Rush didn't quite use the word "warmonger" but he did support Hillary and Barack as adequately militant on Monday:
On Mr. Limbaugh's program today, he said people should not be rushing to back Mr. McCain over issues of national security. The talk host said America's direction in Iraq would not be substantially different even if Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Obama were elected. "They are not going to surrender the country to Islamic radicalism or the war in Iraq," Mr. Limbaugh said after mentioning the two Democratic senators by name. "They are not going to do that to themselves, despite what their base says."
Mickey Kaus suggested something similar on Jan 30:
I find it hard to believe that either of my party's likely candidates is going to snatch defeat from the jaws of satisfactory in Iraq.
I want to believe! But especially in the event of a President Hillary, if she backslides into staying the course on Iraq won't her co-Presidency go Failed On Arrival? I would think she wouldn't get nearly as much latitude from her base on this issue as Barack "I was right since 2002" Obama.
Ahh, well - the notion that we will elect a Democrat secure in the belief that their anti-war rhetoric is just idle posturing for their base strikes me as bold; I can't escape the fear that they actually believe some of the words coming out of their mouths.
That said, the situation in Iraq may look a lot worse a year from now. Dems, Keep Hope Alive!
I can just see the pressure for Hillry to nominate anti-Surge anti-Iraq cabinet secretaries.
Posted by: MayBee | February 05, 2008 at 03:40 PM
I keep waiting for someone to ask either Hillary or Obama: WHY do you want to bring the troops home as soon as possible?
Is it because we shouldn't have troops anyplace where they are at risk of getting killed? (If so, why do we have them at all?)
But I don't believe this question is going to be asked of them.
Posted by: Other Tom | February 05, 2008 at 03:42 PM
"Is it because we shouldn't have troops anyplace where they are at risk of getting killed? (If so, why do we have them at all?)"
That is an incredibly astute questions and you're right, no one will be asking candidates that one. I can imagine Bill Buckley asking it of a guest on Firing Line, 30 or 40 years ago.
Great news, though, Mike Huckabee wins WV (I don't care how) and gets good press the rest of the day to help him in Georgia, Missouri, and elsewhere! Amazing.
Posted by: hrtshpdbox | February 05, 2008 at 03:47 PM
Well wonder why voting machines have gone "missing" at schools in Los Angeles precints?
The California Majority Report painted it as a rank-and-file Obama uprising, calling it an "outright mutiny." In the blog's comments, a member of the CTA board of directors pooh-poohed that interpretation, stating that "what happened at CTA's State Council of Education was a postponement of a vote, and that's it."
New West Notes called the vote postponement a rebellion, but incorrectly reported that delegates voted "overwhelmingly against the Clinton endorsement."
It appears the San Francisco Chronicle's Matier and Ross have the true explanation. They note the importance of getting the endorsement before the primary:
"Getting the teachers' backing would have opened up the union's substantial checkbook to Clinton. It also would have led to mass mailings to voters, including to the union's 360,000 members, plus the potential for major phone-bank help and other get-out-the-vote efforts on election day."
And then give us the punch line:
"Word is, it didn't help that Clinton's union forces had blocked the affiliated United Teachers of Los Angeles from endorsing Obama a week earlier - and that many of its members were on hand for Saturday's vote."
link
Field Poll (very reliable) shows it to be a "virtual tie" with a two percent difference within the MOE.
Ghee wouldn't take much to make the difference...
Union hijinks?
Posted by: Anon | February 05, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Don't bet the farm that the Dems, whichever it is, would not pull out. To think otherwise is VERY wishful thinking and down right dangerous.
Posted by: LYNNDH | February 05, 2008 at 04:00 PM
If the purpose of the surge was a reduction in violence, it has succeeded (in a post hoc ergo propter hoc manner). Bravo.
If the purpose of the surge (as articulated by its supporters) was Iraqi political reconciliation, it has failed. Ooops.
The congress has already prohibited the use of funds for bases in Iraq in the defense authorization bill (despite the administration's "pocket veto" and "signing statement"), so there is no consensus for permanent occupation, either here or in Iraq.
Are you prepared to stay in Iraq for the next hundred years (a la McCain)? For what?
Why don’t we declare "victory" and get out if and when we can do it without all heck breaking loose? If we can get out without breaking anything else, it will be a victory.
