Political Tribes

The Economist has a story today about how Americans are politically segregating themselves.

SOME folks in Texas recently decided to start a new community “containing 100% Ron Paul supporters”. Mr Paul is a staunch libertarian and, until recently, a Republican presidential candidate. His most ardent fans are invited to build homesteads in “Paulville”, an empty patch of west Texas. Here, they will be free. Free not to pay “for other people’s lifestyles [they] may not agree with”. And free from the irksome society of those who do not share their love of liberty.

Cynics chuckle, and even Mr Paul sounds unenthusiastic about the Paulville project, in which he had no hand. But his followers’ desire to segregate themselves is not unusual. Americans are increasingly forming like-minded clusters. Conservatives are choosing to live near other conservatives, and liberals near liberals.

The article talks of how people are joining a groupthink, if you will, of where they interact with like-minded people who share their political viewpoints.

I’m chewing on this. What say you?

At The End Of Another Political Day

I’m pondering politics this evening in the way I do which means, regardless of what people think, I try to balance it out. Yeah, we know Huckabee won Kansas and we know there is a ton of counting going on right now.

We also know that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will still be sparring it out on Monday when it’s all said and done which sort of saddens me. We also know that certain members of the GOP are very unhappy about John McCain being the frontrunner, which campers, he still is.

My sis, Homer, made a statement recently that made some sense to me.

“He was a moderate wasn’t he?” she asked.

“Well, no,” I said thinking that wasn’t right but that I also believed that was the perception. “But a few years ago he wasn’t George Bush so he had that going for him.”

“Well,” she said decisively. “He apparently made some sort of deal because didn’t he hammer at Bush like crazy in the past and then suddenly he was like his best friend and trying to convince everyone he’s a conservative this last week. I don’t get that. Did he make some pact with Bush or something?”

I shrugged. No one never knows in the world of politics. Deals are made. Deals are broken. And the American people don’t know because God forbid we need to know what Britney Spears did today. That apparently is more important for crying out loud.

Hell, Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter say they will fundraise for Hillary if he wins the nomination but, you see, my sis is an issue reader. We know that is B.S.

With two tween girls, the television is usually glued to Miley Cyrus making a million dollars a day so Homer’s not drowning in news like I do on purpose. And if she’s saying this, I wonder about it’s merit. Her time is scarce and when it comes to politics, she digs in and she has to digest things quickly without Fox News yelling at her or Lou Dobbs telling her things are broke.

Because, here, we believe there is a lot broken but it’s our country. And, by gum, it can be fixed. It will take hard work, but it can be repaired with the right leadership who concentrates on making things right and getting it together.

You see, Homer is a pretty astute woman. And she remembers things like an elephant. And she remembered McCain’s big change of attitude. She also doesn’t dig mice and is phobic about snakes but I digress.

I thought about this. I’ve heard this before.

But here’s what I’m thinking tonight.

What’s going on in Louisiana? A state that suffered the worst natural disaster in my lifetime in this country then was ostracized by many for just being New Orleans, an event so devastating that it got me to blogging, quite frankly. What will those folks do?

What will those states that have been ignored unless it was politically convenient, what will they do?

So much to think about. So much to dissect.

And Obama took Washington and Nebraska.

Ron Paul says he won’t run third party. Why? Isn’t that was folks want?

But what about the superdelegates?

So much to ponder in this silly little blog post.

I need an Advil and a glass of Merlot. It won’t help me figure it out but at least it will numb the buzz of this election year.

Going Aganist The Grain Of Traditional Politics

I’m seeing so many changes in the political machine that what I thought I knew isn’t really relevant.

I’ve been on the fence between John Edwards and Barack Obama for some time. I’ll be honest, I’ve not been happy with anybody and I didn’t want to get too excited about anyone. And, I’ve been studying everyone’s platform. I didn’t like Edwards stance on mandatory health care and that he gives us the populist speeches that I’m not completely sold on although I like what he’s saying from a philosophical standpoint. I’ve never felt 100 percent sure of him. I feel like he means what he says, but I’ve still felt a bit of hesitancy about him that I’ve had trouble pinpointing.

