You may have heard that Barack Obama won Salt Lake County. He did not. Obama did carry two of Utah's counties...Summit and Grand. The counties that people from other states have settled...or the counties in Utah that have been "californicated."
Salt Lake County, even in the height of Reagn popularity was a stronghold for the Democratic Party. That county is not a Democratic as it used to be. Carbon and Emery counties are also not as democratic as they used to be. The GSENM controversy cost the donkies in that part of the state.
Here in Utah, we had a record voter turn-out, and unless your name is Matheson or Curtis or you are on the SL county council, it was good to be a Republican. But there are storm clouds on the horizon, and some long-held GOP seats are in danger.
More on that later.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
The rumors of my death have been greatly....
Of course I am not dead. I have been working on my Masters Degree and moving. I have not had a lot of time for blogging until right up to the election.
The rumor of death that I would like to address is the rumor of the death of the Reagan Conservative Movement...as it is called by some.
Obama won. McCain ran probably the worst Presidential campaign since McGovern. (That was the Watergate Election, for those of you too young to remember.) In spite of how pessimistic the McCain campaign was, McCain still ended winning 162 electoral votes and he carried 21 states. Think about all that has happened in the last 3 months. This was much better than expected. Republicans and Conservatives should be overjoyed.
Congress. The Democrats still do not have a filler buster proof majority.
Governorships. The Dems only gained one new governorship.
Ballot initiatives. The only state-wide ballot initiative that the conservative movement lost was the physician assisted suicide bill in the state of Washington. This is more a debate of medical ethics, in my mind, than it is a debate about conservatism.
One lesson that the Religious Right had better learn from this election is an appreciation of who their allies are. Many were opposed to Mitt Romney simply because of his religion. This was not the reason that Obama won. As I said, McCain ran a lousy and embarrassing campaign. But look at this news story and remember that this protest took place in Salt Lake City and it was about an ballot issue in California. But the election would have been closer had Mitt Romney been on the final ballot.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=4728411
Learn this lesson well, and the pendulum will swing back our way when the economy does.
The rumor of death that I would like to address is the rumor of the death of the Reagan Conservative Movement...as it is called by some.
Obama won. McCain ran probably the worst Presidential campaign since McGovern. (That was the Watergate Election, for those of you too young to remember.) In spite of how pessimistic the McCain campaign was, McCain still ended winning 162 electoral votes and he carried 21 states. Think about all that has happened in the last 3 months. This was much better than expected. Republicans and Conservatives should be overjoyed.
Congress. The Democrats still do not have a filler buster proof majority.
Governorships. The Dems only gained one new governorship.
Ballot initiatives. The only state-wide ballot initiative that the conservative movement lost was the physician assisted suicide bill in the state of Washington. This is more a debate of medical ethics, in my mind, than it is a debate about conservatism.
One lesson that the Religious Right had better learn from this election is an appreciation of who their allies are. Many were opposed to Mitt Romney simply because of his religion. This was not the reason that Obama won. As I said, McCain ran a lousy and embarrassing campaign. But look at this news story and remember that this protest took place in Salt Lake City and it was about an ballot issue in California. But the election would have been closer had Mitt Romney been on the final ballot.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=4728411
Learn this lesson well, and the pendulum will swing back our way when the economy does.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The election of 2008...the day after.
There is a lot of analysis out there as to why Obama won. Tonight I list one that I agree with and one that I disagree with.
The one I agree with.
Mr. Optimism. I do not remember a lot about the election of 1976, but I have a good recollection of every election since. It seems that in every election that I can remember the candidate for President that displays the greater amount of optimism wins. The only election that comes close to being an exception to this is 1988. Bush (GHWB) went negative on Dukakis and he did not know how to respond.
When I read this theory in Newsweek on line today, I found myself taken back to the scene in "Back to the Future Part II." Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) enters "Cafe 80's" and is greeted by a Ronald Reagan hologram which says, "Welcome to Cafe 80's where it is always m-m-m-morning in America." Ronald Reagan usually had that smile on his face when he spoke and was the picture of American Optimism. Bill Clinton was Mr. Optimism in 1992 when GHWB did not know how to react to the minor recession of the early 90s. W was more optimistic than Mr. Inconvinient Truth and Mr. Swift Boat.