Posted by: TexasToast | February 05, 2008 at 04:02 PM
You can bet that whatever the explanation there will plenty of people out their fanning the flames and contending that the otherside (probably Hill) cheated. I wonder why reps keep moaning..The Dems are primed for a civil war it seems to me.
Posted by: clarice | February 05, 2008 at 04:04 PM
You can bet that whatever the explanation there will plenty of people out there fanning the flames and contending that the otherside (probably Hill) cheated. I wonder why reps keep moaning..The Dems are primed for a civil war it seems to me.
Posted by: clarice | February 05, 2008 at 04:05 PM
The Dems tried to bluff Bush into making the first move and failed. Their goal was always to acheive a pullout without having their fingerprints on it (Bush did it!) The game becomes a bit stickier for them if they are in charge and the pullout leads to bad results. I believe that is what Rush is alluding to - he's probably right, but it's not a a sure thing.
Texas Toast - gotta update that logic. It's so Late Summer/Fall 2007.
Posted by: Rich Berger | February 05, 2008 at 04:12 PM
as articulated by its supporters
This supporter articulated thus:
Better to have elected representative government backed my US military than Taliban rule, Terrorist state, or Sunni Dictator.
Better to have growing economy than all parties with nothing to lose and nothing to gain.
Want political reconciliation? Economic incentive is probably more effective than platitudinous sanctimony.
US military can provide: (1) elected representative government (2) security necessary for economic growth. So, why do you hate the Iraqi people and want to deny their chance for peace and prosperity?
Posted by: boris | February 05, 2008 at 04:15 PM
Amen, boris!
Posted by: Syl | February 05, 2008 at 04:52 PM
Scenario:
It's late 2010 and President Obama is in the Oval Office. An Al Qaeda-Taliban alliance now has the Pakistani government on the ropes and controls larges swathes of the country.
Meanwhile, Iraq has returned to chaos after Obama, fulfilling a long-time pledge, pulled out all U.S. forces within a matter of months despite the pleas of the Iraqi government and even many within his own party.
Suddenly, in a YouTube broadcast, Al Qaeda announces it has acquired at least one Pakistani nuclear device and will use it unless the West "comes to Islam" and immediately submits. Obama quickly meets with the Joint Chiefs and, reluctantly, directs them to draw up a plan to invade Pakistan.
However, Obama is stunned when the Chiefs uniformly tell him, "Yes, Mr. President, we'll do it, but, first, we want iron-clad guarantees of 1) unconditional and continuing support for the war effort from you, Congress, and the American people, 2) our total control over strategy and tactics while conducting operations, and 3) veto power over all future military deployments. Otherwise...we're not going anywhere."
What does Obama do? If he and Congress agree to these demands, then they will have just made the Armed Forces the fourth branch of government. If they refuse, then the Armed Forces simply won't go: the military will be in open rebellion and any attempt by Obama and Congress to sack its leadership could be met by a sit-down strike...or even a coup.
Interesting to think about, huh? What would you do?
Posted by: MarkJ | February 05, 2008 at 05:11 PM
Limbaugh is a flaming ass. He's willing to back a die hard Marxist (Hillary) because McCain hurt his fragile feelings. What an incredible, loud mouth jerk.
Posted by: rplat | February 05, 2008 at 05:14 PM
MarkJ-
Interesting to think about, huh?
Too Hollywood-the JCS would draw up a plan to invade Pakistan that would make the most bloodthirsty neo-con shy away. Obama is Bill Clinton without the deep character flaws-an indolent prince in love with the sweet sound of his own voice and a true believer in a transnational progressive agenda but unwilling to take the risks necessary to defend the nation [or even stay true to his own rehtoric]. How that plays out in Iraq, I'm not sure, but I doubt that we'll be out of Iraq by 2012, even if he is in the Oval Office.
Also, Rick, did you see some economists have made it official-we are in a recession. The checks must have finally cleared.
Posted by: RichatUF | February 05, 2008 at 05:38 PM
If the purpose of the surge (as articulated by its supporters) was Iraqi political reconciliation, it has failed. Ooops.
Ah, more on the "surge failure" meme. And if we can't call it a failure on the merits, we'll call it one on interpretation. There is no way any "supporter" claimed instant "Iraqi political reconciliation" was a likely outcome; and even the specific benchmarks were a compromise with the defeatist Democrats (never a good policy, that). The military purpose of the "surge" was to enable Petraeus's COIN efforts and provide improved security . . . and it's been wildly successful.
Why don’t we declare "victory" and get out [. . .] ?
