Hillary Clinton can't decide if illegal aliens should be granted driver's licenses, Barack Obama's position is predictable and McCain's a disaster.

Is there a presidential candidate who has any clue about border security or illegal immigration?

Bloggers4Borders examines that very question in their weekly video blogburst.




Holding your nose and choosing seems to be the order of the upcoming election day--presidentially, anyhow.

by Mondoreb
image: RidesAPaleHorse
Source: Bloggers4Borders 032408


DBKP.com - Bigger, Better!.
Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

Mix-and-Match John McCain's Ever-Shifting Stand on the Issues

McCain: In His Own Words

Straight Talk--or Else!

Those who have followed John McCain's political career have noticed the number of times the Senator has "misspoke", "been misquoted" or "been taken out of context". This does happen to any public figure, but in McCain's case, the number of times this happens is approached perhaps only by the Clintons.

So that we can't be accused of a "hit piece", we'll let John McCain's own words do most of the talking in this post.



An outstanding two minute documentation of John McCain's stand on basic issues. These are not hair-splitting issues, these are basic, fundamental ways a person thinks.

Apparently, the way John McCain thinks depends on the reaction he thinks he'll get.

As such, his principles are up for debate--sometimes in a matter of seconds.

Here he changes his position on Iraq in 47 seconds.



Next, on Ethics Reform.



The arrogance of the Arizona Senator shows through in this soundbite, as he states "we will have to determine which conservative groups are legitimate".

Apparently, those who agree with John McCain stand a much better chance of obtaining his blessing for legitimacy.

Although we agree with John McCain's foreign policy--at least what he says he says his foreign policy is at the moment--we also think that John McCain is foremost and first, a politician.



McCain's record on the pro-life issue is no more clear than on the issues above.

And, as always when talking about McCain, his sheer arrogance when talking of those who disagree with him is breath-taking.

Whether the issue is abortion or last summer's immigration debate, when you disagree with John McCain on principles, he assumes that you--like himself--doesn't have any that aren't up for negotiation or discussion. Any disagreement is portrayed as either a calculated decision or racially motivated.

But what's his stand on wildlife?


If you don't like McCain's stand on an issue, wait awhile.

It's sure to change.

Paraphrasing what Joe Biden said about Rudy Giuliani, ""There's only three things he mentions in a sentence: a noun, and a verb and when he was a prisoner of war".

And if the reader thinks that this is an unkind assessment, here is his statement today on Roe v. Wade' anniversary.

"I join you today in marking the 35th anniversary of the tragic Roe vs. Wade decision made on January 22, 1973. I salute you for taking the time to show that the cause of Life is alive and well in the hearts of millions of Americans.

As a prisoner of war at the hands of a communist dictatorship, I saw firsthand the perils faced when human dignity and human life are not respected."

We could go on--and we may at a later date delve deeper into the Senator's shifting stands on particular issues--but this is enough for now.

As we said, we agree with Senator McCain's foreign policy: he's been steadfast in his support of the War on Terror.

It's just a question of whether that position, like so many others, is open for negotiation when things get tough politically.


by Mondoreb
[image: oldudavaigeorge; blog.kir;
Source:
* Statement by Senator John McCain



Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

Fred Thompson Exits Race

Who Does it Help?

Initial Reaction



A video look at the Fred Thompson exit and some analysis.

Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

Chuck Norris, 67, Says McCain is Over The Hill

At a bar-be-que fund raiser held for Mike Huckabee today at his Texas ranch, actor Chuck Norris spoke out about why he made the decision not to back John McCain for the 2008 Republican candidate:

"I didn't pick John to support because I'm just afraid that the vice president would wind up taking over his job in that four-year presidency."

The 67-year-old Norris continued to list his reasons for not backing a candidate who will turn 72 in August:

"So we need to find someone that can handle it for four years or eight years ... that has the youth and vision and communication skills to make that work."

Norris served up barbeque while Huckabee played his bass guitar with his band, Capital Offense.

It's rather surprising to hear Norris' "concern" over McCain's "advanced" age as Norris is only five years younger.

Norris is 28 years older than his current wife, Gena O'Kelly. Twins Dakota and Danilee were born in 2001, which means Norris will be in his late 70's when the two kids graduate from High School.

Chuck on staying fit: "The reason I have to work out so hard to stay in good shape now is because Gena wants to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary together. I'll be 108,but I intend to be there."
Source: Hallmark

Huck and Chuck

The Boston Globe wrote a piece on Huckabee's relationship with Norris, how it was more than a "cameo role" for the actor known for his show, Walker, Texas Ranger, the 80's action flick, Delta Force, and as a retired martial arts champion.

The Globe wrote how Norris was in Huckabee's first campaign commercial and was involved every step of the way in Iowa and New Hampshire, riding along in the Huckabee bus plus appearances in South Carolina and the feted bar-be-que fund raiser at his own ranch.

Norris' relationship with Norris has garnered some attention:

"They seem to be taking this in some ways to the next level," said Bruce Buchanan, a political science professor at the University of Texas at Austin, adding that theHuckabee-Norris relationship is "like choosing a vice presidential candidate - kind of making up for your weakness." Source - Boston Globe

The observation seems to be that Norris "completes" Huckabee, lending the formerly fat Arkansas governor the allure of Norris' celebrity "muscle."

According to Norris, "at least 200 people" ponied up the $1000 bucks per plate at the Sunday fund raiser.

In regards to Norris' remarks about McCain's "advanced" age, Huckabee refused to say McCain was too old:

"Only John McCain and his hairdresser know for sure," he quipped, at a ranch house on the sprawling East Texas estate. "It is a very stressful position. ... I'm not going to say he's too old. I think he's got a lot of inner strength, good genetic factors by his mom." Source - Yahoo News

Since the 67-year-old Norris has two young children of his own, you'd think Norris would have a little more empathy for about to be 72, McCain. But then again, Norris lives in the rarefied air of celebrity, where age is merely a matter of air-brushing and a box of Hair Color For Men.

By LBG

Image - Gifted Lady
Source - Yahoo News
Source - About.com - Marriage





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Vegas Caucus Claims of Intimidation: Blogger's Ties to Clinton

The story from Vegas is alleged intimidation by Culinary Union representatives, forcing their members to caucus for Obama, as reported by 'outraged' blogger Taylor Marsh.

The Las Vegas Sun is reporting that the Culinary brouhaha over charges of union intimidation, allegedly forcing members to "sign pledge cards" for Obama or face exile from the caucus may not be so cut and dry or illegal.

“To hear the alleged victim tell it, it was much more of a misunderstanding.”