The one I disagree with:
Sarah Palin. She is the "Not Ready for Prime Time" VP candidate. But the reason I disagree is this--I dare you to name someone better. Most Utahans will say, Mitt. How would Mitt have been better for McCain. Palin energized the GOP base...the "babies, guns and Jesus" crowd. Mitt would have had trouble, once again his religion would have been the issue. Most of the other potential VP candidates would have brought some baggage to the McCain campaign.
Condie--Too close to Bush.
Mitt--Religion
Crist--Family (Divorced since 1980...in a "very long engagement" nudge, nugde...)
Pawlenty--Experience
Jindal--Experience
Perry--Bush
Huntsman--Religion and Region
Lamb--Region
Rasicot--Bush and Region
Liberman--Party and been there done that.
Hutcheson--Senator and age and Texas (Bush).
I just do not think that McCain could have picked someone else. He picked the best choice available to him. The biggest liability to McCains campaign was George W Bush.
Huntsman for President.
John M Huntsman, Jr could be a good challenger for Obama in 2012. Why? Many of us here in Utah are saying, "recession, what recession?" We are feeling it here in the Beehive State. The banking industry has a foothold in the state, but most of the banking is inustrial. My company is growing here in Utah even though they are struggling world-wide. Utah is bucking many trends. Huntsman is every bit as popular in his own state and Palin is in her own state. But Huntsman has done it without taxing business and giving gifts to citizens. And Utah is one of the few states where the Republicans had sweeping victories.
Huntsman has some of the same liabilities that Mitt had. He is the grandson of the late LDS leader David B. Haight. Hopefully, one of the lessons that the religious right learned in this election is that Mormons can help their cause. Look at what the LDS church did for Prop 8.
Another problem for Huntsman is that he is a bit on the green side for a Republican. This may not play to well for some Republicans, especially when compared to Palin. It does not play well for some here in Utah. (This former Boy Scout has little problem with how he is doing it.) But again, I challenge you to find someone better.
Huntsman is also a very optomistic person. I think that many have set the bar too high for Obama and some of that optomism may wear off in four years. If this is the case, I think that Utah's governor could be the next President of the United States.
Oh yeah, there is one more problem. Mary Kay has to say give her OK. She does not like campaigning. I think it will be harder for us to convince her, than it will be to convince him.
The one I agree with.
Mr. Optimism. I do not remember a lot about the election of 1976, but I have a good recollection of every election since. It seems that in every election that I can remember the candidate for President that displays the greater amount of optimism wins. The only election that comes close to being an exception to this is 1988. Bush (GHWB) went negative on Dukakis and he did not know how to respond.
When I read this theory in Newsweek on line today, I found myself taken back to the scene in "Back to the Future Part II." Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) enters "Cafe 80's" and is greeted by a Ronald Reagan hologram which says, "Welcome to Cafe 80's where it is always m-m-m-morning in America." Ronald Reagan usually had that smile on his face when he spoke and was the picture of American Optimism. Bill Clinton was Mr. Optimism in 1992 when GHWB did not know how to react to the minor recession of the early 90s. W was more optimistic than Mr. Inconvinient Truth and Mr. Swift Boat.
The one I disagree with:
Sarah Palin. She is the "Not Ready for Prime Time" VP candidate. But the reason I disagree is this--I dare you to name someone better. Most Utahans will say, Mitt. How would Mitt have been better for McCain. Palin energized the GOP base...the "babies, guns and Jesus" crowd. Mitt would have had trouble, once again his religion would have been the issue. Most of the other potential VP candidates would have brought some baggage to the McCain campaign.
Condie--Too close to Bush.
Mitt--Religion
Crist--Family (Divorced since 1980...in a "very long engagement" nudge, nugde...)
Pawlenty--Experience
Jindal--Experience
Perry--Bush
Huntsman--Religion and Region
Lamb--Region
Rasicot--Bush and Region
Liberman--Party and been there done that.
Hutcheson--Senator and age and Texas (Bush).
I just do not think that McCain could have picked someone else. He picked the best choice available to him. The biggest liability to McCains campaign was George W Bush.
Huntsman for President.
John M Huntsman, Jr could be a good challenger for Obama in 2012. Why? Many of us here in Utah are saying, "recession, what recession?" We are feeling it here in the Beehive State. The banking industry has a foothold in the state, but most of the banking is inustrial. My company is growing here in Utah even though they are struggling world-wide. Utah is bucking many trends. Huntsman is every bit as popular in his own state and Palin is in her own state. But Huntsman has done it without taxing business and giving gifts to citizens. And Utah is one of the few states where the Republicans had sweeping victories.
