Oh joy, Old Europe loves us again

Suddenly, it may be cool to be an American again
Wow we're back to having the adoration of old Europe.

....But my best friend and training partner — who is French — just gave me his stamp of approval.

"Will you wear your Stars and Stripes shirt now? You're allowed!" he told me.

Don't expect this love fest to last. As soon as America acts in any way in its own interest, or contrary to old European interests (old meaning Poland and the rest of eastern Europe is probably not very happy right now), the deal is off.

So the One Won, now what?

Do we take the high road and congratulate the Democrats on their historic victory?

Do we respond with vitriol in the same manner they did when Bush won in 2000 and again in 2004?

Let's stick to the high road. Yes the Democrats won, regardless of if it was fair and square or if a goodly portion of it was bought and frauded for its done, now we have to deal with it.

Interestingly, the victory itself is a damning indictment of the left's belief that America is a thoroughly racist country - after all the majority voted for a black man to the highest post in the land. That is no small thing and a good sign that in America anyone can truly make it to the top and we're still the land of opportunity.

Let's stick to the high road, but with vigilance, no need to follow the Democrats down the derangement syndrome road. I'm quite sure that Fox News, unlike CBS will not run footage of the president speaking with the caption "Snipers Wanted'. Nor should it, we're not as crazy as the Democrats and a good thing to -- there were riots predicted if Obama lost - McCain lost and we all went to sleep, not into the streets. This is as it should be.

Certainly Republicans should take time to regroup and rethink but should not roll over. Expect President Obama to come out of the gate swinging towards the bleachers in left field and be ready to stop or at least hold the Hope and Change Steam roller to a base hit rather than a home run. Be a loyal opposition, but loyal opposition does not mean be a bunch of cowed spineless jellyfish.

The Democrats showed the way and turn about is fair play - filibuster in the Senate early and often, use the ideological test for judicial appointments, dissent is still the highest form of patriotism right? Holler loudly what effect each poisonous proposal is going to have on the economy and the government and get the message out any way it can. Fight to contain the damage as much as possible, and put the blame where it belongs.

Don't give up, and strengthen the Republican bench and message for the 2010 and 2012. Quit putting up Bob Dole clones or media selected favorites (The media loved McCain in the primary but had no trouble turning on him in an instant once he won -- too old, temper etc right? funny how none of that was raised by the media in the primaries) and acting like Democrat party lite -- it doesn't work.

Have a clear and positive message how the Republicans can be and are better for America, show how free market economics are the right prescription for the problems we face not this overegulation and misregulation and corporatism that caused this mess and quit campaigning with one hand tied behind your back out of some mistaken belief in the marquess of queensbury rules when you opponent disregards all rules in a quest to win. Give voters a cohesive program to vote for and be proactive not reactive.

It is not over, it is just the beginning of new challenges and new chances. The country will survive 4 or even 8 years of Obama and hoepfully become the wiser for it. The left now has to govern rather than complain and they have no excuse if they make a hash of it anymore. The right has a chance to rebuild, move forward and regain its principles.

May these challenges we are about to face lead to a stronger and better America.

Reported Vote Fraud in Pontiac

Details are sketchy but Right Michigan is reporting on voter fraud occurring in Pontiac, Michigan -- an Obama stronghold. Hijinks include excluding Republican poll watches from the polls and mixing provisional ballots in with regular ballots - making any audit or fraud investigation impossible.

Combine this with intimidation by Black Panthers against non-Obama voters in Philadelphia and other frauds elsewhwere and this could be the high-tide (or the standard to be set for the future) of Democrat election fraud, where they put it all on the line to win. After all if you can't win fairly then cheat your way to victory as the ends justifies the means right?

Election 2008 - a heavy turnout report

So this morning Natasha and I went to our Electoral Precinct to do our civic duty.

The line was absolutely packed, with some recognizable neighbors.

We were told by the lady at the door that the wait to vote was approximately 20 minutes.

