Mike Huckabee has some good points. The weight loss thing is impressive. I've heard his tax plan is actually on the level. Anyone who can be an executive of a state has to be a capable, functioning human being, and I respect that.
But.
This little blurb on his website says it all. "My faith doesn't influence my decisions, it drives them."
Huckabee says a lot of things on that page that are hard to disagree with. He throws in a line about being a steward of the earth. He talks about how the 1st Amendment says religion shouldn't be preferred or prohibited. But the fact he talks about religion and politics mixing at all fills me with a dull dread.
I am not comfortable with a Christian President, just as I wouldn't be comfortable with an Islamic President. Nor would I be comfortable with an Atheist President. Historically speaking, heads of state who make state decisions based on the Bible have really made a mess of things. We are a secular nation of secular laws (mostly. Why can't I buy beer on Sunday morning?). I don't want anyone's faith being allowed to change that.
Jimmy Carter is an incredibly religious Southern Baptist. I didn't know that for years. I admired him as a President and for his work post-Presidency without ever having religion enter into it. Did his faith factor into decisions made as President? Of course! Did he take instructions from the Bible and other Christian teachings? I don't think so.
The fact Huckabee is so popular among heavily Christian voters is a mark against him in my book. Those were the same people who voted Bush into office. The fact he is running on a platform that implies faith-based governance offends me.
Separation of Church and State. It's the concept that makes us not Iran.
...And Now For Some News...
Bush's Final State of the Union Address Tonight, from NPR.
Mormon Leader Dies at Age 97, from NPR.
New Unrest in western Kenya, from BBC.
Egypt Tries New Tactics to Seal Gaza Border, from BBC.
AC Units Not Safe From Scrap Thieves, from WCBE.
Busy Week for Ohio Legislaters, from WVXU.
Saturday
Variety of Things!
Well...I just got my internet connection to behave. So...maybe things won't be so futile when I try to do websearchings.
So I missed Friday...the girlfriend has Friday and Saturday off, and I had no post set up ready to go like I had planned.
So that's what's up with that. See ya kids Monday!
So I missed Friday...the girlfriend has Friday and Saturday off, and I had no post set up ready to go like I had planned.
So that's what's up with that. See ya kids Monday!
Wednesday
Your Ohio Primary
ok...so I've moved to a whole different end of the state. That's kinda disturbing on some levels...but not, on others. But I'm still in Ohio, so thankfully many of my links are still valid. Changing them is the next big project I have.
But today, I wanna look into the primary. When it is, who can vote, etc etc. Let's go consult Google.
By a round-a-bout way, I found this handy dandy schedule. This guy has some pretty nifty graphics, so it's a bit better than my postage. Not a bad site on the whole...go check it out!
This tells us that Ohio has a joint primary (both Democratic and Republican parties hold primary elections the same day) on March 4th. This is after super-Tuesday, so it makes our primary even more irrelevant than most...kinda sad.
I believe the best way to investiage the how-tos of a primary is through the Ohio offices of the parties...so lets go back to Google.
The Ohio Democratic Website really kinda sucks. A lot. They don't even have the March 4 primary listed on their events calendar. In fact, they barely mention the primary at all. They do have a pretty robust information base in general terms, however.
The Ohio Republican Website is flashier, and better and getting their message out, but has even less real info. The national GOP website doesn't look so barren of info, and I was referred to it a few times...but I was looking for information on the Ohio primary. Didn't find it, and the GOP didn't list the primary with their events either.
I'm kinda disappointed in both these groups. Remind me why I'm registered Independent?
Maybe the Ohio Board of Elections? Long story short, not really.
ok, I had to walk away from the computer after 2 hours on this. I believe I saw a lil blurb back on the Ohio Democratic Party's site on their FAQs about registering with a party...their answer was no, but if you vote in a primary that will set your party affiliation. So it resets your registration? Apparantly. I couldn't find anything to clarify it, and I'm just about done.
Now for Some News...
Gaza Barrier Breached, from NPR
Slide May Not Presage Severe Recession, from NPR
Goths with Dog Leash Forced off Bus, from BBC
Iraqi Parliament Approves New Flag, from BBC (this actually does serve practical purpose)
But today, I wanna look into the primary. When it is, who can vote, etc etc. Let's go consult Google.
By a round-a-bout way, I found this handy dandy schedule. This guy has some pretty nifty graphics, so it's a bit better than my postage. Not a bad site on the whole...go check it out!
This tells us that Ohio has a joint primary (both Democratic and Republican parties hold primary elections the same day) on March 4th. This is after super-Tuesday, so it makes our primary even more irrelevant than most...kinda sad.
I believe the best way to investiage the how-tos of a primary is through the Ohio offices of the parties...so lets go back to Google.