Huntsman has some of the same liabilities that Mitt had. He is the grandson of the late LDS leader David B. Haight. Hopefully, one of the lessons that the religious right learned in this election is that Mormons can help their cause. Look at what the LDS church did for Prop 8.
Another problem for Huntsman is that he is a bit on the green side for a Republican. This may not play to well for some Republicans, especially when compared to Palin. It does not play well for some here in Utah. (This former Boy Scout has little problem with how he is doing it.) But again, I challenge you to find someone better.
Huntsman is also a very optomistic person. I think that many have set the bar too high for Obama and some of that optomism may wear off in four years. If this is the case, I think that Utah's governor could be the next President of the United States.
Oh yeah, there is one more problem. Mary Kay has to say give her OK. She does not like campaigning. I think it will be harder for us to convince her, than it will be to convince him.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The 7 Deadly Sins of the GOP.
It's over. Congratulations to President Elect Barack Obama. It's alright to cry.
This election was not lost in the past 3 months. I was lost about 3 years ago, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was then that Republicans in Congress and George W. Bush fell away from their principles. It was then that the GOP congress abandoned the President and it was then that the President abandoned Congress. It was then that I sat here at my computer and sent an email to Senator Hatch and Senator Bennett asking them to support the embattled President. Senator Hatch did not reply. Senator Bennett told me it was the President who abandoned the GOP and caved to media pressure.
I have learned the hard way that when you give into pride, lust, greed, gluttony, sloth, deceit and envy that there is only so much that any government, church, company or individual can do for you. Republicans need to learn these lessons from this election. Democrats never will.
Regular readers of this blog know that it is our two distinguished Utah senators that I have dedicated this blog to...in the hopes that if they go the way of Ted Stevens that they will be replaced by Republicans. Here are the 7 deadly sins that Republicans and Americans have fallen prey to and why we need avoid the temptation to step aside.
1. Pride. I am not speaking about being proud of your kids for making the honor roll. (BTW--I am proud of my kid for making the honor roll. Good job, Emma!) But being to proud to make needed changes. Limbaugh, Hanity, Ingram and others have progclaimed themselves Reagan Republicans and espoused ideas that would embarrass Mr. Reagan...such as the most unforgiving type of immigration reform. Ronald Reagan would have never been elected if he was as conservative as Rush claims he was. We need to be true to priciples, but we also need to adapt to the changing times.
2. Envy. We are envious of the popularity that some democrats get by throwing around tax money that we begin to do it as well. We do not need that type of popularity. We will be elected again by being true fiscal conservatives. By maintianing the belief that government money is not the solution to evry problem in the known universe, we will gain power agian.
3. Glottony. To have true health care reform, the providers and the provider system will need to make changes, the government will need to make changes, the insurance industry will need to make changes and the people will need to make changes. Free health care is a myth. They do not have free health care in Canada, England, France, Sweeden or anywhere else. Someone pays. Sooner or later we will have to face the fact that if America keeps getting fatter, America will loose and America will pay.
4. Sloth. America became a super power because Americans worked. I bounced from job to job for my first five years out of college. I was able to hold down a steady job for the last six years because I had an epiphany. I realized that I had to work. I do not like my company, but I don't have to. If I fall in love with my company, it will never love me back. I like the fact that I have a job and a paycheck. I love the type of work. I like what money provides for my family. Someone once said if your love your job, you will never work a day in your life. IT'S A BIG LIE. You have to work and it is not fun. We do not call it fun, or vacation or play, we call it work for a reason. Let's not reward people who do not work.
5. Greed. Why did the markets crash a few weeks ago? Fuel was too expesnive, housing was too expensive, food was too expensive. Wages have not increased very much over the past decade. Companies were making insane profits and not passing the loot on to the people who make it all happen. It had to come crashing down. Republicans got the blame for this one because of who is in the White House right now. If Gore or Kerry were in office, the dems would have been blamed.
6. Lust. When you claim to be the morally superior party, you have to be morally superior. Dems can get away with sex scandals, but GOPs can not.
7. Deceit. There are still some provisions of the Contract with America that have not passed. Specifically term limits and the BBA. If you say you are going to leave Congress after 12 years, Mr Hatch and Mr Bennett, keep that promise.
Huntsman 2012!
