Mike Huckabee responds to a critical piece by John Fund on the WSJ Opinion Page:

It's important to note that every living Republican in Arkansas who has been elected to either a statewide or a federal office has endorsed my candidacy. I'm grateful for their support and proud that in 1998, I received the largest percentage of votes ever received by a Republican gubernatorial nominee in Arkansas, and that Arkansans re-elected me to another four-year term in November 2002.

I am even prouder that, throughout my tenure as governor and lieutenant governor of Arkansas, I campaigned tirelessly for countless Republican candidates for the state house and federal office--and even helped get some elected.

As governor, I pushed through the Arkansas Legislature the first major, broad-based tax cuts in state history--a $90 million tax relief package for Arkansas families; led efforts to establish a Property Taxpayers' Bill of Rights; and created a welfare reform program that reduced the welfare rolls in the state by almost 50%. We also doubled the standard deduction to $2,000 for single taxpayers and $4,000 for those who are married. In total, I led the fight to cut taxes and fees over 90 times during my 10 1/2 years as governor, saving the people of Arkansas almost $380 million. When I left office, Arkansas had over $800 million in state surplus.

Labels: Huckabee

Posted by Ryan S. at 6:11 PM | Permalink | |

The fact that we have another full baseball season and another Halloween before we choose the next president and there is this much stupid political coverage makes me really resent 2008 right now.

Exhibit A:

Once again, Hillary Rodham Clinton leads in a poll. This time, she was top choice when people were asked which major 2008 presidential candidate would make the scariest Halloween costume.

Asked about costume choices, 37 percent in an Associated Press-Ipsos survey this month chose>New York Sen. Clinton, the front-runner among Democratic presidential contenders. Fourteen percent selected former New York

As dumb as this is though, it seems to indicate that Hillary and Rudy are the frontrunners.

Labels: 2008 Watch

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:43 PM | Permalink | |

Wired:

Golden-eared audiophiles have long testified to vinyl's warmer, richer sound. And now demand for vinyl is on the rise. Pressing plants that were already at capacity are staying there, while others are cranking out more records than they did last year in order to keep pace with demand.

Don MacInnis, owner of Record Technology in Camarillo, California, predicts production will be up 25 percent over last year by the end of 2007. And he's not talking about small runs of dance music for DJs, but the whole gamut of music: "new albums, reissues, majors and indies ... jazz, blues, classical, pop and a lot of (classic) rock."

Turntables are hot again as well. Insound, an online music retailer that recently began selling USB turntables alongside vinyl, can't keep them in stock, according to the company's director, Patrick McNamara.

And on Oct. 17, Amazon.com launched a vinyl-only section stocked with a growing collection of titles and several models of record players.

I got a turntable over the summer off of Craigslist, bought a collection and siphoned off of my parents. People regularly stop in (most of them I wouldn't call audiophiles) and ask me to spin up a record. Right now, Bruce Springsteen's The Wild, The Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle is spinning while I type this.

Labels: Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:39 PM | Permalink | |

In lieu of Hero/Hack, and in honor of the World Series, I'm posting an essay I wrote over the summer about the Boston Red Sox (slightly edited):

I’m not a Yankees fan, but I think I might hate the Boston Red Sox. I didn’t always hate the Boston Red Sox, as neither the teams I usually root for are in rivalries with them (the Phillies and the A’s). I didn’t hate the Red Sox until they won the World Series.

You may say, but Ryan, didn’t the Red Sox and their fans deserve that World Series in 2004? Sure. I sympathize. After all, no major Philadelphia team has won a championship in my lifetime as of this writing. But there is something that happened to Red Sox fans after they won the Series. They became obnoxious.

Before, Red Sox fans were kind of like that friend that is a really great guy, super nice, but always manages to royally screw up any relationship he’s in. Now, they’re like someone who has one accomplishment to their name and manages to bring it up in every conversation he has.

The fans are not entirely to blame, however. I partially hate the Red Sox because I see Red Sox merchandise everywhere. I walk into a Lids in any mall in America and they will have as many Sox hats as they have of the local MLB team. Sox fans used to be like a club that was kind of exclusive. It used to be romantic. Now it’s just pedestrian.

