Decision 2008!

[Paco Del Stinko]

Well, perhaps the secret to Canada is dressing in layers. And I hate guns. I also don't care for hockey, so that could be a big problem. Other than that, I'm in.

That talk of Bush not letting go of the reigns is too frighteningly possible, and I pray it doesn't happen. Let's hope he and the other slugs slither out the back door while they pray that they aren't brought to justice for all their national and international crimes. I'm more pissed at congress these days for letting these scumbags run amok. But then, I have to remind myself that apparently, they are all the same. Which drops me off the bus somewhere near Roymond and Luke.

There is something to the hope/change message that is resonating with even dumber sheep than I, because people are seeing that they are screwed and will be for a long time. It is, as always, about the money. Is Obama the best we've got? Out of the three top dogs still standing, yes. Is he more of the same? More than likely, hopefully less so than the others. It comes down to (again) picking the lesser of evils. Remember, Al Gore wasn't the big hero that he is now, back in 2000.

[Caravan Ray]

Thanks for the offer Mark, but two things will need to happen before I move to Canada. First, our dollar needs to get back on top so that I win on the exchange. Second, I'd need global warming to bring your country up by at least 20 degrees. It's cold enough where I am!
.

Hmmmm...Canada with a weaker dollar but better weather? Hey! That's Australia!

[Caravan Ray]

For all the talk of hope and change, I imagine we're facing just more bullshit, legislated morality, and war. Black guy, female, or status quo old white guy all ends up about the same. I mean Obama has all the smiles and little people stories, and a distressingly downplayed desire to pursue other military actions in the Middle East (Iran or Pakistan will be invaded under Obama, I can almost guarantee it). Hillary has demonstrated her love of peace many times over (ha). And McCain is just a continuation of this administration's nonsense. Hope for change of the people's choice to blah blah fuck that. This is the same old with a new face.

I won't agree with you on the specifics but over all I do. At least Obama is breaking some of the trends we've had the past 19 years. I too am afraid our "system" has become gummed up with special interests and the military machine is as much a part of the bureaucracy as the IRS. But change doesn't move fast and the biggest hope for anything like change is him and his (at this point still perceived) potential to bring some fresh air. Apathy never gets more done than the alternative. Stop whining and start thinking.

I am no stranger to cynicism myself, and I see where Luke is coming from - but on this I tend to agree with Roymond. From a distance, and being admittedly fairly ignorant of the issues at hand - Obama really seems like a glimmer of hope for the future.

Again I draw your attention to the recent Australian election - I think the comparison is relevant. Firstly though - Kevin Rudd is no Obama. There is nothing particularly inspiring about him - he looks, and for all intents and purposes (almost), sounds like a younger version of our former PM, John Howard. But he is obviously intelligent and it appears, a reasonably decent human being. And there is the great difference. John Howard was not a decent human being. In the 3 months this Government has been in power - there have been 2 enormously significant decisions taken:

1) We signed the Kyoto Protocol. KRudd's opponents say that this is just tokenism - after all, Australia is actually one of the few countries on earth that is actually meeting it's Kyoto targets. But it (hopefully) signals an end to the lickspittleistic arse-kissing of the USA we have endured in recent years (is "lickspittleistic" a word? If not, it should be), and

2) The Government apologised to the Stolen Generation. I don't know if this made international news - but it was an enormously significant event here. In 1995 a report was published describing over 70 years of racist policy by the Australian government, particularly with respect to the arbitrary removal of Aboriginal children from their families on racist grounds. The report recommended that the Australian government apologise to Aboriginal people for these past wrongs. For 12 years the Howard government refused to acknowledge that the Australian government had been responsible for what was effectively an act of genocide.

This month, KRudd stood up in Parliament and apologised to Aboriginal people on behalf of the Australian government and the Australian Parliament. It was an excellent speech, and will go down as one of the significant events of our history. Again - his opponents called it tokenism - and maybe it was, KRudd is a clever polititian - but nobody can deny that the nation changed a little bit that day.

The point is - I don't know if KRudd will go onto be a good PM - but his actions up to now have been significant. He has returned a bit of common human decency to the business of government. He now has the highest approval rating of any PM ever. The people are happy.

The government of GWB has been enormously damaging to the USA's image internationally. His legacy will be an illegal war, torture and inaction on climate change. Even if Obama turns out to be a complete dud as a President - the very fact that you elect him will send an important message to the rest of the world - that your people are sick of the crap of the last 8 years.

[Paco Del Stinko]

The government of GWB has been enormously damaging to the USA's image internationally. His legacy will be an illegal war, torture and inaction on climate change. Even if Obama turns out to be a complete dud as a President - the very fact that you elect him will send an important message to the rest of the world - that your people are sick of the crap of the last 8 years.