After speaking with several Culinary members — at the suggestion of the Clinton campaign — the Sun cannot substantiate widespread voter intimidation on the part union organizers. What is clear, however, is that Culinary organizers are pushing Obama hard in the run-up to Saturday’s Caucus. Source - Las Vegas Sun

The Sun also turned a critical eye on blogger Taylor Marsh whose Jan.16th podcast "interview" with a Vegas culinary worker 'exposed' the sordid story of Union reps twisting member's arms by way of threats to caucus for Obama or "don't caucus at all."

From the Jan. 16 podcast Taylor Marsh interview with 'unnamed' culinary union member:

Union Member: The Rep told us "if you're not going to vote for Obama then you're not going to go to the caucus.

Marsh: This is stunning!

The Sun reported that they attempted to contact Taylor Marsh and that Ms. Marsh did not respond to their email request for an interview.

Here is a list of questions the Sun wanted to ask Marsh:

1) Marsh did not identify the eyewitness to the Paris incident as a Clinton supporter. Why not?

2) Marsh did not include any interview with the actual alleged victim, Sylvia Antuna. Why not? In an interview with the Sun, Antuna said the incident may have been more misunderstanding than intimidation.

3) Did Marsh attempt to reach the Culinary Union to get its response to the allegation? If not, why not?

4) Last year, Marsh accepted money from the Association of Federal, State, City and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), to blog at a Democratic event. AFSCME has endorsed Clinton and is a longtime ally of the Clinton family. Has Marsh taken payment from AFSCME recently? If so, how much?

The Sun has some excellent questions for Ms. Marsh, but then again, is Ms. Marsh a bonafide reporter herself, or merely a cockeyed Clinton optimist, who doesn't feel it's anyone's business who helps pay her bills.

The rest of us would consider this a "conflict of interest" or in the same realm as Media Matters, another example of Clinton "sponsored" media.

By LBG
Image - Demotivator
Source - Las Vegas Sun
Source - taylormarsh



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Another Clinton Enters the Electoral Fray

Stanford Daily: Chelsea lacks class at exclusive event


The following editorial appeared in the Stanford Daily yesterday.

***Correction: This editorial states that Chelsea Clinton’s appearance at Pi Beta Phi on Sunday was “sponsored by the sorority system.” In fact, the Jan. 13 event occurred at an Inter-Sorority Council (ISC) member house but was neither sponsored nor planned by the ISC.***

“We are just trying to make my mom’s campaign more accessible to people,” said Chelsea Clinton ‘01 on Sunday night to a standing-room-only crowd in the Pi Phi lounge. The Stanford alumna and daughter of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Ms. Clinton arrived at Stanford yesterday for a one-day swing through campus in order to talk to young women, a key target demographic of the Clinton campaign. But the limited invitation policy of the event at Pi Phi, which was only open to members of the Inter-Sorority-Council, left a bad taste in the mouths of the many Clinton fans and political junkies across campus, many of whom would have stayed home from Lake Tahoe ski trips for a chance to attend.

In an effort to sway undecided voters for California’s upcoming Feb. 5 presidential primary, Chelsea hosted a small round-table discussion at Old Union and later a larger event open only to sorority members in the Pi Phi lounge. According to a member of the Stanford Students for Hillary, who was quoted in the Stanford Daily on Monday [Chelsea Campaigns at Farm], the former first daughter wanted to reach out to the sorority audience in order to tap into a “core demographic” of Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

The article goes on to note.
But the exclusive setting of the question-and-answer session, however, may have turned off more people than it turned on. Clinton was not a member of a sorority while at Stanford, so her appearance was not a homecoming for a former sorority sister. The campaign and the University kept the event a secret and only members of the ISC even knew Clinton was scheduled to visit on campus.

The editors wind up with the following:

Certainly there are many sorority girls at Stanford who are interested in politics and benefited from hearing Chelsea speak — many sorority girls were denied entry into the event at Pi Phi. An open event, however, where perhaps a lottery system could have limited attendance but allowed access, could have drummed up more interest and positive energy for the Hillary campaign. Instead, on Sunday Chelsea sought “accessibility” for her mother’s campaign at a private event that, ten years ago, then-student Chelsea Clinton would not have been invited to attend.

What did other think?

The editorial prompted some on-line comments. A few of the 249 are reproduced below.

"many of whom would have stayed home from Lake Tahoe ski trips for a chance to attend"??????????????

To hear Chelsea Clinton?

That's a joke,right?
--409-52-2002

I'm an undecided voter, but this thing where only sorority sisters were invited doesn't really make sense to me. I guess if it were only females invited then I would understand. The thing that bugs me is that she wasn't even in a sorority!

--Liz

Count on more "all-girl" events if we elect her mommy to the White House. Men, get out the meat slicer!

--Dan

"Man, if this wuz at Bob Jones U, the media would be crucifying us!"
--Bob Jones U.

Yawn, is anybody really interested in what Ms. Got me a Cushy 6 figure job right of college because I am a former president's daughter??? We should all be so fortunate. She has led a life privilege, off the backs of the middle class, the evil rich and the poor. She is probably about as interesting to listen to as the Bush twins or Amy Carter. She has no idea what it's like to be the average Joe tax payer. So don't waste out time Chelsea. Nobody cares what you have to say. You aren't running for president.

--Stephanie in TX

At least the Bush twins are working in the real world - and not making 6 figure "consultation" fees in return for political favors. Chelsea hasn't proven herself to anyone.

--Vickie

Can any JOURNALIST please tell me how is it Chelsea Clinton can be Ms. Political Activist Campaigner and yet not one person has questioned her nor been "allowed" to question her by the Clinton thugs.
If she wants to play daughter in waiting for the Oval Office, then she is fair journalist fodder for stories. No one else in politics gets to play "Queen's daughter", so why is it no one in the media ever questions this political expert.

--LaC

It does my heart good to read these posts and realize the public is not fooled by the Clinton Klan.

--Another Vicki

This is a fair sampling of the comments we read.

Like we always say, sometimes, the comments are AT LEAST as entertaining as the articles we read.

by Mondoreb
notes: RidesAPaleHorse
[image: RAPH]
Source: Chelsea Lacks class at exclusive event

UPDATE: Two germane comments need to be pointed out. Suzette clued us to this Chelsea pic from Sweetness and Light. And Therapy Doc reminded us that even presidential kids have feelings, too.

Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

2008 Elections: A Simplified Strategy

Rove Has His, We've Got Our Own


The following article is food for thought for any who think that the 2008 presidential election is "over".

How many candidates have the "experts" pronounced "unstoppable" so far--and it's only 17 days into 2008?

Karl Rove told a group of state Republican officials Wednesday that while the GOP primaries “are far from over,” each of the candidates can beat the top two Democrats — and the former White House aide then outlined a strategy how.