I’ve always liked Barack Obama, but I felt like I’ve needed to educate myself about him (he has given great speeches over the last few years, but a great speech doesn’t make a good politician. I just didn’t know much about him as a leader). But those very same speeches made me drawn to him and he says things I like. A lot. But I kept wondering if he could translate his message to a rural vote. I think about the rural vote a great deal as I live it, and I know how fickle the rural voter can be. But I like the guy. He is inspiring. He won’t have the Iraq War vote haunting him. He’s been upfront about his recreational drug use, he seems to be more globally savvy (I didn’t say experienced but I think he has more experience than the MSM gives him credit for) and he seems more unifying than, let’s say, Hillary Clinton, who I think is one of more divisive candidates in recent history.

So I watched Iowa, and quite frankly, I was surprised with the final results. I don’t know why really. I thought Edwards might take it because it seems like he’s been running for president for about two decades. But Obama made history in the fact he got new voters out and the undecided liked him. He inspired people to go in the bitter cold to the polls.

You see, I didn’t have faith that people would get out to vote for change. I didn’t think that would happen. I had lost my ability to believe that people would follow their convictions.

And I was wrong.

Even GOP candidate Mike Huckabee got a new vote out. Both winners offered a message of change, and both winners benefited from it.

I read this and it breaks it down.

The strategy went against the traditional blueprint for winning in Iowa and showed the importance of attracting voters outside the small, insular circle of dedicated party activists who have dominated past caucuses.

I really need to pack up my cynicism and pack it in the attic, don’t I? Seven years of our latest White House administration will do that to you.

In five days, we have New Hampshire and we are going to see the formation of several things. Iowa is pretty conservative, N.H. not so much. I expect Ron Paul will do better in that primary.

On Twitter last night, (and may I say, the folks there broke the story much quicker than Mainstream Media did), there was a conversation about a possible third-party candidate. People were sharing information, relevant links from Iowa’s bloggers who were on the ground watching the primary happening. If you like politics, you might want to see how Twitter worked last night. I was out at a family function and by the time I got home, I received more information on that social media networking system than I did from CNN in some cases. And the conversation was inspiring.

Yeah, everything I thought I knew I didn’t know at all.

This is going to be an amazing campaign year. And for the first time, I’m starting to get a little bit excited about it.

And dang it all, if I don’t just love talking about hope rather than fear. I’ve said that before.

Bold Predictions After Iowa

Mike Huckabee is going to raise a bunch of money, and he showed the negative ad anyway after all that hoopla.

Hillary  Clinton is going to completely change her strategy, focusing on younger voters. Maybe she will realize that Barack Obama had young voters and the undecided cast their vote into this camp.

Rudy Guiliani is going to keep on being Rudy Guiliani.

Fred Thompson might take a few more naps.

John McCain is going to be paying attention.

Mitt Romney is going to go very, very negative. Against Mike Huckabee.

I will say I find this story very interesting about younger voters and who they like on the Republican ticket. Obama was not a surprise.

And neither was Ron Paul, however, he didn’t win it tonight,  he came in ahead of Guiliani according to this report.

And now the punditry begins.

***sigh***

Ron Paul And Fox News

The Ron Paul contingency are going to be maaaaaaaad.

Sometimes, I’m flabbergasted at Fox News and its on-going love affair with the burning stupids.

Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo said this:

So, it’s all about Fox News. Paul’s out because he’s not a Fox News Bush-clone. Say whatever you want about the guy, Fox News shouldn’t be able to silence him because they don’t like his views.

I’m not for the guy, but doesn’t sound Fair and Balanced to me.

Just saying.

Drowning In Boredom On The Washington Express

The primary season is making me, in a word, yawn.

Let me ask a couple of questions. First of all, how different are the candidates in the Democratic Party? How much different are the candidates in the Republican party? Seriously, I’d like to know the difference. I mean we know Mitt Romney is a Mormon, we know Mike Huckabee seems nice enough, we know Rudy Guiliani is friends with Bernard Kerik which speaks volumes to me at least. We know Ron Paul, of all people, is getting the hipster attention. We know Fred Thompson isn’t the fireball we thought he’d be.

Heck, if I was a Republican, I’d be watching John McCain but I’m not voting Republican anyway, so it doesn’t matter.

As for the Democrats, I said months ago that these folks needed to be talking to people like me. Knock me out, impress me.

Instead, you are making me want a nap.

I see John Edwards as the most electable of the candidates, quite frankly, but mainstream media is banging on the Obama and Clinton gongs so loud who can hear the Richardsons and the Dodds?

