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¡Hola! And a warm welcome to the expat community in Caracas! InterNations helps you to settle in to your new destination by connecting you with other expats through a private and secure network. Interact with real expats in Caracas and ask them questions about what to expect from your move, from queries like "what is the healthcare system like in Venezuela?" to "which schools do you recommend for my children in Caracas?". Whatever you need to know, the expat community in Caracas is happy to help.
With InterNations, you never stand alone. Whether you move to another city or go on a business trip somewhere — our communities are there to make you feel at home wherever you are in the world. Feel free to also check out our other vibrant InterNations Communities like the ones in Vienna or Bangkok.
Attend our monthly events and activities for Caracas expatriates to get to know like-minded expatriates in real life.
Get trustworthy advice and local insights from fellow members in our Caracas expat forums.
The large capital of Venezuela, Caracas is home to a number of expats who adore the natural beauty as well as the fast-paced life in the city. The city has an excellent infrastructure and is an exciting environment to live in. Expats can enjoy the mild yet warm climate of the city, its surrounding peaks and mountainsides, and its modern amenities, such as an affordable metro system, bustling plazas, and lively nightlife. The city can be a little luxurious and some expats have found it to be a quite expensive at times. However, many expats based in the city work for the country's booming oil industry and enjoy the informal nature of doing business in the country.
InterNations is the largest global network for expatriates, with communities in 420 cities across the globe. Get to know fellow internationals in your city, before you're moving, or when traveling somewhere and never feel like a stranger. InterNations makes it easy for you to stay in touch with your expat friends, both online and offline, so you can grow your network of friends and contacts from all over the world. Whether they live in Zurich or Prague, InterNations allows you to be close to them even if they are miles away.
Every member of InterNations has been has gone through an approval process first to ensure that the network stays safe and secure. This also helps ensure that the members of our community are fully aware of the importance of our guiding principles and a general "netiquette"— from polite behavior to being open towards other cultures and backgrounds. When you arrive in Caracas, you can thus also feel confident about getting together with like-minded InterNations members on site. Simply join InterNations and have a look at and joins some of our groups that interest you and meet up with other expats — from the Caracas Explorers Group to DinnerNations.


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- Quicklook Breville The One° Precision Poacher Sugg. Price $300 Sale $99.99
- Quicklook All-Clad Belgian Waffle Makers Sugg. Price $280 – $300 Our Price $179.95 – $199.95
- Quicklook All-Clad Classic Round Waffle Maker Sugg. Price $200 Our Price $129.95
- Quicklook All-Clad 7-Qt. Electric Nonstick Skillet Sugg. Price $300 Our Price $199.95
- Quicklook Open Kitchen by Williams Sonoma Griddle $59.95
- Quicklook Breville Smart Waffle Maker Sugg. Price $280 Our Price $199.95
- Quicklook Breville Smart Waffle Pro Sugg. Price $300 – $380 Our Price $199.95 – $249.95
- Quicklook Breville No-Mess Classic Round Waffle Maker Sugg. Price $200 Our Price $129.95
- Quicklook Cuisinart Vertical Waffle Maker Sugg. Price $110 Our Price $59.95
- Quicklook Chef'sChoice Electric Egg Cooker Sugg. Price $55 Our Price $39.95
- Quicklook Cuisinart 10-Egg Central Cooker $39.95
- Quicklook Cuisinart Electric Yogurt Maker with Automatic Cooling Sugg. Price $235 Our Price $99.95
- Quicklook Automatic Yogurt Maker Sugg. Price $60 Our Price $49.95
- Quicklook Euro Cuisine Greek-Style Yogurt Strainer $25.95
- Quicklook Instant Pot Duo Plus60 9-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, 6-Qt. Sugg. Price $240 Our Price $119.95
- Quicklook Instant Pot Duo60 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, 6-Qt. Sugg. Price $200 Our Price $99.95
- Quicklook Cuisinart Bread Maker Sugg. Price $185 Our Price $109.95
- Quicklook Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker Sugg. Price $450 Our Price $299.95
- Quicklook Brod & Taylor Folding Proofer & Slow Cooker $169.95
- Quicklook Automatic Yogurt Maker Replacement Jar, Set of 8 $19.95
- Quicklook Freeze-Dried Automatic Yogurt Maker Starter $19.95
Breakfast Electrics
Kickstart your day with a hearty meal by choosing from one of Williams-Sonoma's vast selection of breakfast appliances. Enjoy an early morning delectable by creating mouthwatering crepes and fresh bread, or treat yourself to a fresh bowl of homemade yogurt. If light and warm scrambled eggs or soft-boiled eggs are on the menu for the morning, try one of our easy-to-use electric egg cookers that allow you to cook your eggs exactly the way you want them. By cooking up to seven eggs at once, you can treat your whole family to a wholesome breakfast in just a manner of minutes.
If some moist-on-the-inside and crisp-on-the-outside Belgian waffles with extra toppings are what starts your day right, then treat yourself by using one of our waffle makers and one of our breakfast mixes specifically designed to create golden-brown Belgian waffles. Replenish that early morning thirst with some freshly squeezed orange juice or enjoy a fresh-brewed cup of coffee or espresso using our state-of-the-art coffee or espresso makers.
If some fresh, creamy, silky smooth yogurt is the breakfast delicacy you and your family enjoy, then our automatic yogurt makers and recipe starter kits with fresh ingredients are sure to bring that early morning delight to help start your day. The starter kits contain 10 sealed packets, allowing you to make 42-ounce individual batches, and each packet is freeze-dried, so it stays fresh without the need for refrigeration. The automatic yogurt maker's versatility allows you to enjoy a wide range of flavors that includes coconut milk yogurt if that is your pleasure or vegan yogurts for those who enjoy yogurt's silky-smooth texture without the added fat and calories. If you are picky about the way your breakfast electrics look in your kitchen, the nifty designs complement practically any kitchen's decor.
The smell of fresh-baked bread first thing in the morning is one of the hallmarks of a homemade breakfast. As the bread slowly starts to rise and the yeast starts to form, it gives off an invigorating smell that you can only get from a fresh loaf of bread. Our breakfast electrics bring your kitchen that fresh smell you can only get by making your own bread. Allow us to give you easy-to-follow recipes when you decide to try one of our convenient and hassle-free bread makers. That warm, comforting feeling from freshly made bread is right at your front door and a few steps away from your kitchen.
You and your family can start your day with a natural boost of energy by squeezing the freshness out of fruits and vegetables using our classic juicers. Our juicers allow you to enjoy up to 90 percent of the natural vitamins and minerals found in fruits and vegetables by using MicroMasticating technology, which ensures you and your family receive the daily recommended allowance of their nutrients. Add all your favorite fruits and vegetables, including apples, bananas, nuts, mangos or even deep greens and wheatgrass.
Take advantage of our breakfast electrics and give yourself that motivation you need in the morning that only a hearty breakfast can deliver. Enjoy an easy-to-prepare three-egg omelet with mushrooms and green bell peppers that you cannot find at your local breakfast diner. Slow cook your way to a classic brunch using one of our countertop machines that easily allows you to steam vegetables, boil pasta, cook rice or create some mouthwatering baked goods that you and your family can only experience from homemade goodness. Our breakfast electrics give you the quality and durability you need to enjoy those heartwarming moments you can only get from a classic breakfast or brunch.

subset: commoncrawl


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Comfort for a Super Stay
Relax and unwind in our pool
In the morning, enjoy a free 8-item SuperStart breakfast and connect to free high-speed Internet. If you want to relax after a day of sightseeing, unwind in our indoor heated pool. Accessible and non-smoking rooms are available, as well as guest laundry facilities at our pet-friendly hotel.
Real Local Experiences
History, town events, winter attractions, and the Western experience
The Overland Trail Museum lets you trace the footsteps of the pioneers in the 1860s. Logan County Fairgrounds features summer carnival rides, livestock exhibits, musical entertainment, and rodeo events. In the winter, you can cross-country ski, snowshoe, ice fish, snowmobile, or even dogsled. Play golf at Riverview Golf Course, which features three sets of tees. Head to Rope the Rockies to watch cowboys in action as they rope and tie cattle.
Meetings and Events at Our Super 8
Our hotel features 1 meeting room. Plan your next meeting or special event with us. We also arrange great rates for groups — large or small.


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Signed by the Jets on Oct. 1 of this season, Berry came to the team with a reputation as a tough and tenacious cornerback who also had a nose for some occasional trouble. It was a string of arrests that led him to being banished from Detroit and allowed the Jets to scoop him up out of free agency.
His contributions have been limited so far but last week in Seattle he registered his first two tackles of the season. Now with the midweek news that Isaiah Trufant is out for the year with a knee injury, it could be time for Berry to step-up.
"Most definitely. Things happen in this game, injuries happen," Berry told The Jets Blog. "That's why you practice hard so that you'll be ready when it is game time or during the week even because you never know when your number is going to be called."
He says that no conversations have been had with the coaching staff about an increased role now that Trufant is down for the rest of the season. In his eyes and from where he sits in the locker room, there is no need to know or change his approach for what could be an expanded role this Sunday at the Rams.
It is the same old, same old for Berry.
"For me it is the same every as week. You have to go into every game as if you're the starter," Berry said. "Prepare the same way, do the same things, have the same mentality."
Strangely though he has played less than Trufant, it is Berry who might be a better fit in the Jets scheme. Given the physicality of his play, he is exactly the type of cornerback that the Jets aggressive defense calls for.
Watching Berry in practice, it is obvious that he loves getting physical on the line and jamming receivers immediately. Where certain cornerbacks on this team don't like that kind of contact, the fiery and competitive Berry craves it.
"I feel that helps you out a lot, messing up the receivers, messing up their timing," Berry said. "Everything in this league is about timing. If you can throw their timing off, you be a lot more effective in your coverage."
Berry smiles a bit and looks down to play with some athletic tape in his hands. He looks up and he's still smiling.
"A lot more effective."
Kristian R. Dyer is a Jets beat reporter for Metro New York and contributes to The Jets Blog. Follow him at @KristianRDyerfor Jets breaking news and info from Florham Park.