While Rove, the man President Bush called “the architect,” might have retired from the White House, he is clearly still very much engaged in the day-to-day mechanics of the presidential contests on both sides.


In an address to a group of state GOP executive directors at the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) winter meeting, Rove outlined talking points for ways to defeat leading Democratic candidates Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.).

The article then provides some detailed election strategy involving issues and outlooks and myriad possibilities.

The report also states, "The former adviser to the president did not mention former Sen. John Edwards (N.C.)." Other possibilities that Rove chose to not mention included Dennis Kucinich, Dennis Rodman and Dennis the Menace.

All this prompted RidesAPaleHorse to offer his own election strategy.



RAPH: "My idea..........less complicated."

It also offers the great advantage of being able to be worn on the lapel.

by Mondoreb & RidesAPaleHorse
Source: Rove previews strategies against Clinton, Obama



Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

Fred Thompson picks Up Another Pro-Life Endorsement

Fred Thompson picked up an endorsement today that highlights one problem he doesn't have: his backing by pro-life forces.

West Virginians for Life gave their endorsement to Thompson. The Republican candidate from Tennessee, who has a solid record on the issue, hasn't had to put out any clarifications, explanations or re-statements concerning abortion.

While Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani's stance on the issue continues to raise questions, Thompson has quietly lined up Pro-life endorsements in the early stage of the presidential campaign.

The Mountain State endorsement was another one.

Senator Thompson released the following statement today regarding the West Virginians for Life endorsement of his candidacy for President.

From Christian Newswire:
"I'm deeply appreciative for their endorsement," said Thompson. "In supporting me, those who have worked tirelessly to defend life are supporting a consistent conservative who has stood with them yesterday, who stands with them today, and will stand with them tomorrow."

Fred Thompson is pro-life. He believes in the sanctity of human life and that every life is worthy of respect. He had a 100% pro-life voting record in the Senate and believes Roe v. Wade was a bad decision that ought to be overturned.

He consistently opposed federal funding to promote or pay for abortion and supported the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, the Child Custody Protection Act, and President Reagan's Mexico City policy. While Fred Thompson supports adult stem cell research, he opposes embryonic stem cell research. He also opposes human cloning.

West Virginians for Life is the West Virginia state affiliate for the National Right to Life Committee.

So, Fred Thompson continues to line up grassroots support, all the while some writers continue to write about his "lazy" campaign habits.

His "laziness" apparently doesn't extend to the unborn.

by Mondoreb



Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

Dennis Kucinich: The Troof is Out There

"And if elected, I can promise you a UFO in every pot..."


Dennis Kucinich, The Progressive Candidate

by Little Baby Ginn

Dennis Kucinich has been a busy guy, a busy guy indeed. Since 2004 the Democrat Congressman from Ohio has thrown his hat into the Presidential race, married a woman 31 years his junior, introduced legislation to impeach Vice-President Cheney, made calls to impeach President Bush. He introduced another piece of legislation to form a new bureaucracy, The Department of Peace, and was forced to reveal he had an encounter with a UFO.

A visit to the dennis4president website one can contribute twenty bucks to the Dennis Kucinich Grassroots Raffle and win one of their “amazing prizes.” Get a special Edition pocket copy of the US Constitution, or find out how to throw a Dennis Kucinich “House Party!”

A trip to the Official Campaign Store and for twenty three bucks you can purchase a Kucinich for President “Strength Through Peace” Home/Party Kit which includes ten buttons, ten bumper stickers, 10 rally signs, 10 balloons, and 10 lapel stickers.

Times must be hard: didn’t politicians running for office used to offer these things… for free?

From Kucinich’s bio on the webpage:

The oldest of seven children, Dennis was born in 1946 in Cleveland, Ohio to Frank and Virginia Kucinich. The family lived in 21 places, including a couple of cars, by the time he was 17 years-old. One of his most vivid memories was watching his family count out money on an old white counter top to see if they had enough for their bills. He attended Catholic grade and high schools.

Kucinich’s public service life began after graduating from Case Western University. He served as a councilman and later Clerk Of Courts. Elected as Mayor of Cleveland at the tender age of 31 his bio relates how he ran on the promise to save the city’s municipally owned electric system.

He was elected mayor of Cleveland in 1977 on the promise to save the city’s municipally-owned electric system which offered customers significantly lower rates than the private utility. A year later, Cleveland’s banks demanded that he sell the city’s 70 year-old municipally-owned electric system to its private competitor (in which the banks had a financial interest) as a precondition of extending credit to the city.

The attempted political blackmail failed as did several assassination attempts. He remembered his parents counting out coins on the dresser and refused to sell the people’s power. In an incident unprecedented in modern American politics, the Cleveland banks plunged the city into default for a mere $15 million despite being offered triple collateral to protect the loan.

Huh?

“The attempted political blackmail failed as did several assassination attempts?”

More from Kucinich’s Political Bio:

The principled stand destroyed his political career. He lost his reelection bid. He was demonized as the mayor who threw Cleveland into default.† Fifteen years later, the citizens of Cleveland - recognizing† he had saved them hundreds of millions of dollars in municipal power bills and also forced the private utility to keep bills low to compete – voted him into the Ohio Senate.†† His campaign signs featured† a light bulb and the expression “Because he was right.”† In 1998 the Cleveland City Council honored Dennis for “..having the courage and foresight to refuse to sell the city’s municipal electric system.”

In 1996 Kucinich’s political career and reputation as a Progressive was back on track. He was elected to the House Of Representatives.

More from the Kucinich Bio:

In 2002 the second great challenge of his elected career occurred.† After analyzing the “evidence” presented by the Administration in its rush to folly in Iraq and actually reading the National Intelligence Estimate, he stepped forward to help lead 125 Democrats in voting against the blank check for the President to wage an illegal, immoral and ineffective war.

Speaking from the floor of the House some 140 times against the war and appearing on over 100 radio and talk shows was a risky political move.† But it did not stop him.† The neo-cons and their complicit friends in media engaged in a frenzy of caustic name calling.

Wait a sec? “The neo-cons and their complicit friends in the media?” So far Kucinich is making Ron Paul look positively… normal. Kucinich’s bio is reading like a melodrama.

More from the Kucinich Bio:

On July 11, 2001, inspired by the strength, leadership and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Gandhi and Christ, Dennis authored and introduced legislation to create a Cabinet level Department of Peace and Nonviolence. Domestically the Department will create programs to deal with domestic violence, spousal abuse, child abuse, racial violence, gang violence and the root causes of all violence in our society. The legislation is now backed by a national movement.

An extremely ambitious endeavor all these new programs ranging from “domestic violence, spousal abuse, child abuse, racial violence, gang violence, and the root causes of all violence in our society.”

