30 November 2007

Coming into the first turn...

It is the end of November and I haven’t posted on the blog. Since I am not receiving any threatening e-mails, then I will presume your November was as busy as mine. I have been poking around the blogosphere noting some issues. Of interest is the resent tragic death of Sean Taylor. His murder was well commented on by FOX Sports writer Jason Whitlock. The choice of view by this author may be incendiary, but they are certainly worth discussing!

On a more insubstantial note, I am starting to think about who I will support in the 2008 election. I have perused the web for some good comparison sites and I think this one fills the bill. They catalog all the top candidates and even have an internet dating style match quiz! Which cuddly candidate will you be spending time by the fire with in 2008?

I took the match quiz and ended up in bed with John McCain. Now I like McCain on defense and other “hard” issues. I don’t think he represents enough of a change this time as he did during the old Straight Talk Express days. So, despite my respect for him and his service in the Navy, I must set him aside.

Sam Brownback doesn’t stand a chance. And as a rule I am not a fan of senators running for president. After all, that’s hardly any qualification. Then I arrive at Tommy Thompson, a good candidate four years ago – now too much in the past. At last we have Guiliani. He was a good mayor, but presidential? That’s tough to say. I like his stand on choice but am concerned that his economic approach may be too light.

Here is the surprise – Bill Richardson! But he’s a democrat! And yet he represents one of the best overall candidates in the field. He is experienced, intelligent and has an opinion which reflects a lot of my views. Now if I could only get him to run with McCain or Romney – but alas, he is destined to be steamrolled by the Clinton / Obama battle.

Here is my prediction – Romney gets the republican nomination. He selects a southwestern running mate (McCain is unlikely). In the democratic camp, Hillary ultimately wins the nomination – picks Richardson as a VP. Then the slugfest begins.

Candidate Summary

REPUBLICANS
George Allen (Former Virginia Senator): lost re-election; has PAC.
Mike Bloomberg (NYC Mayor): Undeclared; active draft movement; has campaign website. Re-registered as independent (instead of Republican) on June 19, 2007.
Sam Brownback (Kansas Senator): Announced.
Jeb Bush (Governor of Florida): Undeclared; denies any plans to run.
Bill Frist (Tennessee Senator): Withdrew Nov. 2006.
Newt Gingrich (former Speaker of the House): Undeclared; says he will decide in June 2007.
James Gilmore (former Governor of Virginia): Announced plans to file FEC papers.
Rudy Giuliani (former NYC Mayor): Has Exploratory Committee; filed FEC papers, Feb. 2007.
Chuck Hagel (Nebraska Senator): Undeclared; active draft movement; has PAC.
Alan Keyes (Radio talkshow host): announced candidacy, Sept. 2007.
Mike Huckabee (Governor of Arkansas): Has Exploratory Committee; announced candidacy, Jan. 2007; has PAC.
Duncan Hunter (California Representative): announced candidacy, Jan. 2007; filed FEC papers, Oct. 2006.
John McCain (Arizona Senator): Has Exploratory Committee.
George Pataki (New York Governor): Undeclared; has PAC.
Ron Paul (Texas Representative): Has Exploratory Committee.
Mitt Romney (Massachusetts Governor): Declared candidacy, Feb. 2007; has PAC.
Fred Thompson (former Tennessee Senator): Has active draft movement; has exporatory committee.
Tommy Thompson (former Wisconsin Governor and Secretary of HHS): Has Exploratory Committee.
Mark Sanford (South Carolina Governor): Has gubernatorial campaign committee; active draft movement.
Tom Tancredo (Colorado Representative): Has Exploratory Committee; has PAC; active draft movement.
DEMOCRATS
Evan Bayh (IN Senator): Withdrew Dec. 2006; Has PAC; has Exploratory Committee.
Joe Biden (DE Senator): announced candidacy, Jan. 2007; has PAC.
Wes Clark (former NATO commander): Undeclared; has PAC.
Hillary Clinton (NY Senator): Has Exploratory Committee; has PAC; has Senate campaign committee.
Tom Daschle (Former SD Senator): Announced not running, Dec. 2006; has PAC.
Christopher Dodd (CT Senator): Announced Jan. 11; has Senate campaign committee.
John Edwards (former NC Senator): Announced Dec. 27; has PAC.
Russ Feingold (WI Senator): Withdrew Nov. 2006.
Al Gore (former V.P.): Undeclared; active draft movement.
Mike Gravel (former AK Senator): Declared candidacy in 2006.
John Kerry (MA Senator): Has PAC; withdrew, Jan. 2007.
Dennis Kucinich (OH Representative): Announced, Dec. 2006.
Barack Obama (IL Senator): Declared candidacy, Feb. 2007; has PAC.
Bill Richardson (NM Governor): Has Exploratory Committee; has Gubernatorial campaign committee.
Al Sharpton (Reverend): Declared he is considering another presidential run.
Tom Vilsack (IA Governor): Announced & filed FEC candidacy, Nov. 2006.
Mark Warner (VA Governor): Withdrew Oct. 2006.


