Sunday, November 13, 2005
On Veterans Day this past Friday, the President delivered a speech in Pennsylvainia to kick-off a "campaign-style" series of public appearances in an effort to rally waning support for the Iraq war.
It appears the Bush White House has brought back the well-placed phrase motif they used during the 2004 presidential campaign. In this particular case, it's "Strategy for Victory." Odd but not suprisingly, Bush said nothing substantial about strategy for victory in Iraq, instead repeating the tired platitudes the public has verbatimly heard before. What's left then, is an image of the White House public relations strategy for victory: photo-ops of the President surrounded by military personnel.
Posted at 08:47 pm by matty_fred
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Thursday, November 10, 2005
Virginia is for Lovers (of Democratic Guv'ners)
Despite an eleventh-hour campaign appearance by President Bush, GOP Virginia gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore was soundly defeated by Democrat Tim Kaine Tuesday night. The President's very public campaign appearance at Kilgore's side just a day before Kilgore's lackluster showing at the polls have inevitably led many observers to speculate the President did more to harm Kilgore's chances than to help them.
This evening, the generally Bush-supportive Fox News Channel released a poll pegging Bush's national approval rate at 36%, and his disapproval at 53%. Other recent polls have consistently pegged Bush's approvals in the mid 30's, and his disapprovals in the high 50's. The President currently is very unpopular. While his appearance with Kilgore in Virginia may have hurt the GOP's campaign for the Virginia governorship, there is a larger trend in Virginia which favors the Democrats in statewide races: a growing Democratic base.
Virginia Gubernatorial Vote by Candidates' Major Party Affiliation, 1997-2005:
|
|
DEM Candidate |
|
GOP Candidate |
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1997 |
|
738,971 |
|
969,062 |
|
1,708,033
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 |
|
984,177 |
|
887,234 |
|
1,871,411 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2005 |
|
1,024,914 |
|
911,861 |
|
1,936,775 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| % Dif. |
|
+39% |
|
-6% |
|
+13% |
% Dif. = percentage difference between 1997 and 2005.Democrat Mark Warner, the out-going and very popular Governor of Virginia seems to have his sights set on a presidential run in 2008. If Warner is the Democratic nominee, Virginia would most probably move from a "lean-Republican" state to a "lean-Democratic" state in the electoral college calculus. Since the current Republican national strategy relies heavily on Virginia as a "safe Republican" state in presidential elections, a Warner candidacy would cause the national GOP much consternation.
But with or without Mark Warner as the Democratic nominee, the trend in Virginia suggests that by 2008 the state will be a battleground.
Posted at 11:36 pm by matty_fred
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Monday, November 07, 2005
The Sublimation Hour are some new internets by my buddy Chris. The man has impeccable taste in rock n roll, as well as impeccable skills in writing about it. Check it out, and get yourself on the ground floor of what surely will prove to be a successful enterprise.
Posted at 06:33 pm by matty_fred
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Thursday, November 03, 2005
Posted at 12:27 pm by matty_fred
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Tuesday, November 01, 2005
the Online Freedom of Speech Act
H.R. 1606, the Online Freedom of Speech Act, is up for a vote tomorrow. Here is what a supporter has to say about it:
Our fundamental argument is this: with the FEC about to receive a number of new members who aren't familiar with the record, and with the 2006 elections soon approaching, now is not the time to force the Federal Election Commission to start regulating in an area which caused no problems of corruption in 2004. While precisely-tailored regulations would be wonderful, the truth is that it's only through this kind of significant carve-out that anyone will feel comfortable speaking out on and supporting federal candidates through the Internet without the fear of investigation, subpoena and complaint. It is the only way to be sure that group blogs, incorporated blogs, and blogs that accept advertising from or speak with candidates are protected in their activities.
Click this link to read more about the bill, and what you can do to help get it passed.
Posted at 12:32 pm by matty_fred
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Monday, October 31, 2005
tearing it down from the inside
Posted at 10:58 pm by matty_fred
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Thursday, October 27, 2005
No Longer Second Fiddle in the Second City
 | |
The White Sox are world champions. It was nice to see Jermaine Dye drive in the winning (and only) run for the White Sox victory. He's quietly put together a great career, and I wonder if his skills would be more appreciated if not for one injury-plagued season and several seasons on less celebrated teams.
I have a sneaking suspicion that Tribune Media, owner of the cross-town Chicago Cubs, will be loosening its purse strings this offseason to make a big free-agent signing. Rooting for "loveable losers" doesn't have the same appeal to it when there are "loveable World Champions" just across town. |
Posted at 01:13 am by matty_fred
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