That was very approximate as it took over an hour.

it was complicated by the fact that two precincts shared the same entrance and a ton of people had no clue which precinct they were in -- the precinct maps were of course farther inside past the line splits. This should not be that complicated - your voter registration card has your precinct on it and the Michigan Secretary of State Web page will let you look yourself up, check your precinct and even get a nifty example ballot listing all the candidates as they appear on the ballot. Proper preparation prevents poor performance you know.

First there was the line where you fill out the voter identification slip - we did this while in line.

Then you got in line by groups of last names for you to show id and get your slip checked.

Then you got in line to get your ballot and then you waited for a spot to vote.

Natasha commented that in the Soviet Union, with compulsory voting (if you didn't vote you were in deep trouble) it went a lot faster. I pointed out that back in the USSR you only had to vote and didn't need to choose as there was nothing to choose. She noted that was a good point.

At least the lines remind us of the great efficiencies of government and if you love the efficiency of long waits in line to vote, just wait for the efficiency and long lines for government health care.

Should be quite a race. Onethe interesting comments I heard two voters say -- these were a couple youngsters who were in voting for Obama -- they then asked "Do I have to fill out the back? (of the ballot). They were politely told its their choice to do as much or as little as they want and the ballot will still be ok if the back choices are made or not. I think most of us in line waiting wereof the opinion they should quit wasting time as if you're that clueless just vote and leave please and get out of the way of those who actually looked at the issues beforehand.

Well the voting has been done, now to watch the counting and asociated punditry.

Election 2008 - Decision time

It seems that every election becomes more and more crucial - and the polarization between the two sides becomes greater as the moderate middle is forced to give way as we face even starker swings to our lives at each electoral challenge.

Part of the polarization is due to the fear of both sides losing their cherished rights and entitlements, and because the power of the federal government and its effect upon us all becomes more and more pronounced, so do our rights become in jeopardy as soon as the opposing ideology takes power.

An unchecked Democrat dominance of the executive and legislative branches combined with the multiple judicial vacancies that such dominance would fill would be disastrous for the right and the middle as the left reshapes America to fit its image. Think the 70's only with more government spending, higher taxes and even lower thermostats in winter as our nations energy supplies are reduced by greenish extremism against coal and excessive taxes on oil with no viable alternative - certainly not the lefts bugbear of nbuclear power- provided to replace these energy sources. Think of Michigan's one-state recession under Democrat rule spread nationwide.

Part of the greatest thing about America is you generally have the right to be left alone as long as you're not harming others. Given Michelle Obama's statement that

Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. That you put down your divisions. That you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zone . . . Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual - uninvolved, uninformed

this cherished and time-honored right to be left alone is in jeopardy and that my friends is un-American.

Given Barack Obama's continuing lowering of his definition of the "wealthy" doomed to be subject to his taxation grab keeps dropping from 250,000, to 200,000 to 150,000 to 120,000 to 70,000 you're looking at paying even more of your income -- before you ever receive it -- to the government to pay for his massive expansionist plans. On top of that he will without a doubt let the Bush tax cuts expire -- that IS a tax increase - you'll know it when you go to pay your taxes.

Given that Barack Obama is terrible on the 2nd amendment your right to own firearms is in jeopardy. He is for an assault weapons ban, for a national ban on concealed carry and multiple other restrictions and even confiscation. With a Democrat Congress there will be no brakes on these bans. Given we're still dealing with restrictions from the Clinton and Bush I eras, don't expect them to go away under Obama, or for them to put in a sunset clause this time. Expect leftist to push their agenda including gun control hard in the first 100 days of an Obama presidency.

On the first amendment Obama is similarly bad in terms of those who are critical of him, including having supporters form truth squads to prosecute those who might speak out against him with "false criticisms". Do you expect this will really go away if he gains office? Given how the media is so in the tank for him that they're withholding negative video footage, audio, and stories about him do you really think they will fill their role as watchdog of the government or instead behave as loving lapdogs adoring their chosen one?

