Category Archives: elections

Debate Tonight

People buy discount estradiol sale jelly who are taking simvastatin, atorvastatin, or lovastatin should avoid grapefruit betnovate prescription and grapefruit juice to reduce the risk of an interaction. canadian pharmacy compazine Knowing the specific mutation can help predict how the disease cheap cialis might progress in a person, which can allow doctors to purchase cheap viagra sale dangers plan treatment and care decisions. Early stage pancreatic tail tumors accutane sale usually do not cause symptoms, which may lead to a buy cheap xalatan online usa later diagnosis. Because slippery elm is a natural supplement, the compare kenalog prices online U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) cannot regulate it for buy generic amoxicillin alternative liquid effectiveness or safety. Canthaxanthin can stain any area covered with purchase clonidine online skin, so these areas may also appear orange to brownish. drug amoxicillin online purchase While skin care can help to prevent or reduce these viagra side effects changes, individuals should consider speaking with a dermatologist if they cheap prescription without consultation cialis order experience skin changes during this time. It may take several doses.

obama-clinton.jpg

Just so you ninjas know. There will be another debate tonight between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. It will go from 9 – 10:30 and will air on NBC. Be sure to check back here for a run-down of the important aspects of what should be a bare-knuckle assault on Obama from Clinton.

The impending doomsday for team Hillary is one week from today when Texas and Ohio will have their primary elections.

I love that picture.

Nader Enters the Race

nader_2004_cartoon.jpg

[Image: Cartoon by Gary Markstein, via Hereinstead]

Not to be left out of this presidential election, Ralph Nader has announced that he will be entering the 2008 contest for the oval office.

Viewed by many as a spoiler in the 2000+2004 elections, Nader thinks of himself as a serious candidate who will push issues that the Republicans tend to marginalize, and on which the Democrats are ‘too cautious’ to take a serious stance.

“I’d go after Bush even more vigorously as we are in the next few months in ways that the Democrats can’t possibly do because they’re too cautious and too unimaginative, but they can pick up the vulnerabilities and the failures of the Bush administration that we point out,” Nader said Monday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Nader rejects the spoiler label as a “contemptuous” term used by those who want to deny voters a choice. Declaring Washington a “corporate-occupied territory,” he accuses both Democrats and Republicans of being dominated by corporate lobbyists who care little about the needs of ordinary Americans [via MSNBC].

‘Contemptuous’ or not, in a tight political race such as the 2000 elections [when Bush lost to Al Gore], Nader was the deciding factor in a number of states – where Bush beat Gore by a narrow margin that would’ve been covered by those votes for Ralph. While Nader believes this election should be a ‘landslide’ for the democrats, I think we can all agree that after the 2000 elections we know that anything is possible.

Here’s a video, released after the NH primaries, in which Nader voices his opinions on the [then] remaining 2008 hopefuls:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f5yIxWsOns[/youtube]

Regardless of whether you believe Nader is right about Washington, and the problems with our two-party electoral system [and I mean, let's be real - of course he's right], the fact remains that this is a two-party country that barely bothers to learn about politricks – and instead simply choses a side. Those of us willing to consider candidates based on merit and actual policies/views instead of party lines are both in the minority, and [seemingly] a little too far left to vote republican [most of the time]. This effectively splits a democratic party, at some point – that the majority of republicans already believe is too ‘liberal’ – by providing an entirely valid candidate who responds to the needs/desires of many ‘liberals’ who would, by default, vote democrat. It’s a shitty reality, but the reality nonetheless – sorry Ralphie.

The Republicans, of course, will be backing Nader’s candidacy:

“I think it always would probably pull votes away from the Democrats and not the Republicans, so naturally, Republicans would welcome his entry into the race,” Huckabee said Sunday on CNN [via].

Check out CNN‘s and MSNBC‘s coverage for more.

The Debate Discussion

t1homeapplausegi.jpg

So the debate tonight between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama was interesting. It’s hard for me to say who won. They both performed well. I think it was crucial for Hillary to at least keep up with Obama. Of course, she succeeded at this because she’s stronger in debates than at giving speeches. She had some very positive moments, or at least moments the public wanted to see tonight. I thought she was trying to cry when she started talking about seeing those soldiers walk out to her with their injuries. It seemed a little forced. When confronted with having to stir up the thought of a struggle she immediately referenced to her public humiliation 8 years ago courtesy of her husband, President Bill Clinton. At least she acknowledged that others have gone through worse, she said these are a the people that make her get out of bed everyday. I was reminded of an SNL skit of Hartman as Clinton in a McDonald’s. After having taken a boys French-fries, Clinton says to his father “We’re gonna wake up everyday thinking about you.”

