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What about this one?

Some guys here seem to prefer his program against more social ones.

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When I first came to your planet and demanded your homes, property and very lives, I didn't know you were already doing so, willingly, with your own government. I can win no tribute from a bankrupted nation populated by feeble flag-waving plebians. In 2008 I shall restore your dignity and make you servants worthy of my rule. This new government shall become a tool of my oppression. Instead of hidden agendas and waffling policies, I offer you direct candor and brutal certainty. I only ask for your tribute, your lives, and your vote.

-- General Zod
Your Future President and Eternal Ruler


Wow, hehe.

A little early to be casting votes in the US elections though at this early stage I'd lean towards Clinton and predict her to win also. Sadly as an Aussie my opinion is worthless.

However there will be an election here within the next few months. In the polls now the current Opposition leader, Rudd, has a decent lead. It's a shame because PM Howard has done an exceptional job of leading the country for over a decade. Things are pretty good here and I back Howard on most of his policy decisions.

Having said that, the area in which I live is reasonably safe seat for the coalition which means my vote is unlikely to change the outcome of the election regardless of where it goes. Most likely it will go to the local coalition candidate.

lol only those who understand Australian politics are going to understand any of that but oh well.

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Kolch - Crunching for the BOINC@Australia team since July 2004.
Search for your own intelligence...

A little early to be casting votes in the US elections though at this early stage I'd lean towards Clinton and predict her to win also. Sadly as an Aussie my opinion is worthless.

However there will be an election here within the next few months. In the polls now the current Opposition leader, Rudd, has a decent lead. It's a shame because PM Howard has done an exceptional job of leading the country for over a decade. Things are pretty good here and I back Howard on most of his policy decisions.

Having said that, the area in which I live is reasonably safe seat for the coalition which means my vote is unlikely to change the outcome of the election regardless of where it goes. Most likely it will go to the local coalition candidate.

lol only those who understand Australian politics are going to understand any of that but oh well.

I think most Australians are sick of the pollies we have (from both sides and in both houses). I know I am.

I can't wait for the Aus election to be over and done, so I don't have to listen, watch and read all the campaigning (which has started before the election date is even announced).

Some days I wish that we had the option to mark on the paper 'None' when indicating who we wanted. It would be interesting to see what would happen then.

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Never surrender and never give up. In the darkest hour there is always hope.

Gavin you can always exercise the right not to vote. However Australia is the only democracy in the world where voting is compulsory. So those voters like yourself that are sick and tired of the major parties often vote for minor parties.

In my opinion that is not true democracy as it is not really a true reflection of your voting intent. Also i believe that giving increased voice to minor parties can make governing considerably more difficult for the major parties once elected.

Its a tricky and flawed system.

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Kolch - Crunching for the BOINC@Australia team since July 2004.
Search for your own intelligence...

The State of Nevada's "None of these candidates" voting law.


BTW, Nevada was the first state (and maybe the only state still) where you have
electronic voting where a paper copy is made as a backup, and the voter can check it out before their vote is finalized. This backup is to prevent electronic voting fraud.

Not bad for a small back water state.

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The State of Nevada's "None of these candidates" voting law.


BTW, Nevada was the first state (and maybe the only state still) where you have
electronic voting where a paper copy is made as a backup, and the voter can check it out before their vote is finalized. This backup is to prevent electronic voting fraud.

Not bad for a small back water state.

Meanwhile, in Aus, at the polling booth you use a pencil to mark your vote(s). And the vote is a legal document. Every other legal doc must be done with a pen. But not when you vote (some would have you believe that this allows them to change votes ;) ).

But if you wish, you can bring your own pen and use that. I've been told that is legal.

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Never surrender and never give up. In the darkest hour there is always hope.

Gavin you can always exercise the right not to vote. However Australia is the only democracy in the world where voting is compulsory. So those voters like yourself that are sick and tired of the major parties often vote for minor parties.

In my opinion that is not true democracy as it is not really a true reflection of your voting intent. Also i believe that giving increased voice to minor parties can make governing considerably more difficult for the major parties once elected.

Its a tricky and flawed system.

