Health Care - There is no Debate

8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage

1. Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.
2. Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays: Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
3. Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.
4. Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.
5. Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.
6. Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.
7. Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.
8. Guarantees Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.

Learn more and get details: http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/health-insurance-consumer-protections/

8 common myths about health insurance reform

1. Reform will stop "rationing" - not increase it: It’s a myth that reform will mean a "government takeover" of health care or lead to "rationing." To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently being used by insurance companies.
2. We can’t afford reform: It's the status quo we can't afford. It’s a myth that reform will bust the budget. To the contrary, the President has identified ways to pay for the vast majority of the up-front costs by cutting waste, fraud, and abuse within existing government health programs; ending big subsidies to insurance companies; and increasing efficiency with such steps as coordinating care and streamlining paperwork. In the long term, reform can help bring down costs that will otherwise lead to a fiscal crisis.
3. Reform would encourage "euthanasia": It does not. It’s a malicious myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for seniors. For seniors who want to consult with their family and physicians about end-of life decisions, reform will help to cover these voluntary, private consultations for those who want help with these personal and difficult family decisions.
4. Vets' health care is safe and sound: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will affect veterans' access to the care they get now. To the contrary, the President's budget significantly expands coverage under the VA, extending care to 500,000 more veterans who were previously excluded. The VA Healthcare system will continue to be available for all eligible veterans.
5. Reform will benefit small business - not burden it: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the contrary, reform will ease the burdens on small businesses, provide tax credits to help them pay for employee coverage and help level the playing field with big firms who pay much less to cover their employees on average.
6. Your Medicare is safe, and stronger with reform: It’s myth that Health Insurance Reform would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits. To the contrary, reform will improve the long-term financial health of Medicare, ensure better coordination, eliminate waste and unnecessary subsidies to insurance companies, and help to close the Medicare "doughnut" hole to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors.
7. You can keep your own insurance: It’s myth that reform will force you out of your current insurance plan or force you to change doctors. To the contrary, reform will expand your choices, not eliminate them.
8. No, government will not do anything with your bank account: It is an absurd myth that government will be in charge of your bank accounts. Health insurance reform will simplify administration, making it easier and more convenient for you to pay bills in a method that you choose. Just like paying a phone bill or a utility bill, you can pay by traditional check, or by a direct electronic payment. And forms will be standardized so they will be easier to understand. The choice is up to you – and the same rules of privacy will apply as they do for all other electronic payments that people make.

Learn more and get details:
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck/faq

8 Reasons We Need Health Insurance Reform Now

1. Coverage Denied to Millions: A recent national survey estimated that 12.6 million non-elderly adults – 36 percent of those who tried to purchase health insurance directly from an insurance company in the individual insurance market – were in fact discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition in the previous three years or dropped from coverage when they became seriously ill. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/denied_coverage/index.html
2. Less Care for More Costs: With each passing year, Americans are paying more for health care coverage. Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled since 2000, a rate three times faster than wages. In 2008, the average premium for a family plan purchased through an employer was $12,680, nearly the annual earnings of a full-time minimum wage job. Americans pay more than ever for health insurance, but get less coverage. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hiddencosts/index.html
3. Roadblocks to Care for Women: Women’s reproductive health requires more regular contact with health care providers, including yearly pap smears, mammograms, and obstetric care. Women are also more likely to report fair or poor health than men (9.5% versus 9.0%). While rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are similar to men, women are twice as likely to suffer from headaches and are more likely to experience joint, back or neck pain. These chronic conditions often require regular and frequent treatment and follow-up care. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/women/index.html
4. Hard Times in the Heartland: Throughout rural America, there are nearly 50 million people who face challenges in accessing health care. The past several decades have consistently shown higher rates of poverty, mortality, uninsurance, and limited access to a primary health care provider in rural areas. With the recent economic downturn, there is potential for an increase in many of the health disparities and access concerns that are already elevated in rural communities. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hardtimes
5. Small Businesses Struggle to Provide Health Coverage: Nearly one-third of the uninsured – 13 million people – are employees of firms with less than 100 workers. From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. Much of this decline stems from small business. The percentage of small businesses offering coverage dropped from 68% to 59%, while large firms held stable at 99%. About a third of such workers in firms with fewer than 50 employees obtain insurance through a spouse. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/helpbottomline
6. The Tragedies are Personal: Half of all personal bankruptcies are at least partly the result of medical expenses. The typical elderly couple may have to save nearly $300,000 to pay for health costs not covered by Medicare alone. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction
7. Diminishing Access to Care: From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. An estimated 87 million people - one in every three Americans under the age of 65 - were uninsured at some point in 2007 and 2008. More than 80% of the uninsured are in working families. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction/diminishing/index.html
8. The Trends are Troubling: Without reform, health care costs will continue to skyrocket unabated, putting unbearable strain on families, businesses, and state and federal government budgets. Perhaps the most visible sign of the need for health care reform is the 46 million Americans currently without health insurance - projections suggest that this number will rise to about 72 million in 2040 in the absence of reform. Learn more: http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/assets/documents/CEA_Health_Care_Report.pdf