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Excellent audio quality, Responsive touchscreen display
Touch interface needs improvements
Cheaper than many other video conferencing hardware
Stylish and easy to use video phone
Excellent audio performance, Very user-friendly
Very affordable - A lot of bang for your buck
ReviewGist helps you find the best products to buy by making sense of online reviews.
We are currently aggregating 376,500 reviews
covering over 29,474 products.
© 2019 ReviewGist.com. All Rights Reserved.


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Journeys Newsletter Subscription
Starting from $
Journeys is a monthly newsletter designed to offer support and practical advice to people coping with loss and bereavement. Subscribe as an individual and receive support from the experts each month for just $25. A Journeys bulk subscription is a caring and cost-effective way to provide ongoing support to the families you serve.
Read a sample issue.
Understanding Death with Dignity Legislation: A Necessity for the Palliative Care Provider
Expert Panelists: Frances DeRook, MD, FACC
On Demand: available for 6 months after purchase
Length: 90 minutes
This program was first presented in September 2015. Since that time, California has passed a law legalizing physician-assisted death, and it is under consideration by a number of other state legislatures and the District of Columbia Council.
This program is recorded. There is no opportunity to ask questions, which was available during the live program.
**Please note, CEs are not available for this program**
#grief: Social Media and Mourning - Self Study
Expert Panelists: Kelly Rossetto, PhD, Boise State University and Michelle Post, MA, LMFT, CTBS, Manager of Donor Family Aftercare, OneLegacy
2019-20 Education Partner Package
Package includes all 2019-20 webinar programs and Living with Grief®. Available for individuals and multi-viewer groups.
2019-20 Unlimited CE Bundle
Continuing education credits are available for a wide variety of professional boards for all of HFA's webinars and annual Living with Grief® program. With a single purchase your organization can provide CEs to your entire viewing audience for all programs.
Adverse Childhood Experiences as a Risk Factor for Complicated Grief
Current research is showing links between trauma in childhood and poor lifetime physical and psychological outcomes, includeing at the end of life and during bereavement. Dr. Crunk and Dr. Burke will discuss their research findings and clinical implications of the relation between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and complicated grief in bereaved adults and offer some recommendations for intervention. They will also provide ways to incorporate trauma assessment and intervention into bereavement settings.
Expert panelist: Laurie Burke, PhD and Elizabeth Crunk, PhD
African Americans & End-of-Life Care
African Americans and End-of-Life Care is a special report in the Living With Grief® series exploring African American attitudes and behaviors about care at the end of life, relating to grieving norms and hospice use.
After Sudden Loss
Living With Grief®: After Sudden Loss (DVD) addresses the intensity of grief and lack of preparation of sudden death as we deal with losses like those that occur from suicide, homicide, accidents, heart attack, or stroke.
The accompanying book (ISBN: 1-56032-578-X) discusses the intense and complicated reactions surrounding sudden deaths, and how professionals can best address the needs of those grieving the loss of a loved one unexpectedly.
Aging America: Coping with Loss, Dying and Death in Later Life - Book
America is aging at a rapid rate with 10,000 people in the U.S. turning 65 every day. By 2040, Medicare is expected to include 80 million enrollees. Advanced age can bring a range of losses from a spouse or partner to independence and identity. Along with experiencing multiple losses, older people are more likely to suffer from multiple chronic conditions requiring complex medical care and raising potential ethical issues at the end of life.
HFA's newest publication, Aging America: Coping with Loss, Dying, and Death in Later Life, examines ways that mental health professionals, healthcare providers, and the wider community can support the growing number of aging Americans through these losses.
Alzheimer's Disease
In Living with Grief®: Alzheimer's Disease (DVD), an expert panel discusses the medical community's discoveries on diagnoses, progression, and treatment of Alzheimer's Disease, as well as the grieving process for patients and families during the course of the illness.
The companion book (ISBN: 978-1-893349-05-6) offers insight and advice to all who are involved in the care of patients with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Artificial Nutrition and Hydration at the End of Life
This program explores medical, legal, ethical issues, and communication barriers that surround ANH. It emphasizes the need for end-of-life provider organizations to have clear and transparent policies on ANH and to offer training to staff and education for families to minimize family misunderstanding and discord as well as moral distress and anguish of staff.
Expert Panelists:
In this program, Artificial Nutrition and Hydration at the End of Life (DVD), experts explore the leading medical, legal, ethical issues, and communication barriers surrounding ANH.
HFA's program and program content is copyrighted.
Its use and dissemination is restricted and unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
*Registration price is for a single location ("site")
The definition of a site is as follows:
DVDs must be used at the registered site address and can be accessed or watched from multiple locations at the registered site address. DVDs cannot be copied or viewed outside the registered site location; DVDs cannot be placed on an internal or external network for viewing outside the site address without written permission from HFA.
CE Credits for this program may only be obtained through HFA. CE instructions will be provided to the registered contact for your organization prior to the live air date and to attendees at the end of the program.
HFA's program and program content is copyrighted. Its use and dissemination is restricted and unauthorized duplication is prohibited. Viewers agree to use the product under the purchase agreement terms, which restrict number of viewers based on registration type.
HFA provides leadership in the development and application of hospice and its philosophy of care with the goal of enhancing the U.S. health care system and the role of hospice within it.
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What do you know about genital herpes? Test yourself with this quiz.
1. Genital herpes is a contagious viral infection that affects _______ people.
a) 1 in 4000
b) 1 in 400
c) 1 in 40
d) 1 in 14
e) 1 in 4
2. This percentage of people have genital herpes but are unaware of their disease:
a) 20%
b) 30%
c) 50%
d) 60%
e) 80%
3. Symptoms of genital herpes can include:
a) blisters or sores on the genitals, thighs, or anal area
b) an itching or burning sensation
c) fever, headache, and muscle aches
d) pain in the legs, buttocks, or genital area
e) all of the above
4. Which of the following is true about genital herpes recurrences?
a) recurrences tend to be shorter than the first episode
b) recurrences tend to be less severe than the first episode
c) medications can help to reduce the frequency of recurrences
d) the number of recurrences per year tends to decrease over time
e) all of the above
5. To avoid spreading herpes to other people, you should:
a) avoid sex when there are sores present
b) use safer sex practices (such as condoms or dental dams) at all times
c) wash hands after contact with the sores
d) ask your doctor whether medication therapy is right for you
e) all of the above
Answers: If you answered "e" for all the questions - congratulations! You scored 100%.


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Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer, 1820–1903, English philosopher, b. Derby. In 1848 he moved to London, where he was an editor at The Economist and wrote his first major book, Social Statics (1851), which tried to establish a natural basis for political action. Subsequently, together with Charles Darwin and Thomas Huxley, Spencer was responsible for the promulgation and public acceptance of the theory of evolution. But unlike Darwin, for whom evolution was without direction or morality, Spencer, who coined the phrase
"survival of the fittest,"
believed evolution to be both progressive and good.
Spencer conceived a vast 10-volume work, Synthetic Philosophy, in which all phenomena were to be interpreted according to the principle of evolutionary progress. In First Principles (1862), the first of the projected volumes, he distinguished phenomena from what he called the unknowable—an incomprehensible power or force from which everything derives. He limited knowledge to phenomena, i.e., the manifestations of the unknowable, and maintained that these manifestations proceed from their source according to a process of evolution. In The Principles of Biology (2 vol., 1864–67) and The Principles of Psychology (1855; rev. ed., 2 vol., 1870–72) Spencer gave a mechanistic explanation of how life has progressed by the continual adaptation of inner relations to outer ones. In The Principles of Sociology (3 vol., 1876–96) he analyzed the process by which the individual becomes differentiated from the group and gains increasing freedom. In The Principles of Ethics (2 vol., 1879–93) he developed a utilitarian system in which morality and survival are linked. Spencer's synthetic system had more popular appeal than scientific influence, but it served to bring the doctrines of evolution within the grasp of the general reading public and to establish sociology as a discipline.
See his autobiography (1904); J. D. Y. Peel, Herbert Spencer: The Evolution of a Sociologist (1971); M. Francis, Herbert Spencer and the Invention of Modern Life (2007).


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Sorry, we couldn't find what you were looking for.
giggle isn't just a baby store: it's a new parent store. We do the homework so you don't have to, offering only the most stylish, healthy, and innovative products available. In other words, if we carry it, we love it, and we know you will, too!
©2016 pingg.com LLC | Disney Online Mom and Family Portfolio (Network Member)
Pingg.com owns and operates this website and collects the information you provide here, subject to its Privacy Policy.


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by Dr. Boyce Watkins, AOL Black Voices
I took a poll of some of my industry homies last week to get a sense of how"Thank Me Later," the debut album for Drake, was going to sell. It turns out that out of those bold enough to make a prediction, my friends Michael Bivins (formerly of Belle, Biv, Devoe and New Edition) and Vigalantee (a rapper in Kansas City, MO), were closest. Vigalantee predicted 450,000 units and Mike Biv predicted 400,000. No matter how you slice it, Drake is now officially the shizzle.
It's not as if anyone is surprised by Drake's stellar debut. He and the rest of the Young Money clique did an outstanding job creating buzz for the album and Drake proved that even in the age of massive Internet pirating, he can still make his money.