On foreign policy Obama will be a nightmare - bringing back the 70s pattern of American appeasement and failure, complete with policy advisors (Brzezinski ) from that era as well. He seems set on betraying our allies abroad all to appease "world opinion". Much like someone in search of someone to say they're proud of him, indeed Obaam having grown up without a father will likely try gain his father's praise by pursuing his father's left wing goals, and the opinions and accolades of the international left wing will be a nice surrogate source of a father's pride for one seeming so in need of dreams from his father.

Yes McCain has run a lackluster campaign, yes he is wishy-washy as all hell, reveling in being a "maverick" which generally meant going with the press and against other Republicans- but I think the press treatment of him has hopefully opened his eyes. Sarah Palin, a Jacksonian choice indeed for Vice President has at least given hope that McCain will not fall captive to the Democrats calls for bipartisanship (meaning do what they the Democrats want -- otherwise you're a bitter partisan meanie). In any event there is no repeat NO viable alternative to an obamanable four year period ahead other than voting for McCain Palin.

McCain has the experience, wisdom and capability to govern reasonably and moderately and to face down the oncoming Democrat majority. Indeed, the left likely faces little risk to loss of their freedoms in a McCain presidency given his very moderate stance on just about everything. America under McCain will hold the line.

My vote is for McCain, and I certainly hope yours is too. America will be far too out of balance with the Democrats so ascendant. I am not going to stand by and let these freedoms dissappear in the face of this leftist resurgence, instead I will vote for McCain, for America and for the preservation of the freedoms I cherish.

Regardless of the polls or predictions or Obama's gandiose attempt to act as if this election is a mere formality -- it will not be so -- if you do not give up hope, you do not sit on your hands, you get up and get to the polls and vote. its not over until its over, and maybe not even then.

McCain / Palin 2008!

The voting denarius of L. Cassius Longinus

Image copyright Andreas Pangerl, www.romancoins.info used with permission.

A silver denarius of the Roman Republic dating to approximately 63 B.C.E.

Obverse (not shown): veiled bust of Vesta facing left, kylix behind.
Reverse: Male voter dropping a tablet inscribed with a v into an urn

Reference: Seaby Roman Silver Coins Cassia 10, Sear 295

This coin commemorates the passing of the lex Cassia tabellaria, a law related to the method of voting in Roman elections that was passed in 137 BCE by and ancestor of L. Cassius Longinus, L Cassius Ravilla.

L. Cassius Longinus was an ancestor of C. Cassius Longinus, he, the Shakespearean Cassius of "the lean and hungry look" who was one of the assassins of Julius Caesar.

A very timely coin post, given how important elections were in the Roman Republic and now that this coming Tuesday we face a momentousness election in troubling times, times of troubled money markets and financial and political crises.

Take your time to learn and understand the issues and candidates, and vote your conscience, calculations or political beliefs accordingly.

Democrats wanting to get their hands on your 401k

In the continuing battle between savers and spenders, taxpayers and tax-takers, independents and dependents the Democrats look to be making a move to push more of us into the later of each.

House Democrats Contemplate Abolishing 401(k) Tax Breaks

Brilliant really - confiscate the accumulated wealth of Americans who have conscientiously saved their money, and redistribute it to all whether they saved or spent their way through life, thus securing your position as distributor of largesse.

Then give only a 3% annual return so that no one can really get ahead or be self-sufficient and guarantee even more people will be dependent on, and thus in support of, government programs in their old age -- and of course heavy taxation on those still working.

You knew the Democrats couldn't stand the thought of billions of dollars growing untaxed and out of their control now could you?

Yet another reason to vote to stop a one-party Democrat rule in Washington - if you thought you had it bad now, just wait until there is no holding them back.

Free speech for the One but not for Thee

Thoughts on The coming Obama thugocracy

Given that McCain seems to be running his campaign as if he is Bob Dole II, and given the Media are servicing on bended knees the Obama tank, this election sadly seems like it is Obama's to win.