You know, our elected officials just gave President Bush a huge Christmas present.

Yeah, Harry Reid and crew are blocking appointments, which in the long run is probably a good thing.

A nine-second session gaveled in and out by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., prevented Bush from appointing as an assistant attorney general a nominee roundly rejected by majority Democrats. Without the pro forma session, the Senate would be technically adjourned, allowing the president to install officials without Senate confirmation.

The business of blocking Bush’s recess appointments was serious. It represents an institutional standoff between Congress and the president that could repeat itself during Congress’ vacations for the remainder of Bush’s presidency.

Nine seconds is better than nothing.

Moneybombing Newscoma

Ron Paul’s done it. Mike Huckabee’s going to do it Dec. 27th.

Well, so am I.

December 21st I will be holding my very own moneybomb where you too can just send me money. I’m not running for office, but heck, I will if you want me to. Then I can eat out of one of these bad boys in Washington every day.

I have no platform, actually. Money sent will go to financing a trip to find Bigfoot, taking Aunt B. on a tour of haunted houses if she is so inclined and season tickets to the St. Louis Cardinals. Your kind donations will also finance my car getting an overhaul, beer and a three bedroom house in the Sylvan Park area of Nashville within walking distance of a pub.

If you require that I must actually run, I will hire some common sense folks out of Hooterville and the blogosphere in Tennessee to run the country. We will have a Milk commission, cause that’s gotten really expensive, and I will also hire Coyote Boy to be my henchman. Bush has Cheney, I will have Mack.

Big Stupid Tommy and Horrorwood Ron will serve as Zombie Czars.

So, make your Christmas plans early. The paypal button is on your right.

I imagine I will make at least hundreds of cents.

Photo from here.

40 People

We haven’t talked politics in a couple of days.

I read this story this morning in the Tennessean  about Fred Thompson on the campaign trail and there was one line that caught my eye.

MANCHESTER, Iowa — Most of the top Republican candidates for president don’t have the foreign policy experience to handle the dangers the U.S. faces, Fred Thompson said in an interview Tuesday.

“The fact of the matter is that among the so-called top candidates, (Arizona Sen.) John McCain is the only one with any experience in these areas,” Thompson said.

Then he goes on to talk about Mike Huckabee is a weakling and something about world domination. (I’m kidding although he did say Huckabee was too nice.)

Then there was the line that gave me pause:

That’s what he told a crowd of about 40 people who gathered Tuesday morning at a hotel here to hear him speak.

40 people?

When venues are filling up for Oprah, I mean Obama, it must be odd for just 40 people to show up. That’s like the equivalent to a classroom of third graders.

Now, it could be argued that he’s going out meeting folks one at a time. I’m sure I will hear that from some folks but still …

Remember when the buzz was all about Fred?

That lasted all of about fifteen minutes.

Last night at a local watering hole, I had three young men sitting next to me. What were they talking about?

Ron Paul.

This election cycle is just boggling my mind.  I think, at this point, it’s anybody’s race.

Ron Paul’s Latest Money Bomb

Amazing.

On Nov. 5, which was Guy Fawkes Day, a symbol of rebellion in British history, Paul hauled in $4.3 million in 24 hours — the most money raised online by a candidate in a single day. Today (yesterday), the 234th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, the day that helped spark the American Revolution, Paul’s Web-savvy, intensely loyal supporters planned another “money-bomb.” And by 6 p.m. EST, the “Paulites” had raised $4.1 million from more than 30,000 donors, bringing the Texas Republican’s fundraising total this quarter to $15.8 million. And counting.

Whether you like Ron Paul or not, this is absolutely an incredible thing to watch. While other supporters of the GOP have been watching Rudolph Guiliani get hammered about using New York’s finest walk his dog and Mike Huckabee’s backtracking about the infamous “Aids Quarantine” statement, Paul just keeps raising money.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These money bombs are proving themselves quite effective for him.

From
Ron Paul Graphs

Savage Ramblings Of The Political Season

Fa-La-La, uhh-hum.

I haven’t really been inclined to get my politics on this week, as I have been having dreams of pizza-eating kangaroos and dealing with the folly and jolly of Christmas.

You see, I’m watching it but I’m sort of “Feh” about it all.

Things I’ve had my eye on this weekend are certainly entertaining, but I’m not so sure that I was in the mood to sit and write a whole montage about it, but I do invite you to go see some of the highlights of the political week. My ADD is just not feeling it.