Why the fascination with defeat? Is the concept of actual victory so distasteful? Or is it just that it's politically inconvenient?
Posted by: Cecil Turner | February 05, 2008 at 05:44 PM
Well the "conservative" Punditocracy is so busy chasing their own vanities tha they missed this BEAUT-
... a nation coming together to meet challenges and find solutions; to share sacrifices and share prosperity; and focus, once again, not only on the individual good but on the common good.
Who said it?
Lenin?
Marx?
Uh-no!
Sebelius during the Democratic response to the President's State of the Union address.
{Of course that was only after, Russert and Williams, Obama and Clinton got to respond...}
Posted by: Anon | February 05, 2008 at 06:04 PM
Here's some essential Victor Davis Hanson:
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NmRkNzI1NDk5M2I4MDVkM2NjZWQ3MmZjZDUxYmJhNDc=
As for the nonsense above about the surge, I'd say the Iraqis are doing about as well with the deadlines some want to impose on them as the Congress is doing with the "stimulus package." And the purpose of the surge was to rout Al Qaeda in the very place it had declared to be the front line in the jihad against the West. There are a number of people in this country who hoped for its failure for that very reason, and Texas Toast is one of them. Now he has lost, and will have to accommodate himself somehow to the unpleasant fact of an American victory. How bitter it must all taste for such losers.
Posted by: Other Tom | February 05, 2008 at 06:06 PM
I don't care anymore. Romney, McCain, Hillary, Obama, Huck...
I have as of this day become a single issue voter.
First candidate who can make the
trainsplanes run on time will have my vote.Posted by: hit and run | February 05, 2008 at 06:07 PM
As for 100 years in Iraq, why the hell not? We've been in Germany and Japan for more than sixty--you got a problem with that?
Posted by: Other Tom | February 05, 2008 at 06:07 PM
Jesus--some sage earlier today said to watch the futures markets as a leading indicator of what the yet-unpublished exit polls were showing. Dunno if that's true, but there's been a big swing in a few hours in favor of Obama. He's up 53-47 just now.
Posted by: Other Tom | February 05, 2008 at 06:11 PM
WOW - I've been robo'd a bunch by McCain - he and Cindy called earlier today - just got a McCain robo making sure I'd heard things Romney has said with Romney soundbites - including "did you hear what Romeny said today?" - the Bob Dole soundbite.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | February 05, 2008 at 06:34 PM
Other Tom-
Same thing happened in the future trades during New Hampshire.
The exit polls where shat there too. FWIW.
You're talking about California?
Posted by: Anon | February 05, 2008 at 06:36 PM
*were* shat there too.
Cripes talkin' shat I'm off to go check my pants, erh the "futures".
Posted by: Anon | February 05, 2008 at 06:37 PM
NRO Campaign spot has some EARLY exit polling data
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Yjk1ZTlmOWM3YzcyMTk1MTFjMGE5NDA5YzBjYzExOWY=
"The early wave in Utah: Romney 91 percent, McCain 5 percent, Huckabee 1 percent.
I think I’m ready to call that one."
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | February 05, 2008 at 06:39 PM
Cecil-
Why the fascination with defeat? Is the concept of actual victory so distasteful? Or is it just that it's politically inconvenient?
Don't taunt them like that-the Dems will take credit for success in Iraq and cash in the 'peace dividend' with the reduced cost associated with bases, a "short term" SOF agreement [say 20 years], and a reduced presence [I'd throw in training, new equipment, and pay as well as costs that will be pocketed]; also she'll pocket the security premium in oil associated with the Iraq War.
Its Springtime for the Red Witch, free health care for everyone.
Posted by: RichatUF | February 05, 2008 at 06:42 PM
Why are voters who think the economy is the #1 issue going with McCain? What does he bring to the table on that issue? I'm missing something others are seeing, apparently.
Posted by: Sue | February 05, 2008 at 06:48 PM
Via Drudge
--WARNING: EXIT NUMBERS EARLY AND DO NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL VOTES:
OBAMA: Alabama: Obama 60, Clinton 37... Arizona: Obama 51, Clinton 45... Connecticut: Obama 53, Clinton 45... Delaware: Obama 56, Clinton 42... Georgia: Obama 75, Clinton 26... Illinois: Obama 70, Clinton 30... Massachusetts: Obama 50, Clinton 48... Missouri: Obama 50, Clinton 46... New Jersey: Obama 53, Clinton 47...
