I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

I'm not far left either, and I've supported Obama.  Don't kid yourself, when it comes time to vote in 2012 all the dems (left, center or right of center) will be his base.

So far, the repubs have offered up no one as a candidate who could come close to beating Obama.

I like your attitude, Bren!

I'm remaining cautiously optimistic about the economy.

"Is the U.S. economy poised for a comeback in 2011?

Many experts believe that after two years of anemic growth a serious recovery is imminent. Why are they so optimistic?"

http://theweek.com/article/index/210631/is-the-us-economy-poised-for-a-comeback-in-2011

But then there is this:

"Will $4 gas kill the recovery? Cash-strapped consumers are bracing for pump prices they haven't seen since the start of the recession. Can the still weak economy stand the hit?"

http://theweek.com/article/briefing_blog/110/the-us-recovery

And my prediction for the GOP candidate in 2012 is Mitt Romney.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/22/AR2011012202305.html?hpid=topnews

Speaking of Trump running, I'm reminded about this potential candidate....someday maybe....

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/01/05/alec-baldwin-interested-running-office/

"There was no health insurance (he was cut off after his first illness), only VA ,and I wouldn't wish that care on anybody."

PatMom did not write the above, I did. Had I known that anyone would use it to further their cause, I would have included the fact that this was 20 years ago! At that time and in that facility, the treatment was awful. If you use my words, please give me credit. Thank you.

Romney being a Mormon doesn't bother me one bit.  However, I, at this point, do not want him to run.  He'd have to defend his health care. 

I like Beck and he's a Mormon.    Oh, and I'm in the South. 

It is a cold world out there right now. I am gratefullly employed but as I watch businesses in my upscale office location close like dominoes...it is scary indeed. Our office is located across the courtyard from the city hall of one the top 10 cities listed by Money magazine...and all of the little businesses and cafes can't find a client base to stay open. I did a dumb thing and bought another house a year ago before selling my old house, which is in the city mentioned above. Plenty of buyers but no one qualifies...I had excellent credit and job history and jumped through I don't know how many hoops to buy this one, so I can't imagine a dinged credit report and trying to get a mortgage. It is like it swung the other other way from when people who had no right being in a house that was just too much for them getting approved easily to blocking middle class folks from getting a house they can afford. I still have no idea how I am paying two mortgages and wonder if that little added stress just helped stir up those cells in my body. Anyhow, there are tough times out there among more people than we think. Mine are self-induced through not wanting to pass up on a house I loved, but I see many out there struggling like mad through no fault of their own. It makes me so sad. I have one job opening coming up and I know there will be a thousand applicants...I wish there was more ( a few in my office I would like to toss out on their lazy ass for just marking time rather than actually working)...anyway, it ain't better, no matter what anyone says...

I always find you ladies have such interesting things to say. I follow both Canadian and American politics with a keen interest. A few posts back someone mentioned that Romney likely wouldn't get far because he's Mormon. Apparently our Prime Minister is Christian, but to be honest, I wouldn't be able to tell you what denomination he and his family are. I guess we don't really worry too much about their religious beliefs. We have a newly elected mayor in Calgary that is Muslim and it's not a big deal to anyone. I think we care deeply about economic and foreign policy issues but we really don't delve into our elected officials personal lives. I wouldn't know the prime ministers children if I fell over them yet it is amazing to think about the derogatory reports on US politicians families...especially their children. I remember how Chelsea Clinton and the Bush twins were portrayed in the media. Honestly with all the issues in the world it surprises me that your elected officials religious beliefs carry so much weight with voters.

You said it perfectly Pickle. 

Kids are always off-limits.  Unless spouses/partners are politically active (other than formal events tied to their spouse's/partner's office), off-limits.  No one is out-ed, they are welcome to "out" themselves if they so choose.  We do have/had gay leaders in Canada.  I remember an interview with a reporter deep into the federal political scene who said eyes are averted for any extramarital shenanigans -- no one's business but those involved.  It can get rough and tumble on political issues, not personal issues.  Much more civilized IMHO.