Of course, someone should point out that yet another Department added to our already bloated bureaucracy funded by strapped taxpayers which addresses problems which are already addressed at the federal, state, and local levels with hundreds of thousands of laws on the books…

On February 3, 2003, Dennis co-authored legislation HR 676 which he had previously proposed to the 2000 Democratic Platform Committee, to create a national health care system, Medicare for All.


Of course some might call this “Universal” Healthcare. “Medicare For All,” paid for by a few. Does this include the estimated 12-15 million “undocumented” workers who receive free healthcare without paying one peso out of pocket?

In 2004, Dennis ran for President on a platform of peace, universal single payer not for profit health care and fair trade conditioned on workers rights, human rights and environmental quality principles, only possible through the cancelling of NAFTA and withdrawal from the WTO. For the second time he presented a plan to the Democratic platform committee for Medicare for all.

Then “peace will guide the planets, and love will steer the stars” and the “dawning of the age of Aquarius. Aquarius!” Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.

In 2005, on May 4th, British born Elizabeth Harper went to Washington, D.C. during her second week in America, to discuss monetary policy with legislators. There she had an eight minute meeting with Dennis in his office. Though neither had known of the other prior to their meeting, each instantly knew they had just met their life partner, though they had barely spoken to each other. They met by chance again three weeks later in New Mexico, declared their love and got engaged. Dennis and Elizabeth were married on August 21st, 2005.

The best of luck to the both of them. More about Elizabeth from the Kucinich site:

You will understand Elizabeth Kucinich better if you answer one question. How many 18 year-olds do you know who leave their comfortable homes to travel alone to India to work with Mother Teresa's charity?† Or another? How many 14 year-olds do you know who have lobbied their national legislature? Or a last one? How many 28-year olds do you know who have traveled to five continents to work on and organize humanitarian projects?

The answer to those questions give a sense of who Elizabeth Jane Kucinich and the dedication to service and social justice that drives her.

Elizabeth is also Kucinich’s 3rd wife and thirty one years his junior, but I digress.

The Issues

Kucinich is clearly against the Iraq War. He voted against it and against funding. He believes in diplomacy. His policy is called, “Strength Through Peace.”

How to Emerge From the Neo-Con and Neo-Liberal Nightmare of the Arrogant Use of Power
“We need to understand the connection between peace and the environment. We know that life on our planet is threatened by the twin threats of global warring and global warming. They are linked, and we have to understand that as we cognize the world as being interconnected and interdependent, we know that resource wars are passe and that the focus on sustainability will create peace.”
--Dennis Kucinich

Lovely sentiments altogether and makes one wonder about Kucinich, that perhaps he’d be better off shaving his head and donning Ghandi robes. Kucinich obviously suffers from a rather blatant Messianic Complex where if one could only teach the world to sing in perfect harmony…

Kucinich on Terrorism:

We cannot hope to end terrorism by killing terrorists. Hatred feeds on violence and killing. I understand this and am here to offer a more practical approach: to reduce poverty worldwide with bold changes in current U.S. policy. NAFTA and the World Trade Organizations have only served to increase global poverty, thus deepening one of the most virulent causes of terrorism.

Yes, of course, it was poverty that drove those men to the acts of 9/11. Well, no, it wasn’t. Bin Laden was never poor and neither were the men who flew those planes into the World Trade Towers. But no one must burst Kucinich’s Progressive Bubble on how to solve terrorism through misconceptions.

Kucinich and Impeaching Bush And Cheney

Kucinich introduced House Resolution 333 to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney.

RESOLUTION

Impeaching Richard B. Cheney, Vice President of the United
States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.
Resolved, That Richard B. Cheney, Vice President of
the United States, is impeached for high crimes and mis-
demeanors, and that the following articles of impeachment
be exhibited to the United States Senate:
Articles of impeachment exhibited by the House of
Representatives of the United States of America in the
name of itself and of the people of the United States of
America, against Richard B. Cheney, Vice President of the
United States of America, in maintenance and support of
its impeachment against him for high crimes and mis-
demeanors.

Kucinich’s Encounter With A UFO

Shirley McClaine, the women with more past lives than a Cat revealed in a book yet to be released that on a visit to her home back in the 80’s Kucinich had spied a “gigantic triangular craft, silent and observing him. It hovered for about 10 minutes or so and sped away with a speed he couldn’t comprehend. He said he felt a connection in his heart and heard directions in his mind."

How nice of McClaine to put this information out during a crucial time of Kucinich’s bid for the office of President.

To sum up Kucinich’s views on issues, Kucinich is against the Iraq War, believes terrorism can be solved by pointing the finger of blame squarely at the United States. Bush and Cheney need to be impeached and everyone should have peace.

Sources:
Dennis4President
Impeach Bush



Back to Front Page.

12 All-time Great Dennis Kucinich Quotes To Start Your Morning Right

The Gipper's likely reaction to the latest Kucinich pronouncement?

Who doesn't like a good Dennis Kucinish quote? Congressman and Democrat presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich's latest statement on the mental health of President Bush is just the latest in a long line of memorable quotes. We present, for your edification, a dirty dozen.

"We cannot hope to end terrorism by killing terrorists."
--On Dennis 4 President website.

"I am running for President of the United States to enable the goddess of peace to encircle within her reach all the children of this country and all the children of the world.
--Speech, Cleveland City Council (13 October 2003)

"Everyday this Administration sits on the sidelines the chance for a peaceful resolution becomes less likely. Every day this Administration sits on the sidelines more innocent civilians on all sides are dying. Every day this Administration sits on the sidelines America's already poor reputation in the world community gets worse.
The Administration seems content to sit on the sidelines as a full-blown regional war breaks out. What are they waiting for, the Apocalypse?
--On Kucinich For Congress website

"I seriously believe we have to start asking questions about his mental health."
"There's something wrong. He does not seem to understand his words have real impact."
--interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer's editorial board, 10-30-07.

ON SEPTEMBER 11:
“I believe the best way to honor the memory of those who died on Sept. 11 is to tell the truth of what the administration did in the wake of Sept. 11,” Kucinich said in a statement. “The Bush administration launched a war against Iraq, conflating the true tragedy of September 11 with lies about weapons of mass destruction.”
--on Kucinich for Congress website.

ON THE PATRIOT ACT:
"The "Patriot Act" is not what American patriots have fought and died for. To allow our Bill of Rights to be nullified without judicial supervision invites tyranny. The Attorney General has been handed unfettered power to wiretap, search, jail, and invade our most sacred right to privacy. The government must not be allowed, without probable cause or warrant, to snoop on our communications, medical records, library records, and student records.
--On Kucinich for Congress website.