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Capturing life, one weekend at a time.
Most days I'm wearing a web developer hat, doing my best to design and build interactive applications that are simple to use. I'm fascinated by the way people relate to computers - any machine for that matter. But that's a different story, over on LinkedIn if you're curious.
But I'm also fascinated with photography. Always have been. Ever since uncovering a treasure trove of dark room gear in the attic of my elementary school I've been capturing visual stories through a lens. I'm always learning, exploring, and sharpening an editorial style of photography - realistic, well lit, timeless photos.
I live just outside of Salem, Oregon, with my wife, three kids, two busy beagles and a cat. We have a good time together and the artistic gene seems to be carrying on to the next generation. Proud dad.
This website is mostly a way to share my journey in photography. You can also follow along at the Adriel Henderson Photography Facebook page. Thanks for stopping by!
Adriel Henderson
(503) 400-7220.
I enjoy capturing those significant and special moments in life - senior photos and family portraits, professional head shots, as well as corporate and editorial projects. Full sessions start at $250.
Tell me a little about yourself and what type of photography project you have in mind.
Recent Projects
Three weeks jaunting around the American Southwest in our little motorhome, with the challenge of capturing our trip through the fixed 23mm focal length of Fuji's X100t.
There was always something missing in my black and white photos. But here, in this set, something comes alive. After so many years poking at photography, this set suddenly clicked for me.
As they say, careful what you wish for! Right? I signed off my previous post wishing for another low key wedding to sharpen my skills. Just a few months later, here I am wrapping up my second wedding shoot. So, how did this one go? Certainly not low key, but wow, what an experience!
Recently a friend asked if I would photograph their casual at-home wedding, with complete understanding that this was my first go at such an event. I said yes, and dove in over my head!
Last month I took a quick photography trip to our manufacturing facility in Tecate, Mexico. The trip was quick and stuffed to the brim - we were managing both video production and photography and had less than two full days onsite.
Recently I did get to haul my weekend hobby into my day job! I was asked to capture some commercial style photographs of our Portland operation. A nice challenge and a great opportunity to try a different styles of shooting that I'm very interested in.


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"The Biggest Loser" winner has Upstate ties
The most recent winner of NBC's "The Biggest Loser" has ties to the Upstate.
In the season finale Monday night, 26 year old Danni Allen was crowned the winner.
Allen cried as she was named the winner. For that accomplishment, she takes home a $250,000 prize.
In her 11 weeks on the ranch, Allen lost 121 pounds, nearly 50 percent of her body weight.
When she started the show she weighed in at 258 pounds.
At her weigh-in Monday night, she revealed that she had slimmed down to 137 pounds.
Allen graduated from Clemson University with a degree in architecture and a minor in business administration.
She said in her bio on the NBC website that her father's recent health scare convinced her that she needed to lose weight.
Allen admits she has struggled with weight her whole life.
"The biggest thing is when Jillian asked me, 'Why are you the way you are?' She made me question myself and know mentally that needed to change and once the mental click happened, the food, the workout, that was the easy part," said Allen after her win.
On the "Today Show" Tuesday, Allen revealed that she plans to buy her first bikini.
She also said she and the second place finisher, Jeff Nichols, made a side bet that whoever won would take the other on vacation.
She says the first thing she plans to do is take that vacation with Jeff and his girlfriend.


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Healthcare providers are applying to become community counselors to help area residents enroll in the Affordable Care Act.
Healthcare providers are applying to become community counselors to help area residents enroll in the Affordable Care Act.
Enrollment begins Tuesday.
The Onslow County Health Department applied.
�Our clinical services director is � going to a training meeting in a couple weeks about it and, of course, if we�re accepted to be a counselor, we�ll be provided some more in depth training,� said Pamela Brown, public information officer for the department.
Brown said the department doesn�t have a timeline of when they will be approved, if they are.
�This is definitely something on our mind. We�ve been trying to track some of the numbers, the percentage that is uninsured and some of the new stats from the U.S. Census. Something that our clinical services director recently pulled, is that we have about 16 percent of those who are under age 65 � We have about 65 percent of Onslow County residents who are uninsured so it�s still quite a few that are uninsured that would probably benefit from the ACA; but it�s also, if you look at all the statistics in North Carolina, we actually have the second lowest percentage,� she said.
At Onslow Memorial Hospital, staff has been getting educated through the North Carolina Hospital Association; but spokeswoman Amy Sousa said at this point, they are unsure what the hospital�s role will be in reaching out to the uninsured.
Don Dalton, vice president of public relations for the North Carolina Hospital Association, said the association is currently working to provide North Carolina hospitals with the information and encouragement to get certified to assist residents with enrollment.
�Hospitals are one of those entities that see the uninsured on a very first name, personal basis when they come to us for care so it�s only fitting that we would align ourselves in a way that we could assist those people in getting coverage that soon would be available,� Dalton said.
At the hospitals, residents would find people who are qualified to help them though they�ll still need to make choices related to their coverage.
�We hope that those for whom the exchanges are intended take advantage of the opportunity to get coverage and the big reason we�re so very interested is we see first-hand the impact that having health care coverage has on patients. Patients with insurance have much greater access to the system, particularly the primary care system other than our emergency departments,� Dalton said explaining that people with health coverage are able to better monitor health conditions and tend to be overall more healthy.
�And moving people to better health is eventually how we lower the cost of healthcare in the country,� he said.
Sorien Schmidt, state director for Enroll America North Carolina, said that in order to register area residents should visit healthcare.gov and specify that they live in North Carolina.
�Once they're on there, they'll put in information on where they live and other information about themselves and their families and it'll show them the plans that are available to them in their county and it will also calculate if they're able to get financial help to pay for the premiums,� Schmidt said.
Those who would rather not enroll online can call 1-800-318-2596.
And, finally, there are several local options on where to go for help though Schmidt warns they may want to make an appointment.
�People are going to want to take some time when they're sitting down with someone in person going over this. If someone has the ability to look on the Internet themselves I'd do that first � before they go and see an in-person assister so they know what they want to ask and what they're confused about,� she said.
Local providers include Goshen Medical Center in Onslow and Duplin counties and CommWell Health in Pender County, according to information from Enroll America.
In the meantime, there are a few things area residents should know, according to media reports:
- If your employer provides health insurance, consumers need to proactively make sure they�re enrolled and be sure to closely evaluate benefits options. Ask human resources for help if necessary.
- If you�ve never had health insurance, now�s a chance to get coverage and shop for the best rate. Insurance on the exchanges comes in four levels: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. At the lowest level, bronze, monthly premiums will be the cheapest but you�ll pay more for doctor visits and co-pays. At the higher gold and platinum levels, your premiums are higher but you�ll pay less when you see a doctor or buy a prescription.
- Adult children up to age 26 who are covered on a parent�s health care plan can remain on it, but it may be cheaper to have your son or daughter buy a single health insurance plan.
- Adults 30 years old or younger are eligible for a special, limited category of health insurance called �catastrophic coverage.� It doesn�t cover regular medical expenses, such as doctor�s visits, prescription drugs or even an ER visit but is designed to handle �excessive medical bills� that could come with a hospitalization or serious illness. Compare the �catastrophic� price with the lowest-level bronze premiums to see if the savings are worth the limited coverage.
- If you don�t sign up for health care coverage, there are tax penalties that phase in over three years. The first-year penalty in 2014 is 1 percent of annual income or $95 per adult, whichever is greater. The maximum penalty for a family is $285. By 2016, the penalty will be 2.5 percent or $695 per adult, with a maximum of $2,085 per family.
- The federal government is providing subsidies � tax credits to help cover premiums or cost sharing to help cover out-of-pocket costs or both. The only way to apply is through a state-sponsored exchange.
For more information and coverage options, visit healthcare.gov.
About the Affordable Care Act
Background: The Affordable Care Act was passed in March 2010, requiring all Americans to sign up for health insurance, ideally by January 2014. Those who don�t will face tax penalties.
Basic care: Under ACA, all healthcare plans must cover 10 essentials: outpatient services; emergency services; hospitalization; maternity/newborn care; mental health and substance abuse services; prescription drugs; rehabilitation (for injuries, disabilities or chronic conditions); lab services; preventive/wellness programs and chronic disease management; and pediatric services.
Policies: Sold by insurance brokers or through new, state-sponsored online marketplaces, called exchanges. The only catch: to be eligible for a federal subsidy to cover premium costs or out-of-pocket expenses, you must purchase through a state exchange.
For information, visit healthcare.gov.
Source: McClatchy TribuneMcClatchy Tribune News Service contributed to this report. Amanda Hickey is the government reporter at The Daily News. She can be reached at email@example.com.


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text:
prototypef necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 84 diseños de 30 diseñadores freelance.
we are a pair of (recently laid off) developers working to build a better classified ads application than those in the local market (you should see them, they are mostly god-awful). unfortunately, we don't have much designing chops, so we turn to the community to help us out on this matter.
our main target audience is real-estate brokers. the features of the site will attract these users to open accounts, but we need the logo to initially hook them. with one image we can let them know what the site is all about. the rest of the target audience are regular users shopping around for houses, cars, electronics, books, etc. everyone appreciates a little eye candy.
the logo should incorporate the brand name in some way (ie. a logotype). the brand name is: "subastayclasificados.com" which translates to: auctions and classifieds dot com. basically, the site allows bidding on real-estate properties (this is the main focus of the site) and the posting of classified ads (for users to advertise their services or products). the layout of the site will be very "web 2.0", we will be using subtle javascript animations and a minimalistic look. you are free to use color schemes and styles that match the layout description. final product should be in vector format for photoshop (.psd).
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


text: You are now leaving the Flagship Community Bank website. Flagship Community Bank does not endorse, monitor or review the site you are going to, nor are we responsible for its contents. You should note that the site's privacy and security policies may be different to ours. We recommend that you review their policies, if you want to continue to the site please click OK. To return the the Flagship Community Bank website, please click cancel.