Big Money Bank Sponges

An open letter to President Obama...

Dear Mr. President...

I'm very worried about what I read about the banking system and it's recovery. Please set in place modern, air tight as can be regulations, so we don't have to suffer this kind of problem again. I know that we had banking problems every few years until FDR put in tough regulations and then Phil Gramm and others ripped them up and we've ended up with banks that are too big to fail because they not just banks any more - they have to get back to normal business and spin off those high risk parts of the company, so they can fail if they make the wrong decisions and us taxpayers don't have to bail them out.

Don't let the big money sponges deter you from making the correct decisions.

Thanks and keep up the good work. I know it's going to pay off.

Tortured Logic

I sent this into Meet The Press today. They are having Michael Steele, head of the RNC and Tim Kaine, head of the DNC on this Sunday.

Why does anybody care and why is there so much "reporting" about what Nancy Pelosi knew or didn't know about the official policy of torture in 2002? If she had objected, would that have stopped anything? Aren't these CIA briefings top secret, so she couldn't say anything public about it anyway? Why isn't anybody call the Bush Administration, Rush Limbaugh and the GOP "Pro Torture"? Do they really like being the Pro Torture party? If McCain had won, would we still be torturing people? Change the focus back to the main issue, which is Torture is illegal period and it doesn't matter if you get some toady lawyers to write you an opinion after the fact, to cover it up. Does Dick Cheney and the GOP admire the Spanish Inquisition? they got lots of confessions. Why not thumb screws and the rack? And this argument about the ticking time bomb is ridiculous. If they had to waterboard someone 83 times over a month, how slow is that ticking time bomb?

I want everything out in the open. Everyone is being too soft on the GOP. As soon as they say ticking time bomb, ask them how slow is it if we have to waterboard someone over a month to get them to talk, if that really happened.

I want to see a concrete example of this ticking time bomb situation. I think it's all just Jack Bauer fantasies.

Tire inflation really does make a difference

I have proof that inflating your tires helps gas mileage. check out the graph. the two big spikes upwards are when I got my tires inflated - first was my last oil change and the 2nd was last week when I did it myself, although I guess I didn't get it up to the best pressure, it sure helped a lot on my MPG. I had noticed it was going down, so I figured I should try it and it worked.

On August 4, 2008, tire inflation became the latest goofball political issue in the Obama/McCain campaign - Boston Globe article (including 2 YouTube videos).

Eventually, McCain agreed that proper tire inflation was helpful in improving gas mileage, but not before the McCain's campaign offered "Obama Energy Plan" tire gauges to supporters for a donation of $25 or more, and the Republican National Committee also gave tire gauges to newsrooms in Washington "in celebration" of Obama's birthday.