Yeah, it’s Tuesday.  (Look a penguin.)

First out of the gate, watch Lawrence O’Donnell lose his mind over Mitt Romney on the McClaughlin Group’s weekend show. Also watch Pat Buchanan and Monica Crowley’s heads start spinning. It’s more about political entertainment than anything else, but needless to say, McDonnell doesn’t like Mormons. I offer it to you without further comment.

Surge. Man, our government and mainstream media love that word. Well, Mike Huckabee might be surging, but he still isn’t going to win the presidency at this point. Let’s talk about Ron Paul for no other reason than it keeps my attention.

The story of Michael Guest.

This has always happened. Candidates want information on their opposition. Yet, it’s a story on Drudge and the New York Times which still makes me scratch my head but it’s the way of the new world so I concede, who is also under fire for some things as well.

And, finally, I’m with Pesky here and feeling something would be more than groovy. I still have no idea, but I know who I don’t like. I wish I was more passionate about a candidate for president, but alas, I’m not.

Dennis Kucinich And Ron Paul?

The Washington Post has a story about Ron Paul and why libertarians are just smitten with him.

That force is less about Paul than about the movement that has erupted around him — and the much larger subset of Americans who are increasingly disillusioned with the two major political parties’ soft consensus on making government ever more intrusive at all levels, whether it’s listening to phone calls without a warrant, imposing fines of half a million dollars for broadcast “obscenities” or jailing grandmothers for buying prescribed marijuana from legal dispensaries.

Paul brings a forceful argument to the table, however, I can’t get passed some of the stuff in the past. I do go back to a post I wrote last month about that I don’t think he can win the nomination, but would he be willing to run a libertarian ballot as he has done in the past?

News today has liberal darling (I’m not talking Democrat darling, but true liberal darling) Dennis Kucinich suggesting a Republican running mate. Let’s see what he has to say and then let’s break it down, shall we:

“I’m thinking about Ron Paul” as a running mate, Kucinich told a crowd of about 70 supporters at a house party here, one of numerous stops throughout New Hampshire over the Thanksgiving weekend. A Kucinich-Paul administration could bring people together “to balance the energies in this country,” Kucinich said.

I’m thinking. I’m thinking.

It won’t happen, I don’t think, but to be having this dialogue in 2007 is leaps and bounds ahead of both parties’ rhetoric of the last eight years. Actually, would an idea like this, in these times with two men on opposite sides of the fence (but have similar views on the war) be revolutionary in this day and age?

Could voters get behind this kind of balance? Raging Liberal hippie and curmudgeon conservative plain speaker?

I work in a rural college town, I’m hearing a lot about Ron Paul (not so much about Kucinich) and also see that he was only speaking to roughly 70 people when he said this. From a public relations perspective, I think that’s probably a great move on Kucinich’s part. Bring in the rebel Republican rock star’s name and you get national ink.

The article goes on to say that a spokesperson for Paul didn’t fluff it off although he agrees with me that it wouldn’t work in the long run:

It would create a stunning, if dizzying, blend of beliefs, wedding two politicians who hold different views on abortion rights, the role of government in providing health care, and the use of government in fostering — or hampering — the public’s greater good. Those are among the reasons it would never work, said a spokesman for Paul, a Texas congressman and doctor.

“Dr. Paul and Rep. Kucinich are friends and there is a lot of mutual respect,” Paul communications director Jesse Benton said in an e-mail when asked whether a running-mate spot on the Kucinich ticket would be attractive to Paul. “They have worked, and will continue to work, together on ending the war and protecting civil liberties.

“However, Ron wants to substantially cut the size and scope of the federal government. There are too many differences on issues such as taxes and spending to think a joint ticket would be possible.”

Kucinich and Paul are gadflies to their parties’ establishments. Kucinich challenges Democrats to stop cozying up to corporate interests, while Paul challenges Republicans to shed the trappings of big government.

Now, campers, this is getting a little bit more interesting. I sorta hope they keep talking about it, because it could make some of the slicker presidential candidates start giving some firm answers about stuff.

We want answers about stuff, don’t we?

Just saying.

