Monday, December 31, 2007
Our Would-be Presidents
And may be the best man/gal win in the Iowa caucuses...
Surprise Democratic Presidential Poll Winner in Virginia
Just as the howler was zeroing in on Rep. Dennis Kucinich -- after all, his positions on the major issues of the day are nearly in perfect harmony with hers -- she came across an item on PR Newswire about the little engine who might. It seems that Kucinich is currently the favorite of Dems in Virginia.
In an online poll sponsored by the Virginia Democratic Party, the Ohio congressman snagged the top spot.
In an online poll sponsored by the Virginia Democratic Party, the Ohio congressman snagged the top spot.
With the voting ended and the results of nearly 7000 responses in, Kucinich captured first place with 30% of the votes. Hillary Rodham Clinton followed in second place with 27% of the votes, and the rest of the Democratic contenders lined up under in totals under 15%.
The Democratic Party of Virginia poll was conducted between December 20and 23. The question was simple: If the Virginia Democratic presidential primary were held today, which of the six Democratic candidates would you vote for? It should be
Dennis Kucinich was the winner. In fact, even as polling continued pastthe deadline, Kucinich has maintained his lead over his rivals. This bode swell for the candidate and his supporters across America as the February 12presidential primary date in Virginia nears, with a substantial 103delegates at stake. (Results are available at http://www.vademocrats.org/.)
noted that Chris Dodd was not included in the poll choices because he had not filed with the State Board of Elections by the December 14, 5:00 PM deadline.
So folks, just as Howling Latina denounced media pundits with their meaningless poll margins of victory that are forever trumped by huge pools of undecideds, stop and really think before you vote.
Why should voters be limited to Hillary, Obama and Edwards??? Truth be told, many Dems like Richardson; or Dodd; or Biden; and obviously, Kucinich, too. In fact, The Nation, "one of the country's leading political publications, concluded an editorial recently by stating, 'In his stands on the issues, Dennis Kucinich comes closest to embodying the ideals of this magazine.'"
Virginians vote just one short week after Super Tuesday; and if the presidential candidate field is as muddled then as it is today, Old Dominion just might make political history as they did when they elected Jim Webb to the Senate by putting principle over created media buzz and helping ferry the best candidate to the White House.
Why should voters be limited to Hillary, Obama and Edwards??? Truth be told, many Dems like Richardson; or Dodd; or Biden; and obviously, Kucinich, too. In fact, The Nation, "one of the country's leading political publications, concluded an editorial recently by stating, 'In his stands on the issues, Dennis Kucinich comes closest to embodying the ideals of this magazine.'"
Virginians vote just one short week after Super Tuesday; and if the presidential candidate field is as muddled then as it is today, Old Dominion just might make political history as they did when they elected Jim Webb to the Senate by putting principle over created media buzz and helping ferry the best candidate to the White House.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Kumbaya, Obama Disappoints
Sen. Barack Obama came into the national scene at the '04 Democratic convention and was absolutely fabulous, or so the media told us.
Yet deep in the dampest corner of the howler's heart, she was starkly disappointed with his speech. Democrats didn't start the red/blue Rovian wars, so why was Obama acting like one shouldn't strike back but make nice and sing Kumbaya like a band of idiots at Campfire Chicken Namby-Pamby...?
OH sure, there's always the brotherly love shtick where everyone turns the other cheek, except the GOP faithful somehow always forgot their tender part of the play. After seven rotten years under a Republican administration, this is OUR constitution and OUR civil liberties that are now at stake.
Of course, there's Inevitable Hillary and Good Smile John. They both rail against the Bush administration and all of its horrors. But when one closely examines what they say they will do if elected, one must conclude that the U.S. would still remain in Iraq, millions of Americans would still remain uninsured and it would be just more of the same, only to a slightly less offensive degree.
Although Howling Latina has been remiss of late in postings, she did keep up with news musings by reading posts from a few of her favorite bloggers. She has finally concluded that none of the top three Democratic candidates will receive her vote.
That's right, she's not voting for Obama. Or Hillary. Or for John Edwards. It's like Dennis Kucinich told Randy Rhodes on the radio the other day, Democrats have choices. And why in the hell should we settle for electability when we can have it ALL??? Someone who is principled and will shake the system up.