Open Letter to President Obama

The #1 priority is Energy Independence and Green Economy Because this solves several problems - we have to start now to lower our consumption of oil for our cars - just starting down this road will keep gas prices lower. It will also create new jobs for Americans and finally it will help the environment, which everyone needs.

I heard this morning that a large percentage of the Energy Dept budget just takes care of the nuclear arsenal. That seems like old Cold War thinking. That needs to be changed.

P.S. When Clinton got elected, I sent him a message asking to get rid of the Helium Fund (started about 100 years ago to supply our barrage balloon fleet for WWI) and the Mohair subsidy (which is also a WWI leftover for making sure our pilots had nice warm Mohair flight jackets and that back then people like Sam Donaldson and Charlie Stenholm were taking big tax right offs against). The day after I sent this message back then, I heard someone mention both issues on CNN the very next day and I think for awhile they were cut back, but I think Bush brought them back.

I am hoping that your budget director will find things like the Helium Fund and Mohair subsidy that are relics of a previous era and finally kill them once and for all.

Carbubble Predicts 2008 Election exactly (almost)

McCain wins Missouri; State's streak over!

(CNN) – It's taken more than two weeks, but we finally have a winner in Missouri.

Fifteen days after Election Day, Republican Sen. John McCain has narrowly edged out President-elect Barack Obama in the state, according to CNN's review of the latest unofficial vote totals from the Missouri Secretary of State. This resolves the final outstanding contest of the 2008 presidential race.

According to the unofficial results, McCain won the state by 3,632 votes . The unofficial count shows McCain with 1,445,812 votes, or 49.4 percent, and Obama with 1,442,180 votes, or 49.3 percent.

With Missouri's 11 electoral votes in Senator McCain's column, the final count is 365 for Obama and 173 for McCain.

********************************************************

I predicted every single state correctly and I only missed that Obama would carry Omaha's 1 electoral vote. Not bad!

More Presidential Predictions 2008

Cha-Ching! Gimme dat dollar!

No congrats on predicting every single state correctly? Not even a "Not bad"? Oh well...

Here are my new predictions:

Sec. of State - Hillary Clinton
Sec. of Defense Chuck Hagel (ex GOP senator)
Sec. of Treasury - John Corzine (Gov of NJ and ex Goldman Sachs)
Sec. of Homeland Security - Tim Roemer - Wrong
Sec. of Energy - Steve Westly (eBay founder)
Attorney General - Janet Napolitano (AZ Gov) - Wrong, going to be Homeland Security
Sec. of Education - Caroline Kennedy

Bizzaro Predictions:

Sec. of State - Andrew "Dice" Clay (least diplomatic)
Sec. of Defense (after Gates leaves) - Sarah Silverman (most offensive)
Sec. of Treasury - Paris Hilton (knows all about spending $$$)
Sec. of Homeland Security - Macaulay Culkin (Home Alone kid)
Sec. of Energy - Sarah Palin (Drill, Baby, Drill)
Attorney General - Adam "Pacman" Jones (Make it Rain)

Election Day 2008 - Morning

I slept really well last night, so my confidence is high for today's vote. I repeat, Confidence is High!

This has been a very long election. It all started for me in June 2006 when I bet Ken a dollar that neither McCain or Hillary would be the next Prez.

I had no idea that I would become emotionally involved with this election. Even Dan Rather said that 2008 is the most important and exciting election he's seen and he started covering elections in 1952 when I was just barely born.

I've made a lot of predictions about this election, so we'll see in about 6 hours if I've been right. My newest predictions is that at least one state back east will have such overwhelming turnout and/or problems that they will have to delay the polls closing.

My final prediction is 364 Obama to 174 McCain.