I recently watched two films about the Red Sox phenomena: Fever Pitch, based on the Nick Hornby book of the same name and starring Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore, and Game 6, written by Don DeLillo (a New Yorker) and starring Michael Keaton (Batman).

Game 6 is a drama, and Fever Pitch is a romantic comedy. Released a year apart, they are extremely different films, although both male leads are hopeless Red Sox fan. Michael Keaton’s Nicky Rogan is a writer struggling to balance everything in his life including the opening night of his new play and Game Six of the 1986 World Series. Baseball fans know that the 1986 World Series was especially tragic for Sox fans because it was one of the more spectacular ways to lose, something the Red Sox seem to excel at pre-2004 (both films touch on this phenomenon).

Nicky Rogan ultimately skips opening night of his play to watch the Red Sox. That’s dedication if you ask me. Nicky knows deep in his heart that the Red Sox will lose. It is as certain as the sun rise. Some things just seem doomed for failure. Even though he is urged on to believe, and he does begin to believe, his hopes of a Red Sox victory are ultimately crushed when the ball passes between Bill Buckner’s legs.

Nicky sums up the pre-2004 Red Sox fan when he says, “the Red Sox are always winning, until they lose.” This was the epitome of every Red Sox fan, hoping for the win, expecting the loss. It was romantically tragic.

Fever Pitch may mark the turning point of Sox lore. It’s a good romantic comedy, and Jimmy Fallon isn’t annoying, which is saying a lot on both counts. It’s a charming film. Girl falls for boy who is already in love. With the Red Sox. It has some great moments, and would have been a great film, except that the most unfortunate thing happened while making the movie: the Red Sox won the World Series.

Fever Pitch captures the essence of what it meant to be a Sox fan. Barrymore’s Lindsey Meeks sums it up when she says to Ben, “you're a romantic. You have a lyrical soul. You can love under the best and worst conditions.” This is why being a Sox fan was about romance. It was hopeless, but you held out no matter what, even though they always disappointed you. It makes the Red Sox seem more tragically romantic in end. But winning changes everything.

Suddenly, by the end of the movie, Lindsey and Ben live happily ever after, and the Red Sox win the World Series, something that hadn’t happened since 1918. It just isn’t realistic. The one year the Red Sox win big, and so does he? Only the stuff of fiction. Again, I don’t fault the Farrely brothers, as they couldn’t help the Sox won as they made the movie, but things like that don’t usually happen in real life. For a movie about the most notorious losing team in baseball, it is just too happy.

And so now, almost three years after the Red Sox winning, they are again in the World Series, and their merchandise and their fans are seemingly ubiquitous. The Sox don’t represent anything about our culture anymore. They used to be the ultimate underdog. Now they’re just winners who tease the Luxury Tax. They have become the thing they have despised for so long: the Yankees.

Labels: Movies, Pop Culture, Sports

Posted by Ryan S. at 2:08 PM | Permalink | |

The Kinks are generally known as the "fourth" British Invasion band (after The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who). However, within music, The Kinks are highly regarded, especially lead vocalist/lyricist Ray Davies. Said Pete Townshend of The Who:

"The Kinks were much more quintessentially English. I always think that Ray Davies should one day be Poet Laureate. He invented a new kind of poetry and a new kind of language for Pop writing that influenced me from the very, very, very beginning."

While widely known for songs like "You Really Got Me" and "Lola" between 1968 and 1970, The Kinks released three concept albums, all with ridiculously long titles: The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire), and Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One. I reviewed a book in the 33 1/3 series about TKATVGPS back in June, but today I'd like to talk about Lola, partially because three of its songs are on the soundtrack to The Darjeeling Limited, Wes Anderson's new film (two of them are featured in the trailer).

I'm going to ignore the most well known song on that album, because I think talking about it would be too obvious. The entirety of the album is riling against big business, unions, and for simpler times and freedom.