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If you can't find what you're looking for, or you have an idea for a calculator that would be helpful to you, let us know.
Add your email and we will get back to you about your request.
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Equations and Constants


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NEW YORK, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- AOL Inc. Chief Executive Tim Armstrong apologized for linking two female employees with "distressed babies" to the U.S. media company's rising healthcare costs.
His apology came in a reversal of his decision to cut employee retirement benefits.
The benefits issue involved a new policy, which Armstrong reversed during the weekend, in which AOL contributed a single lump sum at the end of the year to employees' 401(k) pension accounts, rather than matching contributions each pay period.
The lump sum disbursement was available only to employees active Dec. 31, meaning anyone who left before the end of the year wouldn't get a matching contribution, creating an employee uproar.
"We heard you on this topic," Armstrong said in an email. "And as we discussed the matter over several days, with management and employees, we have decided to change the policy back to a per-pay-period matching contribution."
Armstrong had compounded the employee uproar Thursday when he tried to explain the change to the lump sum disbursement by saying care for two female staffers' "distressed babies" in 2012 cost the company about $1 million each.
"Two things that happened in 2012," Armstrong said after first saying the Affordable Care Act was driving up AOL's healthcare costs. "We had two AOLers that had distressed babies that were born that we paid a million dollars each to make sure those babies were OK in general.
"And those are the things that add up into our benefits cost," he said in remarks transcribed by an AOL employee. "So when we had the final decision about what benefits to cut because of the increased healthcare costs, we made the decision, and I made the decision, to basically change the 401(k) plan."
Later in the day, he sent a note to employees clarifying the "distressed babies" remark.
"I mentioned high-risk pregnancy as just one of many examples of how our company supports families when they are in need," his note said, adding, "We want to be open and transparent about the choices we make and why we are making them."
He went further in his email late Saturday.
"On a personal note, I made a mistake and I apologize for my comments last week," Armstrong said.
Armstrong apologized in August after firing an employee during a conference call attended by more than 1,000 employees because the employee had taken a photo of Armstrong with his camera phone.
While he apologized, Armstrong did not reverse the firing.


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BMW i is more than just an electric car - it is a visionary concept combining all-electric cars for daily use, innovative mobility services, local public transport and a new understanding of sustainability. The newly developed BMW i ConnectedDrive services are an important part of this concept. These link these components together seamlessly, permitting an intelligent, comprehensive and sustainable mobility experience.
BMW i Navigation with its networked BMW i ConnectedDrive services was developed specifically to make driving a BMW i as easy and convenient as possible. The centrepiece of BMW i Navigation is the Driving Range Assistant with dynamic range map, which takes into account all factors that are important for route navigation: battery charge level, driving style, traffic conditions and topographic nature of the route. Using BMW ConnectedDrive Real Time Traffic Information, the ECO ROUTE is even optimised on BMW servers. The calculation incorporates a traffic prediction, and the most efficient route is estimated in real time. The nearest available charging station is displayed at all times. BMW i Navigation also takes into account public transport connections via the Intermodal Routing service, displays current road maps, and guides you to a free parking space near the stop in question.*
*available soon.
You'll go far with the BMW i3 with eDrive.
The BMW i Remote App for iOS and Android shows you detailed information on the current status of your BMW i - e.g. car location, range, and battery charge level, service messages, and information on whether the doors are locked and the lights are off. The charging process can be initiated remotely using the weekly timer and the air conditioning activated by remote control right before setting off on a trip. The dynamic range map is also integrated into the BMW i Remote App. Destinations (points of interest, POIs) and locations of charging stations can be sent easily from the application directly to the car. The BMW i Remote App also measures the efficiency of each journey in a BMW i model and gives helpful tips on how to drive the car more efficiently and extend the range. The efficiency value of each journey can be anonymously shared with others and compared, if needed.
The innovative charging concept from BMW i.
New BMW TeleServices invaluable for monitoring the BMW i3 were developed specifically for the needs of all-electric cars.
The Battery Guard helps BMW i3 owners by monitoring the battery and notifying the owner if something unexpected occurs during charging or the car lights are left on too long, for example.
Attractive financing offers for electric mobility.
In addition to the BMW i ConnectedDrive services developed especially for the needs of all-electric cars, such as BMW i ConnectedDrive services for navigation or the BMW i Remote App, the BMW i3 also includes all other BMW ConnectedDrive services: from information and entertainment, Bluetooth interface for the mobile office and personal telephone support to the web-based BMW Online services for access to information on everything important, not just the destination.
Experience the BMW i3 interactively on your smartphone.


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Our Lake George resort is located on the exclusive East Shore of Lake George. Antigua Resort on Plum Point affords a 10-mile lake view from over 700′ of pristine, tree lined shorefront. Warm afternoon sunshine, magnificent sunsets and picturesque grounds are the setting for a relaxing vacation on Lake George where outstanding lake views are available from all of our units and suites.
Enjoy warm summer days and balmy nights on our private sandy beach. Our historic setting is where kids can be kids (and adults can be kids!) with a swimming raft, rowboats and canoes, and all sorts of resort activities. Roast marshmallows while meeting new friends at our lakeside campfire. Kick back and enjoy fabulous views from our gazebo on the point, or fish right off the deep side of our boathouse and docks.
Our unique Lake George accommodations include several types of units, including, even a 2-bedroom boathouse. All units are fully equipped, from kitchens to linens, making this the perfect summer vacation resort!
We are located on the quiet eastern shore of Lake George, only 2 miles north and minutes away from all that Lake George Village and the Adirondack region have to offer: shopping, fine restaurants, boating, and an endless variety of attractions.
Check availability online and call 518-668-2556 to make a personal reservation at our Lake George resort on the East shore. We look forward to seeing you!


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Farm and Home/Cooperative Extension
The Farm and Home/Cooperative Extension Service offers a free advisory service available throughout the US and links citizens to academic experts and researchers for advice and information. Extension Service staff will research and answer questions to provide information on gardening, landscaping, crafts, energy, home furnishings, house plants, money management, shopping and more. The Extension Service provides the latest research results to farmers, fishermen, and foresters. In addition, it administers community programs such as 4-H and distributes many "how-to" publications free.
University of California, Davis
Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Cooperative Extension
Cooperative Extension is the county-based educational and research branch of the University of California's Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources financed jointly by Federal, State, and County Governments. University of California advisors are housed in County Cooperative Extension offices throughout California.
University of California, Davis
Cooperative Extension Office
4145 Branch Center Road
Sacramento, CA 95827
(916) 875-6913
Consumer Resource & Referral Guide Directory of State Agencies Directory of Federal Agencies Return to DCA Home Page


text:
Manpreetc necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 265 diseños de 36 diseñadores freelance.
Sky On International Ltd.
We are a small but growing distribution company. We sell throughout Asia but we'd like our customer base to become more global. We just purchased a new office and warehouse and we should be doing quite a bit more business. We've added new staff and want to take this business to the next level.
We supply a lot of perfume, cosmetic, and beauty products, but want to keep away from that in our logo as our distribution lines are expanding. Our audience is other wholesale businesses and some retail outlets.
We want to look professional in front of our audience considering sometimes there's significant money being handled, so we don't want to seem like a small mom and pop company.
The logo will be used on email signatures, eventually a website, business cards, and various stationary like invoices. It will also be blown up and put outside the entrance of the new office.
The logo should be professional, conservative, elegant but not too boring like a law firm.
Lean on the professional/conservative side, nothing cartoonish. One colleague said it should have a "celestial touch" to it. Let your creative juices flow on how to get that.
We've looked at sky blue as a color but have had mixed results.
This is where I need your help. How to portray a professional company but show some "sky/celestial" theme or global theme (without a big cartoonish cliche globe).
Nothing too busy, clean and elegant are important. You can play with how to place the words (i.e. if they should be all on one line or over two lines). You can play with the color scheme, I'm not stuck on sky blue.
Be creative as you like! I'm not stuck on any one format or theme, just follow the general guidlines and show me your inspiration!
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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HAVELOCK � Betty Webb admits that it is rare for her to step up for community causes, but feeding the hungry is one need that she really got behind.
HAVELOCK � Betty Webb admits that it is rare for her to step up for community causes, but feeding the hungry is one need that she really got behind.
�It�s my first time doing anything like this,� said Webb, who is the wife of a local Marine. �I did this because I just want people to know we care. I just want to put hope back into humanity.�
What Webb did was respond when she heard about the recent need for food at the Havelock-Cherry Point Ministerial Association food pantry on East Main Street.
Webb joined with Laura Willoughby, of Mothers of Preschoolers, and coordinated a food and aid drive that resulted in three truckloads of goods being delivered to the food pantry. The donations had come from the kindness of many young Marine families who live aboard Cherry Point.
When it arrived, Havelock Mayor Jimmy Sanders was one of those waiting to bring the goods in.
�She�s a hustler. She�s a go-getter,� said Sanders, who knows Webb through their church.
Sanders pointed out that Webb already had her hands full with two small children she cares for alone while her husband is on deployment.
�Her plate�s full already, yet she found time to do this,� Sanders said. �I admire her.�
Webb said she would soon enter the Air Force when her husband returns from deployment, but said she wanted to do something to help out.
�It�s hard, but it�s paying off,� Webb said last week when she delivered the food. �I want to do more stuff like this.�
Willoughby said she got help from Corinna Keagy and Hanna Travis in gathering donations. All three are military wives.
�I�m just glad we could help out,� Willoughby said. �We had three cars worth. We�re glad we could help.�


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Last year, when Facebook issued its IPO without a woman on its board of directors there was huge public outcry about the oversight. Women's organizations called for a boycott; people picketed Facebook's offices in New York. After the company went public it tried to rectify the error by putting Sheryl Sandberg on its board. Soon after that, Facebook appointed a second woman, Susan Desmond-Hellman.
History repeated itself this year when Twitter announced its IPO plan. Again, stakeholders who care about good corporate governance and company transparency voiced their outrage that another technology giant would go public without any women in the boardroom. During the IPO launch Twitter CEO Dick Costello sparred with Vivek Wadhwa, fellow at Stanford's Rock Center for Corporate Governance, for his statement in the New York Times, " The fact that they went to the I.P.O. without a single woman on the board, how dare they?"
Following the IPO, Twitter announced the appointment of its first woman director, Marjorie Scardino, former executive director of Pearson. When asked about the lack of gender diversity on the Twitter board Costello said it was a pipeline issue. But if Scardino was available after the IPO she was probably available before it, along with other qualified women. Men who use the pipeline argument are out of touch with today's business environment.
In 2013 in Silicon Valley, eight out of 13 companies that launched IPOs had no women on their boards. This situation is not because of a pipeline issue; it's directly related to the male-dominated venture community. Venture firms appoint their investors to fill start-up board seats and venture investors are predominantly white and male.
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Early runs result in Danks' first loss of season
CHICAGO -- The way the White Sox lost to the Rays on Saturday night was a common occurrence in 2013. It's been quite the opposite so far in 2014, but no offense is invincible.
Rays starter Cesar Ramos and two relievers combined to blank the White Sox, 4-0, in front of 22,412 chilled fans at U.S. Cellular Field, just the second time Chicago has been shut out this season. All five hits came off Ramos, and only one, Gordon Beckham's double to lead off the third, was an extra-base hit.View Full Game Coverage
CHICAGO -- The way the White Sox lost to the Rays on Saturday night was a common occurrence in 2013. It's been quite the opposite so far in 2014, but no offense is invincible.
Rays starter Cesar Ramos and two relievers combined to blank the White Sox, 4-0, in front of 22,412 chilled fans at U.S. Cellular Field, just the second time Chicago has been shut out this season. All five hits came off Ramos, and only one, Gordon Beckham's double to lead off the third, was an extra-base hit.View Full Game Coverage
The young and aggressive White Sox lineup battled temperatures in the 30s and looked off-balance all night against Ramos, who mixed a sinker that topped out around 90 mph with a good mixture of offspeed pitches. Four of Chicago's five hits belonged to veterans Beckham and Paul Konerko.
"He's effectively in and out of the zone and he had us chasing, taking a lot of off. He wasn't adding anything," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "He was just going slower than slow. It's tough to hit when you have conditions like this and a guy has a good changeup. He was moving the ball pretty good."
The White Sox rarely threatened against Ramos, who threw 39 of his 65 pitches for strikes. In the third, Beckham was stranded after Adrian Nieto and Adam Eaton grounded out and Marcus Semien lined out hard to third. The best chance to score came in the fifth. Alejandro De Aza walked and Beckham singled and moved up a base on Nieto's sac bunt. Eaton grounded back to Ramos and Semien walked to load the bases with two outs, but Jose Abreu grounded out to third.
"It was huge," Ramos said of getting Abreu with the bases loaded. "It kind of took their wind out. If they get a hit, they're right back in the game."
Eaton, in particular, struggled against Ramos. He dove at Ramos' offspeed stuff, resulting in three weak groundouts. His groundouts in the third and fifth both came with runners in scoring position and were easy choppers right back to Ramos.
"Yeah, I need to hit the ball a little harder ... especially when we have less than two outs," Eaton said. I [was bad] tonight when it comes to that and nothing really bounced my way tonight, and I need to be better in those situations for this team to be successful and it definitely lays on my shoulders tonight."
Starter John Danks was also willing to shoulder blame for the loss. The left-hander entered with a 2.84 ERA and had tossed a quality start each of his first four outings, but one disturbing trend continued: He labored in the early innings. This time, it cost him.
Danks allowed three runs between the second and third innings, all with two outs, and four overall. He needed 123 pitches to get through 5 2/3 innings, none of them in 1-2-3 fashion. His ERA in the first three innings this season rose to 4.80 -- compared to a 2.40 ERA from the fourth inning on.
"I was glad to be able to go back out there and tried to get as deep as possible," Danks said. "I didn't do myself any favors, but trying to save the bullpen, trying to do everything I can to get us a chance. I certainly take the blame for the offense tonight. Ramos pitched well, but it's hard to get in a groove when you're standing out in the field for 30 minutes after each inning.
"This one's all on my shoulders. It happens, but I'll be ready to go next time.
The Rays put up a pair of runs in the second. James Loney singled and Logan Forsythe walked with one out. After Danks struck out Yunel Escobar, Ryan Hanigan doubled home both runners to give the Rays a 2-0 lead. In the third, Wil Myers doubled with one out and Sean Rodriguez walked with two. Loney delivered an RBI single to right that scored Myers and gave the Rays a 3-0 lead.
Danks escaped major trouble in the fourth with some help from his defense. Escobar singled and Hanigan doubled to open the frame, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Ben Zobrist hit a hard grounder down third-base line that Semien snagged on a dive. Danks then struck out Desmond Jennings and got Myers to fly out to left to strand the pair.
He started to cruise a bit from there, retiring five of the next six before walking Zobrist with two outs in the fifth. Jennings followed with an RBI triple to center. Eaton made a leaping attempt at a catch, but the ball went off the top of the wall and his glove, scoring Zobrist for a 4-0 Rays lead and chasing Danks.
Danks, who gave up seven hits while walking four and striking out four, said none of his pitches were working Saturday night.
"I had moments where I was able to throw only one of four over the plate, but none nearly consistently enough," Danks said. "It's hard to pitch 2-0, 3-1 to these guys. It's something we're definitely going to have to work on. But gonna have to be better. It's a part of it, but certainly there's plenty to work on."
The White Sox had an off night offensively for one of the few times this season. They have scored three or fewer runs now eight times in 25 games, or about 32 percent of the time. In 2013, they did so in 82 games, almost half of the time. The 2014 edition remains more exciting and competitive - coming in to the game the White Sox ranked second in the Majors in runs per game and first in the American League in slugging -- but they will hit bumps in the road like this one from time to time.
"Well, we're young hitters for sure -- I don't think anyone would argue against that -- except for Paul, who had success," Eaton said. "I think, young hitters, we'll learn to be patient ... and get a good pitch to hit.
"[Ramos] doesn't have explosive stuff, but he's smart with his pitches and he makes things look better than what they are and credit to him. But as we mature as a team and as young hitters, we'll learn better how to approach that."
Joe Popely is an associate reporter for MLB.com.