Given that we've seen Obama's supporters follow his exhortation to get in his opponents faces and block their speech, as noted by Michale Barone's article an Obama presidency, combined with Democrat control of the house and Senate seems like a sure recipe for disaster.

Between the Obamajugend and the cult of personality of Obama along with the unfettered left belief in "free speech for me but not for thee" this is very likely going to be a rocky next four years.


This timely image is courtesy of Future News Blog.

It certainly seems like its time for an anti-drinking advocacy group such as Mothers Against Dangerous Democrats to stomp on this kool-aid drinking, but no such luck so far.

The Obama Kool-Aid can be dangerous to your First Amendment and other rights.

McCain pulling out of Michigan?

Yes, this state has been going down the tubes since it started going seriously Democrat - between a Democrat governor and its major city mismanaged to death by Democrats its easy to say that Michigan is again a lock for the Dems this election year.

So McCain is pulling out resources from our state to try and fight in areas where he might win.

Mind you I believe McCain did have a shot here - if he had kept the pressure up and noted that if the State goes Democrat again, we're doing more of the same and the state can expect the same result - economic doldrums mixed with goofy social policy.

Michigan and Detroit in particular is an example of Democrat dominance in microcosm.

He should have stated that voting for "change or hope" got Michigan into its current mess and its time for Michigan to vote for someone who actually knows what he's doing and can offer more than empty promises of change and hope.

Michigan, especially with the rest of the state outside the urban areas and along with the rational Macomb County Democrats this state could be a place the Republicans could fight for and even win.

Hopefully this is just a strategic redeployment and McCain hasn't written the state off yet.

Democrats Panicking over Palin

McCain made an inspired choice when he selected Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential candidate.

In one fell swoop he energized Republicans and made them excited about the campaign, after being unenthusiastic having McCain the ultra-moderate in charge. He not only succeeded in exciting Republicans and naming a very capable first woman as the first vice presidential candidate of the two major parties, but he also was able to have the Democrats collectively and figuratively wet their pants in panic.

An erudite, capable, conservative and Republican woman? suddenly Barack's "safe" and uninspired choice of business-as-democrat-usual Joe Biden lost its appeal and any gains Biden brought to the ticket were well and truly blasted away. Democrats see the race, which is by any reasoned analysis theirs to lose, beginnning to well, lose.

This of course brought out a series of quite nasty attacks on Palin.

One of the stranger attacks was brought by Michigan Governor Granholm's husband Dan Mulhern after stating "This girl is going to go through a lot and does she know what she's putting her family through". -- The old women with kids should stay at home canard -- brought to you by a Democrat no less. And not just any Democrat -- as noted by Michigan Republican chair Saul Anuzis "One wonders if Dan Mulhern forgot the fact that he's only got a job because he's married to the governor, who also happens to be a working mom," Michigan GOP chairman Saul Anuzis said. Oops. Its funny that it is the Republicans that are "breaking the glass ceiling" so to speak and the Dems, the self-proclaimed party of feminism that is coming forth with all the old chauvinist remarks.

For a darn good analysis of the reasons why the Dems are losing it over Palin. See this article by Victor Davis Hanson (who not only is a great commentator but is a fantastic classical historian -- if you like ancient history his books are must-read material) -- Works and Days: Target Palin.

This election just got interesting.

Now Obama wants Michigan to be counted

When it doesn't mean anything of course....

Detroit News: Obama: Give Michigan delegates full vote

arack Obama followed through Sunday on a pledge to give Michigan a full voice at the Democratic National Convention, asking the party to restore full voting rights to delegations from Michigan and Florida.

"I ask that the Credentials Committee ... pass a resolution that would entitle each delegate from Florida and Michigan to cast a full vote," Obama wrote in a letter released Sunday.

Obama wrote that he was making the request, to the three co-chairs of the convention's Credentials Committee, in the interest of unifying Democrats for the fall election.

