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    marye
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    Here and there in the forums people are expressing their enthusiasm for particular candidates in the upcoming U.S. elections, while others are saying Enough Already, We Don't Want To Hear About It. So, this is the right place to discuss your favorites (or non-favorites) and other matters relevant to the campaign. If you're not into it, skip this topic! And as for all you non-U.S. residents, if you want a similar topic for what's going on in your part of the world, speak up and I'll start it. Thanks!

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  • Greg SC
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    I am kind of like Johnman,
    I am kind of like Johnman, and really do not trust any of the poliicians. Yes, I do think there are a few good ones, but most are corrupted within a few years of being in federal office. It is sort of funny, I like pkpotters thoughts, but also we need to admit when we've gone wrong. I just had a laugh today on the internet, watching an apparent interview with Barney Frank and Bill OReilly. Here you have Frank, a Democrat, who since 2003, has roadblocked every piece of legislation whatsoever to regulate Fanny Mae, Freddie Mac, continually stating how Fanny and Freddie are "financially sound, and need no regulation," and, who, even as late as 5 months ago, said on public airwaves that Fanny and Freddie were not the best investments right now, but that were solid for the future. Many people then in invested in the stock, looking ahead, and lost millions of dollars. The crazy thing is this guy has the nerve to sit there and say how the financial train wreck had nothing to do with him, and that it was entirely the Republicans' fault. That is an outright lie, and this man should step down. The whole crisis was created by government, and is going to cost us all dearly. And if one were to assign blame, it would in my opinion mostly go to the Democrats, but many Republicans were with them, but these are all corrupt politicians who have cost us all our 401k's. They apparently do not know how important it is to turn to the American public and say, "I am at fault; I have failed you." Instead they sit there and blame the other party. These people are shameless. Before it is all said and done, names will be named, and I can guaranty you that more Democrats than Republicans will be on the list, and big names at that. So until I hear politicians like Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Charles Shumer, Barbara Boxer, and the others admit they had a big hand in this recent crash, then they have no support from me. If they were honorable people, they'd have stepped down already, leaving the door open to more competent, and less corrupt candidates. And ... hey, maybe pkpotter should run. Sounds like I could vote for him, regardless of party. But anyway, I do help my neighbor, share what I have with others. See ya. Greg SC
  • billdrumz
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    Rolling Stone
    Interesting article on John http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_r…
  • The Other Bunch
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    Hang in there, Greg SC...
    ...and keep on posting. You are not alone. Check out "Crunchy Cons: How Birkenstocked Burkeans, Gun-Loving Organic Gardeners, Evangelical Free-Range Farmers, Hip Homeschooling Mamas, Right-Wing Nature Lovers, and Their Diverse Tribe of Countercultural Conservatives Plan to Save America (or At Least the Republican Party)" by Rod Dreher, Roll a fatty, Wave that flag Wave it wide and high, and remember: We're guilty of the same old thing Talking a lot about less and less And forgetting the love we bring. "The need for mystery is greater than the need for an answer." - Ken Kesey
  • pkpotter
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    Agree, it is something
    Agree, it is something people do out of their hearts, not a greedy endeavor to get rich. Of course there are exceptions, but that is what they are, exceptions.
  • Hal R
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    johman
    I have met many people who are involved in politics and public office at the local level and they are doing the best that they can to help make their local communities a better place. They sure could make more money if they put their talents elsewhere. They do it for a higher calling. peace If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake
  • johnman
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    they're all crooks
    i've said it before and i'll say it again......all politicians are backstabbing lying cheating no good money grubbing bloodsucking rotten untrustworthy useless bureaucratic pocket lining slime. or am i being too harsh?