KUCINICH's SOURCE OF INSPIRATION:
"After I lost the [mayoral] election in Cleveland in 1979, I moved to California for a while. I actually remember walking in the area around L.A. known as MacArthur Park, and I was thinking of that song and thinking of the lyrics where they talk about 'Someone left the cake out in the rain. It took so long to make it.' And it goes on, raising the question of whether I'll ever have that recipe again."
–-Real Change.org

"Mr. Speaker, the administration, through senior Air Force officials, wants the U.S. to achieve military supremacy in outer space. Dominating all earth from outer space will have an out-of-world price tag, perhaps more than $1 trillion."
--Speech on the floor of the House of Representatives, Congressional Record (19 May 2005)

DENNIS KUCINICH, WORLD LEADER:

Furthermore, I'm also a board member of Parliamentarians for Global Action, which is one of the largest group of parliamentarians in the world, and I meet regularly with world leaders from countries throughout... around the globe.
--Real Change.org

On HILLARY and JOHN EDWARDS' ELECTION-FIXING ATTEMPTS:

"Whispering, trying to rig an election, then denying what's going on and making excuses. It all reflects a consistent lack of integrity."
--Telephone interview with CBS News
July 13, 2007
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D. OH) - 7-13-07 - speaking of Edwards' (and Hillary's) attempts to exclude candidates from the televised debates

Dennis Kucinich remarks about the open Microphones on Hillary and Silky Pony.
“Candidates, no matter how important or influential they perceive themselves to be, do not have and should not have the power to determine who is allowed to speak to the American public and who is not,” said Kucinich.

“Imperial candidates are as repugnant to the American people and to our Democracy as an imperial President.”
--From Hillary.com
July 17, 2007

Collected with love by Little Baby Ginn



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Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

Anti-Hillary Video Gets over 1.4 million Hits on YouTube and Google Video

The above video has gotten over 1.4 million hits on Google video and (with it's other part) over a half-million hits on YouTube. It's an anti-Hillary Clinton video by Peter Paul. The rest of this breaking story by New York Daily News:

First came the Orwellian mash up YouTube video that portrayed Hillary Rodham Clinton as Big Brother. Then came a clip of her off-key rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Now, a stinging 13-minute video by a bitter Clinton foe is finding its own Internet audience.

The clip, a preview of a longer film by one-time Clinton donor Peter Paul, has scored more than 1.4 million hits on Google Video and about 350,000 on YouTube during the past week. Its popularity has driven it to the top spot on Google Video over the past two weeks.

Paul is a Hollywood entrepreneur, former partner of Spider-Man creator Stan Lee and convicted felon who has sued the Clintons in connection with a celebrity-packed fundraiser he helped organize for her 2000 Senate race. A California appeals court earlier this month ruled that Sen. Clinton should be dismissed from the suit.

With the fascination about Hillary Clinton and the number who absolutely wouldn't vote for her under any circumstances, the video seems to be proof that there's an enthusiastic anti-Hillary audience among the viewers at Internet video sites.

by Mondoreb
& Little Baby Ginn



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The Bill Richardson Platform: UFOs, Drugs and Iraq 'N' Roll

It's something that's often heard by second-tier candidates and their followers. "If only we could get our message out, people would be flocking to us". Fair enough. In an effort to help get one man's message out, we took a look at New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.

What is Richarson's message? What can we do to help disseminate it?

We looked at dozens of Bill Richardson fund-raising letters and articles and tried to boil down what it was that made Richardson different from the others in the Democrat field. What we came up with was: UFOs, drugs and Iraq 'N' Roll.

The Bill Richardson Fascination with UFOs

There's no denying it: this is one issue that Governor Richardson has completely to himself. There is no one else trying to crowd him on the UFO political spectrum, either from the Left or the Right. While he does strike a chord with a certain crowd of Americans here, is this really a Presidential issue? Richardson's camp certainly thinks it is. And it garnered him some coverage this past weekend.




A look at Bill Richardson's UFO background:

Governor Richardson also served in the Clinton administration after
spending 14 years in the House of Representatives. He served one year as
Ambassador to the United Nations and two years as Secretary of Energy. He
then became a successful governor and participated in numerous foreign
missions. In a foreword to "The Roswell Dig Diaries" published in 2006 by
Pocket Books Governor Richardson wrote:

".....the mystery surrounding this crash (at Roswell) has never been
adequately explained - not by independent investigators, and not by the
U.S. government."

"It would help everyone if the U.S. government disclosed everything it
knows. With full disclosure and our best scientific investigation, we
should be able to find out what happened on that fateful day in July of
1947. The American people can handle the truth no matter how bizarre or
mundane, and contrary to what you see in the movies."

[Above photo: Richardson gets all three of his issues in one sentence when he vows that 'Iraq is not worth the life of one more pot-smoking space alien?']


Richardson's Plan to End the War in Iraq

The Richardson plan to end the War in Iraq can't be faulted for its complexity. Bill would just pack up and leave. al-Qaeda be hanged. In place of the U.S. Army Corps, he'd insert the U.S. dipolmatic corps. Richardson on Richardson ending the War in Iraq:

There are seven components to my plan to end the war and stabilize Iraq, but the most important step, upon which all others depend, is to remove ALL of our troops quickly.

What we need to do:

1-Remove ALL Troops:
Only when the Iraqis know we are leaving will they start seeing us as partners, instead of occupiers.
[Ed. note-That al-Qaeda will also see us as more of a partner after this step is not mentioned here.

2-Withdraw as Quickly as Possible: We should start redeploying now. The longer we stay, the more people die, the further the situation deteriorates, and the more damage we do both to our military and to our reputation. Only when we are out of this quagmire can we refocus on the real war against Al Qaeda -- the terrorists who attacked us on 9-11, and who are still headquartered along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border -- not in Iraq.
[Apparently, Richardson is privy to info the U.S. Government can't secure.]
[Members of the Richardson Diplomatic Surge Team?]

3-A Diplomatic Surge: Iraq's crisis is a political crisis. It cannot be solved militarily. We need a surge of diplomacy to bring Iraq's factions together, to engage all of Iraq's neighbors in stabilization, and to put together a coalition of donor nations to aid reconstruction. [Note: As effectively diplomacy is a matter of carrots and sticks, what's the stick here? That the U.S. will re-invade?]

4-De-authorize the War and Fund Redeployment: Last November, the American people voted for the Democrats because they expected them to end the war.

5-Lead a Regional and Global Diplomacy: The hard political work begins as our troops start to leave. We must use the leverage of our withdrawal to bring the factions to the negotiating table.
[Something akin to saying "I'm going to leverage my nose against that bully's fist to get him to quit hitting me".]