2008 GOP Presidential candidates: (Click on a candidate below for their issue stances)

John Cox (Chair of Cook County GOP) Rudy Giuliani (former NYC Mayor) Mike Huckabee (AR Governor) Duncan Hunter (CA Representative) Alan Keyes (former UN Ambassador) John McCain (AZ Senator) Ron Paul (TX Representative) Mitt Romney (Former MA Governor) Fred Thompson (former TN Senator) Tom Tancredo (CO Representative)

2008 Democratic candidates: Joe Biden (DE Senator) Hillary Clinton (NY Senator) Christopher Dodd (CT Senator) John Edwards (former NC Senator) Al Gore (former V.P.) Mike Gravel (former AK Senator) Dennis Kucinich (OH Representative) Barack Obama (IL Senator) Bill Richardson (NM Governor)

Citizen Deux’s VoteMatch Results – McCain!!! Oh no!!!
Scores & Analysis
Candidate
More Information
Click on 'Social' and 'Economic' for analysis of your answers compared to each candidate's answers.
Click on 'Answers' and 'Stances' for complete details of the sources of each candidate's answers.

Total 80%
Social 69%
Economic 88%

John McCainRepublican Sr Senator (AZ); 2000 Primary Candidate for President
Biographical Profile John McCain's answers John McCain's stances

Total 60%
Social 63%
Economic 58%

Sam BrownbackRepublican Sr Senator (KS)
Biographical Profile Sam Brownback's answers Sam Brownback's stances

Total 60%
Social 56%
Economic 63%

Tommy ThompsonFormer Secretary of H.H.S.; former Republican Governor (WI)
Biographical Profile Tommy Thompson's answers Tommy Thompson's stances

Total 58%
Social 63%
Economic 54%

Rudy GiulianiFormer Mayor of New York City; Republican Candidate for 2000 Senate (NY)
Biographical Profile Rudy Giuliani's answers Rudy Giuliani's stances

Total 55%
Social 63%
Economic 50%

Bill RichardsonDemocratic NM Governor
Biographical Profile Bill Richardson's answers Bill Richardson's stances

Total 53%
Social 38%
Economic 63%

Duncan HunterRepublican Representative (CA-52)
Biographical Profile Duncan Hunter's answers Duncan Hunter's stances

Total 50%
Social 44%
Economic 54%

Jim GilmoreFormer Republican VA Governor
Biographical Profile Jim Gilmore's answers Jim Gilmore's stances

Total 48%
Social 25%
Economic 63%

Tom TancredoRepublican Representative (CO-6)
Biographical Profile Tom Tancredo's answers Tom Tancredo's stances

Total 48%
Social 56%
Economic 42%

Mike HuckabeeRepublican AR Governor
Biographical Profile Mike Huckabee's answers Mike Huckabee's stances

Total 43%
Social 50%
Economic 38%

Mitt RomneyRetiring Republican MA Governor
Biographical Profile Mitt Romney's answers Mitt Romney's stances

Total 35%
Social 50%
Economic 25%

John Edwards2004 Nominee for Vice President; Former NC Senator
Biographical Profile John Edwards's answers John Edwards's stances

Total 35%
Social 63%
Economic 17%

Barack ObamaDemocratic Jr Senator (IL); previously State Senator
Biographical Profile Barack Obama's answers Barack Obama's stances

Total 33%
Social 44%
Economic 25%

Hillary ClintonDemocratic Jr Senator (NY); former First Lady
Biographical Profile Hillary Clinton's answers Hillary Clinton's stances

Total 33%
Social 38%
Economic 29%

Mike GravelFormer Senator (AK)
Biographical Profile Mike Gravel's answers Mike Gravel's stances

Total 30%
Social 19%
Economic 38%

Ron PaulRepublican Representative (TX-14); Libertarian nominee for President in 1988
Biographical Profile Ron Paul's answers Ron Paul's stances