This election was not lost in the past 3 months. I was lost about 3 years ago, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was then that Republicans in Congress and George W. Bush fell away from their principles. It was then that the GOP congress abandoned the President and it was then that the President abandoned Congress. It was then that I sat here at my computer and sent an email to Senator Hatch and Senator Bennett asking them to support the embattled President. Senator Hatch did not reply. Senator Bennett told me it was the President who abandoned the GOP and caved to media pressure.
I have learned the hard way that when you give into pride, lust, greed, gluttony, sloth, deceit and envy that there is only so much that any government, church, company or individual can do for you. Republicans need to learn these lessons from this election. Democrats never will.
Regular readers of this blog know that it is our two distinguished Utah senators that I have dedicated this blog to...in the hopes that if they go the way of Ted Stevens that they will be replaced by Republicans. Here are the 7 deadly sins that Republicans and Americans have fallen prey to and why we need avoid the temptation to step aside.
1. Pride. I am not speaking about being proud of your kids for making the honor roll. (BTW--I am proud of my kid for making the honor roll. Good job, Emma!) But being to proud to make needed changes. Limbaugh, Hanity, Ingram and others have progclaimed themselves Reagan Republicans and espoused ideas that would embarrass Mr. Reagan...such as the most unforgiving type of immigration reform. Ronald Reagan would have never been elected if he was as conservative as Rush claims he was. We need to be true to priciples, but we also need to adapt to the changing times.
2. Envy. We are envious of the popularity that some democrats get by throwing around tax money that we begin to do it as well. We do not need that type of popularity. We will be elected again by being true fiscal conservatives. By maintianing the belief that government money is not the solution to evry problem in the known universe, we will gain power agian.
3. Glottony. To have true health care reform, the providers and the provider system will need to make changes, the government will need to make changes, the insurance industry will need to make changes and the people will need to make changes. Free health care is a myth. They do not have free health care in Canada, England, France, Sweeden or anywhere else. Someone pays. Sooner or later we will have to face the fact that if America keeps getting fatter, America will loose and America will pay.
4. Sloth. America became a super power because Americans worked. I bounced from job to job for my first five years out of college. I was able to hold down a steady job for the last six years because I had an epiphany. I realized that I had to work. I do not like my company, but I don't have to. If I fall in love with my company, it will never love me back. I like the fact that I have a job and a paycheck. I love the type of work. I like what money provides for my family. Someone once said if your love your job, you will never work a day in your life. IT'S A BIG LIE. You have to work and it is not fun. We do not call it fun, or vacation or play, we call it work for a reason. Let's not reward people who do not work.
5. Greed. Why did the markets crash a few weeks ago? Fuel was too expesnive, housing was too expensive, food was too expensive. Wages have not increased very much over the past decade. Companies were making insane profits and not passing the loot on to the people who make it all happen. It had to come crashing down. Republicans got the blame for this one because of who is in the White House right now. If Gore or Kerry were in office, the dems would have been blamed.
6. Lust. When you claim to be the morally superior party, you have to be morally superior. Dems can get away with sex scandals, but GOPs can not.
7. Deceit. There are still some provisions of the Contract with America that have not passed. Specifically term limits and the BBA. If you say you are going to leave Congress after 12 years, Mr Hatch and Mr Bennett, keep that promise.
Huntsman 2012!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Election Day Thoughts
It is about an hour before midnight on election eve. In about 8 hours, I will cast my vote for the year. I have come to terms with the reality that the person I will vote for to be the next president will likely loose this election. It is a sobering thought.
I have two planned blogs...one if McCain wins and one if Obama does.
I will give Obama a chance if he wins. I will not gloat if he does not succeed.
I give either man only a chance at one term for the following reasons.
-This economy will take 3 to 5 years to recover. It will not be enough time for the next president to look successful. There will even be many pundits who will say that the new president has made it worse. I have one thing to say to these people...it's congress and not our president who controls fiscal policy.
-Expectations are too high for Obama.
-McCain DOES look old and feeble. In retrospect, McCain should be the outgoing president not running for office right now.
Please vote, even if your guy will not win.
The next four years for me, regardless of who wins this presidential election will be about getting new republican senators from the State of Utah.
I have two planned blogs...one if McCain wins and one if Obama does.
I will give Obama a chance if he wins. I will not gloat if he does not succeed.
I give either man only a chance at one term for the following reasons.