The call for freedom starts in the second track (and first full song), "The Contenders," with Davies saying that he's "got to be free, got to be free now." "Strangers," the third track, is one of my favorite songs about relationships (whether they be romantic love or guy love or something else). The next track, "Denmark Street" is a direct repudiation of music publishers, and is followed by "Back in the Line," a somber ballad directed towards unions:

But all I want to do is make some money
And bring you home some wine
For I don't ever want you to see me
Standing in that line
'Cause that union man's got such a hold over me
He's the man who decides if I live or I die, if I starve, or I eat

"Top of the Pops" satirizes the record chart chase, and "The Moneygoround" continues this sentiment. "This Time Tomorrow" doesn't seem to be about much, except it continues the tone of the journey described in "Strangers." Sometimes the journey isn't all it's cracked up to be, and you end up "A Long Way From Home," where Davies chastises wealth and worldliness:

Now you think you’re wiser because you’re older and you think
That money buys everything
And you think you need no one to guide you
But you’re still a long way from home.

For Davies, love of England, his home...this Tory agrarianism is deep in his lyrics. Very nostalgic, which is most prominent on TKATVGPS and Arthur. This theme is continued in "Rats," a backlash against the mass societies of cities:

Masses trampling on my feet, inconsiderate in their heat
Those rats breeding angriness and spite
Never have done anything right for people like you and me
Walk over all the people you can't see
If they die there's more bread for me

This all comes to a head in the song "Apeman," which is a direct outcry of the desire to escape this chaos called modernity:

I think I'm so educated and I'm so civilized
'Cos I'm a strict vegetarian
But with the over-population and inflation and starvation
And the crazy politicians
I don't feel safe in this world no more
I don't want to die in a nuclear war
I want to sail away to a distant shore and make like an ape man

This could also be seen as a reaction to the social disorder and unrest in the late sixties, and either way, Davies wants to return to simpler times. "Powerman" is a rebuke of the capitalists, and about how money is the power in society:

People tried to conquer the world Napoleon and Genghis Khan
Hitler tried and Mussolini too
Powerman don't need to fight, powerman don't need no guns
Powerman got money on his side

Finally, the album concludes with "Got to Be Free," a simple call for freedom from interference.

Overall, I would say The Kinks espouse a conservatism along the lines of Edmund Burke, G.K. Chesterton, and Russell Kirk.

Labels: Conservatism, Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 2:55 PM | Permalink | |

I missed the Republican debate last night, but from reading some right-ups of it, one person stands out: Mike Huckabee. Check this out:

Turning the tone of the debate in a different direction, Mike Huckabee rejected the catfight, noting that he's content to let the other candidates fight it out. "Shed each other's blood and then I'll be ready to run for president because I'm not interested in fighting these guys. What I'm interested in is fighting for the American people, and I think they're looking for a presidential candidate who's not so interested in a demolition derby against the other people in his own party," Huckabee said.

Also, check out his appearance on The Daily Show.

Labels: 2008 Watch, Huckabee

Posted by Ryan S. at 3:47 PM | Permalink | |

My heroes this week are the Afghans who recognize the value of another group of heroes, the NATO troops stationed there:

OTTAWA -- A strong majority of Afghans approve of the presence of NATO-led troops in their country, including from Canada, and want the foreign soldiers to remain to fight the Taliban and support reconstruction efforts.

In a poll of Afghans conducted by Environics Research on behalf of The Globe and Mail, the CBC and La Presse, respondents expressed optimism about the future, strong support for the government of President Hamid Karzai and appreciation for the work being done by NATO countries in improving security.

In Kandahar, where the Taliban is stronger and violence more pervasive, support for the foreign troops was weaker, but respondents still want the soldiers to stay.

According to the survey, conducted between Sept. 17 and 24 with a sample of 1,578 men and women, 60 per cent said the presence of foreigners in the country was a good thing. Only 16 per cent said it was a bad thing, while 22 per cent said it was equally good and bad.

And this despite the fact that most Canadians are opposed to their troops being in Afghanistan.

My hack this week is Congressman Stark. I was all set to dig up some juicy stuff, but Miss AO did a fantastic job already. Read away!

Labels: Afghanistan, Canada, Congress, Harper, Hero/Hack, Iraq

Posted by Ryan S. at 2:30 PM | Permalink | |

Wired reports:

The South African National Defence Force "is probing whether a software glitch led to an antiaircraft cannon malfunction that killed nine soldiers and seriously injured 14 others during a shooting exercise on Friday."

Be afraid. Don't trust the toaster.

Labels: Robot Uprising

Posted by Ryan S. at 10:58 PM | Permalink | |

This is insane. A Madison family had a hanged man as part of a Halloween display, but was forced to take it down...because it is racist? Ridiculous:

the Madison figure was part of a Halloween display, and for two days, homeowners Cheryl and David Maines, the borough's superintendent of public works, refused to budge. They said they had done nothing wrong.