The Ohio Democratic Website really kinda sucks. A lot. They don't even have the March 4 primary listed on their events calendar. In fact, they barely mention the primary at all. They do have a pretty robust information base in general terms, however.
The Ohio Republican Website is flashier, and better and getting their message out, but has even less real info. The national GOP website doesn't look so barren of info, and I was referred to it a few times...but I was looking for information on the Ohio primary. Didn't find it, and the GOP didn't list the primary with their events either.
I'm kinda disappointed in both these groups. Remind me why I'm registered Independent?
Maybe the Ohio Board of Elections? Long story short, not really.
ok, I had to walk away from the computer after 2 hours on this. I believe I saw a lil blurb back on the Ohio Democratic Party's site on their FAQs about registering with a party...their answer was no, but if you vote in a primary that will set your party affiliation. So it resets your registration? Apparantly. I couldn't find anything to clarify it, and I'm just about done.
Now for Some News...
Gaza Barrier Breached, from NPR
Slide May Not Presage Severe Recession, from NPR
Goths with Dog Leash Forced off Bus, from BBC
Iraqi Parliament Approves New Flag, from BBC (this actually does serve practical purpose)
Thursday
How DO Candidates Get Chosen?
I have a vague understanding of this...but not a full understanding. So I'm going to consult Google for you.
In essence, it's a smaller version of the Electoral College. While the primaries for each party ARE held in the year leading up to the Presidential Election, those really don't officially decide anything. Delegates are chosen from each state, and then THEY select the candidate at the party convention, typically held the summer before Election Day.
The delegate selection process is rather...complicated. It varies by state, and by Party. One of my Google Finds, ThisNation.com, had a pretty solid answer for you. That article also links to a CNN.com report on how the GOP and Democrats did their process in 2004...which is a good read.
For the sake of brevity, the short and simple answer is the primaries serve to pledge some delegates for a particular candidate. They're typically only about half of the delegates that will go to the Convention...there are elected officials (think Governors), Party officials, and others with influence who will be chosen for the state at large.
Most delegates will be pledged, meaning they have to declare for a particular candidate before the convention. It's for this reason winning the primaries is such a key element...although in theory, with a scattered enough race (like this one!) it could be anyone's ball game, on account of unpledged delegates being able to weigh in on just one of three otherwise equal candidates.
So, to recap: The primaries elect some of the delegates to the Convention, and these set of district level delegates will vote for the winner of said primary. PLEO's, or Party Leaders and Elected Officials, will also have a say and are typically unpledged. This allows state delegations to be flexible under changing political conditions. Other delegates are chosen as well, with an at-large distinction, and depending on state rules are pledge or unpledged.
Then they all get together, and have a big party, and somewhere along the way vote for whoever they were pledged to vote for. Or whoever their delegation decides on, if they aren't pledged.
That gets important, because...what about those delegates pledged to Bill Richardson? They're up for grabs at the convention. If Huckabee drops out, all his delegates ALSO become fair game. That's why it may not seem important to vote your conscience in a primary, but...really, it is. Even if your candidate drops out later, a delegate from your district could play a key role in choosing the right candidate, instead of just going to support a media darling.
Now For Some News...
Bush to Announce a Stiumulous Package (Put Together With Congress???), from NPR.
Iran is Not an Immediate Military Threat, says Gates, from NPR.
Bobby Fischer Dies at 64, from BBC.
CIA Names Bhutto Killer, from BBC.
Reds Spring Training Tickets On Sale, from WVXU.
Delta, Northwest Merger Likely, from WVXU.
Ohio Supreme Court Rules on Multiple Sentences, from WVXU.
In essence, it's a smaller version of the Electoral College. While the primaries for each party ARE held in the year leading up to the Presidential Election, those really don't officially decide anything. Delegates are chosen from each state, and then THEY select the candidate at the party convention, typically held the summer before Election Day.
The delegate selection process is rather...complicated. It varies by state, and by Party. One of my Google Finds, ThisNation.com, had a pretty solid answer for you. That article also links to a CNN.com report on how the GOP and Democrats did their process in 2004...which is a good read.
For the sake of brevity, the short and simple answer is the primaries serve to pledge some delegates for a particular candidate. They're typically only about half of the delegates that will go to the Convention...there are elected officials (think Governors), Party officials, and others with influence who will be chosen for the state at large.
Most delegates will be pledged, meaning they have to declare for a particular candidate before the convention. It's for this reason winning the primaries is such a key element...although in theory, with a scattered enough race (like this one!) it could be anyone's ball game, on account of unpledged delegates being able to weigh in on just one of three otherwise equal candidates.