To hell with media pundits telling voters who can win and who can't win. SCREW THEM ALL! Draft Feingold for president. Kucinich and Feingold on the Democratic side and Huckabee and Tancredo on the Republican side. The Alpha and Omega of both political parties. Now that would be a race worth watching and rooting for.
Yet deep in the dampest corner of the howler's heart, she was starkly disappointed with his speech. Democrats didn't start the red/blue Rovian wars, so why was Obama acting like one shouldn't strike back but make nice and sing Kumbaya like a band of idiots at Campfire Chicken Namby-Pamby...?
OH sure, there's always the brotherly love shtick where everyone turns the other cheek, except the GOP faithful somehow always forgot their tender part of the play. After seven rotten years under a Republican administration, this is OUR constitution and OUR civil liberties that are now at stake.
Of course, there's Inevitable Hillary and Good Smile John. They both rail against the Bush administration and all of its horrors. But when one closely examines what they say they will do if elected, one must conclude that the U.S. would still remain in Iraq, millions of Americans would still remain uninsured and it would be just more of the same, only to a slightly less offensive degree.
Although Howling Latina has been remiss of late in postings, she did keep up with news musings by reading posts from a few of her favorite bloggers. She has finally concluded that none of the top three Democratic candidates will receive her vote.
That's right, she's not voting for Obama. Or Hillary. Or for John Edwards. It's like Dennis Kucinich told Randy Rhodes on the radio the other day, Democrats have choices. And why in the hell should we settle for electability when we can have it ALL??? Someone who is principled and will shake the system up.
To hell with media pundits telling voters who can win and who can't win. SCREW THEM ALL! Draft Feingold for president. Kucinich and Feingold on the Democratic side and Huckabee and Tancredo on the Republican side. The Alpha and Omega of both political parties. Now that would be a race worth watching and rooting for.
Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya
Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya
Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya
O Lord, kumbaya
Someone’s laughing, Lord, kumbaya
Someone’s laughing, Lord, kumbaya
Someone’s laughing, Lord, kumbaya
O Lord, kumbaya
Someone’s crying, Lord, kumbaya
Someone’s crying, Lord, kumbaya
Someone’s crying, Lord, kumbaya
O Lord, kumbaya
Someone’s praying, Lord, kumbaya
Someone’s praying, Lord, kumbaya
Someone’s praying, Lord, kumbaya
O Lord, kumbaya
Someone’s singing, Lord, kumbaya
Someone’s singing, Lord, kumbaya
Someone’s singing, Lord, kumbaya
O Lord, kumbaya
Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya
Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya
Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya
O Lord, kumbaya
Stay the Course Rats
All this time people have been wondering what was wrong with our dear fearless leader, that is, why President George Bush insisted in "staying the course" despite the horrific events that surrounded his ill-advised invasion and occupation of Iraq; but folks, wonder no more.
The New York Times has an excellent article about binge drinking and their effect on rats years after the binging, aptly titled, "The Hangover."
The New York Times has an excellent article about binge drinking and their effect on rats years after the binging, aptly titled, "The Hangover."
Much of the evidence for the impact of frequent binge-drinking comes from some simple but elegant studies done on lab rats by Fulton T. Crews and his former student Jennifer Obernier. Dr. Crews, the director of the University of North Carolina Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, and Dr. Obernier have shown that after a longstanding abstinence following heavy binge-drinking, adult rats can learn effectively — but they cannot relearn.
When put into a tub of water and forced to continue swimming until they find a platform on which to stand, the sober former binge-drinking rats and the normal control rats (who had never been exposed to alcohol) learned how to find the platform equally well. But when the experimenters abruptly moved the platform, the two groups of rats had remarkably different performances. The rats without previous exposure to alcohol, after some brief circling, were able to find the new location. The former binge-drinking rats, however, were unable to find the new platform; they became confused and kept circling the site of the old platform.
So you see, the problem stems from all those years of youthful indiscretion by Junior. Indeed, he readily admits that before he came to the Lord he was a drunk. Thusly, one should not be too surprised to find him time and time again stubbornly clinging to failed policies in contravention to reality and facts.
His latest bit of bull-headedness can be seen in blocking the funding for the troops that was, oh, so imperative only days ago. That's right, Bush refused to sign the bill Congress passed on a bipartisan basis that funded a 3.5 percent pay increase for the troops as well as improved "veterans' health benefits."