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People denounced the display as offensive, racist and insensitive.

"I think there are many people who understand the significance of a noose as it relates to the history of African-Americans," said James Harris, president of the NAACP's state chapter. "We thought we lived beyond the era when people felt it was okay to have that type of display."

Doesn't seem to me like there is any sort of racism involved here, except coming from the imaginations of the mayor and the NAACP. Lots of people were hanged, black and white. In fact, the most recent hanging in the United State (Delaware's own Billy Bailey) was of a white person.

Labels: Racism

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:32 PM | Permalink | |

No, Bono and Cuomo are not planning any sort of collaboration that I'm aware of, but they are both going to be getting a chunkfull of my cash in the coming months.

U2 is going to reissue The Joshua Tree for its 20th anniversary in a cornucopia of formats:

single disc, double disc, double disc/single DVD, and double vinyl. The second disc will likely feature demos, alternate takes, and B-sides from the Brian Eno-produced sessions. The DVD will feature a July 4th, 1987 concert as well as the documentary Outside, It’s America.

I'll be picking up the double disc for sure, and hopefully the vinyl as well if that isn't too cost-prohibitive. Whatever you think about U2, The Joshua Tree deserves its place among the great albums of all time.

Weezer frontman and Harvard grad Rivers Cuomo is going to release a solo disc of demos in December. Should be pretty cool, and there is probably going to be some neat stuff on there:

“Several of them are from my unfinished rock musical, Songs From the Black Hole,” Cuomo tells us. Black Hole, a space rock concept album, was initially supposed to be Weezer’s follow-up to their debut Blue record, but when the project came unglued, some of the tracks wound up in another form on Pinkerton, while the rest have been floating around for awhile until Cuomo gathered them for this collection.

As for the entirety of Weezer?

“We’re done recording, and we’re just waiting to find a mixer. It’s very fresh and experimental,” Cuomo said.

Sweet. While Weezer has never lived up to the greatness of "Blue" and Pinkerton, Make Believe was a solid effort, and decent Weezer is better than no Weezer, I think.

Labels: Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:16 PM | Permalink | |

I was bored procrastinating yesterday, and was curious to see if the power of the internet could help me relive a relic of my childhood, Sesame Street music videos. They were generally parodies of pre-existing songs/videos, but spun with an educational message, natch. Sure enough, YouTube provides.

I remember "Cereal Girl," but my favorites are:

Born to Add:

Letter B:


I was probably one of the few kids in the Sesame Street target audience to be able to sing the original versions too.

Labels: Music, Pointless things online, Pop Culture

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:58 PM | Permalink | |

I've found it somewhat difficult writing about politics lately, mostly for lack of things to say. That doesn't mean I can't or won't continue writing about politics, it just seems like it is the same couple of stories day in and day out.

I also enjoy writing about pop culture, and if I had more writing time to myself, would start a second blog dedicated to my musings on music, film, television, books, etc. (except celebrity gossip, which makes me vomit in my mouth a little just from thinking about it. I do some of that already, but I could do more if there is interest beyond me.

What are your thoughts? Please feel free to utilize the comments to this post, but also answer me this poll:

What would you like to see on Jokers to the Right for content?
	Politics Only
	Keep the current mix
	Move away from politics altogether
pollcode.com free polls

Labels: blogging

Posted by Ryan S. at 3:26 PM | Permalink | |

I'm sitting in the Panera Bread on Main Street in Newark right now. I like Panera Bread, though currently I am here for doing work/reading and coffee. Panera is low on the places I like to do that, but since it's homecoming weekend, tables are full everywhere (except the Central Perk, but I like them even less).

On the upside, Panera has some of the best WiFi around. It's free, and seems to be about as fast as the University WiFi. They also have a lot of outlets and plenty of tables, which is very handy on days like this.

On the downside, they have these really sweet looking circular Bose speakers hanging from the ceiling. They look to be almost a foot in diameter, and generate some really nice sound. Why is this a downside? Because Panera has the worst choice of music I may have ever heard. It is really peppy inoffensive jazz. Well, it wouldn't be inoffensive were it not pumping out at about triple the decibels necessary to create atmosphere. Because of that, I have to turn my headphones up, lest I get a mashup (right now Panera's tenor sax is bleeding into my Spoon).