-This economy will take 3 to 5 years to recover. It will not be enough time for the next president to look successful. There will even be many pundits who will say that the new president has made it worse. I have one thing to say to these people...it's congress and not our president who controls fiscal policy.
-Expectations are too high for Obama.
-McCain DOES look old and feeble. In retrospect, McCain should be the outgoing president not running for office right now.
Please vote, even if your guy will not win.
The next four years for me, regardless of who wins this presidential election will be about getting new republican senators from the State of Utah.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Negative Campaigning
Powell criticized McCain for his negative campaigning. I too have criticized McCain for his negative campaigning. But McCain, Palin and Joe the Plumber have had to endure taunts from the other side as well, such as this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piFI_194GXU&eurl=http://kolobiv.blogspot.com/2008/10/eyes-have-it.html
If you have more, let me know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piFI_194GXU&eurl=http://kolobiv.blogspot.com/2008/10/eyes-have-it.html
If you have more, let me know.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Tonight's debate and Prop 8
I must say that I have been very disappointed with the campaign that McCain and Palin have run. It has been extremely negative. It is not working. Please, please, please, please, please do not tell me why I should not vote for Obama. Tell me why I should vote for McCain.
The task in tonight's debate is to pull a rabbit out of the hat. He needs to give the voters a reason to vote for McCain. Give the voters a real indication that there will be a change in direction.
I have found out that while Obama is the #1 recipient of Fannie Mae money, Bob Bennett is #3. Are you sure that you still want to run for re-election one more time, Mr Bennett?
I have avoided talking about Prop 8 in California until now. Why is it an issue in Utah? Because the California Gay Marriage Law does not have a residency requirement. A gay couple in Utah can go to California and get married, move home and sue the State of Utah to recognize the marriage. If the California law is not overturned, Gay Marriage will be leagal in all 50 states in four years.
Proponents of Gay Marriage have argued that marriage laws are discriminatory. The fact that heteros can get married and homos can not creates a 2nd class citizen. I agree, but it is not the laws of the country that create this imbalance. It is the laws of nature.
Adam and Eve get married. And if Eve is younger than 35, there is a 90% chance that Eve will conceive a child that will be nearly half Adam and half Eve without the help of a medical professional. Adam and Steve get married and there is a 0% chance that Adam and Steve can make a baby that is part Adam and part Steve. In fact, Adam and Steve have to hire a surrogate mama to carry a baby for them. Even with the help of medical science, it can not be done. Eve and Sarah get married and there is also a 0% chance that they can make a baby that is part Sarah and part Eve. Even with the help of medical science it can not be done.
If marriage is man's invention, what was the intent from the beginning. It certainly was not love. It was to control bloodlines. If marriage was man's invention, the purpose was to make certain we know the identity of the baby's daddy. If marriage was man's invention, it was never about who you love. Since adultery is not prosecuted as a crime in this country, the laws of the land do not restrict who you love. You certainly have the freedom to love who you want to love regardless of who you are married to.
If a man and a woman are married and do not "love" anyone outside of this partnership, and then if they concieve naturally, we know who the genetic parents of the children are. We know that the King is the father of the prince. There is not doubt about this. The idea that marriage is for love is a relatively new idea.
But in our society today, there are perks to being married. You can file taxes differently. You can bank and borrow money jointly. You can get health insurance together. The list goes on and on. So if you love someone of the same gender, how can you get these perks without marriage?
But remember, we can call such a relationship marriage if you go to court and force us to do so. But there are perks of marriage that no court in the world can give you. Adam and Steve can not sue the court of nature to give them a baby that is genetically part Adam and part Steve. Even our best and most brilliant medical experts can not do this. We do not have the ability to "correct" this inequality. I do not know if we ever will.
The task in tonight's debate is to pull a rabbit out of the hat. He needs to give the voters a reason to vote for McCain. Give the voters a real indication that there will be a change in direction.
I have found out that while Obama is the #1 recipient of Fannie Mae money, Bob Bennett is #3. Are you sure that you still want to run for re-election one more time, Mr Bennett?
I have avoided talking about Prop 8 in California until now. Why is it an issue in Utah? Because the California Gay Marriage Law does not have a residency requirement. A gay couple in Utah can go to California and get married, move home and sue the State of Utah to recognize the marriage. If the California law is not overturned, Gay Marriage will be leagal in all 50 states in four years.