I had a couple of other thoughts lately about Gov. Sarah Palin, but now they seem trivial. I did like that McCain's boys are calling her a "whack job", a "diva", an "unscripted robot" or a "scripted ignoramus". She's just a Mavericky Rogue. Let Sarah be Sarah in 2012! Like she said: "What do I have to lose?"

I used the excellent internet tools that the Obama campaign had and personally raised over $1000 for the campaign and I made phone calls to undecided voters in New Mexico. I sent out a lot of information to my co-workers at Wind River about the debates and how to register. I inspired someone to vote early and last weekend he drove to Reno NV and knocked on 100 doors canvasing in a latino neighborhood and found that a lot of the undecided people just didn't know where their polling place was and how to vote because it was their first time.

I feel really good about the contribution I played and I'm very hopeful for the future. That's all for now.

Batman vs. The Penguin: The Debate

McCain (played by Penguin): Friends and fellow citizens, there will be no mudslinging in this campaign. I intend to stick to the issues. What are the issues? There is only one! Obama. Who is he? I suggest that he is dangerous. Why else does he conceal his past? Would you think about that for a moment, my friends? Who is he with? Criminals, that's who! Hobnobbing with crooks.

Spin room: McCain is as crooked as a warped Shillelagh

More advice for Barack Obama & Joe Biden

I think that Senator McCain is chicken and now he's hiding behind his wife's & running mate's skirts while they spout disgraceful statements.

I think you should add disgraceful & dishonorable to erratic as a constant theme.

I think that Senators Biden & Obama should do back to back "full ginsburgs" and talk on all 5 sunday morning news shows and challenge the opponents. Answer all the questions and then ask why McCain & Palin are too scared to answer questions. Why would a fighter pilot and moose hunter be scared?

McCain keeps asking "who is the real Obama?". If he knew how to use a computer, he could Google "obama" and discover that he's been running for President for 20 months, talking to 100's of thousands of American citizens (not prisoners) and most people do know who Barack Obama is. I'll bet that McCain has a VCR in each of his many houses and they all blink 12:00.

Open Letter to Senator Obama - Debate ideas

My Presidential prediction of Obama getting 300+ electoral votes still stands and it's getting better and better every day.

Here is some advice I've sent to the Obama campaign:

1. Senator Obama, I noticed that you did mention McCain not wanting to talk with the PM of Spain, but you didn't press it and let him off the hook. I think you should make him answer that question personally and find out why he would blow off a member of NATO, who's suffered a lot at the hand of terrorists.
2. At the next debate, I think you should bring up this - at the Friday debate, McCain said many times how he was a fighter, fighting for this and fighting for that, but every example he named, he didn't win or persuade anybody, just like when he suspended his campaign and claimed to convince the House GOP to pass the $700 Billion bailout bill.... He is not a winner, he just likes to fight.
3. When he starts up again with his "Senator Obama doesn't understand", you should throw that back in his face also. Say, the American people can see me in the last debate and this debate understanding all the issues we've been discussing and because I don't agree with your position doesn't mean I don't understand it and reject it as being wrong, wrong, wrong. (remember the rule of 3 - if you say something 3 times, people will really hear it and remember it - never go over 3)...
4. If you really want to get under his skin, ask him why he considers himself a Maverick. When he starts talking about all the issues he's disagreed on with his party, ask him if the Republicans are just plain wrong that often? If he's working with Democrats so much, then it's a matter of fact that the Democrats have the better ideas on these issues.

As they said in the olde days: "Nail him to the hull".

P.S. My personal opinion: Americans are not going to elect a grumpy, cranky, dice-throwing, erratic 72 year old fighter pilot to be the next President. When I heard about him being a big gambler at the Indian casino craps table and that he crashed at least 2 planes before he was shot down, that explains a lot.

McCain & Palin are no "Mavericks"

A Straw Man Argument is an informal fallacy based on misrepresentation of an opponent's position. To "set up a straw man" or "set up a straw man argument" is to describe a position that superficially resembles an opponent's actual view but is easier to refute, then attribute that position to the opponent (for example, deliberately overstating the opponent's position).