Labels: Bad Things, Pop Culture, University of Delaware

Posted by Ryan S. at 2:57 PM | Permalink | |

My hack this week is the Nobel Peace Prize Commission. The Norwegians chose Al Gore. Now, I may disagree with some of Gore's conclusions, but either way, I fail to see how that translates to promoting peace and disarmament.

But, as my mother remarked, what can you expect from the people who gave one to Jimmy Carter?

That brings be to this week's hero, Czech President Vaclav Klaus:

Czech President Vaclav Klaus, a rare vocal global- warming sceptic among heads of state, is "somewhat surprised" that former US vice president Al Gore received the Nobel Peace Prize, the president's spokesman Petr Hajek said in a statement.

"The relationship between his activities and world peace is unclear and indistinct," the statement said. "It rather seems that Gore's doubting of basic cornerstones of the current civilization does not contribute to peace."

Klaus said in a recent speech that environmentalists' efforts to halt global warming "fatally endanger our freedom and prosperity."

Labels: Climate Change, Hero/Hack

Posted by Ryan S. at 3:56 PM | Permalink | |

The Greatest Story Never Told?

The U.S. trade deficit fell to the lowest level in seven months, helped by record-high sales of American products and the declining value of the dollar. The deficit with China declined as imports edged down slightly following a string of high-profile recalls.

The Commerce Department reported Thursday that the deficit declined to $57.6 billion in August, down 2.4 percent from the July imbalance. It was lowest gap between exports and imports since January and a much better showing than had been expected.

The improvement reflected a 0.4 percent rise in exports, which climbed to a record $138.3 billion. Sales of farm products including wheat, soybeans and corn, and exports of industrial products such as chemicals and steel both hit record levels.

Imports actually dropped by 0.4 percent to $195.9 billion, reflecting lower shipments of foreign cars and furniture, which offset a big increase in the foreign oil bill, which rose to the highest level in a year.

In other economic news, the Labor Department said that the number of newly laid off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits fell by 12,000 last week to 308,000. That was a better showing than had been expected.

Brought to you by a weaker dollar and Republican economic policies. More jobs, less imports!

Labels: Economics

Posted by Ryan S. at 9:26 AM | Permalink | |

Could Mars exploration become an issue in the 2008 presidential election? The Mars Society wants it to be:

It's barely 8 a.m. as Chris Carberry stands in the middle of a field in the early morning sunlight, shivering slightly. He's waiting for Barack Obama, who is due to speak in about two hours. Obama volunteers are wary. Could Carberry be a researcher from the Clinton campaign? Or a dangerous nut? No, Carberry is a motivated man determined to see through his mission: to find out where each of the presidential candidates stands on Mars.

Carberry is the political director of the Mars Society, a nonprofit group that pushes relentlessly for human exploration and settlement of the red planet. He's the point man for Operation President 2008, in which Mars Society members lie in wait for presidential candidates at campaign stops in the early primary states, then leap out to pop the question: As president, would you send a man to Mars?

Hopefully all the candidates answer emphatically "yes."

I would consider voting based solely on space if there weren't so many other important issues out there that take precedence in my mind.

Labels: 2008 Watch, Space

Posted by Ryan S. at 12:51 PM | Permalink | |

I am a Bruce Springsteen fan. Always have been, always will be. My parents are huge fans, and so I didn't really have a choice. There is something about Springsteen's music that speaks to me in a way that I can't even fully describe, but it would be suffice to say that it speaks to me in a way that no one else's music does.

I wanted to review this album after it came out last week, but I wanted to wait until I saw him and the E Street Band in concert last Friday. The concert was fantastic, and I hope there's another leg to this tour so I can go again.

That being said, I am always eager to hear his new material. Magic is no different. Overall, the album sounds like a blend of Darkness on the Edge of Town and The Rising in both melodic overtones and messages.

"Radio Nowhere," the first single, is a good song, but not my favorite on the album. "Livin' in the Future" sounds like it is picking off where The Rising left off, a reflection on the times we've been living in since 9/11. Another highlight for me is "Long Walk Home," another love letter to Asbury Park, NJ, in the vein of "My Hometown" and "My City of Ruins."

