It is tempting to rejoice in the extreme difficulties the Democrat Party is facing if it were not so bad for democracy and civility, not that that quality is important to the Dems and Libs when dealing with Republicans and Conservatives. Nevertheless, the following scenarios are possible.
1) If Hillary is forced to capitulate before the convention there will be a severe alienation of the Democrat's Feminist constituency. They will be very angry for sure but will it result in them staying home or, worse, voting for fringe candidates or even McCain? Do we know how strong their core numbers are? To some degree, middle of the road Democrats will be similarly affected.
2) If Obama is somehow forced out before the convention the anger and disappointment of the nation's black populace will be very strong and a definite loser for the Dems. It seems possible that civil disturbances will erupt over perceptions of discrimination; something the party simply cannot afford to let happen. At the least it will be damaging to race relations, such as they are now.
3) If the candidate race results in a brokered convention it will be bitter and divisive. The super delegate bloc will be in for incredible scrutiny and the best of outcomes for the Dems would be for Hillary and Clinton to team up on the ticket, an outcome that seems unlikely as of now. Failing that, the bitterness and divisiveness outlined in the first two points will still be with us, perhaps more so because of strong perceptions of back room deals among the super delegates and the candidates.
It is going to be interesting!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Those Darn Taxes
Democratic rhetoric on taxes and soaking the rich are tiring. Here are some facts and a web site reference you can validate.
http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/151.html
Taxes under Clinton 1999 Taxes under Bush 2008
Single making 30K - tax $8,400 Single making 30K - tax $4,500
Single making 50K - tax $14,000 Single making 50K - tax $12,500
Single making 75K - tax $23,250 Single making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 60K - tax $16,800 Married making 60K - tax $9,000
Married making 75K - tax $21,000 Married making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 125K - tax $38,750 Married making 125K - tax $31,250
You don't have to like Dubyah to see that his tax cuts have very much helped the middle class guy. Don't like his war? Fine - but don't lie or fantasize about taxes. Liberal Democrats are in your wallet.
http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/151.html
Taxes under Clinton 1999 Taxes under Bush 2008
Single making 30K - tax $8,400 Single making 30K - tax $4,500
Single making 50K - tax $14,000 Single making 50K - tax $12,500
Single making 75K - tax $23,250 Single making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 60K - tax $16,800 Married making 60K - tax $9,000
Married making 75K - tax $21,000 Married making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 125K - tax $38,750 Married making 125K - tax $31,250
You don't have to like Dubyah to see that his tax cuts have very much helped the middle class guy. Don't like his war? Fine - but don't lie or fantasize about taxes. Liberal Democrats are in your wallet.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
This Crazy Political Season
The two Democratic candidates, Hilary Rodham Clinton and Barack Hussein Obama are a study in contrasts that are striking. These differences are primarily of style and personality.
We know Hilary better because of her relationship to former President Bill Clinton and her extreme visibility arising out of that. Hilary comes across with many negatives that are recognized within her own party and polling also shows that her negatives are very high. She is stiff, abrasive, self serving, a poor speaker, lacks spontaneity, can only talk with rehearsed talking points, a complainer and obviously willing to do anything to win - anything. The most recent example is that her campaign TV ads show Obama's image touched up to be darker than he really is, presumably in a subtle attempt to emphasize that black is a negative.
Senator Obama is growing in popularity because he has a refreshingly honest, positive and spontaneous approach to everything. He is a superb speaker and is as comfortable in an unrehearsed venue as he is with a teleprompter. Senator Obama appears to be a man totally at ease with himself and the world around him. Republicans will readily admit to his obvious likeability. The man simply has a rare level of self confidence and charisma that forcibly draws people to like him.
Philosophically, however, there is little or no difference between them. They both favor far left programs that are associated with the liberal left - higher taxes, national health care, strengthening the Tort Bar, trade protectionism, penalizing and demonizing corporations - particularly drug and energy firms. Much of what they support accelerates the ongoing dimunition of individual autonomy and responsibility for self.
What we get with one of them as President we will essentially get with the other.
What we are not likely to get in this campaign is wide spread awareness of the consequences of our votes. If Obama or Hilary can successfully transfer their stated beliefs into laws and federal programs what will it mean? If we quickly walk away from Iraq and a muscular approach to the middle east what will be the likely outcome? Where does Israel's security fit into this latter scenario? The next President, it is said, will likely appoint up to four new Supreme Court Justices. What sort of justices will Hilary or Obama appoint and what will be their impact on Constitutional law? How will a new President's tax and entitlement programs impact the present and future economy?
Within this post I am not going to suggest answers to the above. But for anyone who reads this I most strongly urge you to do some studious research in an effort to develop a well informed vote before you pull the lever. Let us all make sure we understand the consequences of our votes and avoid a 'feel good' approach. We owe it to our future. But please - do vote.
We know Hilary better because of her relationship to former President Bill Clinton and her extreme visibility arising out of that. Hilary comes across with many negatives that are recognized within her own party and polling also shows that her negatives are very high. She is stiff, abrasive, self serving, a poor speaker, lacks spontaneity, can only talk with rehearsed talking points, a complainer and obviously willing to do anything to win - anything. The most recent example is that her campaign TV ads show Obama's image touched up to be darker than he really is, presumably in a subtle attempt to emphasize that black is a negative.
Senator Obama is growing in popularity because he has a refreshingly honest, positive and spontaneous approach to everything. He is a superb speaker and is as comfortable in an unrehearsed venue as he is with a teleprompter. Senator Obama appears to be a man totally at ease with himself and the world around him. Republicans will readily admit to his obvious likeability. The man simply has a rare level of self confidence and charisma that forcibly draws people to like him.
Philosophically, however, there is little or no difference between them. They both favor far left programs that are associated with the liberal left - higher taxes, national health care, strengthening the Tort Bar, trade protectionism, penalizing and demonizing corporations - particularly drug and energy firms. Much of what they support accelerates the ongoing dimunition of individual autonomy and responsibility for self.
What we get with one of them as President we will essentially get with the other.
What we are not likely to get in this campaign is wide spread awareness of the consequences of our votes. If Obama or Hilary can successfully transfer their stated beliefs into laws and federal programs what will it mean? If we quickly walk away from Iraq and a muscular approach to the middle east what will be the likely outcome? Where does Israel's security fit into this latter scenario? The next President, it is said, will likely appoint up to four new Supreme Court Justices. What sort of justices will Hilary or Obama appoint and what will be their impact on Constitutional law? How will a new President's tax and entitlement programs impact the present and future economy?
Within this post I am not going to suggest answers to the above. But for anyone who reads this I most strongly urge you to do some studious research in an effort to develop a well informed vote before you pull the lever. Let us all make sure we understand the consequences of our votes and avoid a 'feel good' approach. We owe it to our future. But please - do vote.
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