When Michigan and Florida were going for Hilary in the primary he fought to shut the states out at all costs. Now when he needs them in the general election he's hoping he can bring the states back in and act ll magnanimous and the Democrat voters will forget how he shunned them when their votes mattered.

Let's see if he fools the rubes with this maneuver or not.

Democrat Primary Implosion - Rochelle Riley loses it.

Some days it is rather fun to watch the Democrats explode along race/gender lines in the current primary nomination race.

Take Rochelle Riley, in the Detroit Free Press, please. Clinton lets dream take a backseat

The worst won't be that Sen. John McCain will win the presidency. The worst will be that America came so close to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream.
...
Democratic attempts to call this election anything other than what it is will not work: This isn't politics as usual. What is at stake in this election is THE DREAM.

Somehow I thought Rev.Martin Luther King's dream wasn't dependent on a black person becoming president, but more on racial equality and valuing people as people, but we'll read on.

And the greatest irony is that Bill and Hillary Clinton were on the wrong side of history.

And the first woman president wouldn't be historical?

Paragraphs later, Reiley finaly elucidates her version of "the dream":

That the Clintons have been too shortsighted to see it means they are missing the watershed event -- America accepting a man and his ideas without regard to his color. This election is the moment that civil rights workers of all colors died for in the 1960s, the moment for which my grandmother prayed.

Come now Riley, be honest, Obama, with his lack of experience and seasoning, as well as his 60-80s timewarp leftist ideas, would not be where he is now but for his color. Indeed, Obama has been playing the race card to the full this election. Somehow I don't think the dream included Chicago machine politics coupled with old line Marxist thought and membership in a liberation-theology church, but perhaps I missed that part of the speech.

Riley has her dream. Obama is being criticized, and rightfully so, as being an empty suit, full at most of old left-wing ideas, dissimulations, and his repeated attempts to "bamboozle" and "hoodwink" the electorate, and because of his close associations with various left-wing radicals -- and not because of his color.

Riley, by his running and being beaten on his lack of real content and substance, you got your dream, unfortunately an Obama presidency would be a nightmare.

Darn it Michelle, those Proletariat Rubes won't vote for their class interest!

Classic Marxist theology from the Obaminator:

Under fire, presidential hopeful doesn't retreat from earlier comments on economic inequality.

In the midst of an assault from his rivals, a defensive Barack Obama said Friday that many working-class Americans are angry and bitter over economic inequalities and have lost faith in Washington -- and, as a result, vote on the basis of other issues, such as gun protections or gay marriage.

The Illinois senator's analysis of what motivates working-class voters came after chief rival Hillary Rodham Clinton accused him of looking down on them. Clinton rebuked Obama on Friday for similar remarks he made privately last Sunday to a group of donors in San Francisco.

"People don't vote on economic issues because they don't expect anybody is going to help them," Obama told a crowd at a Terre Haute, Ind., high school Friday evening. "So people end up voting on issues like guns and are they going to have the right to bear arms. They vote on issues like gay marriage. They take refuge in their faith and their community, and their family, and the things they can count on. But they don't believe they can count on Washington."

In other words, nothing except class is important, and if the rubes voted on economics alone they, according to Obama, would vote Democrat, presumably as the Democrats claim to champion the working classes. (Let's forget that the party with the greatest number of millionaires in the house and Senate is the Democrats, but what else is new?)

Maybe if the Democrats didn't keep pushing ideas that were anathema to the working classes, like gun bans and partial-birth abortion they might get more of a hearing on their economic aspects.

Then again, much of Obama's economic policy to appeal to the workers seems to be just there to fool the rubes anyways, so why wouldn't the rubes vote on issues that they know the Democrat are adverse to them. They know if a Democratgets into the White House, those issues will get shoved at them good and hard, and against their values. Maybe they're not rubes Obama, maybe their just more perceptive than your class uber alles analysis predicts.

Not the Wright Move - This should really help Detroit's Image

NAACP in Detroit to host Obama's embattled ex-minister

With such wonderful statements as "God Damn America" (with accompanying applause from his church's crowd.