Overall, it is a great album, though I wouldn't say it is quite on par with The Rising. Definitely a must for any Bruce fan to pick up (if you haven't already) and I would recommend you check it out if you're looking for a great singer-songwriter backed by a wall of sound.

As for the concert last Friday (setlist), while there wasn't anything pre-Born to Run, it was still a fantastic show, and Bruce and the E Street Band have an energy that is unmatched. I really hope they release a live album from this tour, as the new songs sounded fantastic, and "Gypsy Biker" live is leagues ahead of the studio version. It would also be nice to have live versions of songs from The Rising out as well, especially "Waitin' On A Sunny Day," played during the encore during the tour so far. Simply fantastic.

Labels: Bruce Springsteen, Music

Posted by Ryan S. at 5:00 PM | Permalink | |

Taiwan News:

More than a hundred protesters yesterday staged a sit-in demonstration near the American Institute in Taiwan to call for the United States to acknowledge Taiwan as part of its territory and to urge the U.S. to issue national passports to Taiwan people.

Waving U.S. flags emblazoned with the image of Taiwan on them, protesters from the Taiwan Civil Democratic Party, Taiwan Defense Alliance, Taiwan Nation Party, the Farmers' Party, Oceanvoice Radio and the 228 Victims Association held a mass sit-in near the AIT in Taipei to urge the U.S. to recognize Taiwan as part of its territory based on the U.S. Constitution and the San Francisco Peace Treaty.

I will simply not stand for this obvious imperialism on the part of America.

Labels: China

Posted by Ryan S. at 10:17 PM | Permalink | |

Sometime guestblogger and always friend Gary wanted to share with you all his 2008 predictions. I don't agree with all of them, but then again, what do I know?

Here they are:

Republicans:

Ron Paul – Not going to win the Republican nomination, but in a perfect place to pick up the Libertarian nomination. Don’t rule out seeing him in the general election presidential debates.

Mitt Romney – He’s running a scary good campaign. Textbook definition of perfect. The only thing is, he can’t connect with people. He’ll be known as the candidate who tried to buy the nomination. If he succeeds, look for an easy Democratic victory in 08.

Rudy Giuliani – His campaign consists of “electability.” Perfect recipe to lose the general election. If your base isn’t happy, you’re not going to win. John Kerry was picked for electability and look where it got him.

Fred Thompson – stumbled out of the gate, though still has a better chance than Romney or McCain. His only vision is the remnants of Reagan’s vision. After all, he’s selling himself as Reagan. This leads to disappointment, Reagan was from another time, another era. Sharpen up on the trail, and he’s a formidable opponent.

John McCain – Barring a discovery of the fountain of youth, McCain is done. Political comebacks are only for the young, or at least not the ancient. If he didn’t shoot himself in the foot so many times, he might have a chance. I appreciate your service, but retire.

Mike Huckabee – If Huckabee keeps rising in the polls, look for Newt Gingrich to get involved in a big way. Newt likes Huck and Huck likes Newt. The only thing keeping Huckabee from the top tier and stomping on Romney is money. This past cycle could hurt him, and if he has to drop out, it looks like he made enough of an impact for a VP nod.

Democrats:

John Edwards – You’ve made a mockery of your campaign. Very Jimmy Carter-esque in your goals, but too bad the poor don’t vote.

Barack Obama – Reminds me of a MasterCard commercial. Ability to inspire? Over 250,000 new donors. Ability to raise money? $80 million. Ability to turn money and donors into votes? Priceless. And that’s where you fail. Barring an epic collapse by Hillary Clinton, you’re going to be remembered as a colossal disappointment who could rake in the money, but couldn’t deliver.

Hillary Clinton – congratulations on the nomination.

* Wesley Clark – the man is a decorated war hero. Critical when the nation is focused on the Iraq War. Only reason not to choose him is if the campaign thinks the Republicans have a chance of picking up the Hispanic vote.

** Bill Richardson – won’t overshadow Hillary. Can be helpful in picking up the Hispanic vote, or the Cindy Sheehan wing of the party.