But cheer-up, America! The article notes that exercising appears to ameliorate the destructive effects of heavy drinking; and as everyone knows, there is very little our fearless leader likes to do more than to exercise unless you include saber rattling and obstructing Congress.
His latest bit of bull-headedness can be seen in blocking the funding for the troops that was, oh, so imperative only days ago. That's right, Bush refused to sign the bill Congress passed on a bipartisan basis that funded a 3.5 percent pay increase for the troops as well as improved "veterans' health benefits."
But cheer-up, America! The article notes that exercising appears to ameliorate the destructive effects of heavy drinking; and as everyone knows, there is very little our fearless leader likes to do more than to exercise unless you include saber rattling and obstructing Congress.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
She's-a-back!
After nearly three weeks without a post, a thousand apologies from Howling Latina.
Even while away, she was still able to read a blog post now and then about the Dem and GOP presidential candidates; she is happy to note that female bloggers are starting to line up behind Hillary.
The howler always suspected there might be a bit of male chauvanism going on...as noted here, here and here; and yes, that sometimes included female bloggers.
After reading the latest news about Obama's voting record while in the Illinois state Senate, she has to admit she's very, very disappointed. Sounds like Obama didn't want to go on record with any tough votes.
Even while away, she was still able to read a blog post now and then about the Dem and GOP presidential candidates; she is happy to note that female bloggers are starting to line up behind Hillary.
The howler always suspected there might be a bit of male chauvanism going on...as noted here, here and here; and yes, that sometimes included female bloggers.
After reading the latest news about Obama's voting record while in the Illinois state Senate, she has to admit she's very, very disappointed. Sounds like Obama didn't want to go on record with any tough votes.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Bad Blood Between Fla. Congresswoman & Dem Challenger
Congresswoman Ileana Dias-Lehtinen faces a strong candidate next year in the face of former Democratic Hialeah Mayor Raúl Martínez.
This would be a Lehtinen v. Martinez rematch of sorts. You see, the second surname in Ileana's name is in honor of her "former husband, former federal prosecutor in Miami, Dexter Lehtinen." The same guy who tried to dispatch Martinez to the federal big house.
Around the same time that Claude Pepper's seat became available due to his untimely death, Lehtinen gave a get out of jail card to convicted cocaine traffic dealer Alberto San Pedro if he would testify in an even more timely federal corruption trial.
Just a coincidence, no doubt, but Lehtinen went after the strongest challenger to his wife's Congressional seat; and alas, the corruption dog-and-pony show ended any hope to the mayor's run for higher office.
Lehtinen once had been a Democratic state senator but switched parties in the 70s when Dixie went Republican.
From the onset, Martinez claimed that his "prosecution was politically motivated, " as the New York Times noted back in 1991. Martinez said that "[b]efore the Government brought charges against him, he had long planned a run for the Congressional seat held by Ileana Ros-Lehtinen."
Facing "up to 120 years in prison and up to $1.5 million in fines," Martinez was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years. However, the charges were later thrown out on appeal due to jury misconduct.
The sad tale ultimately concluded after two more trials -- a hung jury, 11-1 in favor to acquit -- and a second deadlocked panel.
Ileana's initial campagn manager was none other than Lil Bro Jeb Bush. In a professional tit-for-tat, George Bush Sr. nominated Lehtinen as federal prosecutor; however, Senate Democrats refused to confirm him after his shenanigans in the Martinez case as well as others.
Folks, welcome to Florida politics run by the Mafia Republicana Cubana. Looks like carting political enemies off to prison is a GOP specialty perfected in Florida; and yeah, expect the snarling, scheming and growling to continue to get really, really ugly in '09.
This would be a Lehtinen v. Martinez rematch of sorts. You see, the second surname in Ileana's name is in honor of her "former husband, former federal prosecutor in Miami, Dexter Lehtinen." The same guy who tried to dispatch Martinez to the federal big house.
Around the same time that Claude Pepper's seat became available due to his untimely death, Lehtinen gave a get out of jail card to convicted cocaine traffic dealer Alberto San Pedro if he would testify in an even more timely federal corruption trial.
Just a coincidence, no doubt, but Lehtinen went after the strongest challenger to his wife's Congressional seat; and alas, the corruption dog-and-pony show ended any hope to the mayor's run for higher office.
