MSNBC-Cleveland State Univ. Democratic Debate

First, I was annoyed that the debate was set to start at 9 pm.  I had not slept well the night before and was really hoping to be asleep by 10 pm.  That in mind, I got all set to watch the 20th debate on the democratic side of the presidential nomination process.

I had about a quarter of a bag of jelly beans, a fresh bottle of water and my trusty notebook and red pen so I situated myself in front of the television set after making sure that I was recording One Tree Hill.

The debate starts and my lights start to flicker.  I decide that, even though the 17 year old is still on the phone with his girlfriend, I will get up quickly and turn off the computer and any extra lights that are still on.  I make it to the living room - my home is not all that big - and the flicker is enough that the computer shuts itself down.  Now, I am concerned so I boot it back up and then shut it down normally.  The lights continue to flicker.

I settle back in to watch and Clinton is in the middle of some statement - I am not sure if it is an opening or in answer to a question from Brian Williams - regarding health care and the mailers that went out from the Obama campaign.

My 13 year old comes in.  He swears that the transformer diagonally across the corner from the house sparked badly.  We still have power.  He goes back to bed.  Clinton continues about health care and slamming home the differences between her and Obama.  In comes the 13 year old again.  There are all kinds of flashing lights outside the house.  I get up, missing more of the debate, and find he is right.  I cannot tell what has happened but it does look like everyone has power.  It looks like there are police and emergency vehicles.  Cars coming down the hill we live at the bottom of are not allowed to turn right.  The road going left is rather ugly looking.

I head back to the debate.  I did watch all of it but was not impressed.  I started taking notes but gave up after the last commercial break.  It did nothing to impress me and I was not thrilled with it, though I do believe that MSNBC asked harder questions and kept control better than either of the most recent CNN debates.

Just a thought in my mind

Sometimes, I think that is what my blog is all about - getting some of what is in my mind out of it and “onto paper” as the case may be.  Of course, this is a modern form of paper but I still love it.

I went through a phase when I would not subscribe to any magazines.  This was about five years ago and I did it based on the impact on the environment.  I would go to the library once or twice a month and sit and read periodicals.  This was great in that I was exposed to many different periodicals - ones I would never have paid to subscibe to and ones I love. 

 Now, as more publications are moving towards using recycled paper for their pages, I have picked up a few subscriptions.  Most of these are for inspiration for art, for gift giving and for general knowledge articles. 

I was leafing through a few the other night.  As the new month’s magazine comes into the house, I go through the previous month’s and tear out anything I wish to keep.  I saw a picture on a page that just jumped at me.  I tore out the page.  Then, yesterday I saw another picture that also spoke to me.  I tore that page out.  I trimmed around the various pieces that I wanted and voila - below is a college I did.

Water Webbing

In one of the last lessons I have to do for February’s working through Paper Transformed by Julia Andrus is webbing.  I knew, from the start, just what stamp I wanted to use and what I was going to do with it.  I just needed the time and a water bottle. 

I have several squirt bottles but they are all large ones for cleaning solution, although they do not all have cleaning solution in them.  I grabbed one and cleaned it up, made sure there was no cleanser left in it if that is what was there to start with and filled it with water.

 I, then, took my Marvy Le Plume markers and used the brush end to color my stamp which is from Anita’s.  I stamped first and second generation on this one piece to be sure I had one finished item for my project.  Then, came the water and squirt away I did.  I finally realized I love the technique but do not love the large squirt bottle.  I am putting a small squirt bottle on my list of things to get next time I am at the dollar store.  This one just put too much water on my designs.

CNN-Univision Texas Democratic Debate - Part 2

I know I said I would finish my thoughts on Thursday night’s debate yesterday but, as usual, life gets in the way.

Another big topic, but not one with any surprises in it, was immigration.  Clinton strongly reiterated that there needs to be a pathway to to legalization for those in our country illegally.  She also said that more compassion needed to be used when raiding business locations as we are not a country that just throws people out leaving children to come home and find Mom and/or Dad sent away to another country.  She would work on legislation for comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship, within the first 100 days in office.

