Isn’t it funny how often history repeats itself? I do wish the pundits and analysts would shut up and let things play out. Neither Clinton nor Obama have the minimum number of votes required to capture the nomination at this point. Give it a rest already.
I do believe this is the first time I’ve ever heard Barack Obama speak. THIS is the Democratic frontrunner? I’m mystified. He sounds like a used car salesman.
ALL politicians tell people what they want to hear, yet very few deliver on their promises 100% of the time.
Next Wednesday is the Pennsylvania primary. If Clinton wins that one, she must then win Indiana decisively given that her advisers have privately conceded North Carolina to Obama. Both will be held on 6 May 2008.
Serious question: What is it about Obama that attracts you? I have to believe it’s something other than what he’s been promising. He talks a good speech but I remain unconvinced of his capabilities in the general election. He’s not saying anything that’s substantively different from Clinton and yet people are flocking to him in droves. It seems as if his support is derived in part from an active dislike of Clinton as opposed to a personal connection with his candidacy. I can’t help but wonder if his supporters are setting themselves up for a fall.
IF he is the nominee, the last thing we want is another Michael Dukakis. History is a great teacher. In 1988, Dukakis won 45.6% of the popular vote to Bush Sr.’s 53.4% (426 electoral to 111 electoral votes). This election is ours to lose. It seems like we’re doing a bang-up job of that so far.
If you’re a Clinton supporter or someone who voted for Edwards or some other candidate during a previously held primary, I’ll get to all y’all eventually. Someone has to keep y’all entertained.
“Elements of Life”, featuring Blaze, by Little Louie Vega. I recommend turning up the volume on your speakers for this one.
“Diamond Life”, also by Little Louie Vega and featuring Julie McKnight.
“I shall never understand the weird process by which a body with a voice suddenly fancies itself as a mind. Just when exactly does an actress decide they’re HER words she’s speaking and HER thoughts she’s expressing?”
“And you, I take it, are the Paderewski who plays his concerto on me, the piano?”
“Margo Channing is a star of the theater. She made her stage debut at the age of four in “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” playing a fairy. She entered, quite unexpectedly, stark naked. She has been a star ever since.”
And best of all, the entire movie is up on Youtube. 
“Let’s hope he’s all grown up like his father. Simon pure and Simon simple…good, good Louis. If I had managed sons for him instead of all those little girls, I’d still be stuck with being Queen of France, and we should not have known each other. Such, my angels, is the role of sex in history.”
“I know. You know I know. I know you know I know. We know Henry knows, and Henry knows we know it. We’re a knowledgeable family.”
“Hm…well that’s how deals are made. We’ve got him if we want him. He’ll sell us all, you know, but only if he thinks we think he won’t.”
Spent tonight watching The Lion in Winter. Thanks to Father Tony for the idea.
Last in a series of preview posts regarding the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Previous entries can be seen here: Evan Bayh, Sam Brownback, Barack Obama, Chuck Hagel, Rudy Giuliani, Mr. Meddler, Professor Crybaby, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Recurring Nightmare, Al Gore, Michael Bloomberg, John Edwards (Part 1), John Edwards (Part 2), Mitt Romney and John McCain.
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Attack of the Clones
Mr. Paul seems to be a man of principle. He has one of the most consistent voting records in the House of Representatives and seems to lean right-libertarian. If Barry Goldwater were running for president today, he would most likely be Ron Paul.
Of all the candidates running for president in 2008, Mr. Paul’s political positions are quite voluminous. We know what Mr. Paul isn’t for. He’s rabidly against the federal income tax, he’s voted no on the Patriot Act and he’s for gun control. He claims to be a champion of states’ rights although he hews to the orthodox Republican platform of being anti-abortion, against separation of church and state and anti-affirmative action.
He opposed SCOTUS’ ruling in Lawrence v. Texas, is for DADT, spoke in support of DOMA and voted against legislation relating to same-sex adoption.
On the issue of gay rights, he’s no different from any of the current slate of Republican candidates. That alone is enough for me to write him off into the circular file.
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In the 1992 presidential election, a fellow Texan with big ears received 18.9% of the popular vote though he won no electoral votes. History records that election being handily won by Bill Clinton. I expect that Mr. Paul will not win the Republican nomination and will instead run on a third-party platform. This will, in effect, siphon off votes from the nominee, be it McCain or Romney.
History might end up repeating itself. Still early though. We should all take a page from Margo Channing and relax, cuz it’s gonna be a bumpy ride till November.
Four years of being poz. November 2003 was when I was diagnosed and at the time, my only thought was “How long do I have to live?”
I still don’t know the answer to that question. I’m hoping it’s for a good long time. I haven’t had very many complications to deal with, apart from the occasional MRSA outbreak. Staph is no joke, people. It makes going to the gym a chancy scenario sometimes.
My numbers are quite good. My last test was 900 something T-cells with an undetectable vload and a total CD4 count of 36%. I’m due for a test soon and I’m hoping that it puts me near or over the 1000 mark. While these things are ephemeral, they do provide a psychological boost. I might be afflicted with a disease that has no cure but for the moment, all is right with the world.
Thank you all who have wished me well on this blog and elsewhere on the internet. Your support means a great deal to me. Some of you are friends who I have known for many years both online and in real life. Others are acquaintances who I hope to meet some day. I appreciate your kind words and look forward to getting to know you all in the years to come.
Here’s to a great 2008!
With that in mind, here was the year in pictures:
One shot of many. Unfortunately I was having computer problems last week and in a moment of stupidity, reverted my system back to a factory-mint condition. While some installed programs maintained their integrity, it meant that the thousands of photographs and videos on my system were wiped from memory. Oops.
Fava bean tortelli, fava beans, white asparagus, Gulf shrimp and tarragon.
Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) at the Pride parade.
Seared hamachi, black radish, celery, Granny Smith apple.
Wonder Woman and Supergirl, 10 years together saved.
Interior of a greenhouse at Blue Hill Stone Barns.
Yes Shirley, that’s a miniature “burger” except that the “meat” is a slice of heirloom tomato sandwiched between two layers of pastry. Next to it is a shot glass filled with tomato “water”.
This picture needs no introduction.
Green beans, chives, nasturtium flowers, gazpacho viniagrette.
Food at the pass at Hearth. In the background are their famous Sunday meatballs.
A late October afternoon at Union Square Greenmarket.
This photo dedicated to T and C.
Atari_Age. Love those ears (and the rest of him).
Ignore the hobbit in the corner. 