It wasn’t however the only reference to times before Bush. Clinton tried to remind us of how good we had it before GDubz. She assured us that she could get us back on the track we were on before he took over. She wanted us to know that the policies of Bill would carry over into Hillary. Unfortunately, we don’t have the same ingredients for that recipe this time around.

Then there was Barack Obama. He did a fantastic job of keeping up with her considering she needed to really shine tonight. Is it me, or did he sound like he’s had the flu? His single greatest moment was in rebuttal to Hillary’s shrug-off of the question of super-delegates and pledged delegates. Hillary said that she didn’t think it would come to her going after super delegates and possibly upsetting the popular vote over THEIR choice for a nominee. Obama made the argument that the supes ought to strongly consider voting along with he people based on the point that the popular vote being over-turned again would be very disheartening for a population has only increasingly felt alienated from the behaviors of the government. I agree that such a situation would be a call on people to ensure their government is listening. His reference to “silly season” was my favorite part of the night. After being attacked for taking a line from Mass. Governor Duval Patrick (we’re neighbors, no joke) Obama warns of the dangers of negative energies of this kind. His demeanor was good tonight, and I appreciate his tone. I think Obama takes more time to articulate the response he’s looking for in these debates, but I think he goes a lot deeper than she does.

McCain and Lobbyist Too Close

20mccain-190a.jpg

BREAKING NEWS – Apparently the last time John McCain ran for president his relationship with a certain lobbyist raised some suspicions. Now 40 year old Vicki Iseman was seen around McCain so much that his advisors had to step in and end the relationship. Iseman was representing companies for whom McCain had provided favors for, in the form of letters to federal regulators.

The New York Times has the article.

Again, this isn’t something that is going to sink McCain, it’s just something he’s going to have to deal with in the long run. The long time party boy seems capable of the accused actions. Some people think that the details of his personal life (the relationships he’s had with strippers and hot lobbyists) are inconsequential but this was a lobbyist with clients for whom he did favors. That does not look good on your public service record. Ninjas should could just consider it about the character of a big-whig favor giving Washington pure-bred.

The response from McCain.

The Post also has a piece with more names and games.

Obama x10

obama.jpg

Just in case you ig’nant and haven’t heard the latest news on the election front I thought I’d help a ninja out with a recap of recent events. Last night Obama won his 9th and 10th consecutive contests, winning a primary in Wisconsin and a caucus in Hawaii. In Wisconsin Barack won big, with 58% of the vote compared to Hillary’s 41%. A margin of 17%! Just for a bit of perspective of what a trouncing that is: the only thing Republican front runner John McCain can do to foul his nomination is quit and he only beat Mike Huckabee by 18%. In Hawaii the results were far more ludicrous with Obama taking 76% of the vote to Hillary’s 24%. These victories ensure that Hillary will go the entire month of February without a victory. That is a long ass time in this kind of atmosphere, ninjas.

Obama now leads in total delegates with 1,319 to Hillary’s 1,245. His camp claims that she will have to win every race from here on out by more than 20 points to recover. Do Hillary’s supporters really think that after he beats her, any heat coming from the Republicans will be worse? I mean she’s hitting him with everything she’s got and she can’t even make a dent in his momentum. I think if he beats her it proves the ‘Republican attack machine’ can’t stop him either.

The hits just keep on coming for Hillary, who plans to attack Obama on not being ready for the Oval Office. Sister, who is? 

Like Hope, But Different

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gwqEneBKUs[/youtube]

All I have to say about this video is that it’s hilarious – Iraq withdrawal date: 12,008? My Ninjas, PLEASE!

From the makers of the video:

Will.i.am totally stole this idea from us, we’ve been thinking for a long time that earnest people reacting to a candidate is the future of music video.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUKINg8DCUo[/youtube]

Here’s a second video, this time by Barely Political.

Obama’s Weekend Sweep

080106_p09_cartoon1.jpg

Well, my ninjas, what a weekend. Barak Obama won all three contests on Saturday: Nevada, Washington and Louisiana. Then, on Sunday he won Maine too which was supposed to be Hillary Country. Now this sweep is by and large a result of the huge momentum Barak has accumulated as of late and Hillary’s camp is not pleased. Obama has drastically closed the gap between he and Clinton. They have reacted by switching campaign managers and claiming that Barak has been able to spend much more money than they have (his donations far surpass hers in 2008).

