tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post9090478496266385153..comments2023-11-02T05:00:36.315-04:00Comments on Democratic Convention Watch: Open ThreadMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02126730290750804530noreply@blogger.comBlogger1514125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-23176342787147714672008-05-19T15:23:00.001-04:002008-05-19T15:23:00.001-04:00leah,Sorry, WONDERFUL PAST.jeanleah,<BR/>Sorry, WONDERFUL PAST.<BR/>jeanjeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214174950065847438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-12893449279546467022008-05-19T15:23:00.000-04:002008-05-19T15:23:00.000-04:00New Open Thread hereComments now locked in this on...New Open Thread <A HREF="http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/05/open-thread-8.html" REL="nofollow">here</A><BR/><BR/>Comments now locked in this oneOreohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12605488381872007551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-35361745616339382952008-05-19T15:22:00.000-04:002008-05-19T15:22:00.000-04:00leah,Byrd just endorsed before he died to try to c...leah,<BR/>Byrd just endorsed before he died to try to correct his woderful past in the KKK.<BR/>He doesn't care.<BR/>jeanjeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214174950065847438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-42300529097408896722008-05-19T15:20:00.000-04:002008-05-19T15:20:00.000-04:00From Sen. Byrd's endorsement today:"Barack Obama i...From Sen. Byrd's endorsement today:<BR/><BR/>"Barack Obama is a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian, and he has my full faith and support," Byrd concluded.<BR/><BR/>Sen. Byrd doesn't strike me as someone who might 'drink the kool-aid'.<BR/><BR/>Ardent HRC supporters, is there any way you can acknowlege and honor this man's opinion and see some wisdom in the choice? Or will you disparage him?RobHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00265497947865631367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-64970285246172199682008-05-19T15:18:00.000-04:002008-05-19T15:18:00.000-04:00As of now the total number of delegates to secure ...As of now the total number of delegates to secure the nomination:<BR/><BR/>OBAMA 112<BR/>Clinton 306<BR/><BR/>As far as the winner of the 'majority' of Pledged Delegates Obama needs only 15 1/2 more :)<BR/><BR/>Tomorrow is going to be a wonderful day in America!<BR/><BR/>Obama '08<BR/>.Leah Texas4Obamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01121157618500811530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-31728983487653687822008-05-19T15:15:00.000-04:002008-05-19T15:15:00.000-04:00martin,Get a real life. Or just pull your head ou...martin,<BR/>Get a real life. Or just pull your head out of your behind.<BR/>jeanjeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214174950065847438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-75884796588178330232008-05-19T15:13:00.000-04:002008-05-19T15:13:00.000-04:00amot,You have got to be kidding.People go to the p...amot,<BR/>You have got to be kidding.<BR/>People go to the polls and have NO IDEA what the propositions are about but they just check a box.<BR/>The "older people" who now have the money to pay for all the stuff want to have a say. <BR/>Many of the younger don't pay taxes,because of income, so they don't vote because they don't pay.<BR/>Now you HAVE to vote so who cares.<BR/>Mandatory voting is suicide.<BR/>jeanjeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214174950065847438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-56753080641027497212008-05-19T15:11:00.000-04:002008-05-19T15:11:00.000-04:00amot that is the most foolish statement I have eve...amot that is the most foolish statement I have ever heard.That may be how it is in your country but not here. My major point was - no matter wisdom and experience (seniors have <BR/>the most without doubt), elder people face less (not necessarily smaller) problems and care about less issues. Plus they tend to be more conservative when it comes to any kind of change!<BR/>ot your country maybe that is how it is there but not here:::Aunt Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17251991362739288588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-3408206972730495042008-05-19T15:09:00.000-04:002008-05-19T15:09:00.000-04:00Who do we contact if we suspect someone has create...Who do we contact if we suspect someone has created duplicate accounts in a lame effort to show "support" for her own arguments? I'd like to see this person get banned from posting here if that's the case.