CLINTON: Arkansas: Clinton 72, Obama 26... California: Clinton 50, Obama 47... New York: Clinton 56, Obama 43... Oklahoma: Clinton 61, Obama 31... Tennessee: Clinton 52, Obama 41... --
Larry Johnson's head explodes
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | February 05, 2008 at 06:48 PM
FYI - Don't know what this means, but I just voted in a high school gym that holds at least 3 precincts in one of the most Blue areas in the State of CA and there was only one other voter there. I asked the poll watchers about the size of the vote so far and they could only come up with "pretty good". I'm surprised, thought it would be heavy.
Posted by: granny | February 05, 2008 at 06:49 PM
Other:
And we're going on 55 years in Korea:
For some perspective:
Troops Deployed in former war countries:
Germany: 63,958
Italy: 11,693
Japan: 48,844
Korea: 26,477
Folks, these are not small numbers.
Posted by: vnjagvet | February 05, 2008 at 06:49 PM
I think Arizona is a caucus and Obama was expected to do well there due to his organization's skill with caucuses-the surprise might be New Jersey...
California is showing up in Hillary's column and that was suppose to be tighter.
Posted by: Anon | February 05, 2008 at 06:54 PM
My take from what Rush is saying is that the Democrat Party needs to Happy America so that they can completely lock down in their agenda; there is no way a Democrat president will do something to disrupt the the 'Happy Days are Here Again' imagine in the first term.
Islamic Jihad might however alter that Happy.
It was 81/2 years between the first attack and the second so who is to say when the next Happy disruption will come.
Posted by: syn | February 05, 2008 at 06:56 PM
Vnjagvet,
The total is 150,972 - isn't that more than are currently in Iraq?
Interesting.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | February 05, 2008 at 06:57 PM
Cnn calls GA for Obama.
Did vnjagvet pull the lever for hope and the end of cynicism?
Posted by: hit and run | February 05, 2008 at 07:13 PM
Assuming the capability, wouldn't it seem reasonable to expect the Jihadis to hit us again to test the new Dem administration? I mean it's not like it's a big secret the Dems are appeasers and weaklings. We all saw them celebrating the results of the '06 elections.
Posted by: Paul | February 05, 2008 at 07:13 PM
"Limbaugh is a flaming ass. He's willing to back a die hard Marxist (Hillary) because McCain hurt his fragile feelings. What an incredible, loud mouth jerk."
Sadly, too true.
Posted by: arrowhead | February 05, 2008 at 07:13 PM
Rush-
well since I know more active duty military than he does easily they remember the drawdown of Bill Clinton, they remember the stories of how the Clintons treated the military on the tarmacs...
I asked them point blank-
Hillary or Obama.
Obama. everytime because they'd rather roll the dice on an unknown entity rather than a "known quantity"-Hillary.
Posted by: Anon | February 05, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Absolutely scary.
Posted by: Rory | February 05, 2008 at 07:22 PM
I don't think Clinton will do that badly. This is could be election 2004 redux (in which, so the story, goes young and/or excited Kerry voters were disproportionately willingly to speak with young exit pollsters), terribly sinister yet effective expectations management by Clinton allies, or a bit of both.
[VIEH: And your considered vast, right-wing, conspiratorial opinion is?
Elliott: You have to ask?]
Posted by: Elliott | February 05, 2008 at 07:23 PM
My comments about voting this morning were indeed about California...
Very serious Tradesports meltdown for the Crass Vulgarian--it's now Obama 60, HRC 40. Oh, how Sidney Blumenthal must be feeling now! (Wasn't there some kind of wife-beating rumor about him?)
Vnjagvet, those are interesting numbers, and worth contemplating. There is some number still in Bosnia and/or Kosovo (a decade and more down the road), but I have no idea what the figure is.
Here's an even better idea for our Leftist friends: why not declare victory and stay?
Posted by: Other Tom | February 05, 2008 at 07:27 PM
Elliott, you surprise me: didn't you get the memo? The exit polls are the only "real" polls; the results you see from those phony voting precincts only come after Team Diebold has massaged them. Everyone knows Kerry won Ohio.
Posted by: Other Tom | February 05, 2008 at 07:30 PM
Got it, OT.
Should have checked my email before I posting.
Posted by: Elliott | February 05, 2008 at 07:34 PM
If Rush is serious he is basing that comment on how well he "knows" the Clintons and IIRC he was wrong about Hillary running in New York.
