Will Hillary pull a Lieberman?

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday May 08, 2008 · 9:07 PM PDT

2008/05/08 · 21:07

The numbers just aren't there. Any reasonable person would have long since realized that Hillary no longer has a realistic chance of winning the nomination. And yet she continues to run, pouring money into her own campaign and stepping her rhetoric against Obama even more. True, Obama is not so close to the magic number that a swing in the superdelegates could not overturn his lead in the popular vote over some as-yet-uncommitted Obama gaffe - they could yet deliver her the nomination and save her from wasting her time in the Senate. But is that really it? This is a Clinton we're talking about - would she really let a little thing like losing keep her from her rightful place as Queen?

The answer may well be no. And that leaves her with one final option - run as a third party. It worked for Lieberman, so why not her?

Poll

192 votes Show Results

Would she?

192 votes Vote Now!

Would she?

She would

86 votes

She wouldn't

106 votes

cryptochrome

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday April 23, 2008 · 5:50 PM PDT

2008/04/23 · 17:50

This is a direct response to Devilstower's Belated Earth Day: The Big Gulp article, which for some reason was rejecting my post.

I take reducing how far I drive more seriously than anyone I know, and I can tell you right now Devilstower's advice for reducing our reliance on oil is basically impossible. The fact is, there is relatively little that people can do to conserve oil in the present socioeconomic environment in America. The short answer is that non-car transportation options are far too limited, even the biggest cities aren't well designed for people to do without a car, and there is too much economic insecurity to effectively make the lifestyle changes that allow you to do without. As oil goes up individual citizens are going to get caught in the middle. The only effective solution is to address these underlying issues directly, even if it means re-engineering our cities and abandoning many modern presumptions about efficient businesses.

Deconstruction below the fold...

cryptochrome

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday March 24, 2008 · 5:56 PM PDT

2008/03/24 · 17:56

It is statistically certain that the superdelegates now have to decide the Democratic primary. It would seem that we're doomed to watch a divisive and self-destructive fight over them all the way to the convention. But think outside the box. There's a better solution:

Disenfranchise the superdelegates entirely, ASAP.

The results are simple. The only ones left for the candidates to campaign for are the voters of the remaining states. No arguing, no spin, no backroom deals, no delaying, no wishy-washy endorsements, and no (justifiable) whining. Just hard and democratic numbers, and a candidate chosen probably sooner and definitely by a more fair process than we have now.

Go on, tell me that the superdelegates somehow deserve to decide the most energetic primary in living memory. I dare you.

Poll

30 votes Show Results

Disenfranchise the superdelegates?

30 votes Vote Now!

Disenfranchise the superdelegates?

Yes: permanently

16 votes

Yes: for this election

0 votes

No: leave it as is

14 votes

How to end the Democratic primary

cryptochrome

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday March 15, 2008 · 2:21 PM PDT

2008/03/15 · 14:21

The contest between Clinton and Obama drags on and shows no sign of ending. Well, I have two ways to fix the situation and end the primary sooner rather than later. All they require is the democratic leadership to do what they're supposed to do - lead.

The first way is to issue an ultimatum to the superdelegates: If your state has already voted, you have to declare your support for a candidate. Period. Nothing else changes - you can change your declaration at any time, and if your state hasn't voted you don't have to declare. But if you won't stick your neck out when we need you to, don't expect to be a superdelegate ever again. In fact, don't expect your "leadership" to be relied upon much in the future either.

The second way is for the leadership to put their foot down and issue an ultimatum to the candidates: Stop campaigning against each other and start campaigning against the Republicans. The superdelegates will enforce this - whichever candidate demonstrates their inability or unwillingness to pursue the general election should find their superdelegate and popular support publicly draining away.

Poll

44 votes Show Results

Are these good solutions?

44 votes Vote Now!

Are these good solutions?