Click on the link below for the new Obama ad countering the McCain ad that called him & Gov. Palin so-called "Mavericks". The GOP is running a straw man campaign where they avoid the issues (McCain's campaign manager declared the election won't be about the issues) and use sarcasm and false claims to move the polls. McCain has moved ahead in some polls, but still all the polls are within the margin of error.

No Mavericks Video

So far, I've raised $500 for Obama. My personal goal is $1000 before my Birthday on October 15th, which is the date of the final Presidential Debate.

September 26, 2008: Presidential debate with domestic policy focus, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
October 2, 2008: Vice Presidential debate, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
October 7, 2008: Presidential debate in a town hall format, Belmont University, Nashville, TN
October 15, 2008:Presidential debate with foreign policy focus, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY

Please donate if you can and pass this onto to your friends.

TLC's Obama Fundraising Page

Thanks to everyone.

P.S. Here is the real Maverick.

Why pick Palin?

Why not pick Palin? As Flush Lintball said: "She's a babe." That's a good a reason as any, I suppose.

McLame realized that he was going to lose big by picking boring losers like Pawlenty or Mitt and he want to shake things up by picking Liebermann, but Flush Lintball and other big shot right wingers told him he couldn't be that much of a Maverick, so he was stuck with Palin as the only big deal that would satisfy his masters.

Maybe their thinking was that picking a woman would help, but remember that Mondale tried this same gambit and look what happened to him.

Palin seems like a very fine woman, mother and Governor for Alaska, but when the flacks start saying that she's got foreign policy experience because Alaska is next to Russia and that she's tough because she sold the state plane on eBay and that she's a big reformer because she said no to the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere", when in 2006 when she was running for Governor, she was for it and all the other millions of dollars of earmarks that Alaska loves (Alaska gets $300 in earmark cash for each person because the state is so big, but with a population of a congressional district in a more populous state), it just becomes silly.

Watch this CNN interview with McCain spokesman, Tucker "Mr. Talking Points" Bounds and watch how silly it gets the harder he tries not to answer any of the actual questions. This interview caused McCain to cancel an appearance on the Larry King show.

In the end, picking Palin won't make any difference in the 2008 election and my prediction of Obama winning 300+ electoral votes still stands.

Oxen, Rats & Paris Hilton

McCain - Aug 29, 1936 - Year of the Rat: Manipulative, vindictive, mendacious, venal, selfish, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, scheming.

Obama - Aug 4, 1961 - Year of the Ox: Dependable, calm, methodical, patient, hardworking, ambitious, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious.

Why does Paris Hilton make so much sense? "Thanks for the endorsement, white haired dude."

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

McToast - 2008 Presidential Prediction Update

On April 12, 2007, I predicted that Mitt Romney was "toast" and today I'm predicting that the tipping point in the 2008 Presidential Election has happened.

Check out the photo of McCain & Prez Bush 41 in the old folks home golf cart. The two old geezers are heading for the early bird dinner at 4:30. I predict that McCain will carry the Boca Raton crowd. He's their kind of guy!

While Barack Obama draws 200,000 Germans for a speech in Berlin, old man McCain visits Schmidt's Sausage Haus and gums some brautwurst. Located in the German Village section of Columbus, Ohio, the classic restaurant is owned by 58-year-old Geoff Schmidt, the fourth Schmidt to offer what his to go menu claims is "The Best of the Wurst!"


McCain's campaign has "Jumped The Shark" and as VP Deadeye Dick Cheney would say: "Major league big time!".

Jumping the shark is a colloquialism used by U.S. TV critics and fans to denote the point in a TV or movie series at which the characters or plot veer into a ridiculous, out-of-the-ordinary storyline. Shows that have "jumped the shark" are typically deemed to have passed their peak, since they have undergone too many changes to retain their original appeal, and after this point critical fans often sense a noticeable decline in the show's quality.