With hisReprinting endorsing the terrorist group HAMAS' charter on his opinion page.


With his Insane claim that Israel worked on designing an "Ethnic bomb" to only kill Blacks and Arabs (anybody with a scintilla of scientific knowledge knows such a thing is impossible not to mention Israel wouldn't make one even if it was possible).

So what does the Detroit branch of the NAACP do:

Make him their feature speaker for the NAACP 53rd Annual Fight for Freedom Fund dinner.

One would think the NAACP would not want to showcase to the rest of Detroit what a racist, liberation theology, Marxist Black preacher looks like, much less act to affirm his statements by giving him pride of place at their freedom event.

You would think the NAACP would want to feature a mainstream Black sucess story, someone who has used precious freedom for a valuable endeavor, of which many exist in Detroit.

Or, this could just be a way to get the heat off Kwame by brining someone who is even more infamous on the national level.

The fun will be if this gets on video and we can see who celebrates and applauds this sorry excuse for a supposed minister. This certainly doesn't help Obama, who is now trying to distance himself after lying and claiming he had no idea about Wrights speeches. The only place this helps BHO is among those in the community that think what Wright is saying is just fine, it should be interesting to see who shows up and cheers for Wright, and hopefully the media might deign to report on the event -- with video.

A Current Assesment of the 2008 Presidential Candidates

I was asked by a Canadian Relative who I'd be voting for in this Presidential race, and these were my thoughts that I sent on.

First thing for Canadians to understand is that unlike you with 3 parties and a provincial party, we have two dominant political parties that matter here. The Stupid Party (Republican) and the Evil Party (Democrat). On occasion these two parties come together and do something both stupid and evil. This is called bipartisanship.

That being said here’s my thoughts on the candidates:

On the Democrat side-

This election is certainly the Democrat’s to lose but they might succeed in losing in spite of their present advantages.

First look for a major brouhaha over counting delegates from Michigan and Florida . Both went for Hillary and both are important core states for the Democrats. Expect Hillary to push for counting them as it will be important to count every vote. If Obama objects he’ll be accused of disenfranchising significant black democrat supporters – not good. Already there have been serious calls for a do-over primary in Michigan. This could get exciting so have some popcorn ready.

Obama – opinion - really not good. Aside from saying he’s for change and hope he doesn’t talk about his policy platform. Reading it looks like old hard left Chicago democrat machine politics which it is. He doesn’t have much of a record to run on, and he’s not up to the job.

More worrisome is his ties to the Nation of Islam, including having them in positions in high levels his campaign including policy and treasury. His membership in a black separatist church is similarly worrisome. Additionally his ties to now indicted Syrian businessman Tony Rezko is highly worrisome, with ties that go to other shady Arab business interest in London and Iraq. Obama received more than $150,000 in contributions donated or raised by Mr. Rezko during his political career. The senator also purchased property from Rezko’s wife at way below market. While federal prosecutors in Chicago are mainly focused on Mr. Rezko's ties to the governor of Illinois, they claim in court papers that Mr. Rezko illegally reimbursed another donor for a $10,000 contribution to Mr. Obama's 2004 Senate campaign, and that’s the tip of the iceberg.

Hillary – Hard to say. On principle this is bad as the history of the presidency will read Bush-Clinton-Clinton-Bush-Bush-Clinton-Clinton, which means expect to see Jeb Bush running for president in 2016 and Chelsea Clinton running in 2024. Dynasties aren’t a good feature and think of the poor history students in the future trying to memorize American presidents. Someone must think of the children.

On the upside she’ll likely be tough on foreign policy. Downside foreign policy wise, she’ll continue the Bush I-Clinton I policy of pressure on and betrayal of Israel and continually demanding Israel make concession in the face of terrorism without simultaneous real pressure on the Palis et al. Bush II started to get away from this but went right back to this failed approach after James Baker came on board and the Saudis told him what to do. Thankfully Hillary is less beholden to the Saudis than Bush is, but she loses points for giving Suha Arafat a serious kiss and nodding and not contradicting Suha when she accused the Israelis of using poison gas on Palestinians.