Proponents of Gay Marriage have argued that marriage laws are discriminatory. The fact that heteros can get married and homos can not creates a 2nd class citizen. I agree, but it is not the laws of the country that create this imbalance. It is the laws of nature.
Adam and Eve get married. And if Eve is younger than 35, there is a 90% chance that Eve will conceive a child that will be nearly half Adam and half Eve without the help of a medical professional. Adam and Steve get married and there is a 0% chance that Adam and Steve can make a baby that is part Adam and part Steve. In fact, Adam and Steve have to hire a surrogate mama to carry a baby for them. Even with the help of medical science, it can not be done. Eve and Sarah get married and there is also a 0% chance that they can make a baby that is part Sarah and part Eve. Even with the help of medical science it can not be done.
If marriage is man's invention, what was the intent from the beginning. It certainly was not love. It was to control bloodlines. If marriage was man's invention, the purpose was to make certain we know the identity of the baby's daddy. If marriage was man's invention, it was never about who you love. Since adultery is not prosecuted as a crime in this country, the laws of the land do not restrict who you love. You certainly have the freedom to love who you want to love regardless of who you are married to.
If a man and a woman are married and do not "love" anyone outside of this partnership, and then if they concieve naturally, we know who the genetic parents of the children are. We know that the King is the father of the prince. There is not doubt about this. The idea that marriage is for love is a relatively new idea.
But in our society today, there are perks to being married. You can file taxes differently. You can bank and borrow money jointly. You can get health insurance together. The list goes on and on. So if you love someone of the same gender, how can you get these perks without marriage?
But remember, we can call such a relationship marriage if you go to court and force us to do so. But there are perks of marriage that no court in the world can give you. Adam and Steve can not sue the court of nature to give them a baby that is genetically part Adam and part Steve. Even our best and most brilliant medical experts can not do this. We do not have the ability to "correct" this inequality. I do not know if we ever will.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Be Carefull Who You Blame.
In my lifetime, four presidents have been elected because of the anger of the electorate. In each case, the president of the opposite part of the incumbent won office. Most people, no matter their political persuasion will probably state that one was great, one was adequate and two were marginal. The question is, who? Here are the four:
Nixon
Carter
Reagan
Clinton
As I said, who you think was great, who was adequate and who was marginal are probably due to your political world view. So, if we take our anger to the polls and elect Barack Obama, there is a 50% chance he will be marginal, a 25% chance he will be adequate and a 25% chance he will be great based upon the four who were elected in my lifetime. In my opinion, Reagan was great, Clinton was adequate, Carter and Nixon were marginal. BTW...here are the other presidents elected under such circumstances...
Jefferson
Jackson
William Henry Harrison
Buchanan
Lincoln
Grant
Garfield
Benjamin Harrison
Cleveland (2nd Term)
Wilson
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Nixon
Carter
Reagan
Clinton
How many on that list were great? In my option, 5--Reagan, FD Roosevelt, Wilson, Lincoln and Jefferson. Adequate? 2--Clinton and Jackson. Marginal 6--Carter, Nixon, Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison Grant and Buchanan. Inconclusive 2--Garfield and William Henry Harrison. Both died early in office.
I also must say that I do not know about Eisenhower. Truman was unpopular and Eisenhower was of the opposite party. I rate Eisenhower as adequate. History, however, has vindicated Truman.
So in conclusion, do you expect real change from Obama? History is not on your side.
Nixon
Carter
Reagan
Clinton
As I said, who you think was great, who was adequate and who was marginal are probably due to your political world view. So, if we take our anger to the polls and elect Barack Obama, there is a 50% chance he will be marginal, a 25% chance he will be adequate and a 25% chance he will be great based upon the four who were elected in my lifetime. In my opinion, Reagan was great, Clinton was adequate, Carter and Nixon were marginal. BTW...here are the other presidents elected under such circumstances...
Jefferson
Jackson
William Henry Harrison
Buchanan
Lincoln
Grant
Garfield
Benjamin Harrison
Cleveland (2nd Term)
Wilson
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Nixon
Carter
Reagan
Clinton
How many on that list were great? In my option, 5--Reagan, FD Roosevelt, Wilson, Lincoln and Jefferson. Adequate? 2--Clinton and Jackson. Marginal 6--Carter, Nixon, Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison Grant and Buchanan. Inconclusive 2--Garfield and William Henry Harrison. Both died early in office.