Yes - Force the superdelegates to declare

15 votes

Yes - Force the candidates to campaign generally

4 votes

Yes - Force them both

13 votes

No - Do neither

2 votes

No - There are better ways

3 votes

No - I find your lack of faith disturbing

7 votes

2008: Hillary Clinton vs. Ron Paul?

cryptochrome

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday August 06, 2007 · 6:47 PM PDT

2007/08/06 · 18:47

In 1992, Independent Ross Perot upset the election, bringing in 19% of the vote to Bill Clinton's 43% and George H.W. Bush's 37%. He did this on a populist, Washington-outsider campaign, at one point leading in the polls (which being an incredible flake he promptly lost). Then, as now, Americans were sick to death of electoral pablum. But now, unlike then, thanks to the netroots, we commoners not only have a voice in the polls, we have a voice in the debate. We have questions, we expect answers, and we are not putting up with the usual B.S. Hunter S. Thompson may be dead but his spirit is alive and kicking.

This growing influence has given me pause to consider the unthinkable - what if a real grassroots, Washington-outsider candidate could get on the ballot? It's not just exciting to consider - in this stretched out campaign, a grassroots campaign might actually be able to find fertile soil.

But there's a catch to that sentiment for the Democrats. Because in this election, the strongest Democrat is Hillary Clinton, arguably the biggest insider to run for office in years. And the candidate with the most vibrant netroots backing is a Republican, Ron Paul.

What if?

More below the fold.

Poll

2060 votes Show Results

Who'd win in the general election?

2060 votes Vote Now!

Who'd win in the general election?

Hillary Clinton

173 votes

Ron Paul

1887 votes

Of French and American Health

cryptochrome

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday July 07, 2007 · 1:14 PM PDT

2007/07/07 · 13:14

In his recent diary, Michael Moore said the following.

I suggest that they go to France where people eat cheese by the wheel, drink wine by the bottle, smoke like chimneys and are still healthier than we are. It is not our diet. It is not our exercise. It is our health care system.

You had me up 'til there Mike. No matter what country you're in with whatever health care system, medical care pretty much always takes the form of routine health checks that reveal little and visits to the doctor for acute medical concerns. In other words, health care is reactive, not proactive. And consequently, health care is generally the least important factor in general health, as long as it ensures that acute concerns don't become chronic conditions.

Your average Frenchman is thinner, stronger, and has a more robust constitution than your average American, DESPITE engaging in a number of vices that have very specific well known consequences. These vices also include one you didn't mention - they don't exercise like we do. Whatever reasons France may have for being generally healthier, it's not their health care that's responsible.

cryptochrome

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday July 02, 2007 · 7:33 PM PDT

2007/07/02 · 19:33

Q: Does Scooter want to go to jail?
A: Hell no.

Q: Was it Scooter's idea to out Plame?
A: No. He'd probably never even heard of Plame before he was told to do it.

Q: What would Scooter do to stay out of jail?
A: Cut a deal and rat out the guys who put him up to it. Why should he take the fall?

Q: Who put him up to it?
A: The President and Vice President. Duh.

Q: Do they want to go to jail?
A: Hell no.

Q: So what's their only option?
A: Play the trump card and pardon or commute. Looks really bad, but the alternatives are worse.

Q: Will they get away with it?
A: You tell me. Are Stewart and Colbert off this week?

Gore 4 Prez: If you can't trust a nerd, who can you trust?

cryptochrome

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday May 29, 2007 · 9:06 PM PDT

2007/05/29 · 21:06

Ladies and Gents, there are many candidates with many angles, but only one may lay claim to the Pocket Protector of Righteousness - Al Gore.

He helped turn the ARPAnet into the Internet. He's on the board of Apple and is an advisor to Google. He turned a KeyNote (not PowerPoint) presentation into a celebrated documentary, and loaded it with numbers. It ain't just lip service. The man actually cares about science, listens to scientists, and looks at the data for himself. Now that is nerdy.

As if that weren't enough, he's been on Futurama twice. First he led a team with Uhura, Hawking, Deep Blue, and the guy that invented Dungeons and Dragons. Then he rode the mighty moon worm. A freaking Dune reference! The man's got more nerd cred then every other candidate combined.