If elected (1) she would not suffer losing under any circumstance (2) she would respond to any challenge aggressively (3) she would defer to no opposition domestic, foreign, nor UN (4) there would be little or no effective opposition to any action she took.
Posted by: boris | February 05, 2008 at 07:35 PM
Apparently, that's not the only thing I should have checked before ***I posted.***
Posted by: Elliott | February 05, 2008 at 07:36 PM
The way I see it, there are two possibilities. Either Rush is lying, or he doesn't understand beans about politics. Either way, he's lost me as a listener.
Posted by: Brainster | February 05, 2008 at 07:47 PM
Is Rush immune from the dictates of CFR?
Posted by: Syl | February 05, 2008 at 07:52 PM
Rick:
It will be when the first drawdown takes place.
I suspect there will be far fewer before the election.
Posted by: vnjagvet | February 05, 2008 at 07:52 PM
"Is Rush immune from the dictates of CFR?"
I believe that McCain-Feingold's First Amendment restrictions don't come into play until 60 days before the general. Incumbents feel a greater need for protection after the Muddle theoretically wakes up. I don't believe that the free speech restrictions really apply to talk radio hosts, much to McCain's regret, I'm sure.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | February 05, 2008 at 07:59 PM
Brainster, I don't think you have ever listened to RUSH. He does have a website where you could easily find your answers.
Posted by: Ann | February 05, 2008 at 08:01 PM
Am watching the returns--for now--on CNBC. Connecticut and New Jersy are being called for McCain. For the primaries I don't mind networks calling states and their winners ahead of time but it is awful in the general election.
When was that universal closing supposed to take effect? It can't be soon enough.
Posted by: glasater | February 05, 2008 at 08:05 PM
Rick, you are correct and the first thing President McCain will do is go after RUSH and talk radio.
Posted by: Ann | February 05, 2008 at 08:05 PM
The election is about how gullible Americans can be when they want their Happy fix.
We are living in paradise yet all we manage to do is whine, bitch, moan about how we don't have enough and why shouldn't we be spending it on on Iraq but on anal-retentive books and free crap from the government.
Before 9/11/2001 I was one of those who used to believe Rush was a 'right-wing nut case out to destroy America', when I began listening to him in 2003 I could not help up think just how gullible and stupid I was for not thinking that maybe the man really does care about America. He isn't for or against Democrats or Republicans or Presidents he's for America.
It is funny to hear all these people blaming Rush, they sound just like I did way back before I knew any better.
Do you not see how you're being pawned?
It's clear to me that Rush is not the problem here, but I guess you'd have to have lived on the other side to get it.
Posted by: syn | February 05, 2008 at 08:10 PM
Syn, you just made me smile. Thanks
Posted by: Ann | February 05, 2008 at 08:13 PM
Hit:
I voted for Romney because BHO had an insurmountable lead according to the polls.
I went to Plan B.
My polling place, a bastion of Republicanism, was pretty sparsely populated early this afternoon, but the workers said it was far more crowded in the morning.
It will be interesting to see how it went.
Posted by: vnjagvet | February 05, 2008 at 08:13 PM
Karl Rove is now a Fox News Contributor. Heads are exploding!!!
Now, all we need is for Rove to have his own show in Keith's time slot.
Posted by: Ann | February 05, 2008 at 08:29 PM
McCain may regret giving Huckabee WV.
Posted by: Sue | February 05, 2008 at 08:33 PM
It seems Huckabee is hurting McCain more than Romney.
Posted by: Ann | February 05, 2008 at 08:36 PM
syn-
Not really a Rush fan, but that's how I would take his comments. The anti-war Dems are being lied to by BHO and the Red Witch-US policy in Iraq will be on auto-pilot with a gradual drawdown to about 75k and a dozen or so bases. This story might be making the Iranians and KSA a bit nervous:
Remember that Iraq's oil infrastructure was in much worse shape than the CIA analysts realized and that it was cobbled together using 1970's Soviet era technology. I'm sure with the proper rent checks BHO or Red Witch will declare victory, ignore it, then take credit for the success.
Posted by: RichatUF | February 05, 2008 at 08:37 PM
If you like your dystopian conspiracy theories very fresh; Steve Alten's Shell Game is ultimately prophetic. Yes the man
behind the prehistoric shark and the Mayan
apocalypse series; now sinks his truther fangs into the political thriller; that only
a Ron Paul/Dennis Kucinich could love. With
footnotes from all around crazy Mike Ruppert, peak oil theorists, and an occassioanl acknowledgement of the real enemy.