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14120306054198913561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-6718341311169688662008-05-19T15:06:00.000-04:002008-05-19T15:06:00.000-04:00amot if you really believe that I feel sorry for y...amot if you really believe that I feel sorry for you. You are living in a dream world. But I do believe some of what you said so how can you think that young people that don't even support theirself care about those things JeanAunt Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17251991362739288588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-42752026060539124902008-05-19T15:02:00.001-04:002008-05-19T15:02:00.001-04:00Amot, from one strange bird to another, in refere...Amot, <BR/><BR/>from one strange bird to another, in reference to the global/local matter:<BR/>(apologies for length)<BR/>...the word `planetary' also refers to an abstract anxiety or an abstract passion that is <BR/>desperate and useless exactly to the extent that it is abstract. How, after all, can <BR/>anybody—any particular body— do anything to heal a planet? The suggestion that <BR/>anybody could do so is preposterous. The heroes of abstraction keep gallopping in <BR/>on their white horses to save the planet—and they keep falling off in front of the <BR/>grandstand. <BR/><BR/>“What we need, obviously, is a more intelligent—which is to say, a more <BR/>accurate—description of the problem. The description of a problem as planetary <BR/>arouses a motivation for which, of necessity, there is no employment. The adjective <BR/>`planetary' describes a problem in such a way that it cannot be solved. In fact, <BR/>though we now have serious problems nearly everywhere on the planet, we have no <BR/>problem that can accurately be described as planetary. And, short of the total <BR/>annihilation of the human race, there is no planetary solution.<BR/><BR/>"There are also no national, state, or county problems, and no national, state, or <BR/>county solutions. That will-o'-the-wisp, the large-scale solution to the large-scale <BR/>problem, which is so dear to governments, universities, and corporations, serves <BR/>mostly to distract people from the small, private problems that they may, in fact, <BR/>have the power to solve.<BR/><BR/>"The problems, if we describe them accurately, are all private and small. Or they <BR/>are so initially.<BR/><BR/>"The problems are our lives. In the `developed' countries, at least, the large <BR/>problems occur because all of us are living either partly wrongly or almost entirely <BR/>wrong. It was not just the greed of corporate shareholders and the hubris of <BR/>corporate executives that put the fate of Prince William Sound into one ship; it was <BR/>also our demand that energy by cheap and plentiful. <BR/><BR/>"The economies of our communities and households are wrong. The answers to the <BR/>human problems of ecology are to be found in economy. <BR/>And the answers to the problems of economy are to be found in culture and in <BR/>character. To fail to see this is to go on dividing the world falsely between guilty <BR/>producers and innocent consumers.<BR/><BR/>"The planetary versions—the heroic versions—of our problems have attracted <BR/>great intelligence. But these problems, as they are caused and suffered in our lives, <BR/>our households, and our communities, have attracted very little intelligence."<BR/><A HREF="http://home2.btconnect.com/tipiglen/berry.html" REL="nofollow">--Wendell Berry (from What Are People For?)</A>ed igleharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17504664781958416390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-80816934222859081972008-05-19T15:02:00.000-04:002008-05-19T15:02:00.000-04:00Checkpoint:By my count, Barack Obama is just 16 Su...Checkpoint:<BR/><BR/>By my count, Barack Obama is just 16 SuperDelegate endorsements away from securing the nomination on June 3.<BR/><BR/>112 to go today<BR/>-48 from KY & OR<BR/> -6 5/23-6/1 add ons<BR/>-25 PR<BR/>-17 MT & SDRobHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00265497947865631367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-92204433422734649852008-05-19T15:01:00.000-04:002008-05-19T15:01:00.000-04:00Ariane said... Jim, So I"m not sure what you were...Ariane said... <BR/>Jim, <BR/> So I"m not sure what you were getting at there. <BR/><BR/>What I am getting at, is I think foreigners have no business telling us who should vote in our elections.<BR/><BR/>That is my opinion, which I fought to have the right express and IMO Iseriously doubt Amot ever put his life on the line for anything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-13825583411112613062008-05-19T14:57:00.000-04:002008-05-19T14:57:00.000-04:00Ariane,yes, it is due to demographics unfortunatel...Ariane,<BR/>yes, it is due to demographics unfortunately. I never said elders should be denied the right to vote, but there is something wrong in the system if they constitute 60% of the likely voters... That is why my country is considering mandatory voting. One example - we joined EU last year by decision of the parliament, but had we had a referendum elders would oppose it. Not based on experience (what experience is relevant to that?) but just afraid of change and attempting to protect the status quo! I wish our country was able to draw more young and middle-age people to the booths. So far the attempts are not sufficient (but there are some).