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Thursday, September 27, 2007
Is Obama ready for this?
So I watched the Dartmouth debate last night on MSNBC. And I was surprised by how unimpressive Barack Obama was. Shoot, doesn't he have, like, 50 presidential debates under his belt by now?
But he was stammering, and talking about fuzzy shit like "bringing people together"... which doesn't really mean anything. Obama seemed insubstantial.
When asked by Tim Russert about his qualifications for the presidency, Obama mentioned his experience in the Illinois state legislature, and building coalitions during his campaign for the U.S. Senate.... "the kinds of experience people are looking for right now."
Uhh... no.
I thought, when Obama stepped into this race, it was a mistake. His time – if he's destined to have a time – is probably eight years from now, after acquiring some kind of record of accomplishment as a senator.
But then the whole "rock star" mystique swirled up around him, and I figured, "Well, let's see what happens. Maybe he'll rise to this." Besides, a little rock star mystique isn't bad to see in a presidential race. (Or am I wrong, and you're just dying to go hear Fred Thompson or Bill Richardson speak?)
Sen. Obama is gonna need to do more than touch the hem of Oprah's garment and post slick campaign videos on YouTube. He has to start looking like somebody who's supposed to be President of the United States. (Which is hard to do if you're not.)
Has anybody been following this debates closely or semi-closely? Was last night an off night for Obama?
35 comments:
- Dennis said...
I haven't watched a single debate yet, but I usually try to watch several reviews after-the-fact. Obama has yet to live up the hype in anything he's done. I want him to win, but it really does seem like he's not ready.
- September 27, 2007 at 1:23 PM
- memomachine said...
Obama should never have gone into the Senate in the first place. What he should've done is either ran for Gov of his state *or* moved to New Orleans and run for mayor and kicked Ray Nagin to the curb.
Rebuilding and fixing New Orleans would've cemented his political future, particularly since Ray Nagin has done such a, to my distant perspective at least, crappy job of it.
The best path to the Presidency is from another government executive position, not Congress. Which is why Corazine is Gov of New Jersey. He wants to become President and is taking the proper path to get there.
- September 27, 2007 at 1:52 PM
- E-Boogie said...
Let's be real, if Obama were white, his experience, or lack there of, would not be such an issue, given his "rock star" status. Other white politicians have had just as little experience, were less charasmatic, and served in the hgih office. That being said, I don't think Obama will win the nomination. Early on, I was pulling for John Edwards and thought Obama would be a great running mate. But now, I have completely fallen in love with Hillary. She's going to win the nomination, but she definitely wouldn't make Obama her running mate. And I don't think it would be a good pairing anyway. (A woman and black man together?!?! White Americans would never go for it!) But in 8 years, Obama will be President!
- September 27, 2007 at 2:25 PM
- Undercover Black Man said...
E-Boogie: I had a similar problem with Edwards four years ago. A career as a trial lawyer and a year-and-a-half in the U.S. Senate, and he felt entitled to run for president?
And I still don't see him as a heavyweight.
Also... don't you figure Obama might have that rock-star thing happening because he is black? It hasn't been a liability to him so far.
- September 27, 2007 at 2:31 PM
- SJ said...
I have been following this campaign very closely, and have watched most of the debates.
It was definitely an off-night for Obama...he didn't stand out at all. For me Edwards was the winner, followed by Biden (who is not given enough credit).
These debates suck though...just a bunch of soundbites...and they didn't ask Biden much about Iraq, even though he's chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and just yesterday had passed a major bill on Iraq. Then the fact that they didn't ask Kucinich about his healthcare plan (HR 676) which would cover everybody in the US.
I'm a pretty strong Kucinich supporter, because he and Gravel tell it like it us.
- September 27, 2007 at 3:39 PM
- susie said...
I heard a most interesting conversation the other night with regard to Obama. I was with a group of friends who are Israeli Jews and they were talking about Giuliani and how he was the hope for the future.
I asked what they thought of Obama and you would have thought I'd suggested that we elect Bin Laden.
I was informed that Obama is a Muslim and that if he became president it was only a matter of time before our country would be in the hands of Muslim extremists and Israel would be blown to bits.
My attempts to enlighten them to the fact that this is disinformation were completely rejected.
All I could do was tell them to delve deeper into who Rudy Giuliani is and maybe check out Snopes on the Obama info.
I could tell they weren't interested. I don't know if people even consider whether someone is ready or best qualified.
At the end of the day our presidential election reminds me of voting for student body president in high school - how else would Bush be in the White House - I don't think anyone really looked at what he did as Governor of Texas. People seem to vote for someone that they'd want to be friends with, or someone who they think believes what they believe.
I would like to see a President who can identify problems and resolve them in a way that takes into account the economic and global repercussions.
I have no idea who that is at this point.
- September 27, 2007 at 4:54 PM
- memomachine said...
if Obama were white
Nonsense. That's a reflexive assertion, not a well thought out one IMO.
Consider former Vice President Dan Quayle. When he was selected to run alongside Bush 41 he had far more political experience than Obama has now. And yet the press pilloried him mercilessly.
Fact is that Obama has gotten an extraordinary pass on many issues from the press because he's black, Democrat and liberal. If he weren't all three he wouldn't stand a chance.
- September 28, 2007 at 7:31 AM
- memomachine said...
I was with a group of friends who are Israeli Jews and they were talking about Giuliani and how he was the hope for the future.
1. I would be extremely surprised if Guiliani won the Republican nomination. The simple fact is that not all that many conservatives trust him and the relative few that are willing to support him do so not out of trust but because of "electability". They think he can be elected so they support him. But the downside to that is that if at any time it appears his "electability" is damaged, they'll abandon him in a heartbeat.
Personally I don't trust Guiliani one bit. I don't like his stance on the 2nd Amendment. I don't like his long history of nanny-statism. I don't trust period.
Regardless of how you feel about the 2nd Amendment it's still a central part of the US Constitution. Guiliani's point of view is that the 2nd Amendment isn't set in stone and that it's application, i.e. your Constitutional right, can be modified according to how "safe" your neighborhood is.
Frankly the idea that Constitutional rights can be broached based on arbitrary decisions by bureaucratic flunkies does not make me happy.
2. *shrug* quite a few people aren't reassured that Obama is in fact a Christian.
Part of the issue is that Islam allows Muslims to lie to infidels in order to advance Islamic goals. And this has been used in past history rather often. So there is some concern by people that Obama is in fact a devout Muslim pretending to be a Christian in order to put a devout Muslim into the White House, whereupon he'll begin trying to implement policies that will eventually lead to the Islamic conquest of America.
Frankly I don't follow this line of thinking. But other people do. If you have issue with this, convince them, not me. Ok?
- September 28, 2007 at 7:45 AM
- memomachine said...
how else would Bush be in the White House
1. Because you put up Al Gore in 2000.
2. Because you put up John Kerry in 2004.
Frankly #1 is a wash. I don't care for Gore, and wouldn't vote for him, but it's not a huge mistake. Nominating John Kerry though is just simply going too far. There is no chance whatsoever that I would ever vote for that bastard.
Keep in mind that I'm a conservative, not a Republican. But still there is no way I'd support an America-bashing anti-military twit like John Kerry.
- September 28, 2007 at 7:49 AM
Memo, my friend...
Kerry was an "anti-military twit"? Wooden, stiff, uninspiring...I'll grant you those. But Kerry volunteered for Vietnam and won medals for bravery that no Swift Boat Morons can take away. And what's Bush given us? A useless war and a broken military. Neither of which we would now have if Gore or Kerry had been elected instead of George "Childrens can learn" Bush.
- September 28, 2007 at 10:14 AM
And don't be so sure about Guiliani. Check today's Gallup Poll...he leads among people who go to church weekly. Apparently for those good Christan folks marital infidelity isn't quite as important as it was in the Clinton era.
Oh, and I agree with you about Obama...he should have run for Governor instead of the Senate. And waited at least one term before running.
- September 28, 2007 at 11:48 AM
Is an experienced politian a good thing? Look at what we have now. sfcb
- September 28, 2007 at 11:57 AM
- memomachine said...
@ dougfp
1. "Kerry was an "anti-military twit"? Wooden, stiff, uninspiring...I'll grant you those."
That Democratic nomination acceptance speech. Ugh. "Thank you. ... thank you ... thank you ... thank you ... thank you ... " etc etc etc.
2. "But Kerry volunteered for Vietnam and won medals for bravery that no Swift Boat Morons can take away."
Sorry but I don't buy this. I really don't believe for a moment that the awards he got were legitimate. But that's not at issue here. What is at issue is his participation with the Winter Soldier and his testimony in front of the US Senate where he accused the US military of acting like "Ghengiz Khan".
Which is complete bull.
The fact is that Kerry has made a career out of bashing the military *and* trying to elevate his own extremely short military career by grandstanding. Do you remember the episode where he spoke at length, and on the record, in the Senate about how he spent his Christmas in Cambodia delivering special forces into that country? Yet there is not one single shred of proof of this. Additionally people who served as the guard force *preventing American forces from making the mistake of going into Cambodia* reported that the draft was too shallow for Swift boats and that pilings had been driven into the rivers and canals to prevent boats from passing through to Cambodia.
But frankly out of all that the issue that I find aggravating is his testimony in front of the US Senate and the media cameras.
3. "And what's Bush given us? A useless war and a broken military."
The Iraq War is a proxy war. It's an attempt at destabilizing the Middle East towards the potential for peaceful democracies. It may fail, it may succeed. The alternative is to continue the past policies of realpolitik and continue reliance on local strongmen who then have carte blanche to do whatever they want to the people under their control.
As for the military, we're actually stronger now than we ever were before. There are literally millions of active duty and retired soldiers who have extensive experience in urban and COIN, COunter INsurgency, operations. Additionally the US military has taken the opportunity to roll out technologies that would've taken many decades to do otherwise due to cost issues.
On top of which the US military has padded the costs in Iraq and Afghanistan to include not just equipment replacements and repairs but also upgrades. Consider the replacement of the Hummer which is going to cost about $5 billion. In peacetime this could never happen because there would be no justification for it. In wartime, it's acceptable.