Republican Ticket ’08: Giuliani/ Huckabee

Democratic Ticket ’08: Clinton/ Wesley Clark* or Bill Richardson**

Labels: 2008 Watch, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, Fred Thompson, Giuliani, Hillary Clinton, Huckabee, McCain, Romney, Ron Paul

Posted by Ryan S. at 11:27 AM | Permalink | |

My hero this week is CNN Meteorologist Rob Marciano, who said of Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth:

"There are definitely some inaccuracies," Marciano added. "The biggest thing I have a problem with is this implication that Katrina was caused by global warming."

The stinger?
Marciano also said, "the Oscars, they give out awards for fictional films as well."

My hack this week is (former?) Atlantic City mayor Bob Levy who is kind of missing:

Amid reports of a federal probe into false claims that Levy admits he made regarding his Vietnam military service, the mayor drove off last Wednesday in a silver, city-owned Dodge Durango and has not officially been heard from since.

His lawyer says that Levy is in a hospital, but isn't giving up anything else.

True or not, it's time to face the music, Bob.

Labels: Climate Change, Hero/Hack

Posted by Ryan S. at 9:07 AM | Permalink | |

Seems the residents of Delaware Liberal have been uppity about unions lately.

I would have commented over there, but I'm either banned or spam-blocked (I would have e-mailed Jason...but there's no e-mail address on the site that I could find).

I don't really have a problem with unions. In theory. I believe workers should have the rights to freely associate. However, in most union shops, like GM, union membership is compulsory. Not only do I have a problem with compulsory membership as a concept, but it drains union leadership of all accountability. There is nothing they have to offer their members to get them to stay or recruit new members.

Big Labor is just as bad as Big Business.

Labels: Economics, Labor

Posted by Ryan S. at 10:11 AM | Permalink | |

J. Peter Mulhern is predicting Fred Thompson to win the Republican nomination (and the general election), which isn't big news in itself, but in supporting his prediction, he has some interesting things to say about Mitt Romney:

Oddly, Mitt Romney gives me new insight into Bill Clinton's career. I always used to wonder how much of Clinton's appeal, such as it was, depended on his flaws rather than his strengths. Could Clinton have been so charming to so many without the selfishness, the total lack of self-discipline, the sexual incontinence, the dishonesty, the flabby physique and the swollen nose? Did he depend on his repulsive and dysfunctional traits to humanize him?

Romney's struggle to connect with voters suggests that he did. Sorry Governor, the voters just don't warm to guys who are classically handsome, athletic, rich , intelligent, decent, and also ambitious enough to be supple about their political principles. You could try taking a personal interest in some interns, but that probably won't work for a Republican.

Romney would do better, despite his slippery persona, if he could only learn to communicate without dropping into MBA speak. Everything for Mitt is a PowerPoint presentation to potential investors.

The rest of the post is pretty good too, so you should read the whole thing.

Labels: 2008 Watch, Fred Thompson, Romney

Posted by Ryan S. at 9:19 AM | Permalink | |

AP:

Deaths among American forces and Iraqi civilians fell dramatically last month to their lowest levels in more than a year, according to figures compiled by the U.S. military, the Iraqi government and The Associated Press.

The decline signaled a U.S. success in bringing down violence in Baghdad and surrounding regions since Washington completed its infusion of 30,000 more troops on June 15.

A total of 64 American forces died in September — the lowest monthly toll since July 2006.

The decline in Iraqi civilian deaths was even more dramatic, falling from 1,975 in August to at least 988 last month, a decline of 50 percent, according to an AP tally. The civilian death toll has not been so low since June 2006, when 847 Iraqis died.

Labels: Iraq

Posted by Ryan S. at 3:58 PM | Permalink | |

This is the central message of the Obama campaign, and it is a smart one:

"They want to make the argument that Senator Clinton is just an extension of the Bill Clinton presidency," Obama said in an interview with The Associated Press. "They've been the dominant political family in the Democratic Party for the last 20 years now. So it's not surprising that they want to focus on their longevity.

But, Obama said: "My belief is that the American people are looking for a fundamental break from the way we've been doing business."

More of the same, or a new beginning? By equating Clinton to Clinton, and calling for a break, he is also tying Clinton to Bush. This feels like a change election, so this is a smart message to have.

Labels: Barack Obama, Blame it on Bush, Hillary Clinton

Posted by Ryan S. at 9:31 AM | Permalink | |