Set in the year 2011; where President McKuin
(subtle as ever)is presiding over a retreat from Iraq (the forward had the typical
spring 2007 dismissal of the surge;
telescoped toward November 2007)The Saudis are under attack at home, not by AQ but by
a home ground secular resistance (Ashraf)
which is apparently a bad thing; because the
Carlyle Group, yadda yadda.
Apparently
McKuin won, Obama and Hillary were undone by
evil Republican 527 ads. Ahmadinejad is still on the nuclear warpath (someone didn't get the memo; however the neocons are
the real foes)as the off stage narrator,a late former national security adviser, is
busy explaining peak oil, the villainy of PNAC, the wonders of E-85 ethanol, and the
prospective nuclear pearl harbor, which is somehow the fault of Wolfowitz,Perle, et al. There's a suitably evil, neocon running
mate (is there any other kind)Ellis Prescott
is trying to outmaneuver the old statesman and like Brutus and Cassius. . .Needless to say, the PNAC plot to blame Iran (don't they know they don't have nuclear weapons)
and a Senator from Delaware, wins on an alternative energy platform, and the true enemy is vanquished.The troofer spythriller,
coming to bookstore near year.
Posted by: narciso | February 05, 2008 at 08:46 PM
Is anyone else as depressed as I am?
Posted by: Sue | February 05, 2008 at 08:51 PM
Does anybody ever mention that Illinois is Hillary's home state?
Posted by: MayBee | February 05, 2008 at 08:54 PM
MA called for Clinton. Poor Teddy.
Posted by: Sue | February 05, 2008 at 08:57 PM
Sue-
The bar is still open. I normally wouldn't recommend beer to drown the sorrow, but in this case I'll make an exception.
narciso-
LOL. With footnotes from all around crazy Mike Ruppert, peak oil theorists, and an occassioanl acknowledgement of the real enemy He scraped the bottom of the barrel for that collection.
Posted by: RichatUF | February 05, 2008 at 08:58 PM
"Does anybody ever mention that Illinois is Hillary's home state?"
Not within her hearing.
Would you risk being turned into a toad?
Posted by: Rick Ballard | February 05, 2008 at 08:58 PM
Sue-
The bar is still open. I normally wouldn't recommend beer to drown the sorrow, but in this case I'll make an exception.
Finishing up the last of my Starbucks liqueur. I don't think I have enough left to drown my sorrows though.
Posted by: Sue | February 05, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Arizona too close to call. I told you guys what my deal is on a candidate who can't win his home state. Something is wrong with them.
Posted by: Sue | February 05, 2008 at 09:02 PM
I got some girl beer at Whole Foods today. Strawberry Lambic. Not strong enough.
Posted by: Porchlight | February 05, 2008 at 09:04 PM
Eee. I just called my husband to tell him they don't have his name on the list of registered voters.
Posted by: MayBee | February 05, 2008 at 09:05 PM
Yeah,Mass!
I want Hill to come across the finish line trailing a broken and dispirited party.
Posted by: clarice | February 05, 2008 at 09:06 PM
Sue people are still voting in Arizona.
Posted by: Anon | February 05, 2008 at 09:07 PM
Sue-
I've got a day old, half-drunk Dr.Pepper in front of me, a full ash tray, and the TV tuned to CNBC-Asia. Good news, Hong Kong has gapped lower 5.5%. My visa has been delayed because the type I needed expired after my passport-its more good news as I'm waiting to get my passport back. I'm sure Hit and Run will have enough beer for both of us, if he ever gets back from his beer run.
Posted by: RichatUF | February 05, 2008 at 09:08 PM
Oh...an ash tray. I so miss the days of smoking while on the computer. Good times.
Actually I think Arizona just closed - they're not on Daylight Savings.
Posted by: Porchlight | February 05, 2008 at 09:12 PM
Rich,
I can't smoke in the house. My husband doesn't smoke and I'm in his office.
I make smoke runs to the patio where it is freezing in the winter and hot in the summer. He thinks it will discourage my smoking.
Beer runs take longer. Live in a dry county. ::sigh::
Posted by: Sue | February 05, 2008 at 09:13 PM
Corrupt NJ goes for Hillary. What a big surprise!!!