4. "Neither of which we would now have if Gore or Kerry had been elected instead of George "Childrens can learn" Bush."
You don't know that. You're guessing that they wouldn't have taken the same path. But consider that the same people you're holding up as examples were repeating the same WMD mantra as Bush was pre-War.
Consider that the Democrats have had an enormous post-Vietnam liability in national defense issues. For a Democrat President to appear weak in the face of a deliberate acts, that could prove devastating to the long-term ambitions of the Democratic party.
Consider also the role played by Iran. Could a Democratic President concentrate solely on Afghanistan without dealing with Iran? And could that same President, considering the previous paragraph, do so by buying off Iran? Or intimidating Iran?
IMO any path that leads to military action post-9/11 will eventually lead to Iraq. Democratizing Iraq is absolutely the best hope of reforming the Middle East overall and Iran in particular.
- September 28, 2007 at 11:57 AM
- memomachine said...
@ dougfp
1. "And don't be so sure about Guiliani. Check today's Gallup Poll...he leads among people who go to church weekly."
Like I wrote, many people support him because they think he's electable vs Hillary.
But he bombed in front of the NRA with his ridiculous view of the 2nd Amendment and that's a painful loss of 4+ million voters nationally and the huge pool of money.
2. "Apparently for those good Christan folks marital infidelity isn't quite as important as it was in the Clinton era."
For some fidelity means a lot. For some it doesn't. Frankly I view it as less important in most cases. However it is true that in his personal life Guiliani acts sometimes a bit flaky. Consider his recent habit of talking to his wife on his cellphone in the midst of a speech. Very irritating for some people.
*shrug* my basic point about Guiliani is that he will continue looking look on the outside, but the political support will rot away on the inside until his campaign completely collapses.
3. "Oh, and I agree with you about Obama...he should have run for Governor instead of the Senate. And waited at least one term before running."
Yes. Governor *or* mayor of New Orleans. Frankly if he had run for mayor of New Orleans he'd have slaughtered Ray Nagin. And as mayor he'd have the national bully pulpit when desired, huge influence in Congress to get what New Orleans needs and, at the end of it all, an entire major US **city** that he could reasonably point to as his rationale for running for President.
The positives that could've been generated from a successful rebuilding of New Orleans and the revitalization of that economy are almost incalculable.
- September 28, 2007 at 12:08 PM
- E-Boogie said...
"Fact is that Obama has gotten an extraordinary pass on many issues from the press because he's black, Democrat and liberal. If he weren't all three he wouldn't stand a chance."
I couldn't disagree more. Obama is extremely charasmatic and smart. You're really going to compare Obama to Dan Quayle? Now, that's an asertion that's not well thought out. Dan Quayle said a lot of really stupid things that the media latched on to, like when he was in Latin America and he said he wished he spoke Latin.
I think what has been putting Obama over is his charisma. I haven't met him in person, but numerous people who has says it's that same kind of charm that Bill clinton has and Kennedy had. Furthermore, tehre have been plenty of black people who have attemped to run in the past who have not been treated as a "rock star" so, again, that assertion is "not well thought of."
- September 28, 2007 at 1:33 PM
Not sure if I agree with you on Obama running for mayor of New Orleans. To move to a state he's never lived in, run for office, then launch a Presidential campaign? I mean, who could get away with that?
Oh, right...
- September 28, 2007 at 2:13 PM
- Undercover Black Man said...
^ Heh-heh...
- September 28, 2007 at 3:10 PM
- Undercover Black Man said...
SJ: I'm glad to hear from someone who has been watching the debates closely.
I'm gonna start watching regularly now.
- September 28, 2007 at 3:11 PM
- susie said...
--Frankly I don't follow this line of thinking. But other people do. If you have issue with this, convince them, not me. Ok?--
I'm not trying to convince you of anything.
I did not put up Kerry or Gore because I am not a Democrat.
You make many salient points and seem to be exhaustively informed, but you also come off as somewhat combative and defensive in your point - counterpoint communication.
I don't have the energy for that,
but I would be sincerely interested to know who, of the available options, you consider to be a good candidate (electable or not)?
- September 28, 2007 at 5:30 PM
- Becky said...
I've been watching the debates closely, but I missed this one. (And I haven't checked the archives yet.) I haven't seen much substance in Obama. And I'm not sure what made him think it was a good idea to say we would invade Pakistan. He actually comes across better on the page (I've read both of his books) than in person, for me. I guess as much as he talks about being a catalyst for change and being different? He's not really all that different from your average politician.
- September 28, 2007 at 6:41 PM
- memomachine said...
@ e-boogie
1. "I couldn't disagree more. Obama is extremely charasmatic and smart. You're really going to compare Obama to Dan Quayle?"
*shrug* charismatic to some extent? Maybe. Smart? Maybe. But while we're all been inundated with politic-speak Obama has yet to really come out with anything in the way of solid policy positions. And the real key as to whether or not someone is smart is whether or not they can expound on the details of their policies.
So I'm still rather hesitant to adopt the Obamamania.
2. "Now, that's an asertion that's not well thought out. Dan Quayle said a lot of really stupid things that the media latched on to, like when he was in Latin America and he said he wished he spoke Latin."
Sure he did. But even before he said any of those things Dan Quayle was getting absolutely hammered in the press because of his supposed inexperience.
3. "Furthermore, tehre have been plenty of black people who have attemped to run in the past who have not been treated as a "rock star" so, again, that assertion is "not well thought of."
Really? Who? Jesse Jackson who has had numerous scandals? Al Sharpton who was intimately involved with Tawana Brawley and the incitement to murder in Freddy's Fashion Mart?
How about "hymie town"?
I'm not saying you're wrong. But if you're thinking of a different candidate, then I'd like to know about it.
- October 1, 2007 at 8:28 AM
- memomachine said...
@ dougfp
Not sure if I agree with you on Obama running for mayor of New Orleans. To move to a state he's never lived in, run for office, then launch a Presidential campaign? I mean, who could get away with that? Oh, right...
Still and all I think Obama could've jumpstarted his career more impressively with success as New Orleans mayor. Right now one of the biggest hurdles he's trying to overcome is that fact that nobody is certain if he's really Presidential material or if he's a charismatic empty suit manipulated by political advisers.
- October 1, 2007 at 8:31 AM
- memomachine said...
@ susie
1. "I'm not trying to convince you of anything."
*shrug* I was just repeating a meme that's currently in use by other people. My writing was perhaps not specific enough but I wanted to put some distance between my views and that meme.
2. "I did not put up Kerry or Gore because I am not a Democrat."
*shrug* I didn't vote for either because I didn't trust them. Same difference really.
3. "You make many salient points and seem to be exhaustively informed, but you also come off as somewhat combative and defensive in your point - counterpoint communication."
Sorry. For me politics is a contact sport. If people aren't spitting out teeth and wiping up the blood at the end of the day, then you're not really talking politics. :)
4. "I don't have the energy for that,
but I would be sincerely interested to know who, of the available options, you consider to be a good candidate (electable or not)?"
*shrug* it's very hard to say really as they all have some serious negatives.
On the Democrat side:
Hillary Clinton: has a great deal of baggage and the Clinton tendency to scandal. She's not even in the White House yet and she's already into her first major scandal with this Hsu guy.
Obama: Still not convinced he's more than an empty suit.
Kucinich: An out and out nutcase.
John Edwards: Anybody who lives in a 28,000 square foot home, with indoor basketball court, and talks about the poor just gives me the creeps.
On the Republican side:
Ron Paul: serious fruitcake.
Guiliani: I simply don't trust him. He'll say anything to get into office, that's a common trait amongst all candidates, but Guiliani takes it one step further. And I really don't think he'll be nominated.
Mitt Romney: the decision is still out on this guy. It's possible he could win the nomination but he has yet to really put out any serious policy positions.
Thompson: I have the feeling that Thompson will win the Republican nomination and the Presidency. My reservation is that I'm not sure he's fit for the job. There have been accusations in the past that Thompson is lazy in office. He doesn't like doing the meetings and the other motley stuff of office-holding. Which is ok, not great, in a Senator since there's the other 99 to hold the bag.
But there's only one President. And having one who might not be up to the workload of the toughest job in the world doesn't excite me.
In all honesty I'm rather underwhelmed by the candidates. In the end I think it'll be Hillary/Obama vs Thompson/Romney, with Thompson/Romney winning the White House. However I also think the American voter is not overly enthused about having one party control Congress and the White House so I think the Democrats will absolutely slaughter the Republicans in Congress ... unless they really screw up.
Which is possible since it seems the Democrats have been screwing up lately. Though it does seem to be a bit of a rush to the bottom as the Republicans haven't been all that much better.
- October 1, 2007 at 8:56 AM
- memomachine said...
@ becky
1. "I haven't seen much substance in Obama."
That's a feeling a lot of people have been having. Which is why Obama has had almost no success in catching up to Hillary.
What Obama has been successful in doing is making speeches filled with politic-speak. A favorite example of mine is from the movie "The Outlaw Josie Wales" where the Native American in the top hate recounts his visit to Washington D.C. where his elders are told to "endeavor to persevere". Whereupon, after much deliberation, they declare war on America.
Like most politic-speak "endeavor to persevere" sounds great, but really doesn't mean anything. And because it doesn't mean anything it's very easy for anybody to sound very smart, without actually having to be so.
And politic-speak looks even better on paper.
2. " And I'm not sure what made him think it was a good idea to say we would invade Pakistan."
That rather astonished everyone. That and his willingness to open up negotiations with anybody without preconditions. Preconditions that are often required because, for many of the more dangerous nutcases in the world, the very act of meeting to negotiate is extremely useful in terms of propaganda.
3. "I guess as much as he talks about being a catalyst for change and being different? He's not really all that different from your average politician."
*shrug* Being a catalyst for change sounds great, but actually coming out and providing the details is much better. And it's the details that are missing. Perhaps it's a campaign decision to prevent getting attacked or having ideas stolen. Still people want there to be more in Obama than there might actually be.