  • Gr8fulTed
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    Geez, Greg, you still miss the main point
    Republicans have been and still are liars and crooks. I recycle, too, by the way, while my Republican neighbors put out a bunch of trash. We don't have glass pick-up, so I go out of my way to visit a drop-off site in Missouri. Maybe you need to get out of South Carolina? Kansas is another red state, so being progressive is a tough call. I've paid college tuition for 2 sons and am waiting for my son in the Navy to become a civilian again, as he's tired of the bureaucracy and the mismanagement of the military over the past 8 years. He did his nuclear training in SC.Play some more Dead and maybe you'll come around. ...
  • pkpotter
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    Well..
    Better to strive for a better planet, than dwell on questionable facts and negative personal emotions. Recycling is great and commendable, if the belief is it's for the enviornment, then wonderful, but it's a whole different league trying to change the planets direction. Why is this negative? Thinking of it all as a little community that is trying to be self sufficient....... Have to water each others gardens, walk all the dogs, share your food, share the care and wellfare of the children, learn together and share that knowledge, care for the elderly, and most importantly, love one another through trust and actions. Does this sound utopian? It is. That's the idea, a vision to strive for, a world to make. This really what we on this planet are doing, some is working ,some not. It is when the negative, non-trusting, us vs them aspect creeps in that we stall in our journey. Got to pick ourselves up and focus on the positive. Lift your neighbor up, don't judge. Walk their dog, share the food, open the mind. peace,pk
  • Greg SC
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    it is not as bad as you think....
    Thanks, everyone! It is America, isn't it? But no, I think we stayed on topic ... but we certainly looked at the varied facets of politics. Anyway, I have never agreed with the Dead's take on politics, but have always loved the music. I know many Deadheads, and a lot have shifted their take on things over the years. I guess on an ideal level, the talk of utopia is great, but when the rubber hits the road, many of us have to pay bills, mortgages, car payments, etc. And these Democrats have been our worst enemies in terms of taking our money out of our pockets before we even get it. So, I really don't care what they have to say about the environment, because they do not really mean it. Hey, I recycle my cardboard, oil, plastic, etc., drive an old Geo that gets 40mpg, walk whenever I can do that instead of drive, ride a bike when the walk is too long, have 2 dogs, love them to death, say hi to people I pass. Hey, I may not vote with all of you guys, but I do more for the environment than that hypocrite Al Gore. I am sorry, but I cannot stomach the man. Obama is another one who is a real phony. He talks up a big storm, but will rob you blind once he gets into office. If you believe he is sincere, then check out his tax plan .... in it, he raises the rates on everyone at least 3 percent?? And I mean everyone. Of course he offsets some of the rate increases with tax credits, but why raise the rates at all if you want to give tax breaks?? I'll tell you why, it takes an act of congress to raise the rates, but only an executive order, or committee procedural vote to eliminate tax credits. And I'd say that within 3 years, all of the tax credits will just be eliminated, and all of us will get the tax shaft by this man. He is setting you all up. And you all must be prepared to swallow it, and say thank you. Later, guys, gotta make a payment on my son's college tuition ... Greg SC
  • pkpotter
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    Wonderful!!
    Thank you jackadiamonds! Beautiful post. Life is all about different cultures, tastes, smells,and feelings, varied textures of the soul. Take the most wonderful of each and that is the perfect world. Thanks marye for reposting this. peace,pk
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Here and there in the forums people are expressing their enthusiasm for particular candidates in the upcoming U.S. elections, while others are saying Enough Already, We Don't Want To Hear About It. So, this is the right place to discuss your favorites (or non-favorites) and other matters relevant to the campaign. If you're not into it, skip this topic! And as for all you non-U.S. residents, if you want a similar topic for what's going on in your part of the world, speak up and I'll start it. Thanks!
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Yo TC in AZ: Flying Dog used to have a joint in Denver, but moved out and are in Maryland. Have you ever tried the KiltLifter in Phoenix? A coworker here in KC really likes the brew there. If you ever run into Oskar Blues Beer, check out Dale's Pale or Gordon's. Gr8ful TC in KC
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Just went and voted. Walked right up to my polling station and no waiting. About half of my district had already shown up, which is usually more than they get for the whole day. This is going to be a record turnout. And about friggin' time, too. I consider voting a social responsibility, and I have yet to miss any election in which I'm eligible to vote in. So if you still haven't gotten out there yet, please do. We're all counting on you! Conversation is always more interesting than recitation, so speak your mind and not someone else's.