Another Downside, she’s got a Hsu problem, i.e. an illegal foreign donor scandal of impressive proportions from the Chinese, which means Taiwan is likely to be toast after the Olympic games. Further downside, we get Bill Clinton back in the White House or even appointed a Supreme Court Justice – think of the man in black robes with Supreme Court interns. In addition her domestic policy is only marginally better than Obama’s and publicly announcing she’s going “to take things away from you on behalf of the common good” is somewhat worrisome. On the upside, she’s a natural born triangulator and wants to stay in power over ideology so we can expect some pragmatism from her in office. This will beat Obama’s change mantra by far. Downside, if the Dems keep the House and Senate and get the Presidency, all bets are off.

On the Republican Side:

McCain – that’s it, nobody else left.

On the downside he’s a populist and the media’s choice for a Republican candidate and far closer to a Democrat than to a Republican so Democrats won’t need to worry too much about his policies, indeed, he’s often accused of being Democrat-Lite. He’s consistently worked with Democrats to get matters passed ie McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, Gang of 14, etc and will likely go along to get along. Typically is very much tracking Democrat domestic policy but will be more restrained on spending than Bush, or either Democrat candidate and would be tougher foreign policy wise, and has been pretty consistently pro-Israel without being beholden to the Saudis as Bush is. Downside is he may go along so far with the Democrats that no one will put the brakes on if a Republican President promotes the House and Senate Democrat policies - expect lots of bipartisanship starting with amnesty under another name.

Benefit, as the Democrats will likely keep the House and Senate, a McCain presidency will offer divided government which tends to work best for America, as long as he acts like a Republican and holds the line on spending, if not and his populist tendencies get the best of him he may be the best thing for Democrat policy promotion and we’ll see a leftward shift far beyond what we might get with Hillary or Obama as nobody will be trying to put the brakes on it.

In short, not sure who I’m voting for yet, but it is turning into an interesting race on the Democrat side and I’m waiting to see who McCain picks for his Vice President running mate to see where he’s shifting.

Mind you after viewing their relative positions at OnTheIssues.org, McCain looks a lot better and far less scary than either Obama or Hillary. This may a situation where a lesser of the evils vote is called for, especially if the House, Senate and Executive branch are likely to belong to one party alone. Time, further debates and Vice Presidential picks will tell.

Michigan 2008 Primary Results

The Free Press is calling the Republican Primary for Romney and the Democrat primary for Hillary (big surprise there), even though

only a small percentage of votes were officially counted, the Free Press called the race for Romney, a former Massachusetts governor who grew up in Bloomfield Hills, based on exit polls.

Most likely, they're right. Romney had to win Michigan and it looks like according to the Freep he did, especially as it seems he put the most work into the State. But it will be interesting to see if the Free Press has proclaimed that Dewey just beat Truman but we'll see what happens.

To see the Michigan Secretary of State's results see this Secretary of State's excellent website.

Michigan 2008 Primary

Today was the Michigan Primary.

With an inauspicious slow start with a snowstorm to cause delay and joy in traffic the primary began.

I decided to vote after work given that it was hard enough to dig out and get to work. So the family after dinner pikled in the car and off we went to vote.

Turnout was quite light at the precinct, with no waiting or lines to speak of. We did have to show picture ID, an idea whose time has long since come. Luckily we both were who we said we were and we received our ballots.

Interestingly we did overhear some people asking for Democrat ballots, even though those ballots were the truncated sort not listing many of the candidates as the candidates had refused to be on the ballot because Michigan moved its primary to January, against party rules.

Given the push Romney has been making here in Michigan, including multiple computer generated calls to my house leading up to election day. its not surprising he's pushing hard here. Note to Romney - if you've got to call at all hours, at least vary the message, the same one every time is not endearing. So no vote for you.