Total 28%
Social 44%
Economic 17%

Joe BidenDemocratic Sr Senator (DE)
Biographical Profile Joe Biden's answers Joe Biden's stances

Total 25%
Social 25%
Economic 25%

Chris DoddDemocratic Sr Senator (CT)
Biographical Profile Chris Dodd's answers Chris Dodd's stances

Total 20%
Social 25%
Economic 17%

Dennis KucinichDemocratic Representative (OH-10)
Biographical Profile Dennis Kucinich's answers Dennis Kucinich's stances

Click on 'Social' and 'Economic' for analysis of your answers compared to each candidate's answers. Click on 'Answers' and 'Stances' for complete details of the sources of each candidate's answers.

18 comments:

ryanshaunkelly said...

HDNet Dec 1 DNC debate (Sat 7:30pm ET)
- all eight -

gravel kucinich paul nader

Citizen Deux said...

Okay...

So are your top 4 those mentioned? It's a wild mix. At one time I was a libertarian, but I felt they abrogated too many responsibilities of government.

One of the reasons I can not take Paul seriously.

ryanshaunkelly said...

Honesty compassion intelligence guts.

ep417 said...

How can you possibly even support Mitt (My Mama Named Me After A Baseball Glove)Romney? Look in the dictionary under "hypocrite", and I believe his picture is there. Once a supporter of gay rights, in the attempt to win "the base" he has begun to flip and flop and flop and flip and join in the general GOP demonizaition of gays to get the vote. See this Washington Blade Article... http://www.washblade.com/2006/12-22/view/columns/kirchick.cfm:

"Romney’s flip-flop on gay rights is part and parcel with a radical shift toward the right in his single term as Massachusetts governor. In a 1994 interview with Bay Windows, when asked about his views toward “conservative Republicans like Pat Robertson or Jesse Helms,” Romney came just short of decrying them outright. Yet the mention of those men’s names conjured the memory of his father, former Michigan Gov. George Romney, “fighting to keep the John Birch Society from playing too strong a role in the Republican Party,” and his walking out of the 1964 GOP convention after presidential nominee Barry Goldwater pronounced that “extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.”

SINCE THIS INTERVIEW, Romney has appeared as a guest on Robertson’s popular Christian television program “700 Club” and has made outreach to religious conservatives a crucial part of his campaign.

Poor Mitt Romney. As he will soon discover, the evangelical Christian right will brook no opposition to their “values” agenda. They can spot a phony when they see one and are not so cynical as to endorse a charlatan like Romney over someone who has a track record on their issues. There are other potential candidates who fit their bill, who lack the baggage of past expressions of pro-gay support. Sen. Sam Brownback immediately comes to mind.

Romney was unmistakable in his support for gay equality in 1994 and that he would now come out in favor of laws that explicitly ban gay equality indicates one of two possibilities: that his views about the rights of gays underwent a complete and utter transformation in a four-year period or that Romney did the math and figured that he would have a better chance of winning his party’s nomination if he ran to the right of John McCain.

So, is Mitt Romney a hypocrite, an opportunist or a nihilist? Can I choose all three?"

And according to the National Gay and Lesbian Task force, things have gotten worse since tWASHINGTON, June 27 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Inc., today released the first comprehensive analysis of the top 19 candidates for the 2008 presidency on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues. Democrats discussed in this report include Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama. Republicans include Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney.

The report, The 2008 Presidential Candidates’ Positions on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues, and its accompanying chart are based on an analysis of the voting records and public statements of the candidates in eight key LGBT issue areas, including sexual orientation and gender identity nondiscrimination and hate crimes laws; HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment; lifting the military's ban on openly lesbian, gay and bisexual service members; and partnership recognition for same-sex couples.


According to the report, all Democratic candidates are supportive of the majority of LGBT issues, including transgender-inclusive nondiscrimination and hate crimes laws. Only two Democratic candidates support marriage equality for same-sex couples, however, yet all of them are in support of other partnership recognition rights, such as civil unions. Across the board, Republican candidates were in opposition to the majority of LGBT issues, with most publicly opposing lifting the military’s ban on openly lesbian, gay and bisexual service members. Ten of 11 Republican candidates also oppose any partnership recognition for same-sex couples, whether it be marriage equality, civil unions or domestic partnerships.