6-The United States must lead this effort and involve all of Iraq's neighbors, including Syria and Iran, in a regional conference modeled on the Dayton conference which ended the war in Bosnia. Key objectives of the conference should be assurances of non-interference and the creation of a multilateral, UN-led Muslim peacekeeping force.

7-We must also convene a donor conference of wealthy Arab states to fund Iraqi reconstruction. All of Iraq's neighbors have an interest in preventing Iraq's civil war from spiraling even further out of control, and they should all play a part in stopping the violence.

So basically, the Richardson Plan for ending the War in Iraq boils down to: we leave, talk nice and everyone lives happily ever after. He should be in the thick of the fight for the Extreme Left portion of the Code Pink vote with this plank.

It's easy to sit on the sidelines and snipe at the proposals of others, but this hodge-podge of Iraqi points, makes one wonder: Who's writing Richardson's material? He better get some help in that department--and fast.

Richardson And (Medical) Marijuana

This is the Richardson issue that DBKP can cheer. Save the money, save the human cost of one portion of the inane War on Drugs? We're not objective on this issue. So, we present a view from a disinterested observer.

More on Richardson's and medicinal marijuana from Washington Post:

SANTA FE, N.M. -- Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson, poised to sign a bill making New Mexico the 12th state to legalize medical marijuana, said Thursday he realizes his action could become an issue in the presidential race.

"So what if it's risky? It's the right thing to do," said Richardson, one of the candidates in the crowded 2008 field. "What we're talking about is 160 people in deep pain. It only affects them."

Richardson has supported the proposal since he first ran in 2002. But he pushed especially hard for it this year, leaning on some Democrats to change their votes after the bill initially failed.

"Give him credit. It's not something you do because you're going to garner great political support for it. It is a bit controversial," said Thomas Mann, a political analyst at the Brookings Institution in Washington. By the same token, Mann says, it is not likely to hurt him in the Democratic contests.

"If he were to surprise us all and actually win the Democratic nomination, he's got an interesting mix of positions" that would not be undercut by his support of medical marijuana, Mann said.

So this is Bill Richardson's message in the nutshell. Is this an unfair portrayal? Not if one listens to the candidate's own words.

Bill Richardson's message seems to be a collection of niche messages to niche groups. That's enough to snag the 2-4% support that many polls give him. The mainstream finds his issues wanting.

Some candidates are second-tier for a reason. The problem is not that their message isn't getting out: it's that it is. We said at the beginning of this piece.

"Bill Richarson: UFOs, Drugs and Iraq 'N' Roll."



by Mondoreb
& Little Baby Ginn
[images: file photos and e-graphics]



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Giuliani's Illegal Immigration Plan: "Give Me Three Years"

[image:oswegonews]

by Mondoreb & Little Baby Ginn

Rudy Giuliani wants to do for the U.S. as president what he couldn't do for New York City as mayor: reduce illegal immigration within three years.

More on a man with a plan by the New York Daily News:

If elected president, Rudy Giuliani wants to do for illegal immigration what he did for crime in New York City - reduce it dramatically within as little as three years.

"It can be done. It is not impossible," Giuliani told an Iowa town hall-style meeting on Wednesday night. "You can do this, you can stop them at the border."

To get the job done, Giuliani said he would boost the number of border patrol agents to 18,000 from the current 12,000 - much like he increased the size of the NYPD as mayor - and build a physical and "technological" border along the U.S.-Mexico border.

"If you do this for two or three years, you'll change behavior," Giuliani said. "If people come to the border and figure they can't get in, they'll stop."

Giuliani has been touting his illegal immigration plans since last summer, but his pledge to put a time-limit on dealing with the problem - considered among the most complex on the domestic front - is a more recent addition.

The generally-friendly tone of the article addressed a concern of many in the last paragraph.

Giuliani - who as mayor was considered among the most immigrant-friendly executives in the country - has stopped short of calling for the deportation of all illegal immigrants, saying deporting 12 million people is an unrealistic goal.

But he has called for the immediate deportation of all illegal immigrants who commit crimes.

So Rudy's joined the chorus of those strawmen-builders who keep addressing a question which has never been brought up by anyone except themselves:

"Can we deport all the illegals?"

He's spent considerably less time addressing his record as mayor on this problem and his support of sanctuary laws then on the books and any attempt by city officials to change them.

Giuliani doesn't require a dressing-down on this problem, but the insistent questions remain until he answers them; brushing them aside whenever they are raised or changing the channel won't satisfy those want to know.

The question of an ID card, and whether there will ever be such an animal remains for a later date.



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Kucinisch Sees UFO: Reaching Out to Others?

[image:hackvan]
by Mondoreb & Little Baby Ginn

First, Rudy Giuliani addressed the invading space alien issue. Now, Democrat candidate, Dennis Kucinich, is the latest to address the "life-on-other-planets" quesiton. He's seen a UFO, it's claimed. From Cleveland .com:

Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich has seen a UFO, writes Shirley MacLaine in her new book, "Sage-Ing While Age-Ing."

Kucinich, she writes on page143-144 of the book, "had a close sighting over my home in Graham, Washington, when I lived there. Dennis found his encounter extremely moving. The smell of roses drew him out to my balcony where, when he looked up, he saw a gigantic triangular craft, silent, and observing him. It hovered, soundless, for ten minutes or so, and sped away with a speed he couldn't comprehend. He said he felt a connection in his heart and heard directions in his mind."

Representatives of Kucinich's presidential campaign and congressional office have not responded to calls and e-mail asking whether the Cleveland Democratic congressman in fact saw a UFO or if there is another explanation for MacLaine's recollection.

One can't say that Kucinich isn't interested in reaching out. One also checks what his stand would be on legalizing marijuana.



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The Story of the Houston Chronicle Story: Whom the Troops Support is Still Secret

UPDATE to our earlier story

by Mondoreb & Little Baby Ginn

The story of the Houston Chronicle story "Whom the Troops Support" is how this story became a "story". Take one newspaper, add some secret "analysis" that runs contrary to what is known and voila!--one "story" coming right up.
From our earlier story:

The story is dressed up to show that anti-war critcs/candidates Ron Paul and Barack Obama lead in campaign contributions from military givers. But is that the story? or is this story from the Houston Chronicle the story?

From the Houston Chronicle:

According to a Houston Chronicle analysis of campaign records from January through September, Paul received $63,440 in donations from current military employees and several retired military personnel.

Democrat Barack Obama, another war critic, was second in military giving. The Illinois senator got $53,968 during the nine months.

He was followed by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, a decorated Navy pilot and former Vietnam prisoner of war, who received $48,208 in military-related giving. McCain has been one of the most vigorous defenders of President Bush's decision this year to increase U.S. troops in Iraq.