McCain of course has been anointed and endorsed by the Detroit Free Press as the Republican most likely to act like a Democrat.

I voted for Fred Thompson in a case of heart winning over head as I think he'd be the best possible Republican candidate, but I do wish he was fighting harder and acting like he wanted to win it. Hopefully I helped keep him competitive.

Political Stalking Horse?

Thought: Ron Paul is a Republican stalking horse designed to discredit libertarians and make them look like blithering nut cases, and thus remove them and small government advocates to the margins.

Discuss.

Update In response to Scott's worry in the comments that it was an undigested bit of beef -

Scott:

'Twas not a bit of undigested beef. Like Ebenezer, I too was visited by three ghosts:

The Ghost of Ron Paul Newsletters Past

The Ghost of Ron Paul Truther and Stormfront supported Present

The Ghost of America's Future - Ron Paul wasn't the president nor did he show up having much of an effect so it was a short visit indeed.

McCain appeals to Democrats in Michigan to put him in the lead in the primary

Great, we knew McCain was the Democrat's choice for Republican leadership but he really doesn't need to go out and confirm it.

As noted in the Detroit News:

McCain hopes his appeal to independents and moderate Democrats would encourage them to vote in the GOP contest, and he leads those voters, who make up about one in six likely Republican primary voters. About one in 11 voters made up their minds after McCain's victory in last Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, and he leads among them 2-to-1.

Indeed, McCain is the left-leaning Detroit Free Press' candidate of choice in the Republican primary:

The Free Press endorsed Sen. John McCain last Sunday as the best hope on the Republican side for both Michigan and the nation.

McCain's actions in the senate - his push for campaign finance reform, his "Gang of 14" to appease the Democrats in blocking Republican judges and other actions make him a shoe-in as the Democrat's choice to run against them int he election as he's more like them than not.

Given that Democrats in Michigan do not have a real primary this year, the expectation is they will register in the Republican Primary. The question is who will these cross-overs vote for. My best bets for who they'll go for:

a) McCain - he's the closest to a Democrat and a win for him gives them a comfy liberal in GOP's clothing to run against.

b) Ron Paul - a win for Paul would make Michigan Republicans look like blithering, conspiracy-theory spouting, idiots.

c) Huckabee - a win for Huck would make Michigan Republicans look like big-government, big spending, religious fundamentalist, idiots.

Anyone else have a better guess? Tuesday should be interesting.

Bush DOJ does it again and not in a good way

As noted by Instapundit, Bush DOJ betrays gun rights. Instapundit recounts a report from David Hardy Of Arms and the Law that the Bush DOJ has just filed an amicus brief in the Heller case that should hardly give any gun owner cause for joy or support for the GOP. While the amicus brief holds the Second Amendment to be an individual right, it argues for such a low level of scrutiny -including the possibility of complete bans being acceptable -- as to make the right meaningless.

As Mr. Hardy writes:

the GOP operated on two principles: screw your friends and appease your enemies. Yup.

It seems the GOP still operates on the same, except change "appease your enemies" to "cravenly lick their enemies' boots and ask, "please sir may I have another?""

There was no requirement for the DOJ to submit an amicus brief, and could have quite simply not filed one and not further riled up an active portion of the Republican base in this, an election year. Its not like gun owners are thrilled with Bush to begin with as while he is certainly the lesser of the two evils presented, he's done very little to unwind the damages caused by the Clinton years.

There was certainly no reason for the DOJ to file a brief that holds that a complete ban on firearms could be construed as reasonable and not an infringement of a the individual right, Indeed, if one can completely ban the exercise of a right, it is not much of a right than is it?

Will the Federal Republicans ever learn that betraying their base and constantly trying to out-Democrat the Democrats (massive spending, massively increasing the size of government, corruption and earmarks galore) is no way to remain in power? The Dems still do all of that much better, and the Republicans will only lose votes by continuing to act like this.