Fantasy Politics USA

Eight Democratic candidates participated in the first real debate of the season Wednesday at South Carolina State University. They really didn’t go at each other to much, and they all agreed that George Bush has done a bad job. John Edwards got the only real jab in, and it was aimed at Clinton, and her decision to vote for the war. “I mean, Senator Clinton and anyone else who voted for this war has to search themselves and decide whether they believe they’ve voted the right way,” Edwards said in response to a question.
The debate was fast paced, and really didn’t allow to many attacks. It is also still early in the race. They all agreed the war in Iraq was a bad decision. Bill Richardson summed it up, “This war is a disaster,”… “We must end this war.” Obama got a bit of a challenge from Kucinich and Gravel. Kucincih challenged Obama for saying he would take no option off the table when dealing with Iran. “I think it would be a profound mistake for us to initiate a war with Iran,” Obama replied. “But, have no doubt, Iran possessing nuclear weapons will be a major threat to us and to the region.” Gravel then picked it up by asking Obama, “Tell me, Barack, who do you want to nuke?” Obama replied, “I’m not planning to nuke anybody right now, Mike, I promise.” At one point moderator Brian Williams asked Joe Biden, if he could assure America that he would not embarrass the US on an international stage because he is known for sticking his foot in his mouth. Biden simply answered, “Yes.” Otherwise the debate was pretty mundane. Both the front runners, Obama and Clinton tried to stay away from attacking each other, and even addressed each other politely. Hope these things get better.
Alan Cosgrove

GOP candidate Jim Gilmore announced in a webcast that he is running for President in 08. “This is going to be something unique in American politics and something I think is the wave of the future, which is the chance to talk directly to the people as we develop the campaign through the Internet,” Gilmore said. To see his announcement video check out his campaign sight. Gilmore is running as a conservative and has something to say about each of the three front runners and their conservative credentials. “I don’t think Mayor Giuliani has even suggested he’s a conservative,” said Gilmore. “Senator McCain has not made his reputation as a conservative. He’s made it as a maverick.” And he says the difference between him and Romney, “is he is attempting to shift into becoming a conservative.” Jim Gilmore was the governor of Virginia, and also headed the Republican National Committee in 2001. He considers himself a true conservative, and has always been a conservative, along the same line as Ronald Reagan. “I am the real thing,” Gilmore said. “I’m not gonna game you. If you want a liberal, go elect one. But it ain’t me.”
Alan Cosgrove

Barack Obama was on old stomping grounds today speaking in Chicago to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He was talking about the world view of America, and he thinks the rest of the world just looks at us like a bully. Obama said, “America cannot meet the threats of this century alone, but the world cannot meet them without America. We must neither retreat from the world nor try to bully it into submission — we must lead the world by deed and by example.” Obama says that George Bush really hasn’t acted like a world leader. “This president may occupy the White House, but for the last six years the position of leader of the free world has remained open. And it is time to fill that role once more,” Obama said. This was a speech that Obama postponed from last week due to the Virginia Tech shootings. Although he says the world has a negative view of America now, Obama believes he can turn things around. He called for the troops to come home from Iraq, and says this would be a great way for the America to start acting like a world leader again. He wants to increase spending on foreign aid. Obama also wants to lead a global effort to stop nuclear weapons, including Iran’s, and North Korea’s. “If America does not lead, these two nations could trigger regional arms races that could accelerate nuclear proliferation on a global scale and create dangerous nuclear flash points,” Obama said. Maybe he can click his heels together three times, and nuclear weapons will just disappear.
Alan Cosgrove

Mike Huckabee told AP that if elected President, he would leave open the option of a troop increase, and would look the other way for gays in the military. He also spoke harshly of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales shortly after George Bush gave Gonzales a vote of confidence, and Gonzales himself said he had no thoughts stepping down. Huckabee said, “Sometimes the best position would be for the appointee to make the decision and not force the president to do so. You best serve the person you work for when you can decide that if you are a distraction that you no longer will create that level of problem for your boss.” Huckabee went on to say, “The attorney general is clearly creating a major distraction for the president and for the administration and for the Republican Party.” Gonzales is a “distraction” that needs to go. Huckabee isn’t the first Republican candidate to ask for Gonzales to go. Newt Gingrich has said Gonzales should resign. When they asked Huckabee about gays in the military, he responded with, “I’m not sure that being homosexual should automatically disqualify a person from the military. If a person can do his or her job, you know that’s not for me the biggest issue.” He also spoke about parental rights of lesbians. He opposes a lesbian partner of a childbearing women having equal parental rights. He said, “It’s a step toward changing the definition of marriage and family.” Change is bad. He tried to defend his tax increases during his governor tenure, and he said people that are really crazy shouldn’t have guns, but he is not sure how to determine who is really crazy.
Alan Cosgrove