Obama basically reiterated the same point of view.  He added that the country as a whole needs to tone down the rhetoric on this topic.  We need stronger border security and need to fix the legal immigration system so people are not waiting too long to get into our country and they do not attempt to enter illegally.

On the topic of a border fence, something both voted for in 2006, both say they believe this physical border needs to be revisited.  Clinton called the Bush plan counterproductive as it splits land, including the University of Texas in Brownsville.  She believes that the federal government needs to listen to those who live along the border.  Some of the border can be protected through more technology and more personnel instead of a physical barrier.

Obama agreed that local communities needed to be consulted about a physical border fence.  The Bush administration has not been good at listening.  There needs to be a process to deal with this problem that is well publicized and done in conjunction with comprehensive reform.  He also took this time to insert that he feels those who are here illegally, but were brought into the country as young children when they had no real say in the matter, need to be eligible for aid for higher education. 

Both were then asked, in light of the increasing number of Hispanics living in the United States, what the downside is to becoming a bilingual nation.  Clinton responded that it is important to be bilingual but that English should be the common, unifying language of our country.  English is an important part of the American experience.

Obama says that everyone needs to learn English as it is what binds us together as a country.  He took this opportunity to point out that we need to get rid of No Child Left Behind and its focus on standardized tests so as to help support the education of those who are native English speakers.

Both were asked to comment on truthfulness and giving others credit for quotes.  Neither admitted to doing anything wrong and both took this opportunity to hit on their basics from stump speeches.  Clinton discussed the talk versus action theme and that actions speak louder than words.  Obama took the opportunity to discuss inspiring  the people to get involved in their government - a topic similar to required volunteerism which is not something I think will fly in the US.  He discussed a $4000 credit towards higher education in exchange for nationnal service but I am not sure the US has the money for this or the capacity to track and administer it.

When questioned about their non-support of the surge in Iraq which seems, by all accounts to be working, both tried to take the limelight away from the military success and put it on the lack of success in the Iraqi government stepping up to the plate.

We have all seen, unless we live under rocks, the ending of the debate so I will not go into it again.

CNN/Univision Texas Democratic Debate

Yes, it seems like all I do these days is watch debates.  I got tired of them about August but am back with my pen and notebook taking notes.  And, yes, my sons look at me like I am nuts as I head to a television that won’t disturb them with a mug of hot tea or coffee, the notebook and pen.

Being a sports fan, I wondered at the opening statements.  Obama won “the toss” and elected to open second.  Was that a strategic move?  Did he have some clue who Clinton was going to mention in her opening?  It seems as if he did as he had a quote from Barbara Jordan to use in his opening after she was mentioned by Clinton.  That really points to his skills as an orator but does nothing to impress me on his skills as a leader.

Clinton opened with accomplishments and mention of important female Texans - Barbara Jordan and Ann Richards.  She talked of living in Texas 35 years ago.  She talked of her health care accomplishments (children’s health insurance plan) and her health care wants (no discrimination against the sick).  She closed her opening with a line I paraphrase as she has a “lifetime of experience and proven results” to bring to the White House.

Obama opened with the conditions in the country.  We are at war.  Our economy is in shambles.  He told, without the names that John Edwards would have used, stories of individuals that the things wrong in our country are hurting.  He again pointed out that the war should never have been authorized and never should have been waged.  He closed with the thought that Washington is not lacking good ideas but is the place they go to die.  He, then, quoted or paraphrased Barbara Jordan in that he wants to help make “America as good as its promise.”

I seriously think the most substantive, new information came when Jorge Ramos of Univision started the debate with a question on Cuba.  He wanted to know, as I am sure a lot of Cuban-Americans do, if, as president, the candidate would meet with Raul Castro or whomever the new Cuban leader would be to “get a measure of the man.” 

Clinton’s answer seemed the most direct and honest in my mind.  She stated clearly that she would need to see signs of change - the release of political prisoners, opening of the economy, lessening of oppression of the press and the Cuban people.  She would be open to diplomatic discussions once she saw these changes in Cuba.  She would need evidence of the changes and, she pointed out clearly, that diplomatic discussions would not involve the president at first.