Posted by: Ann | February 05, 2008 at 09:13 PM
The blacks are voting for Obama in huge numbers. That can't bode well in the fall if Hillary just barely beats him or if it is a brokered convention and Hillary gets the nod.
Posted by: Sue | February 05, 2008 at 09:21 PM
RichUF- Where are you right now?
Posted by: MayBee | February 05, 2008 at 09:24 PM
Hillary is gonna coerce the superdelegates to throw it her way and make the blacks angry for the next 10 elections. As far as I'm concerned it will be a joy to watch.
Posted by: Jane | February 05, 2008 at 09:32 PM
Sue: I have been depressed for days, but after I voted Saturday (via mail), I felt better. I think it is quite possible that I have cast my last vote in this election cycle (for Romeny -- coulda been Fred, coulda been Rudy -- but they are gone).
I get called every week for donations by the RNC, the senate group, the house group, but I probably made my last donation to the RNC for quite some time. I can contribute to individuals on their own web sites, and have. But not one penny will go to McCain.
Posted by: centralcal | February 05, 2008 at 09:35 PM
I vote on March 5. If it is still up in the air on the democratic side, I'm switching over and voting in the democratic primary. Not that I haven't done that in the past. In fact, I've done it in every election since I started voting since TEXAS DOESN'T EVER, EVER, EVER MATTER. I always vote for the last man standing who isn't the winner already. 04 saw me voting for Al Sharpton. ::grin:: Anyway, I'm voting for Hillary. If McCain is the nominee, he can beat Hillary. If McCain chooses Huck, I'm voting for Hillary in the fall.
Posted by: Sue | February 05, 2008 at 09:41 PM
Maybee-
RichUF- Where are you right now?
Florida, I'm going to Seoul, eventually, if I can ever get off the ride I'm on right now.
Posted by: notRichyetatnotUFanymore | February 05, 2008 at 09:42 PM
I'm not depressed, which may be because super Tuesday can't be anywhere near as bad a Super Sunday, but since I feel like I don't really have much of a dog in this fight at this point, it's good theater. I'm pretty well resigned to not like the next president all that much. If it is a democrat, we will get taxed and attacked and as a result a democrat won't see the oval office for the next 2 decades. As long as Huckabee is not on the ticket I'll vote for the republican.
I've been consumed with politics for well over 15 years. It might be fun to take a break and find something else to obsess over.
Of course I reserve the right to change my mind and probably will.
Posted by: Jane | February 05, 2008 at 09:43 PM
HEH,Jane. If I were a superdelegate I'd be getting an unlisted number and a ride out of town with Rich not at UF.
Posted by: clarice | February 05, 2008 at 09:48 PM
saw me voting for Al Sharpton
Sue,
I love you.
I respect you.
I Support You!
But, I'm not sure I can be there for you with that attitude, even as a joke.
The franchise is a privilege. I do not think that I am out of bounds in saying that those who support Mr. Sharpton abuse that privilege.
In sadness,
Walt
Posted by: Walter | February 05, 2008 at 10:04 PM
I am surprised Obama won Kansas - according to Geraghty
Hillary Clinton: AR, OK, MA, NY, NJ.
Barack Obama: IL, GA, DE, AL, KS.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | February 05, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Obama just won Utah...it looks to be a long night
Posted by: RichatUF | February 05, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Sue,
I love you.
I respect you.
I Support You!
But, I'm not sure I can be there for you with that attitude, even as a joke.
The franchise is a privilege. I do not think that I am out of bounds in saying that those who support Mr. Sharpton abuse that privilege.
In sadness,
Walt
It wasn't a joke. It was a protest vote. I wouldn't vote for John Kerry on a bet. I have to vote in the democratic primary if I want to vote for my local officials. And Bush didn't have a challenger. So, Kerry and Sharpton were the only 2 still in it by the time Texas got around to voting. Don't judge me harshly. Kerry had already been declared the winner by March 5th. ::sigh::
It should be all done on the same day. I should have as much say in who the nominee is as someone in Iowa or NH. Dagnabbit.
Posted by: Sue | February 05, 2008 at 10:10 PM
I am so bummed at myself - my polling place is literally 100 yards from my front door (shoot maybe closer - I am such a bad judge of distance)
Anyways, I wanted to keep tabs on traffic and like a dork the 6 or more times I was outside *I forgot*, so I go running out to see it's a ghost town now and then looked at the clock - it closed 5 minutes ago.
