The Brand New Respectful Presidential Campaign Thread

Grace -I was very impressed that with the Rotisserie chicken in hand,  the meal could be easily accomplished for those with the attention span of a gnat! (like me)-----Using Naturally grazed grass fed heavy creme and of course the turmeric in the curry powder, plus the lycopene in the tomatoes-- the probiotics of the yogurt---and finally the beta carotene in the carrots

I've deluded myself into thinking this amazingly rich delicious dish is the perfect health-food. LOL

I am doing the Happy Dance today!! The Calif. Supreme Court ruled that the ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional (at least in our state)--too bad they can't rule the same for the nation. I know this won't be popular with some of the republicans here, but oh well. I have relatives that are gay and were married a while back when Mayor Newsome of SF opened city hall to gay marriages on one Valentines' Day. We liberals have to celebrate when we can!

LOL

I'm hippity-hoppiting around the house today.

Hey, I'm making that curry dish tonight--it's hot out here and it's the easiest thing to cook so the kitchen doesn't heat up too much!!

Now how did you know I was hoping you would all love that curry dish and I could do in a few Republicans here! Actually, you could cut back a little on the cream and use a little more yogurt. And don't they actually make fat-free cream? Haven't tried it that way yet......I too like to delude myself into thinking it's health food--isn't it if you buy organic ingredients? See, Shokk another thing we have in common--we like this recipe. LOL 

I was thinking the same thing--not about the Republicans going to the polls this fall because of wonderful republican california supreme court justices--but the Thai coconut milk. Perhaps great minds think alike here--sometimes--LOL.

Let me know how yours comes out. I actually used the coconut milk to make my granddaughter's birthday cake--coconut cream cake--she made a gooey mess of it just like I hoped she would--and loves coconut too--at one year old!! Amazing--also will eat ANY green vegetable--and her favorite is broccoli.

Wonders will never cease. Off to make the curry dish--bon appetit! 

Shirley--It's on page 44.

Rosemary--I thought a little more about the press.  1) The fact that I live here means that I need to make a conscious choice of where I find reliable news and I look for a cross section of perspectives to get to the heart of things....my time is precious and I don't want news that tells me how to think ramed down my throat everyday....it's my choice.  2) In the 80's I began to read the financial news (WSJ primarily) to get early warning signs....it's about survival....so they indicate the direction that most other news follows but months in advance.   

Here is such an article.  By the way, it seems that they are not too upset with the present political environment....and it's clear from the article that it is not because they expect a continuation of the Bush administration. 

In other news today ...... watch the dollar.   

Note...I added the bold type to the article for emphasis.   

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/market-bears-declared-endangered-amid/story.asp

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Polar bears weren't the only lumbering carnivores declared endangered this week. Wall Street bears were scarce as well.

That because some benign inflation news, a major high-tech merger and a continued rally in U.S. stocks combined to put investors in a good mood for the first time in awhile, with some even arguing that we're going to get out of this mess without a recession.

I'm not sure I'd go that far. We're probably already in a recession of some sort. Sure feels that way, even if it doesn't meet the technical economic criteria many use to declare these things. But the surge in stocks to their best levels since the beginning of the year has sure shut the gloom-and-doom crowd up after several months of pessimism.

It's easy to think this is just another in a long line of bear market rallies, and that the weak economy and the slow-motion car wreck of the credit crisis will keep their hands clasped around our collective necks. But something's different this time around.

For the first time in as long as many can remember, the U.S. dollar has started to stir. Granted, it's a minor stir, perhaps 3% or so from its low against the euro of around $1.60 a few weeks ago to around $1.54 or $1.55 per euro. But after enduring the freefall of the beginning of the year -- and the long, hard slide the greenback has taken during the years of the weak-dollar Bush presidency -- any sort of heel-digging is encouraging.

Lots of factors are at play here, including expectations of no more rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. In fact, fed funds futures on Wednesday were forecasting a rate increase by the Fed before the end of this year. See full story.

Weakening economies in Europe also bode poorly for a stronger euro and well for the dollar. Finally, currency traders are beginning to awake to the U.S. presidential race and the realization that we're going to have a new administration in about eight months -- likely one that really does favor a strong dollar policy, instead of one that's just mouthing the words.

So what does a dollar turnaround mean for the markets? First, it means a weakening in oil prices. There is no good supply/demand reason for oil to be trading at $125 a barrel, so a stronger dollar should, at least in part, help deflate some of that speculative trading. Same for gold prices. Also, it should help fixed income prices, i.e. bond sales, by giving investors more enthusiasm for holding U.S. denominated assets.

