Obama

[MadScientist]

Today is the day! Can one vote in the primaries if they are a registered voter? We always vote in the elections that count in the fall. I always thought to vote in the primaries you have to register separately for that. Is that true. If anyone know how the process works I'm intersted to know.

There is no separate registration, however there are a few differences in primaries from the general:
1) You must actually be in the state having the primary (Wisconsin's is on the 19th)
2) Some states have what is called a closed primaries, meaning you can only vote for candidates in the party you are registered for. If you are an independent you can only vote for non-partisan races. In open primaries you can vote for party candidates, but there may be some other rules, like in Wisconsin you can only vote for candidates in one party, but you don't have to be registered for that party.
3) If you live in a caucus state, you half to show up at a certain time and stay there for an hour or so. The specifics will differ from state to state, but expect them to be about as complicated as the tax code crossed with statistical thermodynamics.

[BallHawk]

Obama will either win close in California or he will lose to Hillary. Once again, these polls are probably going to be off. No way he goes from 10 points down to 13 points up in a matter of weeks. There's no way I see him winning by more than 6 or 7.

But, if Obama wins big in Cali, it's going to be a long night for the Clinton campaign.

[MadScientist]

Unity is in direct conflict with change. To the extent that Obama actually tries to change anything, there will be a partisian backlash.

Obama rarely mentions specifics because he has no specifics. He is going to do nothing at all about special interest control of government, even though he implies he will shake things up. He says that no lobbyists will be hired in his government, but this is a gimmick. Former lobbyists being hired into the executive branch is a negligible part of the problem.

Come on HH. This is what Obama has proposed for ethics reform. How much more specific do you want.

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/ethics/

The basic idea is to make everything as open as possible so the corrupt won't have the cover of secrecy they need to act, but read the details for yourself.

[Harlan Huckleby]

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/ethics/

The basic idea is to make everything as open as possible so the corrupt won't have the cover of secrecy they need to act, but read the details for yourself.

I don't think what he is talking about there is terribly important. Lobbyists are not a bad thing - in fact they are democracy in action! Businesses SHOULD have access to politicians to express their point of view. People organize themselves into trade groups and associations precisely so they can have a voice - excellent! This is civics. We don't want to have an isolated government that makes decisions from on high.

I really don't think secrecy is a big issue. If Cheney wants to meet privately with members of the oil industry to get their take on a proposed regulation, I am cool with that. Perhaps Obama has some good ideas, maybe I could be persuaded somewhat on this point.

The giant problem is money. We have businesses and associations owning politicians. that's the 600 pound gorrilla.

[MadScientist]

Perhaps Obama has some good ideas, maybe I could be persuaded somewhat on this point.

The giant problem is money. We have businesses and associations owning politicians. that's the 600 pound gorrilla.

I agree 100% on the money issue.

Support Campaign Finance Reform: Obama supports public financing of campaigns combined with free television and radio time as a way to reduce the influence of moneyed special interests. Obama introduced public financing legislation in the Illinois State Senate, and is the only 2008 candidate to have sponsored Senator Russ Feingold's (D-WI) tough bill to reform the presidential public financing system.

Create a Public “Contracts and Influence” Database: As president, Obama will create a "contracts and influence" database that will disclose how much federal contractors spend on lobbying, and what contracts they are getting and how well they complete them.

Shine Light on Earmarks and Pork Barrel Spending: Obama's Transparency and Integrity in Earmarks Act will shed light on all earmarks by disclosing the name of the legislator who asked for each earmark, along with a written justification, 72 hours before they can be approved by the full Senate.

[Freak Out]

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/ethics/

The basic idea is to make everything as open as possible so the corrupt won't have the cover of secrecy they need to act, but read the details for yourself.

I don't think what he is talking about there is terribly important. Lobbyists are not a bad thing - in fact they are democracy in action! Businesses SHOULD have access to politicians to express their point of view. People organize themselves into trade groups and associations precisely so they can have a voice - excellent! This is civics. We don't want to have an isolated government that makes decisions from on high.

I really don't think secrecy is a big issue. If Cheney wants to meet privately with members of the oil industry to get their take on a proposed regulation, I am cool with that. Perhaps Obama has some good ideas, maybe I could be persuaded somewhat on this point.

The giant problem is money. We have businesses and associations owning politicians. that's the 600 pound gorrilla.

Bullshit, we demand and are due a transparent Government. Our elected officials work for us..all of us....not just some of us. There is a way to comment on proposed regulation and it's not through the fucking VP's office. They weren't "talking about proposed regulation" in that fucking crooks office. If Congress was doing the job we put them in office to do he would be behind bars right now.

[Badgepack]

I don't mean to sound like a sick bastard here, but I think if Obama wins the nomination he will end up getting shot.

[Harlan Huckleby]

They weren't "talking about proposed regulation" in that fucking crooks office.

I don't know what happened in this case. But in general I don't have a problem with lobbyists talking to politicians off the record. Lobbyists are not boogey men.

[Zool]

I don't mean to sound like a sick bastard here, but I think if Obama wins the nomination he will end up getting shot.

You're not the only one thinking this. There's too many people that dislike him just because he's black. If that happens, its going to make the Rodney King incident look like a j-walking.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I don't mean to sound like a sick bastard here, but I think if Obama wins the nomination he will end up getting shot.

that is a damn good point. I think this campaign season is particularly dangerous.

honestly, I think a bullet is the only thing that will stop him from becoming president.

[Harlan Huckleby]

You're not the only one thinking this. There's too many people that dislike him just because he's black.

I dislike him because he is half white.

[Zool]

You're not the only one thinking this. There's too many people that dislike him just because he's black.

I dislike him because he is half white.

semi-racist!

[Joemailman]

I don't mean to sound like a sick bastard here, but I think if Obama wins the nomination he will end up getting shot.

that is a damn good point. I think this campaign season is particularly dangerous.

honestly, I think a bullet is the only thing that will stop him from becoming president.

I don't see it this way. Obama is not a polarizing figure who increases racial tensions like a Sharpton sometimes does. I suppose it only takes one nutcase with a gun, but as a country we've come a long way in terms of race relations since we've had a political assassination.

[oregonpackfan]

I don't mean to sound like a sick bastard here, but I think if Obama wins the nomination he will end up getting shot.

Unfortunately, I think your concern has some validity. There are still plenty of rascists out there who would consider it their "moral duty" to shoot Barama.

In addition, there are plenty of sick individuals out there who would shoot him just because he is a presidential candidate and/or President. Take for example these pathological individuals.

Squeaky Fromme and Sara Jane Moore--who tried to shoot Jerry Ford.

Arthur Bremer who shot George Wallace

The guy who shot Ronald Reagan

Lee Harvey Oswald who shot John F. Kennedy(the controversy ensues that he acted alone)

John Wilkes Boothe shooting Abraham Lincoln.

With the availability of guns and sick individuals in this country, the candidates and/or Presidents have to be vigilant.

[MadScientist]

I don't mean to sound like a sick bastard here, but I think if Obama wins the nomination he will end up getting shot.

You're not the only one thinking this. There's too many people that dislike him just because he's black. If that happens, its going to make the Rodney King incident look like a j-walking.

If W is still alive, Obama will be fine. He's had secret service protection for some time now. The security last October for his Madison rally/fund raiser was quite evident. I'm confident he will be safe.