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(This is great, another day that I don't have to write, and I'm taking off another whole weekend starting now, so I give you once again: Mr. Roeder Peabody!)(Headline) Are Republicans Mentally Healthier? Poll Says "Yes"!
I've attended meetings of both the Whatcom County Democrats, and the Whatcom County Republican Party. Both parties have extremists, transexuals, and neurotics, but the majority of each seems to consist of neighborly older white folk. Don't get me wrong; there are not-so-subtle differences between the two groups. I'll bet there are more concealed weapons per capita among the Republicans. I'll bet there are more concealed baggies of green weedy substances per capita among the Democrats.So who really are the more "sane" partisans?
The Gallup Poll reported today that nationally Republicans rate their own mental health as "Excellent" in far greater numbers than Democrats. This is based on polling conducted over three years, with over 4000 interviews conducted. Below is Gallup's graph showing the results:
Gallup's conclusion:(GRAPH UNABLE TO PRINT, TEMPORARILY. SELECT LINK BELOW FOR RESULTS)"But the key finding of the analyses presented here is that being a Republican appears to have an independent relationship on positive mental health above and beyond what can be explained by these types of demographic and lifestyle variables. The exact explanation for this persistent relationship -- as noted -- is unclear."See the entire Gallup findings at their website:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/102943/Republicans-Report-Much-Better-Mental-Health-Than-Others.aspxSubmitted by Roeder Peabody.
(
I've been trying to get gk to write for me from the beginning, his insight in foreign policy and national security is what I'm recruiting him for, but I'll take his observations on the presidential campaign any time he wants to write!)Some say that Huckabee "won" this debate because of his witty and insightful answers, some others say Huckabee has never had to give serious answers to serious questions. I heard one commentator say that Huckabee only got soft-ball questions - such as asking him about the Bible and as a former Baptist Minister - he could hit those out of the park all day long and he did - with his witty reply - "Jesus was too smart to run for office".
But aside from this - it seems no one other candidate distinguished himself in this debate. I keep hoping that Duncan Hunter or Tom Tancredo will say or do something that will move their numbers - but that doesn't seem to be the case. Both seem to be too bland. I did find it ironic though that Tom Tancredo said that all the other candidates were trying to become/outdo Tom Tancredo (all the other candidates are now all of a sudden interested in immigration issues - which has been Tom Tancredo's primary issue in congress for years) The implication obviously, if you have a Tom Tancredo - why not take the real thing?
Projections are showing that at the present rate of legal/mostly illegal aliens pouring over the southern border - coupled with the traditionally higher Hispanic birth rate, that our population will be 450M by 2050 - (I won't see it, I'll be long buried and gone) - but that will make the U.S. at least 40% - maybe higher percentage of Hispanic - Will they assimilate as other nationalities have and contribute to America's success? Will we still be the "United States", enjoying the highest standard of living in the world or will we be a politically corrupted 3rd world country that looks like Mexico - not even able to even support our own population - never mind being the world's leader in nearly every important statistic in the world - i.e. exporter of food/technology/entertainment/management techniques/military might, etc.etc.
It's going to be an interesting 43 years to the mid-century point. I have heard some commenter say that the next 25 years is going to bring even bigger advances in all areas, medicine, technology, etc then the recent 25 based on what we have discovered that can be built on. I am skeptical about that - I think the challenges are going to be more in filling in infrastructure - in simply keeping up with the flood of illiterate illegals poring over the border - which is going to basically bankrupt our nation/our medical systems/our school systems/our welfare systems/our social security systems with too many poor illiterate people. - and we won't have the money to deal with it, coupled with the burden of the Boomer generations retirement (less workers per ratio of retired people) and upgrading our deteriorating-out dated infrastructure - deteriorating bridges/roads/building new schools, etc.etc. Where is the money going to come from?
Some real challenges on in the immediate future - WA State is struggling with them - not having enough money to fix our bridges and roads, improving suburban light rail, etc.etc. We haven't provided hardly a single mile of widened highways in WA's arterial Interstate Highway road system in years, a bit through Seattle/Tacoma/Olympia, and that's about it. Those transportation systems upgrades/improvements are going to take billions, and we have already increased our gas taxes by close to 25 cents a gallon just in the past 5 years or so, and our law makers are asking for more. Right now, we are one of the highest gas taxed states in the United States.