<BR/><BR/>Aunt Jean, <BR/>in case you don't know 'rara avis' is used for compliment. And it doesn't mean strange, but rare, unique. I guess my Latin is better than yours!<BR/><BR/>Ed,<BR/>once again, I admire you!Amothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14842726780505390305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-26708172212187215742008-05-19T14:55:00.000-04:002008-05-19T14:55:00.000-04:00hey aunt jean.I have two teenagers who are passion...hey aunt jean.<BR/>I have two teenagers who are passionate about what they believe in. These individuals are going to support us in the later years.<BR/>I live in southern ca and while everyone says we have poor education it is bull crap. If a parent takes part they have a great education.<BR/>I have two degrees and I doubt I could survive my kids Honors Classes. Their grandparents have been educators for 40 years and they think the kids work loads are nuts.<BR/>Things balance out between the old and young. That is the only way the US has grown.<BR/>If Obama gets the nomination you know he will not win.<BR/>If the "KIDS" learn from their mistakes they will grow.<BR/>In 4 to 8 years maybe even Obama will grow and become qualified.<BR/><BR/>I think Hillary will get it first.<BR/>jeanjeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214174950065847438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-74982825417763597492008-05-19T14:48:00.000-04:002008-05-19T14:48:00.000-04:00Aunt Jean: If they are going to vote they should t...Aunt Jean: <I>If they are going to vote they should take the time to get informed about who is running. Well I don't believe they do that so until they can show mw differently I think the voting age should be raised.</I><BR/><BR/>If the concern is that some voters are uninformed, it seems to me that the "solution" would be some kind of current events test, not a blanket age requirement.<BR/><BR/>There are uninformed voters in all age groups. One could argue that since cognitive abilities deteriorate after a certain age, why not ban the elderly from voting? Or just allow those who can show they can keep up with the morning papers?<BR/><BR/>There is no "informed" test for voting at any age, young or old. And I'd think one would be hard-pressed to come up with one that would be considered fair.<BR/><BR/>But it seems to me that the 18-21 voter argument has missed a key motivation for expanding the vote to that group to begin with: that they were being drafted to fight for their country. The idea at the time was that if you're old enough to fight and die for your nation, you should have a say in how your nation is run.<BR/><BR/>Even today, 18 year olds must register with the government so that they can be drafted into the military if necessary. It would seem perverse to tell those people that they have no say on issues such as whether their nation should go to war.dsimonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01997716795133693794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-86558741606992931172008-05-19T14:46:00.000-04:002008-05-19T14:46:00.000-04:00amot instead of saying rara avis why didn't you ju...amot instead of saying rara avis why didn't you just say strange bird? JeanAunt Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17251991362739288588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-74411082885116751182008-05-19T14:43:00.000-04:002008-05-19T14:43:00.000-04:00Jayw that is where you are misinformed I do make a...Jayw that is where you are misinformed I do make an informed because the presidential election is to important and I know that most young people don't I really don't care what you say you can't change my mind but you have the right to believe the way you want to.But I have been around enough 18 -21 years tomake a judgement like I do have you? JeanAunt Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17251991362739288588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-91357934012322629732008-05-19T14:41:00.000-04:002008-05-19T14:41:00.000-04:00Jim, (re Amot) "I do not like his post and his ref...Jim, <BR/>(re Amot) "I do not like his post and his reference to "his Country", as it sounds unpatroitic."<BR/><BR/>You mean he should be for "My Bulgaria right or wrong?" He should not criticise his country to people from other countries? Your later comment that Amot, a Bulgarian, is not a "loyal American" is kind of a strange way of putting things- - he's neither a loyal nor a disloyal American. And you've already said you don't think the blog should be censored to exclude non-Americans. So I"m not sure what you were getting at there. <BR/><BR/>*********************************<BR/>"I think you and others should read his post of May 19, 2008 10:21 AM and disavow it.