Could be good for stocks too, though it might put a crimp in some of the gains in international markets that many investors have enjoyed over the last several years. And of course, financial stocks -- the most battered securities since the crisis began -- should benefit as well.

In short, if we are at a turning point for the U.S. dollar, it will mean a re-evaluation of several major types of trading patterns that hedge funds and other investors have enjoyed over the past eight years.

So recession or not, that's a reason to be optimistic.

The pain of the credit crisis is still playing out and will be for some months. News that J.P. Morgan & Co. is considering plans to cut 4,000 jobs is probably just the beginning of a bloody summer on Wall Street and in the City of London.

But with Wall Street having moved to the remedy phase of the crisis, forward-looking investors are starting to position themselves for the next big run. It certainly won't be straight back up, but it will at least be more fun than the dark days of February and March.

David Callaway is editor-in-chief of MarketWatch.

Obama could do a lot better then Richardson.  I have no thoughts though.  It does seem hard to find a Senatorial veep candidate.  Half of them have run for President or it seems like they have.  He should be checking out the Governors, and there has to be some worthy people in the House. 

McCain, I'd love to see Bobby Jindal.  Susie gave us the skinny on him.  But it might be too much of a southern exposure for those yankees and other northern folks.  Kay Bailey would have the same problem, if that even is a problem. 

With Hillary, I would love to see an all woman ticket.  How's that for being gutsy?  Maybe too gutsy considering the press. 

Well girls Ellen is getting married, good for her and any other couple gay or not that want to get hitched.  Finally they are protected if their loved ones family does not like them or won't accept their lifestyle choice.  So we are in 2008.

If I could vote it would be for Hilary no question at all anymore.  And who the hell is running this show, the media.  And where the hell are the female media, why aren't they speaking up especially after the sweetie remark, GIVE ME A BREAK! 

And who's backing Obama, Ophra, she's a bloody billioniare and is considered next to a God to so many women.  She makes me nuts with her triple talk, Gail, Gail, Gail, me, me, me, and she interupts everyone it's so damn irritating you can't even listen to a full conversation she's to busy intrupting and how the hell does she even listen properly when her mouth is flapping before her guest has even finished a sentence. And she has everything that the guests have or has had it at some point in her life.  She even changes her dialect depending on who is her guest, some days she talks like she is still a southern girl, other days she's Mia, ahhh, just had to get that off of my head. 

Where the hell did Obama come from really I just don't get it.  Like I said a week ago, I'm listening to him, but I don't hear anything.  Just change, yup well we all need change I change my underwear everyday is that what he means. 

I wish I could vote and this super delegate shit has me furious.

And I loved Maralyns quote in regards to men and work and women be nice or your a bitch.  Well lets all just band together and be bitches then, let bitchy women be the norm, men aren't bitchy they are firm, right, what a crock.  I'm so sick of men running the show it's just got to stop. And there are strong women in the media, why aren't they speaking up for Hilary, no way would a man be told to drop out over and over and over and then possibly be blamed for the election going to the Republicans, if that happens well then the democrats aren't true democrats if they can't vote for their favorites they will vote for the other party or not vote at all,  am I hearing this right.  I'm bitchy today as you all can tell by this post but enought is enough.  Women unite for once in yours lives UNITE.

Grace, the crock pot chili sound wonderful!  Yes, please DO post it.

We had pork tenderloin last night.  I went to Costco's with a friend.  We "grazed"...eating samples.  I had a taste of this tenderloin that was stuffed with feta cheese, corn, sundried tomatoes, and spinach.  It wasn't overly stuffed, but it was delish!  And, already prepared...just had to nuke it or put it in the oven.  We decided to put it in the oven.  It wasn't cheap...$5.and-something a pound.  But that's what you pay for quality, already prepared food.  I don't know what spices were used on it, but my dh and I thought it was great.

Okay, for the song...I don't want to get into a heated battle.  But I thought of you (and that's a compliment).  I'm an American Idol junkie.  Syesha is a young woman who is so talented.  She sang Same Cooke's song, "A Change is Gonna Come."  Not only watch her sing, but listen to what she says before and after she performs.  I cried.  I loved, loved, loved Sam Cooke.  Telling my age.  And I think back to "those" days....we had some fantastic Black singers.

Have a tissue handy, Grace. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgw_0LJECH4

BTW, she was voted off this week, but was in the top 3.  She WILL get a recording contract.  And she would be GREAT on Broadway!