 

On the GOP side of things it was quite an interesting weekend. Mike Huckabee is proving to be quite a thorn in the side of John McCain as Huck won two of the three races: Kansas and Louisiana. The third GOP contest this weekend has created some controversy, as the chair of the Reps. in Washington State decided to call the race in favor of John McCain after only 87% percent of the votes had been counted with a discrepancy of less than 2% between the candidates. Huckabee has responded by sending a legal team to investigate the situation. All this adds up to Huck giving McCain a run for his money as he has the nomination all but secured. This really shows the reluctancy many conservatives have with backing McCain and illustrates the struggle he will have to rally the party around him in the coming months.  

GObama

Get a giggle out of this article. Bringing us (and himself) down a peg or two.

“Almost like what was that movie with, oh, the movie, oh God. That English actor, he practically said nothing. Oh shoot. He was the butler and everybody loved him and what he was thinking and feeling. Do you know the movie I’m talking about? You don’t.” Hers, of course, is the demographic most likely to vote.

 Thanks to the Daily Dish, again.

Iran, what?

Remember Iran? That country next to Iraq that is enriching uranium and is supposed to be the “Pest to the West” (term hereby copyrighted by MNP)?  It seems that the last major news we’ve seen concerning the clericly run state was back when an NIE (an intelligence report) was released siting that Iran had halted their nuclear weapons development as far back as 2003. Well, they’re back this month, making the front page of the Economist, and American Conservatives are shaking. Stanley Kurtz’s piece from the National Review claims:

Yet, as the truth about the NIE report emerges from decidedly non-neocon sources like The Economist, it’s increasingly clear that the real NIE story is actually a Republican warning come true. Dovish intelligence analysts eager to discredit the administration and tie its hands have not only distorted and betrayed the truth about Iran, they have undercut and infuriated the very European diplomats America’s doves look to for approval and assistance. The NIE lied. Europe’s peacemakers cried. Seizing on this story could bring national security back into the heart of this election campaign — and for all the right reasons.

First and foremost: “the truth” about the report isn’t coming from souces like the Economist being able to analyze it. Now, I’m not going to say that Iran definitely isn’t trying to build nukes-I mean, as recent as yesterday Iran was making international news after the launch of a rocket/long range missle apparatus which would greatly assist their efforts to drop a nuke if they should ever procure one-however, do I think that even if Iran did, somehow, get their hands on a nuke they would turn around and blow us up immediately because they’re just those type of people? My ninjas, please! Of course not. They may be a proud people, but not so much that they’d ensure their destruction to stick it to us. Would it be a security threat, yeah. Would the proper way to deal with that situation be to antagonize them and push them closer to a forging a strong relationship with someone like China (I say this because in the future they might benefit from one another’s relationship with the US)? My ninjas please! Of course not.

So, why is Kurtz arguing for Iran’s importance as an election issue? He doesn’t look like a tough-guy…:

20060731_kurtz_150w.jpg

Because he believes that Iran can get their hands on a nuke in the next four years, and if the military option to engage Iran is off the table for now than he fears the international community has given Iran the green light to take this initiative.  Listen, just becuase we are not eagerly awaiting a time when we can strike Iran for being a punk doesn’t mean we’re playing nice. It’s their move now, and you bet your bottom dollar they understand the international community will not at all tolerate their being a nuclear power. And should that even come to fruition, it won’t be a secret, we’ll know. Right? Neither Obama nor Hillary is willing to comprimise American security for a shot at diplomacy with Iran.

Ouch!

And her career there shows what a trail blazer she could have been for feminism. A skilled, cautious, pragmatic and constituent-focused legislator, she began to build a Senate career admired by many. But it became clear pretty soon that the Senate was indeed merely a stepping stone back to the White House.

-Andrew Sullivan, the Daily Dish

What a great opinion piece on Hillary.

first_lady_hilary_clinton_wincing_in_199_1.jpg

You ninjas are constantly fooled by trickery and hood-winkery from the liberal media that plagues our country. What you need is a reasonable conservative voice who can show you what America is really all about. I propose you read this man’s blog. He’s an HIV positive, gay Brit; he is Andrew Sullivan.
[Disclaimer: Do not prescribe to Andrew Sullivan's words because of the above. Sure, he's really intelligent, and I bet he's a great guy (in that British sort of way), but his opinions are just insightful, and we offer this because we're just trying to help you develop some of your own.]

Barack Goes Pop

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe751kMBwms[/youtube]

Here’s the speech [above] and the music video [below].

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY[/youtube]

Unfortunately, all the people who would care that these celebrities support Obama probably like him anyway. As for the non-Obama supporters – particularly Republicans – this will probably just make him look like a liberal supported by Hollywood. Should’ve gotten some country singers for the video…