I also must say that I do not know about Eisenhower. Truman was unpopular and Eisenhower was of the opposite party. I rate Eisenhower as adequate. History, however, has vindicated Truman.
So in conclusion, do you expect real change from Obama? History is not on your side.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
VP debate over
The major networds are declaring Biden the winner in tonight's debate. Fox News Channel declared a draw. If you were looking for a Palin car crash, you did not get one tonight.
One point to think about. Biden spoke of the middle class. Palin is the middle class.
One point to think about. Biden spoke of the middle class. Palin is the middle class.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Root cause of the current crisis
Here is a five-why analysis of the root cause of the current economic crisis.
1. Why does congress need to bail-out the American banking system?
-Because there are so many failed mortgages and foreclosed upon homes.
2. Why are there so many foreclosed upon homes?
-Because too many lenders were giving mortgages to people who would not qualify for traditional mortgages.
3. Why do people not qualify for traditional mortgages?
a--Because they have poor credit.
b--Because they can not verify that they have enough income.
c--Because they really can't afford those homes.
4a--Why do people have poor credit?
Because they have mis-managed their credit
5a--Why have people mis-managed their credit?
Because other types of credit are too easy to get.
4b--Why can not people verify that they have enough income?
Because they are self-employed
4c--why are we helping people get into houses that they really can't afford?
Because there are no homes in the area that they can afford?
5c--Why do we allow the housing market to become so expensive that people can not afford homes?
Because real estate agents and mortgage originators make their money and move on.
How do we fix this problem?
1. Make it harder for people to get credit cards, store accounts and other types of credit we easily get into trouble with when we are young and trying to establish ourselves. This includes Student Loans and car loans. We have to make college more affordable and we have to put an end to easy credit. We need to end the 72-month car loan. If you can not pay off a car by the time the odometer will reach 75000 miles, then you can not afford it. We need to be realistic about our credit demands.
2. We have to find a better way to support small business owners and people who are self-employed so that they are better prepared for the realities of small business.
3. We have to find a way to control the market so that housing prices are realistic for the majority of home buyers.
We have to shift our paradigms about credit and money and expectations. If it takes another depression, then we failed to learn our lesson from the last one.
One final thought. People are angry at the Bush administration and McCain is going to pay the price for it. He is too close to Bush simply because he is a Republican and he works in Washington. The Republican ticket should have been Romney/Palin, but too many evangelicals can not vote for a Mormon. Too bad your religious bigotry has ruined two bright political careers and set your cause back 30 years. Too bad Obama isn't the answer either.
1. Why does congress need to bail-out the American banking system?
-Because there are so many failed mortgages and foreclosed upon homes.
2. Why are there so many foreclosed upon homes?
-Because too many lenders were giving mortgages to people who would not qualify for traditional mortgages.
3. Why do people not qualify for traditional mortgages?
a--Because they have poor credit.
b--Because they can not verify that they have enough income.
c--Because they really can't afford those homes.
4a--Why do people have poor credit?
Because they have mis-managed their credit
5a--Why have people mis-managed their credit?
Because other types of credit are too easy to get.
4b--Why can not people verify that they have enough income?
Because they are self-employed
4c--why are we helping people get into houses that they really can't afford?
Because there are no homes in the area that they can afford?
5c--Why do we allow the housing market to become so expensive that people can not afford homes?
Because real estate agents and mortgage originators make their money and move on.
How do we fix this problem?
1. Make it harder for people to get credit cards, store accounts and other types of credit we easily get into trouble with when we are young and trying to establish ourselves. This includes Student Loans and car loans. We have to make college more affordable and we have to put an end to easy credit. We need to end the 72-month car loan. If you can not pay off a car by the time the odometer will reach 75000 miles, then you can not afford it. We need to be realistic about our credit demands.
2. We have to find a better way to support small business owners and people who are self-employed so that they are better prepared for the realities of small business.
3. We have to find a way to control the market so that housing prices are realistic for the majority of home buyers.
We have to shift our paradigms about credit and money and expectations. If it takes another depression, then we failed to learn our lesson from the last one.
One final thought. People are angry at the Bush administration and McCain is going to pay the price for it. He is too close to Bush simply because he is a Republican and he works in Washington. The Republican ticket should have been Romney/Palin, but too many evangelicals can not vote for a Mormon. Too bad your religious bigotry has ruined two bright political careers and set your cause back 30 years. Too bad Obama isn't the answer either.
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