U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich is the only 2008 presidential candidate who has publicly supported all eight LGBT issues., Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is the only 2008 presidential candidate who has publicly opposed all eight LGBT issues.
WASHINGTON, June 27 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Inc., today released the first comprehensive analysis of the top 19 candidates for the 2008 presidency on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues. Democrats discussed in this report include Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama. Republicans include Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney.

The report, The 2008 Presidential Candidates’ Positions on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues, and its accompanying chart are based on an analysis of the voting records and public statements of the candidates in eight key LGBT issue areas, including sexual orientation and gender identity nondiscrimination and hate crimes laws; HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment; lifting the military's ban on openly lesbian, gay and bisexual service members; and partnership recognition for same-sex couples.


According to the report, all Democratic candidates are supportive of the majority of LGBT issues, including transgender-inclusive nondiscrimination and hate crimes laws. Only two Democratic candidates support marriage equality for same-sex couples, however, yet all of them are in support of other partnership recognition rights, such as civil unions. Across the board, Republican candidates were in opposition to the majority of LGBT issues, with most publicly opposing lifting the military’s ban on openly lesbian, gay and bisexual service members. Ten of 11 Republican candidates also oppose any partnership recognition for same-sex couples, whether it be marriage equality, civil unions or domestic partnerships.

U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich is the only 2008 presidential candidate who has publicly supported all eight LGBT issues. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is the only 2008 presidential candidate who has publicly opposed all eight LGBT issues.

http://www.thetaskforce.org/press/releases/prMF_062707

eight years of one homophobic, brainless asshole is one thing. Do we really need four year of an intelligent one who panders and flip flops in order to win the day? If so, I weep....

Anonymous said...

By the way, the home of the draft bloomberg movement is http://www.uniteformike.com

BostonMaggie said...

There were no threatening emails, because we have realized the futility.

I took that quiz a little bit ago and came out with Hunter and Tancredo.......but I want McCain. So apparently I am as much of a tramp politically as I am in real life.

ep417 said...

I am sure that you will all be shocked to find tha I am a "populist leaning liberal". Also, Deux, I am concerned that you ranked so high with Hunter and Tanredo. I thought I knew you better than that. They are both right wing loons, especially when it comes to some issues near and dear to my heart. Based on their stances, they have the blueprints for the gay concentration camps ready and waiting. Anyway, here are my (somewhat surprising-BIDEN?!) results I hope I went to the right site,as you failed to provide a link: http://www.speakout.com/VoteMatch/results2006.asp?quiz=Pres2008&state=TOP&q1=2&q2=2&q3=1&q4=4&q5=2&q6=2&q7=4&q8=1&q9=4&q10=4&q11=1&q12=3&q13=4&q14=4&q15=2&q16=2&q17=4&q18=1&q19=1&q20=2&Submit=Score+the+quiz%21

Joe Biden
Democratic Sr Senator (DE) Total 63%
Social 31%
Economic 83%


Dennis Kucinich
Democratic Representative (OH-10)Total 58%
Social 50%
Economic 63%

Hillary Clinton
Democratic Jr Senator (NY)
Total 55%
Social 56%
Economic 54%

John Edwards
Total 53%
Social 44%
Economic 58%

Barack Obama
Democratic Jr Senator (IL)
Total 53%
Social 31%
Economic 67%

Chris Dodd
Democratic Sr Senator (CT)
Total 48%
Social 38%
Economic 54%

Mike Gravel
Former Senator (AK)
Total 48%
Social 38%
Economic 54%

Rudy Giuliani
Former Mayor of New York City Total 38%
Social 63%
Economic 21%


Bill Richardson
Democratic NM Governor
Total 38%
Social 31%
Economic 42%

Tommy Thompson
Former Secretary of H.H.S.; former Republican Governor (WI)
Total 33%
Social 31%
Economic 33%

John McCain
Republican Sr Senator (AZ)
Total 28%
Social 31%
Economic 25%

Mike Huckabee
Republican AR Governor
Total 25%
Social 38%
Economic 17%


Jim Gilmore
Former Republican VA Governor Total 23%
Social 19%
Economic 25%

Mitt Romney
Retiring Republican MA Governor Total 23%
Social 13%
Economic 29%


Ron Paul
Republican Representative (TX-14); Total 23%
Social 19%
Economic 25%


Sam Brownback
Republican Sr Senator (KS)
Total 13%
Social 25%
Economic 4%


Tom Tancredo
Total 5%
Social 13%
Economic 0%


Duncan Hunter
Republican Representative (CA-52)Total 5%
social 13%
Economic 0%

ep417 said...