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gonna try one more time......can't stand too long, mebbe no line now....gotta do it either way....i don't remember the lines EVER being this long...chargin' my phone now!!! and of course now the wind is kickin' up.........
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listening to CNN-problems again @ voting places in Pa......no problem here in our district of SF.......hope it's the same in the others...TODAY IS YOUR VOTING DAY!!!!! NO OTHER....!!!!! ADAMENT ABOUT YOUR REGISTRATION-I'm quoting CNN...... xoxox Gypsy Cowgirl gotta run
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Like swimming in a clear cold topaz blue mountain lake high in the sierra's.That feeling when you walk home from voting. Totally blissed out and smiling. We can change the world, one vote at a time. peace,pk
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in line at 1245........finished at 1510....2 hrs 15 min in line.......once i received my ballot was another 10 min 'til i was done.......i will now drink all of the beer, stand aside!
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I'll remain cynical and skeptical till all of the votes are in, but Barack seems to be aHEAD. peace.
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'spose i should let him know that he might be the new state auditor AND public lands commissioner for washington
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Well I voted in 5 minutes here in Fl., no waiting. Speaking with my friends wife earlier, she said maybe Obama's grandmother could help him more from the other side. I told her I had goosebumps just hearing that. Peace
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Pennsylvania goes to Obama! Thank you Bobby, Phil, Billy, and Mickey. For your grate efforts to bring us the change we need. peace,pk
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Republicans, because the party's over. Conversation is always more interesting than recitation, so speak your mind and not someone else's.
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Obama 49%McCain 49% actually Obama is ahead by 132 votes at this point. This is unbelievable. Nebraska hasn't split our electoral votes since 1964! Hey Hal, we got out the vote!!! The Truth is realized in an instant, the act is practiced step by step.
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AP is just announcing that Obama won Virginia. Whoa! Polls are still open for ten minutes in California. Maybe longer if people are still lined up!
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This is a magical time. Wow. He will win california,oregon, and washington and thats the start of a new era.
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The right man won.now the all the hard work starts.He has one hell of job ahead of him
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OK, I've been politically ambiguous to this point, because well, I'm like that. I guess I've hinted at my stance as I tirelessly monitored the Change Rocks concert info as well as the DH for Obama concert info, so I would like to now simply say, "YES!!!!!" I'd also like to say, "Oroboros - much love! I still listen to those discs at least 2-3 times a week and I'm still stuck on 6-9-77. It just never gets old for me. Love!"
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Wonderful new historic day. World over here seems to be exhaling in relief.********************************** Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you will still exist, but you have ceased to live. Samuel Clemens
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I think you made the right choice..someone who can start to undo the enormous harm done by GWB and cronies. Please keep him safe and give him time!
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16 years 11 months
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The election of Obama as the US President is historic. And like many historical figures, he may just find himself on a stamp someday. Food stamps that is. Americans have collectively voted that they want more government programs and are not willing to take full accountability and responsibility for themselves. Furthermore, American ingenuity will dampened with all the tax increases. It appears that there is a fundamental change taking place toward more socialist programs and activities across America and the globe. I am totally against redistribution of wealth. While I don't have much, I want to keep all I have and get. All were fed up with That (the Bush Administration) that they elected This (Obama), when This is not that great either. But it is what it is and we move forward.
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So happy ....... It's like seeing a very good old lost friend back with a large smile on his face ....... BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO ............... Sad black and wite time 's over let's get into the mixing colors years .... Grateful Marek from France.
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The post-election party in Grant Park looked like a real good time! Good luck, Mr. President-elect, in building an effective Cabinet. Congress has a few more Democrats to grease the wheels of progress.
