tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18193044.post487365992596262083..comments2024-01-23T04:15:50.693-06:00Comments on The Ratzaz Diaries: The Iowa CaucusesKalki Weisthorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400738153780886132noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18193044.post-49671873362267220862008-11-22T01:02:00.000-06:002008-11-22T01:02:00.000-06:00An effective addiction treatment program on the ne...An effective addiction treatment program on the needs of each individual resident.<BR/>===================<BR/>Britney<BR/><A HREF="http://www.addictionlink.org/drug-rehab-center/iowa" REL="nofollow">iowa drug rehab</A>britney1940https://www.blogger.com/profile/17218358017376146948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18193044.post-71033269449335075652008-02-17T05:26:00.000-06:002008-02-17T05:26:00.000-06:00Personally , I have nothing against the Clintons. ...Personally , I have nothing against the Clintons. But, they are NOT being specific enough to suit me. As a former employee of a radio station, though decades ago and a lapsed (by choice) member of NOW, I find her answers evasive and based on "remember the Good Old Days." As Mama Rose said in Gypsy- "Speak Up, Louise" . <BR/>I DON'T want to remember the "Good Old Days"- I want the 400 lb gorilla(the devalued dollar , overwhelming National debt, and job insecurity-) in the corner to be addressed as an issue. Want a popularist tv quote? Jack Webb "The Facts , m'am,just the facts..." I believe in trusting in one's own efforts- but right now , the Crips and the Bloods stand between Dorothy and the Emerald City. The Scarecrow has been dismantled and considered as a possible ingredient for ethanol. The Tin man has been kidnapped and sent to New Delhi. The Lion has not yet found his courage. Toto almost got poisoned by Chinese produced pet food last year. So even he is not up to snuff.Bet she longs for the Good Old Days when all she had to contend with was Miss Gulch and later the Wicked Witches of OZ. Waiting for Glinda to rescue her ISN't a solution.Glinda tends to come in at the last minute and tells her that all is well. Swell, its great in retrospect - but its not a solution.Dorothy HAD to do it herself. Dorothy had to take the risks. Waiting for Washington especially established Washington to do anything to sift through the devastation of the Bush years- think of economic scorched earth policy -is ,I think , like waiting for Glinda.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18193044.post-78281312964445697812008-01-06T09:39:00.000-06:002008-01-06T09:39:00.000-06:00One more - sorry! Just read the other comments ag...One more - sorry! Just read the other comments again. Clintonfan is correct! Wes Clark is wonderful, and I do remember seeing him on Bill Maher and his speaking very intelligently about a Hillary Clinton presidency. I'm for change, and though I don't know anything personally about Obama as Clintonfan seems to, ... I agree with everything else!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18193044.post-62135934689849243382008-01-06T09:33:00.000-06:002008-01-06T09:33:00.000-06:00I belive, for the most part, as you do. However, ...I belive, for the most part, as you do. However, as far as the Clintons and Obama coming to terms before November ... they may do so personally, but I don't see a ticket with two of them. <BR/><BR/>I am thrilled that a mostly white community brought the first serious black candidate to the top result; however, I don't know that the country is ready for a Woman and a Black Man ... sadly. But, I still keep hope up that this really could happen!<BR/><BR/>Hillary is smart, for sure, but she carries so much baggage, whether that's fair or not, from her husband. People either love him or hate him ... I'm, as always, hoping that love wins out.<BR/><BR/>Glad to see you finally wrote a political blog, and I'm happy to see that several have posted to this blog with comments. <BR/><BR/>The two party system has indeed seen its day, and I agree that it should be dismantled. Folks like Cucinich should be allowed to debate. I happen to like Cucinich, and I believe he was sandbagged by Tim Russert (who I usually enjoy) in the first debate with his UFO question.<BR/><BR/>Watched Cucinich on Ch. 8 the other night, and he is well spoken, thoughtful, and very smart.<BR/><BR/>In the last election, an attorney I used to work with in Houston, David Cobb, and who is one of my best friends in the world, ran for President on the Green Party ticket. I loved it when he and the other non-mainstream candidate tried to storm the last debates (in Boston, I think) because they, too, were excluded from participating.<BR/><BR/>Who says who can and cannot participate? <BR/><BR/>Oh well - I digress!<BR/><BR/>Wonderful blog! More, please!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18193044.post-40351386722093715712008-01-05T14:53:00.000-06:002008-01-05T14:53:00.000-06:00I went to law school with Obama -- one of my class...I went to law school with Obama -- one of my classmates said that you could judge how pretentious someone's remarks in class were by how high they ranked on the Obamanometer. This guy didn't share in class, he pontificated. You think Hillary is all about Hillary? Obama has her beaten for self-interest by a mile. And Michelle Obama wants the White House so badly she can taste it. At least with Hillary you know what you are getting: maybe not the nicest of the leading candidates (that would probably be Edwards) or the most cutting edge, but the one with the most experience and the one most likely to be able to work both sides of the aisle effectively. Plus she is endorsed by Wes Clark, the sanest candidate we've put forth for president in years and someone who would make a darn excellent Secretary of State. Wes Clark and Bill Clinton -- two more good reasons to vote for Hillary. Michelle Obama says she'll be the country's next first lady. I hope she's right -- 9 years from now. In the meantime, I'd love to see Bill as the first First Gentleman.