*shrug* like I pointed out in an earlier comment. Had Obama gone to New Orleans, been elected mayor and then gone on to accomplish the very difficult task of rebuilding New Orleans then he'd have a huge set of accomplishments that would greatly aid his Presidential aspirations.
- October 1, 2007 at 9:08 AM
At my age, these IM abbreviations get confusing. What does ROLF mean?
- October 1, 2007 at 10:03 AM
- Undercover Black Man said...
^ It's okay, Doug. ROFL... Rolling on the Floor Laughing.
Memo: Thompson? President? You think? Really?
I saw his big to-do announcement on Jay Leno... and I could barely sit through it. The man is a walking sleep aid. I cannot imagine him on the stump.
You don't have to be a "rock star" to become a major-party candidate. (Dukakis! Dole!) But you gotta have something going on. I think Thompson overestimates the celeb factor regarding his TV work.
- October 1, 2007 at 12:24 PM
Ah! Rolling on the floor laughing!
I just learned that BFF means Best Friends Forever or something. I had it down for Big Fat Fucker.
I, too, doubt Thompson will go anywhere. He doesn't have enough fire in his belly. I mean, Hillary, Rudy, McCain...these guys WANT it. In the end, Thompson will be the media sensation that never was.
My prediction on '08: Hillary/Wesley Clark vs. Guiliani/Huckabee. The question will be whether with a guy like Huckabee on the ticket and the motivation of a second Clinton presidency, the Religious Right will fall into line. I'm guessing not and they'll be a third party candidate to Rudy's right who'll draw enough votes in swing Southern states (Virginia, North Carolina) to doom Guiliani.
Unity '08 will go nowhere. It's based on a flawed premise: that you can take politics out of politics.
Hillary will end up winning much as Bill did: with under 50% of the vote. Conservatives will move to France and Rush Limbaugh's head will explode on live radio.
- October 1, 2007 at 12:56 PM
- Undercover Black Man said...
^ Another Clinton Administration would be the best thing that ever happened to Rush Limbaugh.
As for Wesley Clark... has he been sitting on a shelf for the last four years or what?
- October 1, 2007 at 1:03 PM
- susie said...
Thanks for the breakdown Memo. I haven't thought that Thompson could really get there because he's seems like kind of a non-event. I was thinking it might be Romney for the Republicans because he kind of has this Kennedy/Camelot spin thing happening with all the pretty mormon children.
I pretty much agree with your assessment of everyone else. No one has got me excited and hopeful.
Big Fat Fucker - Doug you make me laugh! I would be freaked out if Guiliani/Huckabee were on the ticket. The mere thought of that gives me the heebeee jeeebees.
- October 1, 2007 at 1:47 PM
Clark endorsed Hillary a few weeks ago. Why the rush unless he's angling for VP? If not Clark, then someone like Richardson, who'd give the Dems New Mexico and bring some foreign policy gravitas. Trouble is, he's a terrible politician. I don't think she'll turn to Obama and certainly not Edwards.
And yeah, I guess Limbaugh would enjoy having Hillary to kick around around for four more years.
Maybe Sean Hannity's head will explode instead. Although I grant you it would produce a far smaller explosion.
- October 1, 2007 at 2:12 PM
- memomachine said...
Memo: Thompson? President? You think? Really?
I saw his big to-do announcement on Jay Leno... and I could barely sit through it. The man is a walking sleep aid. I cannot imagine him on the stump.
I'm sorry to say that just about all of the other candidates are so heavily flawed, from a conservative or Republican perspective, that Thompson almost wins by default.
Even now a huge number of Christian groups are coming together to threaten the GOP with abandonment if Guiliani gets the nomination. Plus Guiliani just recently pissed off all 4+ million gun owners in the NRA *plus* millions more that aren't in the NRA.
I don't know who is selecting out Presidential candidates but they need a good hot cup of coffee and a powerful slap in the face. Wake them up some.
Heck the 2004 Democrat Presidential race was also a huge snoozer. The only one that seemed to have a personality at all was Al Sharpton.
- October 1, 2007 at 2:27 PM
- memomachine said...
@ dougfp
My prediction on '08: Hillary/Wesley Clark vs. Guiliani/Huckabee.
Sorry but I seriously doubt it.
1. Wesley Clark doesn't have any voter block, regional area or power group to offer. Plus he has a lot of issues that simply destroyed his ability to run a campaign.
The biggest downside for Clark though is that he was a total f**kup as a general. He was in charge of the Balkans air campaign for Clinton. He nearly started a war with Russia when he demanded permission to "push" a Russian armored battalion off an airbase he wanted. The local commanding officer, a British general, told Clark to go f**k himself when Clark gave the order to push the Russians off, then went behind Clark's back and got Clinton to get Clark to settle down.
The other thing? Clark spent hundreds of millions of dollars of high tech precision weapons in his air campaign against the Serbian tanks and, as it turns out, largely wasted them on fake plywood tanks the Serbians setup everywhere.
2. Guiliani is melting down right now and has zero chance of winning the nomination. Hardcore Christian groups will not support him. NRA, gun owners and 2nd Amendment supporters will not support him.
*shrug* he really doesn't stand a chance. I give his campaign another 3-5 months before it simply dissolves to grey goo.
3. Huckabee?
You got a sense of humor man that is unmatched.
- October 1, 2007 at 2:34 PM
- memomachine said...
@ susie
I pretty much agree with your assessment of everyone else. No one has got me excited and hopeful.
Yeah. I liken the candidates to a huge bowl of unsalted mashed potatoes. With no ketchup, gravy, butter or anything else.
It's edible, but not desirable.
- October 1, 2007 at 2:36 PM
I'm not advocating Clark for VP, but I think Hillary will pick a white male with military or foreign policy experience. The ideal choice would be Jim Webb...if he weren't in his first term and about as controllable as a live hand grenade.
Why not the Huckster? Guiliani will need a Born-Again and Brownback is about the only other guy out there with any profile.
I still think Rudy has the best chance for the GOP nomination. He'll sweep the big states like NY and California and leave the rest behind. McCain is toast and the media seems not to have noticed that Romney hasn't been above 10 percent since he announced.
Thompson could beat Guiliani if the Right organizes around him, but I'm with UBM. The guy seriously overestimated how much star power he has based on being on "L & O". They couldn't consistently draw eight million viewers last year.
By the way, as much as I applaud your outside-the-box thinking on Obama for mayor of New Orleans? He'd have to be psychic on top of everything else, wouldn't he? Given that he ran for the Senate in 2004 and Katrina was in 2005, I mean.
- October 1, 2007 at 3:52 PM
- memomachine said...
@ dougfp
1. "I'm not advocating Clark for VP, but I think Hillary will pick a white male with military or foreign policy experience."
I agree, but not Clark. And I seriously doubt John Edwards either since he's both a snake and a live hand grenade. Putting him in as VP would be politically dangerous to Hillary as I could see him doing just about anything to undermine her in office. Bill Richardson might be a safe alternative, particularly since he evidently has the charisma of a rock and thus would pose little threat.
2. "The ideal choice would be Jim Webb...if he weren't in his first term and about as controllable as a live hand grenade."
He does seem somewhat self-destructive. Particularly since his election is based almost wholely on the whole "maccaca" thing. Which I frankly still don't quite understand what the heck it is and why Allen said it.
3. "Why not the Huckster? Guiliani will need a Born-Again and Brownback is about the only other guy out there with any profile."
Because the Social Conservatives aren't going to be mollified by the inclusion of a holy roller as VP. It simply will not wash. They are, and have been, extremely suspicious of Guiliani because what he's saying now to curry favor is in complete opposition to how he's acted for decades.
*shrug* there's is an extraordinary lack of both respect and trust for the GOP within the ranks of the Conservative Movement. I'm a conservative and I know a couple hundred conservatives both locally and nationally. With very few exceptions they are all very angry with the GOP and would bolt *immediately* for a third party if one existed with a good candidate.
It wouldn't bother either me or them if this gutted the GOP and destroyed it utterly as a viable political party. It wouldn't give any of us the slightest concern if this relegated the GOP to the same status as the Whigs.
IMO the biggest variable in the 2008 election cycle is if the GOP helps pass an amnesty for illegal aliens. If that happens then all bets are off because many conservatives intend to completely abandon the GOP regardless of consequences.
4. "I still think Rudy has the best chance for the GOP nomination."
*shrug* I disagree. IMO his campaign is running on fumes. So it gives the illusion of health and vitality, but the reality underneath is far different. Simply put: there are far too many diverse and powerful voting blocks that simply do not want Guiliani.
Another point that needs to be considered is that Guiliani has a very long history of doing really strange things. This current habit of answering phone calls from his wife during speeches is only the latest in a long line of weird behavior. I'm not entirely certain that the country, or the planet, is really ready for a President that is comfortable in a summer frock, high heels and lipstick.
5. "McCain is toast and the media seems not to have noticed that Romney hasn't been above 10 percent since he announced."
Very true. McCain's problem is that he seems to have an instinctive need to be in opposition to someone or something. Anything happens and you can bet that McCain will be on the other side. Which is a problem since most conservatives view him not only as completely untrustworthy but as an active enemy.
Romney on the other hand seems like a nice guy who came very very late to the party. Frankly Romney should've been laying down the ground work for his Presidential run over the past decade. His problem is that his "conversion" to conservatism seems phony.
And after years of Bush "compassionate conservatism" most conservatives aren't willing to give anybody a break.
6. "Thompson could beat Guiliani if the Right organizes around him, but I'm with UBM."
The problem with Thompson is that a huge number of conservatives are still waiting for him to prove himself. We're not willing to go all out for a wallflower. We want someone who will get into the opposition's face and be ready to draw blood. And so far he hasn't really impressed anybody.
*shrug* it sounds pretty bad in a way but conservatives are very very angry now. If someone, such as Romney perhaps, really got a fire in his belly. Got out there and became far more confrontational and fought the Democrats, he'd probably beat everybody else.
We're rather tired of the same old crowd who get beat up by Democrats and then go and apologize to them for bloodying their knuckles. What conservatives really want right now is someone who would have the balls to walk right up to some Democrat's face and stick a political knife into his guts.
Find that candidate, and that candidate would win.
7. "By the way, as much as I applaud your outside-the-box thinking on Obama for mayor of New Orleans? He'd have to be psychic on top of everything else, wouldn't he? Given that he ran for the Senate in 2004 and Katrina was in 2005, I mean."
It would mean he would have to have resigned from the Senate seat. But the needs of those citizens in New Orleans would've given excellent cover for that. And I'm certain that plenty of people from New Orleans would've gotten behind an Obama run for mayor.
Consider who the candidates were. Ray Nagin and Not Ray Nagin. Not much of a choice there.
- October 2, 2007 at 8:14 AM