Genghis on Debt Ceiling II: Return of the Boehner
Gallup: Obama 45, Romney 45
Fact That Things Suck Cited As Impediment To Re-Election
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From the Dagbloggers
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President This Guy?
With all of the early prounouncements about what kind of president Barack Obama already has will have been, along with all of the hand-wringing about the future of the GOP, I feel that I have to weigh in on the issue of the moment. What's that you say? Deuteronomy lupus? Lobotomy cupid? I can't understand what you're saying when you talk with your mouth full. Say, what's that you're eating? Gubberman cheese? I'm not sure I've had that variety. Wait, what? "It's the economy, stupid?" Well, I don't appreciate your tone one bit. Besides, I'm trying to talk about the future here.
To that end, allow me to re-introduce George Prescott Bush, son of Jeb and potentially the next, next President of the United States of America. Now, before you say that I'm getting ahead of myself, allow me to get ahead of you by saying that I'm getting ahead of myself. Good, that's out of the way. May I continue, please?
Thanks. Why George P. Bush? Could this handsome fella really be the future of the GOP? Let's take a look at some of the possible factors:
Factor the first: Age. George P. is young. Born in 1976, he'll be 40 in 2016. However, at the tender age of 12 he spoke at the 1988 Republican National Convention that nominated his grandfather. He also campaigned prominently for his uncle in 2000 and, somewhat less prominently, in 2004. Though it has been speculated that his relatively low public profile of late may have had something to do with this military service record during wartime, or lack thereof, rest assured that by 2016 he will have completed his eight year contract as an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve. If 40 sounds young, let's remember that Barack Obama was just barely 47 this November 4th. Also, if it is true that a generational shift either is occurring or has occurred, then we should probably be willing to entertain the thought that this could potentially be a plus for George P. rather than a minus.
Factor the second: Race. George P. is the son of Jeb Bush and Columba Bush. His mother is from Mexico. George P.'s heritage has already proved popular among Hispanic voters. Also, if Wikipedia is to be believed, he went to high school with Enrique Iglesias. Okay, quit swooning and consider this: The U.S. Hispanic population is the second largest after whites and it is growing. George P. could conceivably enjoy a very comfortable electoral environment in states like Texas, Florida and, quite possibly, California. California's population is one-third Hispanic by recent estimations. If a red California sounds improbable to you, then perhaps you've gotten too complacent with a California that seems perennially blue. When was the last time that California went for the GOP? 1988, when George P.'s grandfather won a ticket to the big chair in the Oval Office. If Barack Obama's election truly marks a break with the past in terms of what the face of political power looks like, then George P. will be in good graces come 2016.
Factor the third: Dynasty. Even in the world's oldest democracy, you cannot discount the role of dynastic power. If you doubt this premise, then I will ask you if the names Adams, Roosevelt, Kennedy, Clinton or, ahem, Bush ring a bell for you. No?! You are hopeless. Have some more cheese. As I was saying, though we'll have to wait and see what the elections between now and 2016 look like, George P. may just be the perfect candidate for a post-Obama GOP. He's the old boy who looks like the new boy.
Factor the fourth: Bush fatigue? As of right now, George P. is a Texas attorney and real estate developer. He's working on his military credentials. He's young enough that he's got time. 2012 is too soon. In fact, 2016 might even be too soon. However, he'll be 48 in 2024. That gives him 16 years to make a name for himself. That's plenty of track to run. His uncle didn't seem to be too hurt by a bit of a late start, but he's got an even bigger advantage in several respects. Perhaps being so young actually works in his favor here by giving him some distance from what appears to be a very dismal conclusion to his uncle's presidency.
So, is George P. Bush the face of the future GOP? I'm going to go ahead and say: Absolutely. That way, if I'm right, confirmation bias will allow you all to think back and say to yourselves, "Damn, that DF was like some kind of blogosphere Nostradamus or, to a lesser extent, Jim Cramer." Either that, or I will be dead wrong and no one will remember this by-then-ancient blog entry.
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In the News
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SPIN METER: Rivals airbrush anti-Romney words
By Nancy Benac, Associated Press, May 16, 2012
After the nastiness of the Republican primary race, former candidates have collective amnesia about Romney disses
Note to self: you think you're so smart about this kinda stuff, but you yourself fell for it once again.....so much for all the prognostication about one of our political parties disintegrating from all the primary campaign animosity.
Read the article at http://www.salon.com/2012/05/16/spin_meter_rivals_airbrush_anti_romney_words/ -
Assessing the Representativeness of Public Opinion Surveys
Pew Resarch Center for the People and the Press, May 15, 2012
For decades survey research has provided trusted data about political attitudes and voting behavior, the economy, health, education, demography and many other topics. But political and media surveys are facing significant challenges as a consequence of societal and technological changes.
It has become increasingly difficult to contact potential respondents and to persuade them to participate. The percentage of households in a sample that are successfully interviewed – the response rate – has fallen dramatically. At Pew Research, the response rate of a typical telephone survey was 36% in 1997 and is just 9% today. The general decline in response rates is evident across nearly all types of surveys, in the United States and abroad. At the same time, greater effort and expense are required to achieve even the diminished response rates of today. These challenges have led many to question whether surveys are still providing accurate and unbiased information [....]
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Ride of Silence
On May 16, 2012 at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.
...
The Ride of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph, wear helmets, follow the rules of the road and remain silent during the ride. There are no sponsors and no registration fees. The ride, which is held during National Bike Month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for and honor the lives of those who have been killed or injured.