Don't get me started - read and enjoy: http://www.gopusa.com/news/2007/november/1129_gop_debate1.shtml
- going out to put up some more Christmas lights! -gk
Dino Rossi Came to town last night and had a standing room only crowd, was trailing in the polls 47% to 45%. Not bad considering that he started at 17% in 2004.
Back when I coached youth baseball, I would tell my teams, that if an unfavorable call by an umpire changes the outcome of the game, then WE let the game be too close in the first place. This applies in politics, too. Rossi won 2 out of 3 counts, and then the judge (umpire) made a final call that was unfavorable to Dino. The twice elected Rossi didn't throw a tantrum, but went back to work. Now he is back, and this time not to win close but to win big.
Last time he had support from Republicans, Independents, and yes, Dinocrats! In a crowd of slightly less than 200 people were many who I did not recognize. and these people were wearing union t-shirts, and some were local business owners who seldom come to political events, along with those who are long time GOP folks.
This is not a time to win close again, but a time to win by such a margin that it will be unarguable that Dino Wins. This time, Libertarians will be welcomed too, as their 64,000 votes ultimately assisted a current Governor who has shown no love for your viewpoints get elected.
You know, even I know 129 folks who could step up and change the outcome this time, do you?
This is a rematch and this time, let's win big!
Okay, so once again I oversimplify things, but here is how I understand the constitution and why I think that the original intent is the only way to interpret the Constitutions.Regardless of which political party or non partisan group of folks get together to change the course of public policy, These documents are showing the playing field and foul lines, rules for legislating and rules protecting individual liberty form tyranny, whether that tyranny be from inheritance, military power, and even a tyranny of the majority, which is often overlooked in current times. The Supreme Courts in my opinion should be Umpires and not active players setting legislation.The recent discussions on District Only vs. County Wide elections have inspired me to look into constitutional basis for both arguments. It appears that County or citywide (At large voting for District Representation) voting may be in violation of the 14th and 15th amendments, but also several voting acts ranging from post civil war to the 1960's. I am currently leaning this direction in my thinking.Since I hold myself to the lowest of journalistic standards, the armchair umpire...I have added several links to our Constitutions and Charters under the RESOURCES heading. (scroll way down on the right.) The Link to the CONSTITUTION SOCIETY is the most comprehensive document source on this topic, with many documents being available in multiple formats.As discussions and debates arise over public policy, I hope that this is a valuable resource for anyone proposing or opposing a policy change, regardless of the location that the debate is occuring. I'll weigh in on specific issues as they arise of course, and once in a while, I might just have a clue what I'm writing about...
This was just e-mailed to me and I thought that I would pass it along.
This is the guy that members of both parties looked to when he was in the State Senate for bringing people together.
His local opponents appear to be nervous already, no positive comments about the Great and Wonderful things that our current governer is accomplishing, but are already in negative attack mode. Why, one of our local bloggers has already equated Dino Rossi with Wino Willie of the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club! (one of America's early motorcycle clubs, and still around even in Washington...)
Great night for all supporters to come and hear Dino's Goals for a vibrant Washington!
I think it would be a good night for Dinocrats to show up too. You guys know who you are, I saw the Teamsters shirts and other union Shirts waving Rossi Signs in the middle of all the Democrat signs on election day. All up and Down the I-5 corridor were Rossi signs proudly displayed among the Democrat Candidates signs and always with GOP signs.
Meet Dino Rossi Tuesday Evening Nov. 27, 2007
You are invited . . .
Dino Rossi's Whatcom County Rally
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
5:30 pm (doors open 5:00 pm)
Hampton Inn - Fox Hall
3935 Bennett Dr (NW of I-5 & Bakerview)
Bring your friends and family!
Hear Dino speak about his ambitious vision for Washington State!
Please e-mail Kiley Smith with any questions at kiley@dinorossi.com