<BR/><BR/>"Amot said... <BR/>honestly I prefer young people casting uniformed vote instead of only seniors going to booths. I live in a country where elders radically change the vote and for almost 20 years elect the government."<BR/><BR/>Should we reject it and denounce it as well as disavow it? ;) (Sorry, couldn't resist.) OK, I do object to the idea of ANYone casting uninformed votes. And I do not agree that older people should NOT be able to vote - - good heavens they have as much right as anyone and they have issues important to them. I would oppose "only seniors going to booths" as Amot complains of <I>OR</I> only young people going to booths. I don't think just one age group (or one gender, or one race) should control politics.<BR/><BR/>I do think he is right that IN GENERAL older people (both men and women and different races) are more likely to be sexist, racist, homophobic etc. And in that sense I think their judgement is impaired by prejudice, just as some young adults' judgement is impaired by naiveté or inexperience. But neither of those generalizations is a reason to deny the vote to all of either group. <BR/><BR/>I can't argue the facts of what goes on in politics in Bulgaria, but I would think the rather obvious answer would be for more young and middle aged people to vote too (but maybe the demographics greatly favor the elderly?)Arianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17242115139211453140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-22168524700327958342008-05-19T14:40:00.000-04:002008-05-19T14:40:00.000-04:00Aunt Jean,They will be showing you this November.O...Aunt Jean,<BR/><BR/>They will be showing you this November.<BR/><BR/>Or, when Barack Obama wins the GE, will you see that as more evidence supporting your preconcieved and hardened view? I hope not. My wish for you is that you can embrace the times nad trust, not look for arguments to decry them (the times, that is.)RobHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00265497947865631367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-60854790791252182002008-05-19T14:35:00.001-04:002008-05-19T14:35:00.001-04:00Ed,I knew for a long time that you are rara avis :...Ed,<BR/>I knew for a long time that you are rara avis :)Amothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14842726780505390305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-44635899166789338122008-05-19T14:35:00.000-04:002008-05-19T14:35:00.000-04:00Jean I just believe that most people 18 to 21 don'...Jean I just believe that most people 18 to 21 don't vote because they know what people are standing for and that is wrong. If they are going to vote they should take the time to get informed about who is running. Well I don't believe they do that so until they can show mw differently I think the voting age should be raised.It's not that I believe that they can't make an informed choose just to busy thinking about their own wants [having fun] to takethe time to be informed and that takes maturity.That's all I'm saying. I do believe like you even though it will be a hard road that Hillary can still pull this off. JeanAunt Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17251991362739288588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-23295789475866838052008-05-19T14:30:00.000-04:002008-05-19T14:30:00.000-04:00Amot,I don't watch TV soaps, but I do hear the lon...Amot,<BR/><BR/>I don't watch TV soaps, but I do hear the longest-running bradio "soap", <A HREF="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/index.shtml" REL="nofollow">"the Archers"</A><BR/> "an everyday story of country folk" on the BBC<BR/><BR/>:-))))<BR/>eded igleharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17504664781958416390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-33212107590695819622008-05-19T14:27:00.001-04:002008-05-19T14:27:00.001-04:00jayw get lost creep!!!!!Hillary is staying in this...jayw get lost creep!!!!!Hillary is staying in this race because she wants to not because of anything else wake up!!!! JeanAunt Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17251991362739288588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18747118.post-41899817223435544192008-05-19T14:27:00.000-04:002008-05-19T14:27:00.000-04:00Tomorrow, the campaigns will need to file / releas...Tomorrow, the campaigns will need to file / release their April campaign report. The MSM indicated earlier this month that Hillary's campaign is in debt by $20 million. She also loaned her campaign money twice at the beginning of May. <BR/><BR/>I suspect that the headlines on Weds will read:<BR/><BR/>= Hillary whacks Obama in KY<BR/>= Obama coasts to victory in OR<BR/>= Obama is the pledged delegate winner<BR/>= Hillary deep in debt<BR/>= Al Gore edorses Obama<BR/>= flood of superdelegates expected to endorse Obama before the RBC meetingjpsedonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13481057330994650215noreply@blogger.com