The story might just be the Chronicle's methodology in determining it's results. Which is sad, because it throws cold water on what might have been an interesting look at the rates of giving among the military instead of an analysis of Houston Chronicle story contruction. Paul, Obama and McCain supporters have a right to be disappointed when doubts are raised about this story's validity.

No information about the rates of military campaign contributions. No look back at how the military actually votes in presidential election. Not a word of the "Chronicle's analysis" and its methodology. No information on the analytical tools used by the Chronicle.

But the "analysis" was able to determine the dollar amounts of the various candidates was calculated down to the very dollar. Impressive.

No info, just breathless headlines. Must be the Houston Chronicle way.

Clinton Rising, Thompson, Fading CNN Poll Just Another Poll A Year Out

[photo:CNN]
by Mondoreb
CNN released their latest poll and if candidates were stocks, they'd be telling you: buy Hillary, sell Fred. Complete with the above photo of Thompson with a concerned on his face, we're treated to another poll over a year away from the elections. What can we learn from these early early polls?

Probably not as much as teen-age girls learned about pop idols from reading Tiger Beat magazine.

From CNN:

The new CNN poll by the Opinion Research Corporation released Tuesday shows Thompson's support dropping -- now at 19 percent, down from 27 percent in September.

He's now running second, slightly ahead of Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, who has 17 percent. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, still leads with 27 percent.
Of the remaining Republican presidential candidates, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney received support from 13 percent of the Republicans polled, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee received 5 percent, Rep. Duncan Hunter of California received 3 percent, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas received 2 percent, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas received 1 percent and Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado received 1 percent.

So McCain isn't finished? Ron Paul isn't sweeping the heartland? Other early early polls told us otherwise.

Next up: blue state favorites.

On the Democratic side, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York continues to gain support and build on her lead. She led Sen. Barack Obama by 23 points last month -- 46 percent to 23 percent. She now leads the Illinois senator by 30 points -- 51 percent to 21 percent.

Of the remaining Democratic presidential candidates, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards received support from 15 percent of the Democrats polled, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson received 4 percent, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware received 1 percent, Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut received 1 percent, former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel received 1 percent and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio received 1 percent.

One thing that is interesting: rumors of John Edwards' affair seemed to have given him a little bump. The poll stated that results may vary if Al Gore Jr. was included, but Gore announced earlier this morning that he would not make a bid for the nomination.

Another early early poll and for the next few days the predictions, guesses and analysis will fly thick. Most of it will be wishful thinking or just plain wrong. Some will be accurate. Until next week's latest early early poll.

Then the picture may be of Hillary's brow furrowed in concern or Fred smiling and waving triumphantly.



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Breaking News: Gore Rules Out 2008 Presidential Bid

[photo: Newsbusters]
LATE BREAKING NEWS!

From the BBC:

Former US Vice President Al Gore has ruled out a late entry into the 2008 race to the White House in an interview with Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

A campaign for him to run for president next year had mounted this week after he was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.

Mr Gore, the beaten Democratic candidate in the 2000 election, had repeatedly said he had no interest in a fresh bid for the White House.

Senator Hillary Clinton is the current Democratic party front-runner.

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HILLARY THRILLED WITH POSSIBLE RON PAUL THIRD PARTY RUN

Should Hillary be writing a check to Ron Paul for president?
[graphic:Little Baby Ginn]

by Mondoreb & Little Baby Ginn

The latest Rasmussen Poll results state that 27% of Republicans would vote for a Pro-Life Third Party instead of Giuliani. Since these results came out this afternoon, speculation has been rife about a possible third-party run by Republican candidate Ron Paul, should he fall short of the Republican nomination.

It's been pointed out that Paul made a run once before as a Libertarian and only garnered less than one-half percent of the vote in the general election. But those were different times. The Rasmussen results actually looked at likely voters who expressed a preference for an anti-war pro-life candidate in various scenarios.

As stated in our earlier post, it was pointed out over at the Corner at NRO

One of the most interesting possibilities floating around out there is that, after the primaries are over, Paul could offer an antiwar, pro-life, third-party alternative to either Rudy Giuliani or Hillary Clinton

It would be ironic if Hillary Clinton were to benefit from a third-party candidate to gain the White House, like her husband, Bill did in both 1992 and 1996.

Reaction on the internet was varied and swift.

"Wouldn't it be amazing if Hillary got into the White House the same way Bill got his foot in the door back in 92 with Ross Perot? Is this the curse of the RP'S? Ross Perot back then and Ron Paul now?"--Little Baby Ginn

"While it is possible, it is unlikely. That is because anti-fusion laws block him (or anyone) who ran in the two party primary of those respective states (about half of them) with anti-fusion laws of appearing on the general ballot as a candidate for the same office."--FascistNation

"It's deja vu all over again."--Yogi Berra

"From small acorns.. mighty oaks grow."--Blissfully Aware

"Last time Ron ran as third party he received 0.47% of the vote. Not gonna happen."--Reed311

Bill Clinton, the only two-term U.S. president never to have gained at least 50% of the popular vote was the beneficiary of runs by Ross Perot. Two Clintons helped by third-party candidates with the initials of RP? It's not a conspiracy theory, but there are those who will have a field day with such a set-up.

In the 2008 presidential election, history may just have the chance of repeating itself in our lifetime.




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Interesting Poll Results: Ron Paul in Third Party Run?

by Mondoreb

Ron Paul as a wild card?
Rasmussen's latest poll results might tempt candidate Ron Paul(R-TX) into a third-party run.
Interesting results from a 3-way race involving Hillary Clinton, Rudy Giuliani and Ron Paul. From The Corner at NRO

They don't match [Ron Paul] up with anyone specific. It would be interesting to see how pro-lifer Ron Paul would fare:

One of the most interesting possibilities floating around out there is that, after the primaries are over, Paul could offer an antiwar, pro-life, third-party alternative to either Rudy Giuliani or Hillary Clinton (in 1988 Paul ran for president as a member of the Libertarian Party). If his fundraising continues at this pace, he might be tempted to do it. Something tells me it’s a possibility the Clinton camp isn’t exactly dreading.

Is a Ron Paul third party run in the cards? The resulting electorial results would almost ensure that none of his campaign goals would ever become law. This would also almost ensure a Hillary Clinton presidency in 2008. Bill Clinton had Ross Perot; might not Hillary Clinton have Ron Paul? They're cracking open the bottles of Excedrin over at the RNC headquarters.

MORE RON PAUL NEWS:
Ron Paul Phenomenon: Is it Real?
Ron Paul Phenomenon: Real or Manufactured?