Good points. And I had just a few days ago heard about the KRudd apology. Ceremonious and all, but rather significant, I think. It's certainly a positive, at least on the surface. Now if we can only get the entire world together for a group hug. sigh.

[WeaselSlayer]

I think the problem might just be that I've been listening exclusively to Void, Flipper, Die Kreuzen, and Millions of Dead Cops lately.

[jack]

i saw a bit of the debate tonight and team hil-billy seemed desperate, consistently attacking obama, while he appeared much more "presidential" by staying fairly calm and on point. i think it's that "presidential" quality of how they handle themselves which will make the difference and swing momentum. a kind of rise above the petty BS aloofness without appearing aloof. reagan had it. bill had it. ahnuld has it. and obama has it. maybe it's partly charisma, and hillary struggles here, but her constant attacks on obama will ultimately chafe people and put a bigger "business as usual" sign on her back. people don't want sniping over universal health care, they want jobs and an end to the war and maybe a congress that can work together.

[JonPorobil]

While I agree with you, Jack, you can't discount that it was a lot easier for Obama to maintain his regal calm beause he didn't spend the whole debate being attacked by both his opponent and the moderator.

[jack]

well she didn't really endear herself to either when she asked if he needed another pillow.

there's time for jokes but maybe not in a televised debate with your surging opponent.

[roymond]

While I agree with you, Jack, you can't discount that it was a lot easier for Obama to maintain his regal calm beause he didn't spend the whole debate being attacked by both his opponent and the moderator.

Agreed. They tried to throw something at Obama but Tim Russert seemed he wanted to get Hillary off balance many times.

[Sober]

Obama ahead in Texas for the first time.

[mkilly]

Probably not really, though. Margin of error, dude.

Nevertheless, I'm expecting him to win TX's popular and delegate counts.

[Sober]

He's got a +1.6 spread over 5 very recent polls. The Intrade numbers are hugely in his favor as well, and they've been a very accurate indicator thus far.

My girlfriend has contributed quite a bit to Obama's campaign, and got a huge rally pack. Now I'm stocked with shirts, stickers, buttons, signs, all kinds of stuff.

[Spud]

For some reason, when I first read that, I thought you said that your girlfriend had a huge rack. Guess I was skimming.

SPUD

[JonPorobil]

Well, it is The Sober Irishman we're talking about...

With regards to his chances of victory, I think Obama put it best himself. He had made a remark about John McCain, and a reporter asked him, "Does this mean that you count Hillary Clinton out?"

"I do not. I do not. Remember New Hampshire?"

Obama's way out ahead, and in Ohio & Texas, Clinton needs to not only win, but win BIG to still be considered viable; it doesn't look like she can do it, but this year has been all about reversals and unpredictable turnarounds anyway. Remember: Obama was the underdog two weeks ago.

[Sober]

Remember: Obama was the underdog two weeks ago.

In the fantasy world that I live in 24/7, Obama won the 2008 presidency at the 2004 DNC. The last four years have merely been people campaigning for 2nd place.

[Hoblit]

Remember: Obama was the underdog two weeks ago.

In the fantasy world that I live in 24/7, Obama won the 2008 presidency at the 2004 DNC. The last four years have merely been people campaigning for 2nd place.

And lets hope you can manifest that into a reality even when the current Bush administration is able to create some type of emergency power to stay in office.

Wait, did I say that out loud?

[jimtyrrell]

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE

[JonPorobil]

So yeah. Cuyahoga county's votes were only 3% in when they called Ohio for Clinton. I think it's a bit premature, but then again, maybe not. If she is in fact still in the lead when 100% of the votes are counted, it won't be by the 18 points she was leading by when they projected her.

Texas is a little more up in the air.

McCain is locked in as the Republican nominee, so it's official; I won't be panicking no matter what happens come November. Who do you think will be his vice-president?

[Billy's Little Trip]

To cut to the chase. I trust Hillary more than the rest.
Thank you, and have a good day.

[Paco Del Stinko]

Disappointing night last night, only Vermont got it right. I am really starting to hate the Clintons. But whoever wins the messy Democrat nomination, please stop McCain from putting on his little sideways Napolean hat and pushing the World War Three button. He probably won't pick a VP, JonEric, as he'll pull out a state of emergency like Hoblit has been talking about and start bombing. He is way out of tune.

[jimtyrrell]

Nah, don't worry about McCain. According to his opinions on Iraq, the world is gonna be around for at least a hundred more years.

[JonPorobil]

Evidently, for the first time ever, polls show McCain ahead of both of his Democrat contenders. How fun.