More often than not most of those I know will vote for the 'lesser of two evils'. And this applies to all elections at all levels. How else did Brisbane end up with a Liberal Lord Mayor and a Labour majority of councilors. And they seem to spend all the time arguing, but I think those of us in Brisbane wanted a change. The problem I had was when it came to the vote, I didn't know who the Liberal rep was for my area, they literally did no campaigning so I did not know where they stood and want they wanted for the area, so how can I vote for them?

I will admit that I voted for the Liberal lord mayor, as I had enough of Labour being the majority in the wards and the mayor and doing whatever they wanted through a simple majority. Now they have to work together a little bit more.

Though it is still not perfect here.

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Never surrender and never give up. In the darkest hour there is always hope.

I will admit that I voted for the Liberal lord mayor, as I had enough of Labour being the majority in the wards and the mayor and doing whatever they wanted through a simple majority. Now they have to work together a little bit more.

Though it is still not perfect here.

Thats the ticket! If you are stuck in a two-major party system (like we are in the USA), having different parties in charge of the legislative and executive branches is the ONLY way to go. The ensuing Gridlock of Government is about the only thing that will help prevent abuses of power.

The ensuing Gridlock of Government is about the only thing that will help prevent abuses of power.

Nice plan, but I don't think it's working very well... ;)

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It may not be 1984 but George Orwell sure did see the future . . .

The ensuing Gridlock of Government is about the only thing that will help prevent abuses of power.

Nice plan, but I don't think it's working very well... ;)

Neither do I...

Eeek! I agree to Jeffrey!

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The problem with the Gridlock in the US is that the Dems don't have the majority they need to effectively block the President. So it doesn't matter that it is a Democratic Congress.

In Australia typically the way of Gridlocking the Government is voting for one major party in the House of Representatives and the other major party in the Senate.

It really is impossible to say if a Gridlocked Government is better than a powerful one. There will be times when good Government will be frustrated and impeded by the gridlock. Just as there will be times when a powerful Government governs without proper review and consideration and ultimately makes poor policy decisions.

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Kolch - Crunching for the BOINC@Australia team since July 2004.
Search for your own intelligence...

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Ah yes, the Hanging Chads. I always thought that would make a great name for a rock group.

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Hopefully the cosmos is not trying to reverse the charges.
Moderation in all things.

A report from the Middle East


Dear, Mr. Gray

While the other leading candidates for the Presidency were spending the Labor Day weekend campaigning at picnics, barbeques, state and county fairs, and parading in front of the cameras, YOUR candidate, Dennis Kucinich, without fanfare, was quietly traveling throughout the troubled Middle East in search of real-world solutions to monumental, global challenges.

The votes we cast next year will have an impact here in the United States and around the world, and the candidate we elect must be equipped to make sound foreign policy decisions, based on first hand experience and in-person communications with other world leaders.

So, while other candidates partied and picnicked and posed, Dennis and Elizabeth traveled to a troubled, dangerous region of the world to meet with heads of state and other political leaders to find ways to solve the problems, mitigate the dangers, and find common ground for diplomatic cooperation - and PEACE.

"Strength through Peace" - the Kucinich philosophy - means direct engagement, diplomacy, adherence to international law and upholding treaties. It was in that spirit that Dennis and Elizabeth decided to visit the Middle East; to see whether political and religious leaders as well as the citizens of the region were open to the kind of positive dialogue recommended in the Baker Hamilton report. The kind of dialogue ignored and dismissed by the White House.

The six day trip started in Syria. In the Golan region, they visited the site of the "Shouting Valley" where Syrians whose families were separated by the occupation have to literally shout to each other across a distance of several hundred yards in order to maintain family and personal contact.

Syria has accepted and settled more than one and a half million refugees from Iraq. Dennis and Elizabeth visited an area on the Syrian-Iraqi border, as well as one neighborhood in Damascus where some of the Iraqis had settled. The Syrian government is providing free education and healthcare. "People are desperate," said Dennis. "They have lost loved ones in the war. They have nothing but the clothes on their back. This is a profound humanitarian gesture on the part of this country because it significantly increases the population of Syria. Now, someone must provide for these refugees."

On the second day, there was an extended meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. They discussed a wide range of other matters including building relations between Syria and the United States, the role of the European community in negotiations between Syria and Israel, hopes for a national unity government in Lebanon, matters affecting Pakistan, and Assad's stated desire for a peace agreement with Israel.