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18193044.post-78448980646741021402008-01-05T11:22:00.000-06:002008-01-05T11:22:00.000-06:00While the demo caucus in Iowa looked like chaos, a...While the demo caucus in Iowa looked like chaos, and it was, it was interesting to watch (thank God for c-span). If one candidate does not get 15% (above which the candidate is "viable"), the individual doesn't have to go to another corner, but has no impact if he or she doesn't. So, representatives of the other candidates try to pursuade the undecided to join their ranks. Fortunately, some knew enough to have a back-up candidate already in mind and didn't have to be recruited on the spot. What happened then was that delegates were awarded to candidates based on the percentage of individuals representing each. The result: Iowa dems have 3 dlegates representing Obama, 2 for Edwards, and 1 for Clinton. It seems primitive for the 21st century, but it was intereting to observe. THAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18193044.post-44108120097399576692008-01-05T01:40:00.000-06:002008-01-05T01:40:00.000-06:00Huh? Clinton a weak and ineffective President? Whe...Huh? Clinton a weak and ineffective President? Where the fuck were you? He was the most successful and <EM>effective</EM> President in my lifetime. Jesus H. Christ! Even if you didn't like his policies, he knew how to get them carried out better than anyone; he was the consummate politician. The "Slick Willie" term wasn't necessarily derogatory you know!Kalki Weisthorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16400738153780886132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18193044.post-9601672336030180552008-01-05T01:30:00.000-06:002008-01-05T01:30:00.000-06:00I forgot to mention my main Obama concern. His str...I forgot to mention my main Obama concern. His strength is in uniting various groups of people, which is a necessity when it comes to accomplishing anything in politics. But at the same time, if you're pleasing everyone (think Bill Clinton), then you're ultimately not doing anything. I fear Obama would end up being a weak and ineffective President [like Bill Clinton]. As long as he's a nice guy...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18193044.post-20689672725185375822008-01-05T01:03:00.000-06:002008-01-05T01:03:00.000-06:00Who on earth would any sane person vote for, but a...Who on earth would any sane person vote for, but a Democrat? There has been a real effort made for at least the last eight years to put an end to the two-party system -- by the Bush Cabal, who want a one-party system. Under our Constitution, really nothing except the two-party system will work for our country. And in these dangerous Fascistic times, the last thing we need is any monkeying with the Constitution, which the Nazi's, er Republicans,have been trying to abrogate in every conceivable way.<BR/><BR/>Ron Paul is the other target for the Youth vote; despite his Libertarian pretences, he is a fake and another nutball Republican. A pro-Life Libertarian? Gimme a break. Even if he were real, Libertarianism is a college Philosophy major's wet dream for an unreal World. There are too many rats in our current cage for it. Ron Paul would only appeal to the naive. Don't fall for it.<BR/><BR/>And yes, Hillary gives the impression that she would say whatever it takes to get elected. She is a true politician. She has worked with and been half of the best. Let's Pray to the Almight Lord Jesus it works this time!Kalki Weisthorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16400738153780886132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18193044.post-64767069698156793932008-01-04T22:00:00.000-06:002008-01-04T22:00:00.000-06:00You should know by now that I want Hillary Clinton...<I>You should know by now that I want Hillary Clinton in the White House next year, badly.</I><BR/><BR/>Had no idea! You are voting for a Democrat?! I’m shocked. I thought you’d be a Ron Paul follower. I find him quite refreshing even though I disagree with his solutions. I like his underground presence. <BR/><BR/><I>The reason for this is the curiously unadvertised but obvious fact that this would a Presidency led by the couple that gave us the best administration of the second half of the last century, at least. In its time the Clinton years were seen as a co-Presidency, and there is no reason it would not be the same again.</I><BR/><BR/>What I don’t like about Hillary is that she’s all shrewd politician. Sure I’ll vote for her – if I have to. <BR/><BR/><I>Not that I have anything against Barack Obama, especially if he and the Clinton people can come to terms before November, as I think they will. So Obama is almost as good as anyone.</I><BR/><BR/>What I like about Barack is that, so far, he has not been corrupted. I’m sure he will be soon. He connects with the average American. I’ve heard his health care plan sucks, but nearly anything would be an improvement. The system is not gonna change overnight. If Obama surrounds himself with competent people, then he should be all right. <BR/><BR/><I>In Iowa, Obama's campaign brought out a huge response; the major element of his victory was new voters who rallied to him. He got the youth vote</I><BR/><BR/>Cool! I know religion is irrelevant (except in the Republican party, whose biggest mistake has been aligning itself with the Christian Right), but this is the THIRD presidential candidate who identifies himself as UCC :) I don’t think Obama is <I>that much</I> into change, mainly he wants to undo the W damage. Any non-incumbent candidate is gonna run on the promise of “change.” <BR/><BR/>I am sick of pseudo debates with TV networks that block any candidates with “alternative” thought. I think as soon as this election is over, we should work on dismantling the two-party system, which doesn’t serve most Americans.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com