Lehtinen once had been a Democratic state senator but switched parties in the 70s when Dixie went Republican.
From the onset, Martinez claimed that his "prosecution was politically motivated, " as the New York Times noted back in 1991. Martinez said that "[b]efore the Government brought charges against him, he had long planned a run for the Congressional seat held by Ileana Ros-Lehtinen."
Facing "up to 120 years in prison and up to $1.5 million in fines," Martinez was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years. However, the charges were later thrown out on appeal due to jury misconduct.
The sad tale ultimately concluded after two more trials -- a hung jury, 11-1 in favor to acquit -- and a second deadlocked panel.
Ileana's initial campagn manager was none other than Lil Bro Jeb Bush. In a professional tit-for-tat, George Bush Sr. nominated Lehtinen as federal prosecutor; however, Senate Democrats refused to confirm him after his shenanigans in the Martinez case as well as others.
Folks, welcome to Florida politics run by the Mafia Republicana Cubana. Looks like carting political enemies off to prison is a GOP specialty perfected in Florida; and yeah, expect the snarling, scheming and growling to continue to get really, really ugly in '09.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
No Illegals -- Unless You're Cuban
Mitt Romney is the most disgusting pandering toady to come across the political stage. He will say anything to curry favor and WIN.
Only hours after the YouTube debate where he excoriated former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani for giving sanction to illegals while in office, he drew a unique distinction between the untouchables and the Cubans who vote for Republicans.
HispanicBusiness.com writes that "Romney's desire for tougher immigration enforcement doesn't apply to Cubans, who he says should be welcomed with open arms." In an interview with The Tampa Tribune editorial board Romney is quoting as saying:
In the meantime, Romney would no doubt work to change the laws and curb any free education to immigrant children with judges and justices in the mold of St. Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.
Only hours after the YouTube debate where he excoriated former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani for giving sanction to illegals while in office, he drew a unique distinction between the untouchables and the Cubans who vote for Republicans.
HispanicBusiness.com writes that "Romney's desire for tougher immigration enforcement doesn't apply to Cubans, who he says should be welcomed with open arms." In an interview with The Tampa Tribune editorial board Romney is quoting as saying:
I can tell you my inclination would be to say as many Cubans as want to come here should come in," Romney said in an interview Tuesday.Well, so much for "if you’re here illegally, you should not be here." That's right, the government under President Romney ain't gonna give illegals "benefits" or anything else for that matter unless absolutely mandated by law OR...if you happen to be Cuban-American, part of a very large voting bloc in the swing state of Florida.
In the meantime, Romney would no doubt work to change the laws and curb any free education to immigrant children with judges and justices in the mold of St. Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.
Republicans Can Loyalty Oaths
It looks like Virginia Republicans came to their senses and opted to can the presidential loyalty oaths.
Heretofore, any Virginians who voted in the GOP presidential primary in February had to forswear they'd vote for the Republican candidate -- no matter who that might be.
Ravaging Rudy, anyone...? How 'bout Huckleberry Holy Joe Huckabee??? Or Mendacious Shifting Mitt!?!
The Associated Press via the Virginian-Pilot reports that "[a] committee at the party's annual winter retreat voted overwhelmingly to rescind the request to the State Board of Elections regarding the Feb. 12 primary."
Heretofore, any Virginians who voted in the GOP presidential primary in February had to forswear they'd vote for the Republican candidate -- no matter who that might be.
Ravaging Rudy, anyone...? How 'bout Huckleberry Holy Joe Huckabee??? Or Mendacious Shifting Mitt!?!
The Associated Press via the Virginian-Pilot reports that "[a] committee at the party's annual winter retreat voted overwhelmingly to rescind the request to the State Board of Elections regarding the Feb. 12 primary."
You see, it was the Dems fault; they kept meddling in Republican affairs; if they would just stick to their own party concerns, well, the Republicans could then nominate the absolute battiest of all the batwing candidates and march to victory--same as they've done for the last seven years or so.The party had been criticized for imposing the oath.
State GOP Executive Director Charlie Judd said because Democrats are holding their primary in Virginia the same day, that reduces the possibility that Democrats or independents could meddle in the GOP selection process.
Judd said the GOP could reinstate such an oath in future primaries.
