The Written Peace:
Open Forum of April 12, 2005
Sometimes, however, excitement is overrated, particularly for an old Wraith.
Economic data coming out this week doesn't sound very interesting, but it really is: two different measures of sales at the consumer level are being released, and this will provide the first window on how buyers are reacting to the run-up in the price of gasoline. Although the worst of the price rise came after the closing date for data collection, there is still some overlap. Watch for the usual words and terms of timidity and understatement if the numbers turn out grim. Think, "disappointing," "below forecasts," or "less than expected." These will be followed by facile explanations like "bad weather," which seems to be quite popular with media apologists, these days.
On to other matters, and taking a cue from my fellow blogger Shakespeare's Sister, it would certainly be nice if some of the visitors who frequently stop by this old blog would make themselves heard. Even if you're not a regular commentator, here, please consider this your first and best chance to introduce yourselves and let others here know about your blogs, your lives, or your thoughts.
That also goes for the regular commentators, too. As long as you don't reveal any information about yourselves that could be used by shadowy, evil sorts, let everyone know what you think people should know about you.
Oh, yes, and one last thing: this week's new poll will be up tomorrow night. The question will be something to the effect of this: Whom do you think will be the Republican Party's nominee for President in 2008?
To that end, I need you to offer names of possible Republican candidates. These suggestions will be what are offered as the choices in the poll. And no, ludicrous choices won't be accepted for inclusion. That means neither Daffy Duck nor Arnold Schwarzenegger will be included. Neither will any Republican who exercises fiscal displine in domestic federal budgets, reasoned action in foreign affairs, or basic commitments to human and civil rights.
Again, nothing ludicrous.
Otherwise, the Dark Wraith asks you to say what you have to say, whatever it is you have to say, so long as what you have to say is worth saying... if you know what I'm saying.
Published 4/12/2005 02:07:00 AM
<< 12 Comments Total
Again, nothing ludicrous.
You're kinda limiting your criteria a bit too much if you're talking GOP....you want at least two names, right?
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Have you considered a blogScream or Bloggrrrlz concept to either pushing your polls onto a larger audience, or collating other notable polls?
Okay, Mr. Goat, now those are a couple of interesting ideas.
Actually, I am a bit surprised myself by how much "click-through" blogScream already gets; and because the click-throughs are only a small percentage of those who actually look at the service, that means the blogScream screens are getting a rather surprisingly wide audience.
The Polling Forum has some potential, too. Considering what a Herculean task it was to build one of those things, I should make it as useful as possible. (I should also note that, when I moved the blog to a private server, I was rummaging around in all of the cgi goodies they had and found an almost ready-to-go polling set-up already there! Sheesh.)
Okay, I hereby withdraw the "ludicrous" ban because of its inherent limitations when dealing with Republicans. And that should be of note to our new regular, Paradigm Shifter, as well as to Lowly Red Stater. I would bet that they're too young to remember when there were more than a few Democrats who made the old graybeards of the Party grimace because of their flamboyance or excesses.
Now, despite having to watch the Republicans actually run the government with some really embarrassing folks, at least the Democrats can sit back and look like church deacons by comparison.
I think my favorite was when the Washington Times blew the story about Bill "The Moral Compass" Bennett's gambling habit. The unfortunate part was that the really nasty part of the story never did get any airtime in the press, though.
Okay, back to work. I need some names. And they've gotta be real people with real aspirations to follow in the footsteps of our current President, even as those footsteps lead us ever further down the road to ruin.
The Dark Wraith is so excited about forming the candidate slate.
Well, I think it's safe to include McCain & Sherlock's Smarter Brother goes without saying, of course....
The unfortunate part was that the really nasty part of the story never did get any airtime in the press, though.
What's this about?
- oddjob
Oh, & then there's he of the most outrageous new noun (according to the professional linguists).
- oddjob
Oh. Gee, OddJob. You mean you didn't hear about the Vegas casino's resident dominatrix, who had as one of the regular visitors to her suite the man with the moral compass?
I suppose the sessions were a most effective means by which he could, on a regular basis, rediscover moral rectitude to go with that moral compass he so rightly waved in our faces.
The Dark Wraith approves of corrective measures, applied as they should be with a firm but guiding hand.
In view of Finkelstein's new smear
campaign the Republican candidate will be ABH (Anybody But Hillary).
I don't know who to suggest at this point - it's way too early given some of the potential dynamics that could come into play.
If Bushco continues to founder I don't think we'll see anyone in, or close to the current administration. I have to believe that the GOP members (those with more traditional platform values anyway) are scared shitless at this point. I suspect that the GOP will stand up and attempt to cast off the more extreme mucking forons in the party. Maybe we're seeing some of this with the GOP apparently turning on DeLay.
On the other hand, who knows? So far Bushco has weathered some pretty severe storms. If they and their supporters are successful in manipulating the process, then we will see someone ludicrous in the running.
I can't imagine Bush willingly giving up his seat. It's not like he listens to the will of the people, anyway. All he has to do is declare a national emergency, proclaim that no one could possibly fill his shoes, and rest satisfied knowing that no institution we currently have set up would be able to stop him.
wiseguy
That thought has crossed my mind too Wiseguy, especially back when the election didn't seem to be totally in the bag. I kind of thought that the meat puppet might become expendable near election time, thus creating chaos as an excuse to do exactly as you say.
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On another note, I see that Newt Gingrich is making noise about running in 2008. Add one to the ludicrous neocon column.
Unless a sufficiently large portion of the people, in this case most particularly the law enforcement and military types, decided to remember their sworn obligation to defend the Constitution.
Whether that would happen or not would depend on details I can't predict. I'd like to think it would, but obviously I can't be sure.
- oddjob
NEWTIE?? Oh, COOL! One of the most easily dislikable of the entire wingnut family wants to crash the party??
That might be an answer to prayer!
- oddjob
Yup, here you go. Eye on '08, Newt hits Iowa, N.H.