Obama, I felt, hedged a bit on his answer.  He immediately said he, as president, would personally meet with the new Cuban leader.  He did say that this change in leadership is the starting point of liberty for the Cuban people and should be something the US encourages.  Then, he said his meeting would be without preconditions but would be with preparations such as the new Cuban leader’s stance on human rights and on a more open press.  These preparations will take time.  To me, this is symantics.  Preparations, preconditions.  The only real difference in this portion of the Cuba discussion is who would meet with the Cuban leader - diplomats or the president.

Obama was questioned by Campbell Brown, the CNN moderator, as to why the change in his opinion as he said in 2003 that he would normalize relations with Cuba.  Obama reiterated that the loosening of restrictions on family remittances and family travel to Cuba would be the start of normalization.  Obama quoted or paraphrased John F Kennedy in this exchange - which I find ironic due to the problems Kennedy had with Cuba - in that we should “never negotiate out of fear but should never fear to negotiate.”

In follow up on this issue, Clinton presented a plan for diplomatic relations with Cuba and other countries that would be bipartisan.  Obama stated he would, as the president, take a more active role in diplomacy so as to help undo the damage of the last seven years.

The next area of discussion was the economy.  Both candidates discussed no tax breaks for companies shipping jobs overseas.  Both candidates said that the Bush tax cuts would have to end for the higher level incomes.  Clinton did mention the income level of $200,000.  Obama did not mention a level.  Both quickly discussed ending loopholes. 

Obama mentioned tax credits for senior citizens making less than $50,000 and other citizens making less than $75,000.  He also said that the United states needed to set and keep high labor and environmental standards.  To get it done, he said there is the need for a working coalition for change.

Clinton, of course, said she was ready to help fix the US economy on Day One.  She made a well-accepted comment about the “wealthy and well-connected have had their president for the last seven years” and the rest of American needs a president now.  She says she would institute a “trade timeout” so that trade agreements could be reviewed and evaluated as to wehter they are working or not.  She pointed out that she has been calling for a foreclosure moratorium for 90 days and an interest rate freeze for five years.  While these issues are good vote getters, I am still waiting for someone to tell people that if you make $100,000 a year, you should understand that you cannot afford a $750,000 house.  Clinton also said three prong attact to get the economy back on track - clean, green jobs which she tried to get put into the Bush economic stimulus package; investment in our infrastructure; and end the George W Bush war on science.

Although I thought the debate took too many breaks, I am going to take one now and continue the remainder of my thoughts on the debate later.

Austin is Tonight

I so want to quote a Blake Shelton song about Austin.  But the statement is not that I still love Austin but does Austin - and the rest of Texas - still love Hillary.

I am sitting here wishing that I could have designed the site for tonight’s CNN/Univision/Texas Democratic Party debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.  This needs to be a debate - not a gathering around the proverbial kitchen table.  The set needs to include normal debate items.  Podiums would be a good start in my mind.  Who likes to be able to reach out and touch the opposition as you are saying they are all fluff or inexperienced?  Maybe a few professional boxers and the people in the MMA (isn’t that where they cage fight?) but not the normal politician.  Now I realize that the American people, according to every pundit out there, do not want the normal politician but I, for one, want the normal debate.

I want podiums with space between them.  I want the two candidates to take a swipe or two at each other.  I want to see the differences between the two of them, not the love fest that was Los Angeles.

What will happen tonight around the “debate table?”  I can’t wait to find out.

Kind of a Science Freak

Yes, I admit.  I liked calculus in college.  I loved science classes.  I took dendrology in the winter in the Adirondacks and loved it.  So it is well within my character to be outside last night in the 6F temps to take pictures of the total lunar eclipse. 

I took the above picture just prior to the start of the eclipse - approximately 8 pm Eastern Time.  If you look closely, you can see the tree branches that were in my way as I stepped outside my back door.

The eclipse started approximately 8:43 ET.  I was outside in the cold again at 8:44 pm ET.  What I saw was the start of the eclipse, a small portion of the moon now not visible due to the earth blocking the sun’s shine on the moon.