That exactly describes John McCain and his chances to become the 44th US President. He's making all kinds of mistakes, which people keep glossing over, but I'm positive that the American people will reject him.

I liked him in 2000 and I might have voted for him if he had been running vs. Al Gore, but the 2008 version has gone beyond his shelf life. The expiration date is long gone and if he was a can of pineapple, he would be ready to blow (I had that happen a few months ago and it's nasty) and leak all over the shelf.

John, my advice is to head back to Arizona and enjoy life with Cindy and have a beer before the Belgians mess it up.

Landslide - 2008 Presidential Prediction

This 2008 Presidential election is going to be a landslide. No doubt with Obama at the top of the hill and McCain at the bottom in the debris pile.

All the current polls saying that it's a virtual tie between the two candidates is a bunch of baloney. Pollsters base their polls, questions and voter pool on the last election and that model is way whack!

I predict on June 9, 2008 that Obama will get at least 300 Electoral College votes and probably more like the 370 that Bill Clinton got in 1992.

All the talking heads on the cable news keep talking about "Will the Hillary voters vote for Obama?". They should be paying attention to the facts that 3 months after McCain wrapped up the GOP nomination, that Ron Paul was getting 20% plus in the primaries.

You've got a well known and respected Libertarian Party nominee in Bob Barr, ex-Congressman from Georgia and you are putting your head in the sand if you don't think that McCain is going to be losing votes to him in southern states like North Carolina and Georgia.

I heard that there are 600,000 unregistered African-American voters in Georgia and the Obama campaign has plenty of moola to get a big percentage of them as new voters in November. In 2004, John Kerry got 1.3 million votes in Georgia vs. Bush 1.8MM and in the 2008 Georgia primary, the total Democratic vote was over 1 million. I predict that Obama will get Georgia's 15 Electoral votes and if that happens, it's going to be a landslide.

I can't wait to see the Obama vs. McCain townhall debates. Watch them both speak. Obama is serious and McCain makes those weird sarcastic remarks and so-called jokes and gives us his crystal skull grin. It looks freaky. There is no way America is going to elect a skull as President.

New 2008 Presidential Prediction

Most elections are about pocketbook issues. it's not McCain's fault that the greedy wall street and mortgage company sponges gave out loans to so many people who couldn't afford it, but he might pay for it in November because it's still going to be affecting the overall economy.

We've gone from $25/barrel to $100/barrel oil because of 9/11 and other conflicts, which again has nothing to do with McCain. Also, it's very rare to have 12 years of one party as Prez because a lot of people are just tired and want something new. McCain is never going to be shiny & new.

He's very gloomy and if he's going to use the anti-hope argument - "Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate", or "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here", I don't think he's got much of a chance.

2008 Presidential Candidates - Do they support poker?

Do the major 2008 Presidential Candidates support poker? Check it out for yourself and then let your favorite candidate know what you think!

Join the PPA - Poker Players Alliance.

Don't let Mitt Romney (and his henchman, my evil twin, Evil Tom Coates) become President. Sign the ABM Treaty - Anybody but Mitt.


The Democratic Frontrunners:

Hillary Clinton:

The two-term senator from New York won the New Hampshire Democratic primary. She has recently expressed that she supports the industry’s position: to study Internet gambling to see whether it can be fairly regulated so that individuals can safely participate in it and American businesses can compete in the international market (Las Vegas Sun, 01/18/08). When contacting the campaign, be sure to let them know you are an undecided voter and a proud poker player.