Even Kucinich can't compare. So take your orating Obamas and connected Clintons. I'd pick the wonk any day.

Remember, if you can't trust a nerd, who can you trust? Vote Al Gore.

Clark angling for Veep/SecState/SecDef?

cryptochrome

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday March 05, 2007 · 5:12 PM PST

2007/03/05 · 17:12

Many have been waiting and speculating as to Wesley Clark's intentions to run for the presidency. Certainly he hasn't lept into the (extremely early) fray... but at the same time, he's been hanging around the edges of it. Many take this as evidence he's biding his time.

But perhaps he's casting a wider net than the presidency. Unlike all the other favorites he's been out of a job for some time, and probably wouldn't sneer at the #2 spot, or at least Secretary of State or Defense. Such positions befit an Executive-branch politician like Clark, but were unavailable with George Bush in the White House. However, all indications point to a Democratic victory of one sort or another in 2008. And to get those kind of jobs, you need to make friends and earn respect during the campaign, not enemies. And that is the sort of tack he's taking.

I'd say the same about Gore, but having already been Vice President it wouldn't make sense to accept anything less than the Presidency or Supreme Court.

Poll

120 votes Show Results

Clark for...

120 votes Vote Now!

Clark for...

President

47 votes

Vice President

17 votes

Secretary of State

21 votes

Secretary of Defense

26 votes

Vice-Emperor of the Moon

9 votes

Most depressing movie ever

cryptochrome

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday January 20, 2007 · 10:30 PM PST

2007/01/20 · 22:30

"Entertainment" is a funny thing, particularly when it comes to film. While drama and comedy are easily understandable, horror is not so easy to explain. By all signs, "entertainment" is not so much about bringing pleasure, but bringing any sort of feeling or gestalt to our humdrum lives. But some films go beyond the ordinary, into emotional depths that leave us shell-shocked. Why would we watch such things? Because we can't look away.

Poll

239 votes Show Results

Biggest Downer

239 votes Vote Now!

Biggest Downer

Schindler's List

60 votes

Platoon

27 votes

Grave of the Fireflies

22 votes

American History X

14 votes

Brian's Song

13 votes

The Day After Tomorrow

14 votes

Chinatown

15 votes

Dancer in the Dark

19 votes

Requiem for a Dream

55 votes

Obama - the ideal candidate for VP

cryptochrome

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday December 06, 2006 · 6:47 PM PST

2006/12/06 · 18:47

He's a well spoken, young, photogenic, intelligent, and inspiriational politician the likes of which have not been seen for a long, long time. Barring a meltdown, there is an excellent chance he will someday be our first black president.

Unfortunately, at the moment he's also an unproven freshman senator with zero executive experience. Questions of style over substance will stick to him like ticks on a dog.

Poll

47 votes Show Results

Winners of 2008

47 votes Vote Now!

Winners of 2008

Democrats (Gore/Obama)

35 votes

Republicans (McCain/Rice)

2 votes

The Late Party (Stewart/Colbert)

5 votes

America for Lieberman (Lieberman/Lieberman)

5 votes

Blueberries are awesome

cryptochrome

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday July 16, 2006 · 5:40 PM PDT

2006/07/16 · 17:40

Connecticut's only saving grace is that summer brings about fresh local fruits and vegetables. I'm a bit under the weather but I braved the summer heat in a trip to Bishop's Orchard and picked about 1.5 pounds of them at a cost of about $3.00. Which I just finished eating by myself. Read More

Newer
Older

RSS

Will Hillary pull a Lieberman?

Lose the superdelegates now

How to end the Democratic primary

2008: Hillary Clinton vs. Ron Paul?

Of French and American Health

Why Bush sprang Scooter.

Gore 4 Prez: If you can't trust a nerd, who can you trust?

Clark angling for Veep/SecState/SecDef?

Most depressing movie ever

Obama - the ideal candidate for VP

Blueberries are awesome