The Veterans Administration hospitals were notoriously bad prior to 1992.  Today one can receive the best care in America in a VA hospital.  I had my surgery for BC at a VA hospital.  As the wife of a disabled Vet I could receive care there until I was 65.  Now that I am on Medicare I am really concerned about going to the non-VA health care system.  Here's why.

"Pushed by large employers who are eager to know what they are buying when they purchase health care for their employees, an outfit called the National Committee for Quality Assurance today ranks health-care plans on 17 different performance measures. These include how well the plans manage high blood pressure or how precisely they adhere to standard protocols of evidence-based medicine such as prescribing beta blockers for patients recovering from a heart attack. Winning NCQA's seal of approval is the gold standard in the health-care industry. And who do you suppose this year's winner is: Johns Hopkins? Mayo Clinic? Massachusetts General? Nope. In every single category, the VHA system outperforms the highest rated non-VHA hospitals."  http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2005/0501.longman.html

Read the link to understand why I hope everyone in America will one day receive the same level of care I received from a government run health care system that unfortunately I can no longer be a part of.

Notself,

Every catetory mentioned in your CPI article has increased in price. To think the housing industry and it's effect on employment, unemployment and consumption of consumer products has no relevance is not realistic. The CPI is calculated on consumable goods and services. If no one is purchasing those goods and services, suppliers will increase their prices to consumers to help make up the shortfall or lay off people to cut cost which will result in additional mortgage foreclosures. 

Just for instance, college tuition has almost doubled in the past two years.  It's supply and demand. Those laid off or out of work in the housing industry and manufacturing sectors have gone back to school in hope of getting a different or better job. Enrollment headcounts are up 25% which required the educational institutions to add personnel and equipment. Up goes tuition.

 It's not the price of real estate that perpetuates the problem but the loss of jobs in the building and manufacturing industries that prevent people from consuming those goods and services illustrated in the CPI. If you have no one to sell it to, it won't be long before you won't have anything to sell. 

As I recall when living in Boston, Mitt was well liked but there was a bit of a stink and some laughs when it was found his landscapers/gardeners were undocumented workers.

I understood that the Governor made the remarks during a Martin Luther King Jr day speech in a church where King was once a pastor. Does a Governor not represent all the people of the state? He sure doesn't sound like he does.

Kadeeb,

I agree with you that all citizens are never going to all like their elected officials. I've never heard of any politician getting 100% of the votes. However, they are supposed to represent all of the citizens of their jurisdiction whether they personally agree with their religious beliefs or not. An elected official is paid by all the taxpayers to represent all of them. In multicultural, democratic countries, we the people, means all of the people not just the ones that he decides are part of his Christian flock. I believe he may be a fairly unskilled politician and has since publicly made an apology and regrets saying what said. Let's hope so.

I can believe I'm going to try and explain this (not excuse it) but here goes.

The comment is not being quoted in  its entirety. What he said was, "So anybody here who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister, but I want to be your brother." He was in the pulpit of a Southern Baptist church and was evidently smoking cheap dope.

He is a Southern Baptist deacon (step down from preacher). Southern Baptist consider themselves to be children of God because of their belief that Jesus Christ is the son of God. Children of the same father are brothers and sisters (in Christ).  His exclusion of a portion of those present indicated that he believed some of them were not Christians. The later part of his statement was his wish that all were children of God ("I want to be your brother").

Everyone is so up in arms about the exclusion part of the statement ("you're not my brother, and you're not my sister"). All that means is that he thinks they don't believe the way he does, and most in Alabama don't have to have any explanation of what he meant. They have heard it from the pulpit, home, grandparents, etc. all their lives. It just doesn't play well with the national media.

IMO that's not the part that should be of concern. His last part ("I want to be your brother") borders on 1st amendment  issues. He has a right to wish everyone believed like he does, but it has to stop there.