I decided that I would venture out into the cold, and that 6F was only at the very beginning, every 15 minutes.  As the eclipse progressed from slight - I am sure there is a technical term for this but am unsure what it is - to totality, I started going out more frequently.  The pictures of totality did not come out at all.  I am trying hard to retouch them to show the faint red glow the moon had.

  

     

Public Election Financing

Okay - I understand that John McCain is not the fundraiser that Barack Obama seems to be.  I, also, understand that John McCain has a history of wanting campaign finance reform - hence, the McCain-Feingold bill.  I, also, understand that both John McCain and Barack Obama said, last fall, that they would abide by public financing and FEC rules on spending should they be their party’s nominee.

Here is one more thing I understand.  Barack Obama is trying to reset the rule now that he has started raising massive amounts of money.  He wants to, as paraphrased from his piece in the February 20th USA Today work toward a spending agreement with the republican nominee if he is the democratic nominee. 

I can see John McCain using this sudden flip-flop in Obama’s stance against him and he has tried.  Unfortunately, I do not believe McCain has a leg to stand on.  He has recently told the FEC that he is withdrawing from public financing for his primary run.  The main reason, as I see it, is that his campaign is close to the spending limit for primaries.  If he doesn’t withdraw, the democrats will still be deciding on a nominee and McCain will be silent all the way to the Republican National Convention at the beginning of September in St Paul.  This would include the small period of time between the Democratic National Convention and the republican nominating party.

Why is it that Obama is having his character scrutinized due to wanting to change the rules midstream (maybe something the Clinton campaign should look at pointing out as Hillary is being accused of that in the case of wanting to seat delegates from Florida and Michigan) but McCain is not?  Why is it that what is good for McCain in his primary is not good for all in the general?

The Out of WV Mountaineer Fan

I am, in case you haven’t surmised it yet, a WVU Mountaineer through and through.  I spent three years in Morgantown on the main and Evansdale campuses and love my college sports.  It doesn’t matter if the Mountaineers are winning or losing - although I admit, I prefer when they win - I watch and cheer them on.

Football is usually a pretty good season for me.  Even though I live in the heart of Big East country and less than an hour’s drive from Syracuse, I only get to see my Mountaineers play in person every other year when they visit the Carrier Dome.  I love this game, especially if both teams are having good years.  I also love seeing The Pride of West Virginia marching band when they get to come to NY with the team.  This is a band full or precision and 300 plus strong.

Basketball season is not usually so good for me.  If my local channels are playing college hoops, it is America East and the local university or it is Syracuse hoops.  I have had a huge surprise in the last four days.  Sunday, I was waiting for the Red Wings game to start at 3:30 pm when I found the West Virginia game on SNY.  I got to watch a very good game.  Last night, SNY had the WVU-Villanova game on.  Unfortunately, last night was worse than the Backyard Brawl from football season.  WVU lost by over 20 and was playing miserably.  But the good news is I got to watch!

Soon, the madness that is championship week and then selection show will begin.  I will be glued to college hoops like a true fan.  I am hoping to not only see my Mountaineers in the Big Dance but also my daughter’s team - the Purple Eagles of Niagara University.

Required Service

Yesterday’s local Gannett paper had a reader response bit on whether the US should have a required service period after high school or college.  Here is my response to that question.

 I read the call for those comments in the Press & Sun-Bulletin. I then read the responses. I don’t know that required volunteer service (which by definition is no longer voluntary) is what we need. You will notice that no where in the discussion was it said the service has to be military which it is in Israel.

I have to say that I have had this discussion on the high school level with friends across the country. One friend’s opinion sticks in my mind. She says the groups in her area were not able to deal with the number of volunteers they suddenly had due to a required number of hours to graduate high school.

Does the US have the ability to track this? Do we have the unfortunate but necessary administrative system in place or does one need to be set up? What is the cost to a nation that is all ready trillions in debt to set such a system up?

I don’t know that it is a bad idea but I don’t know that it is a prudent one either.