On Saturday’s Meeting About Upcoming Elections

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

In meeting with some folks on Saturday about progressive politics and next year’s upcoming election, I was taken with a couple of things. First of all, we had a lot to say to each other on a personal level. I also agree with Aunt B. when she says we needed a round table. The conversation drifted. And that was alright because we hadn’t seen each other in a few months, B. had just had surgery and she only has a flesh wound. We checked it out. It’s rather saucy.

There were a few things that had whirled through my mind after we met up after Mack asked me what the number one issue was in our minds. Several people answered but I didn’t. I had to think about this because I think many Americans vote on One Issue. Think about the solidarity of the Republican Party right now although I think it is a fragmented because they don’t have a uber strong candidate running for president is well, but this is, of course, the time of infighting in both partisan camps as the clamoring continues to be the presidential nominee next summer.

Back to the One Issue, it may have tendrils but it usually is back to the “one mind think of the issue that is the most important to me” for the voter, some folks vote about family, about national security, women’s rights, immigration, evangelical leadership, gay rights, denying gay rights and the list goes on.

I don’t think it comes down to one thing, per se, as a collective whole. But, it’s the word of mouth that gets people talking about one issue. People in northwest Tennessee are not talking about immigration or gay rights or urban development so much, they are talking about abortion and Christian Leadership and the viability of rural economic industrial recruitment. Lots of Blue Dog Democrats here, that will vote blue but want it with a conservative center. (I know, I know.)

Personally, I’m a Steve Cohen girl in what I dig in my politics, but then again, I hear a lot of chit-chat about others. I’m figuring I’m a minority around here in the ‘ville when it comes to mad Cohen love.

Who are folks talking about around here, you ask? Ron Paul, Bill Richardson and some John Edwards. Hillary, not so much and Barack Obama, very little. But this is just in the world I live in.

And every political election, no matter where the office is, a local election. The issues of rural voting trends are going to be different than urban voting trends. Ask Harold Ford Jr. this question and I’m sure he could fill you in about how rural America sealed his last campaign for senate (and his own folks in Memphis, who are very tired of the Ford dynasty).

Back to a small group of people, I got busy when I got home from Nashville yesterday and found a few places to go but I think the Republicans are a bit more organized right now online as I said last week and I think this is crucial. Their message is on task. We, as democrats, have has such a weird, disconcerting seven years that we have so many issues we want addressed. But we are getting there.

Their were seven of us on Saturday. Southern Beale, Mack, Aunt. B, Chris Wage, Lesley, Squirrel Queen and myself. The meeting stemmed from another cancelled meeting of progressive politics on Saturday but we decided to meet anyway because it needed to be done or at least we felt it did.

It takes a small group of people. That’s how grassroots movements are born and evolve. You meet because it needs to be done.

So, we talked about the issues that are bothering us. We talked about political blogs. And we need to do it again. And then again.

And next time, there will be nine of us, and then later on, 15. And other groups are getting together.

And we will not agree on everything, but we will agree on that we want a voice in a country that has tried to stifle voices and create static where the words of others have had trouble being heard.

But we found each other online. And, that’s something because we heard over the noise.

And this pleases me.

 

Rex Writes About Ron Paul

Rex Hammock makes an interesting observation about Ron Paul, although he says his post is not about politics. It’s not, actually. But interesting nonetheless…

If I were blogging about politics, I’d be predicting that Paul’s campaign will continue to display the story-arc of the Howard Dean netroots movement and how Paul’s campaign will likely use the money raised by the those internet people to hire “a super expert” who will get paid lots of money while the campaign crashes and burns, but that’s okay, because that super expert will still get paid even more money to write a memoir and give speeches about the experience.

But this is not a post about politics.

Go read what he’s talking about.

Random Thoughts from Newscoma

There are balloon animals lying about my house. I think that you need to know this because it’s sort of weird and odd and I don’t know how they got here.

They have deflated a bit which gives these brightly colored animals a bruised look. I know, very strange. I don’t know why they are lying in three rooms of the house. Should I be afraid? Was it jugglers or elves that left them?

This I do not know.

With that said, I still don’t know who I want to win the presidency, because, quite frankly, no one is impressing me. And Dick Cheney needs to retire. Tomorrow would be good, because Congress is allowing Washington to run around like crazy people on meth.

I do think writers for television need to be paid so in many ways so the writer’s strike doesn’t bother me other than it is an inconvenience to me. If it were your work, you’d want to be paid too. And, the revenue keeps coming in to the big corporations, so why shouldn’t they get a share.