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not falling into their time-honored pattern of succumbing to hubris and adopting all the vile behavior that got their opponents thrown out--cronyism, corruption, pork, coziness with lobbyists instead of the citizenry, etc. I for one am not forgetting for a second that the evils of the last eight years are the result of Bill Clinton's pathological inability to keep his pants zipped or tell the truth, and I do not want to see this movie and its aftermath again. When you have a pack of slavering Newties determined to use any pretext to bring you down and the well-being of the country depends on their not succeeding, cavorting with interns and lying about it is arrogant, borderline criminal stupidity from which it is perfectly clear that Rhodes Scholars are not immune.
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I don't care what anybody does with their own time, just don't do on the Democratic Party's time. What didn't Clinton get? That guy changed the course of history with his stupidity. Dan White of San Francisco could't face the city he grew up in after what he did. Clinton's walking around like nothing happened. Republicans can get away with that, but not a Democrat. What didn't he get? I will never figure that one out.
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marye, but please what is a Newtie? (blush)********************************** Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you will still exist, but you have ceased to live. Samuel Clemens
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oh, yeah, marye, that is so right on. I have always thought it quite shameful that in our land of opportunity, we only have a two party system. makes me want to 'Ralph' (throw up) yuk yuk yuk... ( -; yeah, yeah yeah, I know all about them libertarians, and the greens, and the indies et al; but they don't have any real chance of winning... but from this 'Nadir' I dont see them winning nationally. but quite honestly, I never thought I'd live to see the day that a man of colour would get in the 'White' house; so I hope I'm wrong about not thinking the other 'parties', the lesser known, lesser funded candidates may someday get in there, too. here's hoping about that for the long term future. meanwhile, I hope Barrack will get this country back on track, have to keep raising the 'Barr' on him; I hope he rises to the challenge... and I especially hope and pray some ignoramus bigot racist asshole doesn't kill him.
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Newt Gingrich type, newtie I also hope someday there will be a tie-dye room in the White House!! maybe replace that 'yellow room' did I ever tell you folks the story about how I puked all over a set of beautiful marble stairs INSIDE the White House? c. 1977/78 Carter years. too many peanuts early in the am, I reckon. peace.
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Well , now that the dems are in full control, they can't blame the rascally republicans any more. They control the executive branch plus the legislative branch. I don't want to hear any more whining from Tom Dashle. If they screw this up, then we can throw the bums out in in 2010 and 2012. "I do believe in spooks, I do believe in spooks, I do, I do, I do, I do, I do"--Lion Wizard of Oz
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Remember, it will take some time to repair all the damage from the last 8 years. I hope he's up to the task. I voted for Obama, and proud to say so! Peace everyone
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I guess one of the best things about this Obama win, is many of us will get our redistribution checks from the man. He said he will be increasing taxes on the rich, so I'd expect him to be whacking Bobby, Phil, Mickey, and the other members with higher taxes. Then turning around and handing the money over to us. We might see it as getting a discount, or bonus coupon back, for all the money we give them during the year. Hey, go Obama! Greg SC
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maybe just maybe... if Weir, Lesh, Kreutzman, and Hart gotta pay higher taxes they will hit the road for a new The Dead tour. I'd also love a combo Phil and Friends / Rat Dog tour. AND, I want Hunter to be the opening act. ( -; peace.