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The Ron Paul Phenomenon, Part 2:Is It For Real?

by Hummmbert
The second of three parts.

Ron Paul, the libertarian Texas congressman who's running in the Republican Party primary for president has support. Enthusiastic crowds, good showings in poll after poll taken on the Internet or tabulated by call-in voters, and a rapidly escalating fund-raising ability all are signs of a candidate with support. Yet, questions remain for the popular Dr. Paul from a variety of critics, both on the left and right, that his support consists of a small band of rabid supporters.

Is this criticism fair? Is it accurate, as critics insist? Or, is it a fear that the signs of Paul's support are the harbingers of headaches to come for both parties?

From MSNBC:
Even a half hour after Ron Paul's "Revolution" rally ended in downtown Manchester, there was a crowd larger than other candidates could only hope to draw. The campaign estimated that as many as 800 people showed up as the Texas congressman kicked off a canvassing effort in New Hampshire's three largest cities.

The campaign gave out buttons asking: "Who is Ron Paul?" But who are Ron Paul's supporters? "I think they're new to the process," said Paul's son, Rand Paul. "We definitely have Democrats that are crossing over, Libertarians crossing over, Independents crossing over. And I think the people that come out are definitely gonna vote."

Almost 43 million results. That's what one gets when the term "Ron Paul" is Googled. 43 million is an awful lot of results for one term; by comparison, "War on Terror" draws 53 million. A lot is being written about Ron Paul, both for and against.

Sundry reactions from the blogs:

From Rick Fisk at the Dr. No Zone:The media, neoconservatives and some Democrats just don't understand why Ron Paul's supporters are so excited, dedicated and diverse. At the most recent PBS debate in Baltimore, the camera panned to catch the first African-American female fighter pilot in U.S. history applauding enthusiastically when Dr. Paul suggested we should bring the troops home from Iraq and every other country they currently occupy.

The support appears to be from both sides of the political spectrum. A sample from the Right.

From Andrew Sullivan in Daily Dish:
A reader writes:
Actually, everyone under 40 is not voting for Obama. I live in Austin, Texas, and your reader's email about support for Hillary in Sugar Land prompted me to write to you.

I consider myself far-left, and am having serious difficulty choosing between Edwards and Obama, as are many of my far-left friends. But what's even more shocking to me is the amount of support for Ron Paul among liberals in this town. I see it daily: the bumper stickers, the t-shirts. Among some of my friends, but mostly at my school. I'm an older (30) undergraduate attending a private, Catholic institution here in Austin (but being Austin, the fact that the school is Catholic doesn't mean it's conservative - far from it!), and the kids there are crazy about Ron Paul. He's everywhere.

Some of it may be discounted because Austin is in Paul's home state of Texas, but that city is far from representative of the Texas state-of-mind. So it seems to be cutting across the traditional liberal/conservative lines. More enthusiasm for Ron Paul.

A sample from the Left:
Well, I had a sample from the Left. I went over to retrieve a story from TheDailyKOS, "Why You Should Support Ron Paul", but it seems to have been 'misplaced', as so many stories over there do. KOS did show 183 comments tagged to it, though.So, a sample of Paul support from the paleo-conservatives was needed.

From Liberty Papers, where they examine whether Paul should accept matching funds and the tilt of Lew Rockwell's site:
There have been a few articles over at Lew Rockwell’s blog on the question of whether Ron Paul should accept federal matching funds (i.e., tax dollars taken from people who might not necessarily support his campaign) in his run for the White House. Not surprisingly given the pro-Paul tilt of that website, they seem to think its all okey-dokey.

One sure sign of growing support is when sub-groups are formed from larger interest groups. Such as "Jews for Ron Paul".

From Free Market News:Jews for Ron Paul is offering for a sale line of easy-to-wear T-shirts and maybe yarmulkes (skull caps) in support of GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul (R-Tex) - who has himself reportedly posed in one with the message 'Ron Paul '08' in Hebrew. The T-shirts for sale can be seen here: Jews4RonPaul

The sale of T-shirts, and indeed the establishment of Jews for Ron Paul itself has taken place amidst some controversy. Especially upset, according to sources close to Jews for Ron Paul, are white "supremacist" groups. Supporters of such groups have apparently taken to emailing Jews for Ron Paul claiming that Ron Paul would never tolerate such a group and that his formal or informal support for "Jews for Ron Paul" must be an invention.

Bur Jews for Ron Paul is real, as, apparently, is Ron Paul's support. Said one supporter of Jews for Ron Paul: "Ron Paul doesn't have a racist bone in his body. His differences with Israel and the American Israel lobby have to do with funding that country - and its political leaders and war machine - with billions of American dollars."

There are also "Students for Ron Paul" and "Gun Owners for Ron Paul".

Many polls have been taken; many more are yet to come. How accurately do the various polls taken measure the Ron Paul support? An attempt to answer that question comes from Truth Mason:

There has been much debate around the relevance of pre-election poll results. When it comes to Ron Paul the 'scientific' polls have generally reported him at or below 5%, but online polls have told a different story. On many online / text-message polls Ron Paul is clearly in the top three. The problem with all of these online polls is that the voters are 'self-selecting'. Ron Paul's supporters organize entire websites that link to polls to vote in. This only serves to prove that the Ron Paul supporters are much more motivated and organized. Likewise, the 'scientific' polls only serve to prove that among those that are registered republicans and take time to respond to unsolicited phone calls, only a small percentage have heard of Ron Paul.

Polls taken by national pollsters, with little chance by supporters to influence results have consistently shown two results: one, that Ron Paul is usually in fifth or sixth place in the Republican primary race; and two, that Paul's support seems to be steadily, if slowly, growing. Most of the other candidate's support ebbs and flows with each poll. Are Paul supporters being censored as some allege? Stories abound from outraged Paul supporters of pro-Paul stories and results being deleted from sources such as CNN, YahooNews, MySpace and the above-mentioned DailyKOS. I could find no references to any anti-Paul stories being deleted. Of course, the group complaining about those types of occurences would be much smaller.

Is Ron Paul's support for real? It certainly is enthusiastic and growing; there's no denying that. Will it carry Paul to the Presidency? His supporters think so. One reason polls and fund-raising garner so much attention at this stage of the campaign is that they are the only two measurable items at this juncture. Paul's been able to raise money lately: that's one sign of support. His poll numbers, while small, are getting bigger. That's another positive sign.

A quote from Samuel Adams adorns the top of the "Ron Paul for President 2008" website. It might do well to keep it in mind. It serves as an inspiration to the thousands of Ron Paul supporters. It might also serve as a warning to the honchos in the two main political parties.

"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen to set brushfires in people's minds".




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