Seriously, I work for peanuts and an occasional Fresca. I picked a bad profession. I have decided to go into taxidermy. WAIT, they stuff animals! Forget that, I’ll go be a Zen Master. Yeah, that’s groovy.

Finally, as my mom was a musical person, I listened to some YoYo Ma earlier today and have decided that if I were ever to marry, it would be to a cello player for many reasons. He also has my birthday, which doesn’t mean crap in the big scheme of things, but, you know odd random unimportant stuff sometimes gets stuck in our brains for absolutely no reason.

And, I have a fund-raiser to go to in about 20 minutes and I don’t want to go because it’s political. I may tell everyone that I’m supporting a Kucinich/Huckabee ticket just to see the reaction. I can’t wait to see their faces.

I might also say I’m supporting a Gravel/Paul ticket. Naaaa. That just gives me the wiggums.
We must, my friends, amuse ourselves for no other reason than no one else will when we are 90 years-old in the nursing home.

Tennessee Bloggers Weigh In On The Democrats

Folks are talking about the political primaries right now and what the presidential candidates are doing and saying which, of course, is always a bit different than their actions. Right now, everyone is on their best behavior. And, I can honestly say, I’ve never seen a presidential campaign anything like this. Ever.

GoldnI says she’s not voting for John Edwards in the primary and gives a detailed, very reasonable analysis of why she doesn’t think he’s the right man for the job:

The decision to accept public financing says a lot about where they are right now. Sure, it’s really easy to say “Well we’ve always supported public financing, so this is about taking a principled stand, it’s not a money calculation, and we hope the rest of the field will be as PRINCIPLED as we are!”

Only problem is, what happens if the “rest of the field” doesn’t take the bait? Then they’re raising as much money as they can (for both the primary AND the general) while you’re constrained by limits that you wouldn’t otherwise have.

Jon at Mushin No Shin has given his first political donation. Here’s why:

I just made my first financial contribution EVER to a major party candidate. Yeah, it creeped me out a little. But Bill Richardson is the first major party candidate I ever thought was actually right for the job. I use the phrase “right for the job” quite precisely. It doesn’t mean I think he’s my ideological soulmate. It means I think he has the right combination of experience, leadership, and “good enough” positions on every major issue to actually do the job we’re hiring someone to do …

Aunt B and I are on the same page I believe here. She discusses a Hillary Clinton presidency:

I just don’t believe it’s good for us to have power pass back and forth between two families.

Bill tried to convince America that it’s not a dynasty, but it feels like that to me.

Finally, Sean Braisted wrote about Barack Obama last Thursday and Iowa.

The Quad City Times is reporting that Michelle Obama, wife of Barack, said that “[i]f Barack doesn’t win Iowa it is over.”

That is certainly what Edwards and Hillary want people to believe, but is it really that true? Iowa is one of the whitest (about 96% white) states in the Union with about 3 Million people overall, the country as a whole is about 77% white. They have a large farming base, which is not true of a majority of electoral votes. Also, in order to win Iowa, you have to be very good at retail politics…but what the hell does retail politics have to do with the Presidential election in this day and age?

In political circles where I live, a lot of folks are talking about who has the capacity to win the election on the democratic ticket.  I’m hearing Edwards name a lot, but I also think that has to do with him being a Southern Democrat. Another name I’m hearing, as you would guess I think, Al Gore, but I don’t think he gives a damn about being president. Energy Czar under a democratic president, yes. Prez, no. I don’t really buy that too much but I’ve been trying to listen to some of the college students that live in the area.

Two names I keep hearing from them is: Ron Paul and Bill Richardson. This, of course, is completely unscientific.

I find that very interesting. These are kids that are not tied up in the politics, just randomly talking about politics at large. I tend to believe that Bill Richardson was initially running for vice-president as much as anything, but I’ve noticed in social networking systems and in my email that Richardson is making a subtle, yet deliberate push right now.

I honestly don’t think we need to dismiss him as a middle-of-the- packer anymore.

With that said, I’m still undecided. I know I’m expected, probably, to jump on someone’s wagon, but I haven’t.

I just haven’t been reached yet by a candidate. Isn’t that what they are supposed to do, reach us with their message. We’ll see if that happens anytime soon.

After the last seven years, I’m having trouble believing anybody.