Elizabeth met with the President's British-born wife, with whom she shares an interest in community economic development, education and the welfare of refugees.

One of the most moving parts of their trip was a visit to the holy site of Notre Dame de Saydanaya, a revered Christian mecca where legend says the Virgin Mary appeared 1,500 years ago, fully veiled Muslim women worship together with Christians. "In this time of religious strife, it is important to bear witness to places that show the way of peace," Elizabeth observed.

Peace and harmony in the Axis of Evil?? Would that message be seen on American TV? No.

Next, Dennis and Elizabeth visited Lebanon. There, Dennis met with President Emil Lahoud and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora where further discussions centered on resolving the conflict with Israel and issues surrounding stability in Lebanon.

President Lahoud was specific about the challenge of Shiites having resigned from the government: "Lebanon is governed by a consensus on every issue. To have this we must have the three main religious groups represented equally (Shiites, Sunnis and Maronites). When one group leaves, you cannot have a legal government."

And, in what may be a surprise to many here at home, there is a surprisingly large American population in Lebanon. How large? About 50,000, many of them active in "Democrats Abroad Lebanon", a branch of the Democratic Party's official overseas arm. Those U.S. citizens were thrilled to have a chance to meet Dennis and Elizabeth at a special evening meeting, and they used the event to kick-off their plans for getting Americans in the country to vote in Democrats Abroad's delegate selection process to choose delegates to attend the Democratic National Convention next year in Denver.

Lebanon's leading Christian cleric, Cardinal Sfeir, Patriarch of the Maronite Church met with Dennis and Elizabeth. Cardinal Sfier is no stranger to U.S. politics. He has met with George Bush, Dick Cheney and Condaleeza Rice in Washington. As the leader of a large segment of an ethnically and religious diverse nation, he told the Kuciniches, "We have to appreciate living together with persons who are not of our faith and working with them to achieve a common good."

Dennis and Elizabeth also made plans to return to Qana, the site of heavy fighting during last year's war and to participate in a televised 'Town Hall forum' in downtown Beirut with residents of the city.

Dennis, who will be returning to the U.S. in the next few days, summed up the trip this way: "I believe that through direct communication, there is hope for peace. The world is ready to embrace America again. It is important that America reaches out to show our true values, our compassion and our willingness to work for peace."

When he and Elizabeth return, he will provide a more detailed description of their travels and a more comprehensive assessment of his political and diplomatic findings.

Strength through Peace,

Dennis Kucinich

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

As you may have heard Fred Thompson officially announced his candidacy last night. He supports the fair tax. If the election were held today he'd get my vote but this campaign has started so early it's too early to see how the races will unfold. Giuliani would be able to beat Clinton and perhaps Romney also. I'm a little concerned about his Sacred Underpants though.... :-P


Former Senator and actor Fred Thompson


Don't think I'll vote for many Libertarians this election. Those people have been getting kooky lately.

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Founder of BOINC team Objectivists. Oh the humanity! Rational people crunching data!
I did NOT authorize this belly writing!

While the other leading candidates for the Presidency were spending the Labor Day weekend campaigning at picnics, barbeques, state and county fairs, and parading in front of the cameras, YOUR candidate, Dennis Kucinich, without fanfare, was quietly traveling throughout the troubled Middle East in search of real-world solutions to monumental, global challenges.

"Without fanfare" is right. Because no one cares, because he cannot win.

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Cordially,
Rush

elrushbo2@theobviousgmail.com
Remove the obvious...

As you may have heard Fred Thompson officially announced his candidacy last night. He supports the fair tax. If the election were held today he'd get my vote but this campaign has started so early it's too early to see how the races will unfold. Giuliani would be able to beat Clinton and perhaps Romney also. I'm a little concerned about his Sacred Underpants though.... :-P


Former Senator and actor Fred Thompson


Don't think I'll vote for many Libertarians this election. Those people have been getting kooky lately.

I like Fred as an actor. Loved him in 'Hunt for Red October', but I really can't bring myself to vote for him as president.

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Hopefully the cosmos is not trying to reverse the charges.
Moderation in all things.