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Here we go again, like deja vu all over again.Best to stand up and help your neighbor, than sit and criticize. We can all have a hand in making this country great again, together, as one, against all odds. Like this band I heard, they were, and are, really cool. They came up against the norm, started with a small following, leaving people saying, wow, these guys are really different. They seem unrehearsed and very improvasional. They don't use que cards, seems to come from the heart. Hey, thats the same song...oh thats a different arrangment..it seems they keep thinking and trying to make it better. Trying to make it Just Exactly Perfect. They crossed the aisles..thats Branford Marsalis playing with them, isn't he a jazz musician, hey thats Hamza El Din, isnt he egyptian... and they recreated a song and it was as if it had always been played that way. They have a wonderful and varied following. They are all individuals and they are very different, with a common goal, a goal they are still tyring to perfect and define, and it is like life itself. It never ends. Always trying to make it just exactly perfect. Always evovlving, always thinking. New ideas, always thinking, not afraid to climb out of the box. Not afraid of different ideas. It seems like what Barack is doing is much the same in it's essence. And he needs all of us to help with ideas, effort, and support to make this world around us just exactly perfect. "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" John F. Kennedy peace,hope and a new era. pk
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I just learned that John Leopold, an old pal who's sometimes seen around these parts, won the runoff election for Santa Cruz County supervisor in his district. Having known John since he and twin Dave were 18-year-old Heads back in the day, and having actually been his wedding photographer, I've gotta say, WOO HOO!
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That is really grate news. About time, the world is coming around. WOO HOO TOO!!! ps I love santa cruz, a favorite spot.
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Man, I've been waiting for Obama to win so I can quit my job, and get taken care of. I think I might just take the moment to thank the Lord, and then write a personal letter to Obama, saying how I need his help. This is going to be a great four years. Thank you Obama, you have promised alot, but don't take off that Santa Clause suit, as I'll be needing health care, car insurance, gas subsidies, food stamps, etc. Man, my excitement has yet to stop. Greg SC
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Geez, I hope everyone is thinking like you Greg, then nothing will get done and we can all starve.
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gonna change your name to richard, greg?no one has a magic wand, it don't get fixed if everyone doesn't help!
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It's all in the attitude. And with attitudes like that.....it's ok, I believe lots of grate people will help and thats ok if you don't. Just sit back, criticize,be cynical, it's ok. We will all make sure you have a better world to be miserable in, no worries.
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but i believe he's saying that government is far too involved and this could easily become what alot of people view as a "nanny state" where the powers that be take care of everything and there is little or no personal responsibility.many of our larger cities have generations of people who have lived on welfare, without attempting to better their lives themselves. now i am not saying he's right, and maybe his view is extreme, but we are all entitled to our opinions and he might be closer to the truth then we realize.
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1st have a cookie, now i agree with what you say about the "inner cities" and welfare and those ticks... but just possibly some will see that they do have a chance now, change can only come about if the majority roll with it. if everyone plants their feet and refuses to budge then nothing happens! it is a group effort!!! like pk said, it's attitude, positive is good, negative is bad!now have another cookie : )
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I think anyone who looks at Barack Obama and believes he is just going to hand out checks to folks for the sake of hand outs is not paying attention to his past, or present ideaologies. He has worked as a community organizer, to help give people a hand up to contribute to society. He states he wants to help kids get into higher learning if... they give back a substaintial effort to the country. He is way past "the welfare state" , he is looking to get everyone working and contributing to our country. I believe if you worked for Barack Obama you would have to work hard and you would be rewarded. this is his whole lifes goal. As opposed to a few getting "rich" , both in money and resourses and leaving the many,many others out there with no money or resourses, and what do you do with that, especially the latter. What you do is stagnat, Watch, but remember, you must put out the effort to make it work before you can sit and judge that it is a failure. Time to get to work.
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just an opinion and i'm reserving my own.....a wait and see kind of thing, but i'm hoping my taxes don't go up.....i can't afford them now, i always seem to owe every year. i aint got a job just the $800 a month i get from the navy, and they want to garnish that. i've never cheated on my income tax and i don't know how many people can say that. i can't take much more.
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some folks have just never had the joy of getting a miracle ticket. worse than that, some folks have just never had the extreme pleasure of GIVING a miracle ticket. all a matter of point of view. THIS scene is about caring and sharing. peace.
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bought a ticket without at least two extra for someone.......my first show was a gift........i'll jus' hafta wait 'n see.........................................sure would like a cookie, though
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fair trade: cookies for tix! or tix for cookies! to give what s/he has, to get what s/he needs. peace.