Deux: I have just been perusing your matches. Almost all of the candidates that you endorse, you only match on economic matters. Almost all of them are opposite you on most important social issues.
Why are people so used to putting the one below the other? To me, social views are more important...It becomes a matter of conscience. Do I sacrifice my personal beliefs for the almight dollar? Just a thought....

Citizen Deux said...

The president has little to no impact on social matters - save as a leader for funding. See Clinton's welfare reform and DADT and GW Bush's No Child Left Behind. I am MUCH more concerned with economic and foreign policy issues with my presidential choice. I am far less concerned with social issues as I believe they are best resolved with legislatures and the courts.

Ironically, the quiz is only the most topline of versions. Note that there is a complete lack of discussion of guns and abortion in the current campaign. I posit that this is due to the solid record established by the courts in this arena.

For me, the next president will have to manage foreign affairs and the economy - which is what they should be doing anyway. Boden and Kucinich represent the WORST approaches in these regards - beholden to the protectionist movement.

sonicfrog said...

Hey All!

Oh, how long has it been? You know the story... Been Busy. I haven't taken the quizzie yet, but came across something interesting last night. I listen to the always interesting and thought provoking "Thomas Jefferson Hour" on NPR. Last night the host, who usually impersonates TJ during the show, was out of character answering listener e-mail. One question was asked of the host was which candidate best or closest represented the views of Jefferson. Though I pass myself of as a nice and benevolent guy, I am really mean and cruel, so therefore before I reveal the answer the host gave, I'll make you all sit and stew over this question!!! :-)

Citizen Deux said...

Jefferson - isolationist, sought an agrarian utopia in which each family was completely self-reliant.

ep417 said...

I hate you sonic. Oh yeah, sadly, I now have a facebook page.....

and as for trust in the courts, what happens when those arch-conservatives replace those "activist judges" with graduates of the Libery Univeristy School of Law? We may have no civil rights, but at the trains will run on time.

Citizen Deux said...

Show me the case law - show me the case law. The intelligent design group thought they had a lock in a conservatively appointed Pennsylvania Judge who resoundingly smacked their arguments as state sponsored religion.

Despite what one may "believe" jurists tend to be driven by the facts of the law rather than the convistion of their beliefs.

sonicfrog said...

Never been to facebook.

The candidate was.... drum roll please d.d.d.d.d. .....

Ron Paul. Not that I'm a Jeffersonian by any means, but Paul is, according to the survey, supposedly the guy whose views most closely match mine (or is that the other way around?). Jefferson was in error on so many issues - idealists usually are - but you gotta love the guy. Hamilton, bastard that he was (referencing behavior, not birth status) was absolutely correct about how the new nation's economy would develop and prosper.

PS. Lay off the judges. Most of the people who criticize jurist tend to be bitterly, blindingly partisan (the irritating Mark Levin) or are the scraming heads who are just plain ignorant on the rule of law and the complexities involved in making a decision of that magnitude (Hannity, Rush, Savage, Steff Miller, Randy Rhoads, etc.) If you don't like what's happening, come back to the states, get your law degree, become a judge and make the world a better place!

WOW! That sounded an awful lot like a bitch slap! Told you I was really evil - Muhahahahahaha!!!

Citizen Deux said...

Ron Paul - libertarian in Republican clothing. I was a libertarian for a while. But they abrogate themselves of too many repsonsibilities.

ep417 said...

I would rather make the world a better place by teaching children how to think abstractly, then maybe we would not have to deal with right (or left) wing loons, thank you very much.... It does not matter in which country I do that. And with the collapse of the mortgage market, it looks like I got out just in time....here's hoping not too much of my profits are tied up in that fiasco.

Citizen Deux said...

The gift of critical thought is grossly undervalued everywhere. You are doing the work of the planet. And yes, you got out just in time.

sonicfrog said...

In late 2005, the house across the street was for sale. We thought about buying it to either rent or turn. Thank GOD my finances are still all wobbley from the career transition to teaching, which made it too financially unwise to make the investment. The Sonic-Mate's sister has two houses that are rented. One tenant is fine, with no problems at all. The other is a drug-using section 8, and because landlords have NO rights in this stupid state (CA) she is stuck in a situation where the rent is two months behind and no recoarse, because the tenant pays a little each month, which sets the clock to 0 on eviction proceedings.