Read the article at http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php -
Sugar makes you stupid: Study shows high-fructose diet...
A new UCLA rat study is the first to show how a diet steadily high in fructose slows the brain, hampering memory and learning — and how omega-3 fatty acids can counteract the disruption. The peer-reviewed Journal of Physiology publishes the findings in its May 15 edition.
"Our findings illustrate that what you eat affects how you think," said Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a professor of integrative biology and physiology in the UCLA College of Letters and Science. "Eating a high-fructose diet over the long term alters your brain's ability to learn and remember information. But adding omega-3 fatty acids to your meals can help minimize the damage."
While earlier research has revealed how fructose harms the body through its role in diabetes, obesity and fatty liver, this study is the first to uncover how the sweetener influences the brain.
The UCLA team zeroed in on high-fructose corn syrup, an inexpensive liquid six times sweeter than cane sugar, that is commonly added to processed foods, including soft drinks, condiments, applesauce and baby food. The average American consumes more than 40 pounds of high-fructose corn syrup per year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"We're not talking about naturally occurring fructose in fruits, which also contain important antioxidants," explained Gomez-Pinilla, who is also a member of UCLA's Brain Research Institute and Brain Injury Research Center. "We're concerned about high-fructose corn syrup that is added to manufactured food products as a sweetener and preservative."[Better write this down]
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Insider tells why Anonymous ‘might well be the most...
Christopher Doyon, a.k.a. Commander X, sits atop a hillside in an undisclosed location in Canada, watching a reporter and photographer make their way along a narrow path to join him, away from the prying eyes of law enforcement.
It’s been a few weeks of encrypted emails back and forth, working out the security protocol to follow for interviewing Doyon, one of the brains behind Anonymous, now a fugitive from the FBI.
Doyon, who readily admits taking part in some of the highest-profile hacktivist attacks on websites last year — from Tunisia to Orlando, Sony to PayPal — was arrested in September for a comparatively minor assault on the county website of Santa Cruz, Calif., where he was living, in retaliation for the town forcibly removing a homeless encampment on the courthouse steps.
The “virtual sit-in” lasted half an hour. For that, Doyon is facing 15 years in jail.
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I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.
This phrase is banned because of overuse. You may, however, use variations, e.g. "I just threw up a little in Dr. Cleveland's mouth."
Don't be too critical, Genghis. You too might soon be throwing up in your own mouth. I think you've gotten a little drunk with your own editorial power. It's only a matter of time before it expels itself (violently, I think) from your system.
I have database access.
Will we never be rid of these damn Bushes?
I am confident that, personal vendettas notwithstanding, bitrot and relative obscurity give me a fighting chance!
Barack Obama started his presidency with an economic crisis on his hands and a $1.2 trillion budget deficit hanging over the federal government. Recovery is on the minds of just about everyone, as earlier recovery will mean a return to prosperity and an end to the disdainful status of the economy. That's why Obama and his cash advances are potentially very important, if they do what they're intended to, that is. The good news is that the stimulus does seem to be working. The Commerce Department recently released its report, one of the features of which is a rise in manufactured goods, a key economic indicator. A lot of signs point to the stimulus working thus far and a quicker recovery than previously thought, which is good news. A little debt relief can help the nation with its recovery.
Thanks for the comment. There's also been good news this week for the case for fiscal stimulus in general, but it's coming from China. China was less reticent to funds directly into the sectors that were hurting most, like construction and manufacturing, and as a result China's economy is already in much better shape.
Most of you Americans are stupid potically and down right ingrates. Americans lives were saved and prtected by George W Bush like any father would protect his children from anything. The world is safer today because of President Bush. Wake up smell the coffee, give the young Bush the credit he deserve he is serving his country.
Thanks for commenting Canadian Observer, but we've already filled our quota of wacky Canadian observers. In fact, I was thinking that we may have to pare down the ones we have due to the recession and all. Maybe try www.hillaryis44.org.
It is not over ontil the fat lady sings. Just sit back and observe and you may very well see a third generation George Prescott Bush, son of Jeb Bush as the next, next President of the United States of America
Nice try, Genghis. As if burying this threat on an obscure outdated thread would escape our notice. We have agents everywhere. You're in clear violation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, and my lawyers are already drawing up the formal complaint. You're in big touble, buster.
We are of course open to a negotiated settlement -- say, one limiting that Eskimo guy to one comment per week. But not because he's Eskimo. No, no, no, heavens no. It's just that he tends to change the complexion and atmosphere of the website. Splashing the other commenters and all.
your kidding yourself if you honestly believe the words you just said. The war on terror was manufactured for hidden interests, oil. OIL=MONEY
Watch zeitgeist and zeitgeist addendum before you even try to reply to this comment.
I have not watched zeitgeist or zeitgeist addendum. Had you included links, I might have clicked them; I'm impulsive that way. On the other hand, maybe I wouldn't have. Anyway, it's been real. Sort of real. Ok, it has not been very real at all. Sorry.
You didn't watch zeitgeist (fun fact: zeitgeist literally means "time ghost", although I suppose that's what "spirit of the times" literally means, too…) or zeitgeist addendum, and yet you had the temerity to respond to his comment? What kind of fiend are you?
If you're really curious, you can watch it here, but you'd better be really curious.
I'm familiar with Zeitgeist. It contains some facts alongside some absolutely wild speculation. Also, oil and money are hardly hidden interests.