Even forgot when I ran by for my jog. Such a space cadet.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | February 05, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Ok - I am also suprised Utah went for Obama too.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | February 05, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Utah is chock full of Marmots. I didn't know they had any Democrats in the state; I guess Obama must have won 11-8 or something.
Big picture-wise, I think Clarice has it nailed. Let's have some continuing Obamamania, only to see it all dissipate in some strange, Carvillian backroom dealing, with overtones of voting-machine manipulation. The way blacks have gone for Obama since Bubba opened his yap suggests that they aren't going to come back into the fold come November, particularly if they believe they've been jobbed.
I'd prefer to see the stake driven through her heart by her own party right now so we could get it overwith, but doing it in November would be even more delicious. And we all know that the Massachusetts Marmot is not the man for the job.
All's well...
Posted by: Other Tom | February 05, 2008 at 10:25 PM
OK, Sue. I couldn't pull the lever myself, but I can empathise with the urge to vote against Kerry.
I still love you.
ts,
My wife called her relatives in UT some 20 minutes ago. She figures that the 10 of them account for half the Democratic vote in the state--they went entirely for Senator Obama. Apparently, if you want to stick it to the establishment in UT, you not only vote Dem, you vote for the insurgent Dem.
Posted by: Walter | February 05, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Yo NotRich! My niece departed for Ulsan just a couple of weeks ago. She's now teaching English (learning Korean!) and scouting out Onggi teachers. She had a very amusing tale about calling up a list of potters with a little prepared speech, and then keeping track of the ones who were kind enough to try to understand her for potential follow-up.
Posted by: JM Hanes | February 05, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Walt
That make sense!
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | February 05, 2008 at 10:37 PM
I still love you.
::grin::
I would never take my vote lightly. But I seriously hate the primary voting system. I hate not being a part of it. Other than casting a protest vote. If Sharpton had had a chance of winning, I would have not done it. But he didn't and I was throwing that vote away anyway. Our county has one republican who never has a challenger in the primaries. No joke. One republican. And I live in a dry county because those same democrats keep voting to keep it that way. Texas democrats are a strange breed, my friend.
Posted by: Sue | February 05, 2008 at 10:38 PM
I made the observation on another board that southern evangelicals would never vote for a Mormon and was thoroughly rebuked. I hope tonight proves that point. I don't know what they said in exit polls, but I'll bet you, from personal knowledge, that a majority of them would not pull the lever for a Mormon, even if that Mormon was Jesus Christ himself.
Posted by: Sue | February 05, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Sue,
Next time just vote for me. Sheesh (No one in Texas knows that I'm not a democrat. You won't get into any trouble at all.)
Posted by: Jane | February 05, 2008 at 10:42 PM
North Dakota went for Obama too.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | February 05, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Jane,
Sure. I'll just call you Jane Bean. For Beantown. Not that I know where in MA you live, mind you, but that is the only thing that came to me after liqueur.
Posted by: Sue | February 05, 2008 at 10:45 PM
I predict a UBL video tomorrow that says the terrorists have won and scared the American public into submission. First UK then America.
Did anyone watch Huckabee give his victory speech. Yuck!
How does one become a minister and a politician without pandering your a** off. His wife looks like she is on anti-depressants; who could blame her.
I can not believe after 9/11, the American public is willing to vote for change over substance and security. Does the American public really want to forget what happened to us?
Posted by: Ann | February 05, 2008 at 10:51 PM
JMH-
My niece departed for Ulsan just a couple of weeks ago. She's now teaching English (learning Korean!) and scouting out Onggi teachers.
English teachers can make a decent living in South Korea-is she in a hagwon or government? Looks like she picked a really good spot, right on the coast-but remember it is called the Korean Sea, not the Sea of Japan.
Posted by: RichatUF | February 05, 2008 at 10:57 PM
How stupid are democrats? The Clintons had 8 years to give Americans all these things she is promising now (they are the same things they promised the first time around). What makes them think they'll get it this time? Look at democrats in congress. They took both houses on the same promises and haven't delivered on any of them.
Posted by: Sue | February 05, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Sue, as far as I can tell most of them don't have a clue how the government actually works. They think the President waves a magic wand and the laws of the land change accordingly. Kind of like how Bush turned the US into a fascist dictatorship in the last 8 years. Therefore, the Democrats can now create socialist paradise in the next 8.
Posted by: Porchlight | February 05, 2008 at 11:03 PM