So, to recap: The primaries elect some of the delegates to the Convention, and these set of district level delegates will vote for the winner of said primary. PLEO's, or Party Leaders and Elected Officials, will also have a say and are typically unpledged. This allows state delegations to be flexible under changing political conditions. Other delegates are chosen as well, with an at-large distinction, and depending on state rules are pledge or unpledged.
Then they all get together, and have a big party, and somewhere along the way vote for whoever they were pledged to vote for. Or whoever their delegation decides on, if they aren't pledged.
That gets important, because...what about those delegates pledged to Bill Richardson? They're up for grabs at the convention. If Huckabee drops out, all his delegates ALSO become fair game. That's why it may not seem important to vote your conscience in a primary, but...really, it is. Even if your candidate drops out later, a delegate from your district could play a key role in choosing the right candidate, instead of just going to support a media darling.
Now For Some News...
Bush to Announce a Stiumulous Package (Put Together With Congress???), from NPR.
Iran is Not an Immediate Military Threat, says Gates, from NPR.
Bobby Fischer Dies at 64, from BBC.
CIA Names Bhutto Killer, from BBC.
Reds Spring Training Tickets On Sale, from WVXU.
Delta, Northwest Merger Likely, from WVXU.
Ohio Supreme Court Rules on Multiple Sentences, from WVXU.
Wednesday
Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday
I'm listening to Mike Huckabee tell me he has more voters than Evangelicals. *shrugs* Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. But if he does by a chance end up in the White House, I may consider Canada.
At any rate, I'm trying to get this blog (and a couple others) under better control. The general format is going to stay the same...a political or in-depth lil article up here, and some news links below the break. I think the posting will be cut back to M-W-F schedule, to give me some time to research posts better.
Personally, I'm a little fed up with the Democratic Party (see my last post), so the fact Romney won Michigan and opened the race on the GOP side back up makes me pretty happy. Now I'm awfully interested in Saturday's South Carolina primary.
Now For Some News...
Romney Wins in Michigan, from NPR
After 5 Years, D.H.S. Hasn't Won Everyone Over, from NPR
Militants Overrun Pakistan Army Post, from BBC
US Economic Slowdown Lowers Price of Oil, from BBC
Senator Brown Working to Get Federal Food Bank Funding, from WVXU
Freedom Center, County and City Working Out Land Dispute, from WVXU
At any rate, I'm trying to get this blog (and a couple others) under better control. The general format is going to stay the same...a political or in-depth lil article up here, and some news links below the break. I think the posting will be cut back to M-W-F schedule, to give me some time to research posts better.
Personally, I'm a little fed up with the Democratic Party (see my last post), so the fact Romney won Michigan and opened the race on the GOP side back up makes me pretty happy. Now I'm awfully interested in Saturday's South Carolina primary.
Now For Some News...
Romney Wins in Michigan, from NPR
After 5 Years, D.H.S. Hasn't Won Everyone Over, from NPR
Militants Overrun Pakistan Army Post, from BBC
US Economic Slowdown Lowers Price of Oil, from BBC
Senator Brown Working to Get Federal Food Bank Funding, from WVXU
Freedom Center, County and City Working Out Land Dispute, from WVXU
Monday
Displeasure 3x!
Three things have really, really disturbed me today:
- Bush, making a tour of the Middle East with an apparant aim of starting World War Three
- Obama, Clinton, and Edwards wasting time on a ridiculous point of history
- Blogger not letting me into my account all day for unknown reasons.
First of all, I had to shut off NPR's Morning Edition this morning because of a speech the President made while on his Middle East tour. I couldn't listen to it. He was saying bad things about Iran, and calling on our allies in the area to help stop Iran from doing bad things. Sounds a lot like the run up to a recent unnecessary war. Does Iran sponsor terrorism? Yes. Why? Who cares; it's unacceptable. Is the proper way to deal with it by pissing them off more and instigating war? No. I'd love to see our country try to use actual diplomacy, instead of justifying war in advance. I'll be writing letters over this.
I again killed the radio a couple hours later after listening to coverage on the tiff between Obama and Clinton over who deserves credit for the Civil Rights Act. As soon as I realized Obama was accusing Clinton of downplaying MLK's role in the civil rights act, I shut the radio off. The clip I heard of Hillary's statement praised LBJ, yes. For passing a piece of legislation, which . I didn't hear praise for being the father of the whole movement. Even if she HAD said words to that effect...why would Obama debate such a ridiculous point? Dr. King is the undisputed father of that Act, of the whole movement no less.
I learned in high school that when someone made a ludicrous statement, you ignored it. This would have served both candidates well.
As for Edwards trying to put in his two cents on the issue, I'm not going to touch that. Politicians...really do disgust me.
At this rate, I'll be voting for John McCain.
Blogger? Whatever. I got in at last, and really...it's small potatoes compared to the rest of this.
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