Shirley

"So what's the speculation?  I try to avoid the TV media so don't even know who they have been talking about"

We had to go through a full day or more of why Hillary is doing this.  It's because she wants to be the Veep, says the media.  Once this thought landed, then they invited all the talking heads to approve of their choice of Obama's veep.  

The media is out of hand, off the charts in thinking they are actually running the candidates campaigns for them.  When I see them telling Hillary what to do, I just turn off the TV.  I won't even watch MSNBC any more.  I'm not interested in anything they say, or think.

Sticking this up here in case any of you Hillary fans would like to make your voices known to the DNC about Counting the votes of Michigan and Florida.

Received this from Hillary's campaign today because I've contributed.  I already sent one message.  Hopefully it will link. There is strength in numbers.

Try this link---apparently you can't link from my e-mail

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/action/flmidnc/?sc=1857&utm_source=1857&utm_medium=e

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/action/flmidnc/?sc=1857&utm_source=1857&utm_medium=e

--------------------

Millions of voters in Florida and Michigan are depending on you to help make sure they have a voice in this race. Will you stand up for them today?

Thanks to your efforts, thanks to the hundreds of thousands of people who have already spoken out, the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee is meeting May 31 to make a decision about whether or not the votes in Michigan and Florida will count.

Now I need you to urge the DNC to make the right decision on May 31. I need you to remind them that in the Democratic Party, we count every vote.

Tell the Democratic National Committee to count the votes of Florida and Michigan.

On May 31, the DNC has a chance to make it clear that the people of Florida and Michigan have a voice in our party. The decision is especially critical given the important role these states will play in November.

And your voice could make the difference for the millions of people who went to the polls in those two states to make their choice for president.

Stand with me today and tell the DNC to count the votes in Florida and Michigan.

I have consistently said that every vote must count. It is such an important principle in our party. I really appreciate you standing up for the values we share.

Thank you,


Hillary Rodham Clinton 

For those of you who read the Chicago Tribune, there is a very interesting article in Sunday's paper about Hillary and "strong women" and how they're vilified and reviled.

Great info, Rosemary! Yep, it seems we only have a 'voice' in the voting booth (and then only sometimes!!!).

I suppose you could send an e-mail to that particular person and tell they why you're not voting for them in November. This entire attack-Hillary-because-she's-a-strong-woman campaign (that's how I see it anyway) infuriates me to no end!

In case you missed SNL's finale last evening; John McCain was a guest and here is some of the humor.

The second one from weekend update is hysterical!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2prCLj989KY

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/play.shtml?mea=252556

Anne---

Believe it or not they are pushing Ed Rendall for VP---what a slap that would be to Hillary---other names Kathleen Sebelius and Sam Nunn

Bob Beckel says if Hillary wants VP at the convention there will be no way to deny her. 

So, they will be trying to shut her down before the convention.

The press is speculating that Obama will name a running-mate as soon as possible to avoid the pressure from Bill Clinton from asking the Super-delegates at the convention to vote for Hillary for VP on the second ballot. They don't want the spectacle of the Hillary supporters demanding she be put on the ticket at the convention.

Kathleen Sebelius...yes that's her name, she is the one who spoke after the last State of the Union address and it was intimated at that time that she would be Obama's veep.

Anneshirley, it is so hard to conceive that people do not believe that the war will not come to an abrupt end. We are all probably tired of the war, it would not be normal if we weren't but to even think it will be ended abruptly because of a change in the presidency is ludicrous...but such is the nature of people.

I like a lot of what Hillary stands for but I cannot accept her husband and that is something I cannot get past, unfortunately. My bad.I do believe she is getting a bad rap and for the life of me cannot conceive what this Obamania is about, it is so clear she is the better candidate. I just don't think she will be offered the veep because I don't know how they could keep her contained and in that position am not sure she could play the part or for that matter, would she play the part? She is a strong woman. Dems were probably kissing Bill's a** when he held the position and Hillary is probably paying the price for their not having to do so any longer. It is all too strange. It really reiterates how I feel about the Democratic party and what it stands for.

I have said before, I really am not into conspiracy theories but I do seriously have to wonder who is behind Obama that this is happening because it makes no sense. Sometimes, not just this election I have honestly thought it doesn't matter who is running, it is preordained as to who the winner will be, regardless of our system of election at that level.

Edwards was a shocker, he was probably promised something big in the cabinet and I would love to hear from Elisabeth, I wonder if she is "standing by her man".

The nature of politics! My next psych class starts tomorrow so I will have to redirect my thoughts once again, almost thankfully!