, clan or sect. This helps explain why so many Arabs marry their cousins. In tribal societies, your blood relations are the only people you can really trust.

The blog you have been waiting for — Hillary vs Obama

January 31, 2008

Ok, so the pundits are going on and on about who will receive the benefit of John Edwards resignation….Hillary or Obama.

We seem to be badly in need of a thread around here at CHB to once and for all review and discuss the Hillary vs Obama candidacies. Especially since many, MANY threads around here keeping straying into this conversation.

So here is your chance guys. LET’S HAVE THE DISCOURSE ONCE AND FOR ALL! Only REMEMBER, we are practicing a new season of civility around here. So keep it polite….if nothing else, PLEASE!

Voters want a champion

January 31, 2008

Americans have a decidedly dour view of how things are going in the country and an outsized view of what one person — the president — can do about it.

In a year when talk of change is all the rage in the presidential campaign, people have great expectations for the next president’s ability to get things done, according to an extensive Associated Press-Yahoo News survey released Thursday.

Sparks fly as GOP Presidential race heats up

January 31, 2008

Republican Mitt Romney accused John McCain of using dirty tricks by suggesting the former Massachusetts governor wanted a deadline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, in a spirited debate Wednesday night that underscored the intensity of their presidential rivalry.

Coming 24 hours after McCain defeated him in Florida, Romney vented his frustrations over the Arizona senator’s claims from last weekend.

“I have never, ever supported a specific timetable” for withdrawing troops, Romney said. McCain’s accusation on the eve of Tuesday’s primary, he said, “sort of falls into the dirty tricks that I think Ronald Reagan would have found reprehensible.”

The cost keeps going up

January 31, 2008

The Senate is set to begin voting on dueling economic aid proposals, as senators rush to add jobless benefits and tax rebates for high earners, the elderly, and disabled veterans to a House-passed package.

Senate Democrats and some Republicans are teaming up to tack $32 billion onto the House measure with a bill that would send rebates of $500-$1,000 to all but the richest taxpayers. Families also would get $300 for each child. Senators could begin voting as early as Thursday in hopes of completing the package by week’s end.

There has to be a better way

January 31, 2008

Politics is an honorable and, in a democracy, essential calling and at the pinnacle of that field is the American presidency. What we require our candidates to go through to get there verges on the sadistic.

Once again, Florida becomes a benchmark

January 31, 2008

Florida is the last sizable state to vote for presidential candidates in advance of “Super Tuesday” on Feb. 5, which will involve more than 20 states. While the Sunshine State holds both Democratic and Republican primaries, this year the latter is far more significant. John McCain’s narrow victory, giving him 57 Republican delegates from the state, reinforces his already strong comeback campaign.

The coming fight over Florida’s delegates

January 31, 2008

Contravening conventional wisdom once again, I take issue with this Associated Press report coming out of the Florida primary:

“Hillary Rodham Clinton finished Tuesday’s Florida Democratic primary with more votes than any other Democrat, but the event drew no campaigning by any of her presidential rivals and awarded no delegates to the winner.”