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/help/contact/


Barack Obama:

The senator is from Illinois and winner of the Iowa Democratic caucus. Obama has recently expressed that he worries that the Internet is "a Wild West of illegal activity", and supports a study of Internet gambling and supports regulation to address the worst abuses (Las Vegas Sun, 01/18/08). He is reputed to be a good player, and doesn't mind letting it be known that he enjoys playing poker for money. These stories are even on his own website. When contacting the campaign, be sure to let them know you are an undecided voter and a proud poker player.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/contact/

The Republican Frontrunners:

Mike Huckabee:

Republican Iowa caucus winner and former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee does have a clear position OPPOSING Internet Poker. Mike Huckabee responded to the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling's questionnaire (the only candidate to respond, by the way). In it, he promised to veto any legislation repealing UIGEA or otherwise clearly legalizing online gaming.

Here is the question he was asked, complete with its bias and inaccuracies:

1) Last year, Congress voted overwhelming to criminalize most forms of Internet gambling. This year some members of Congress are promoting legislation to legalize Internet gambling. If such legislation passed, would you veto it? Huckabee answered "yes". That's about as clear as it gets.


John McCain:

The New Hampshire Republican primary winner does not have a specific position on Internet poker, but does appear to have been influenced by his fellow Arizona Senator Jon Kyl, who is a vigorous opponent of our rights. McCain, however, has always been willing to consider both sides of an issue and may simply need to know how strongly PPA members feel about this issue. We encourage you to contact his campaign and ask whether he has a specific position, and of course, to let them know you are an undecided voter and a proud poker player.

http://www.johnmccain.com/Contact/


Ron Paul:

In keeping with his Libertarian philosophy, Congressman Paul is a proud supporter of our cause. Rep. Paul has supported and sponsored pro-poker legislation, and has also made time to visit with PPA grassroots members, poker celebrities, and citizens lobbyists every time we have asked. His credentials on allowing adults the freedom to play poker are unblemished.


Mitt Romney:

The former governor of Massachusetts has no formal position on internet poker. However, he - like Giuliani - has contorted his issue positions wildly in a bid to gain support from social conservatives. As part of that effort, Romney tapped Tom Coates, Vice President, Truth About Gambling, Iowa, to his "Faith and Values Steering Committee." Coates, in turn, is vigorously opposed to gaming of any sort. We urge you to contact the Romney campaign, and ask whether the candidate has a specific position. As always, be sure to tell them you're an undecided voter and a proud poker player.

http://www.mittromney.com/ContactUs

GOP Veep

I predict that no matter who's the GOP nominee, it will be Fred Thompson as Veep. he's perfect for the job. it's not too much work if you don't want it to be, he'd be good as a one VP debate hammer because those writers are not on strike, you get to travel around the world with your hot wife in a fancy plane visiting live or dead dignitaries and if you don't shoot anybody, the late night comics won't make fun of you.

2008 Political Thoughts and Bon Mots

I watch Meet the Press, Face the Nation, McLaughlin Group and The News Hour on Friday just for Shields & Brooks every week. I TiVo everything, so I zoom ahead of the boring stuff. I watch Hardball sometimes (always on Friday), but I can't always take Chris Mathews - I like listening to Pat Buchanan's opinions - he's funny. on the radio coming into work, I often listen to Flush Lintball and on the way home, I listen to Sean Hannity. I always watch Countdown with Olbermann and Daily Show. I think I get a pretty broad spectrum of ideas and opinions. I'm still a Tom Clancy Democrat.

I had a new thought. If McCain wins NH, that's the worst scenario for Rudy because McCain will still be in on Feb 5th and Romney with his big $$ won't drop out before then either, so there will still be 4 candidates and the true conservatives don't like McCain because of Immigration and voting against the Bush Tax Cuts and McCain-Feingold campaign finance reforms, they don't like Rudy because of his liberal social stances and they don't like Romney because he's a weasly flip-flopper plus 25% who don't like Mormons, so that leaves Huckleberry to pick up a plurality of the votes and win a bunch on Feb 5th.

My previous predictions are looking good so far. April 12, 2007 - "Romney is toast" and November 14, 2006 - "A Stone Cold Lock that the next President won't be Hillary or McCain." You can look it up.