What do the elections tell us about candidates' political plans or how they'd respond to crises and international disputes?  Unfortunately, a lot.  Welcome to the 21st century circus games:  Pay no attention to the growing bread shortages.

Waddya mean we're living in a police state?  This kind officer gave the driver a whole 15 seconds to produce identification before yelling at her! 40 seconds before the officer uses violence.

I got this IM from a Democrat friend earlier and I have to share.  She has been a Hillary supporter since the beginning, and I mean she's been looking forward to Hillary's candidacy since about 2005.  These days?  Not so much.

"Hillary is so desperately trying not to drown and it looks horrible"

This is in reference to the Obama photos.  If you haven't seen Obama in Muslim clothes yet here is a photo - scroll down and you'll also see how ridiculous this Hillary "attack" is and why it isn't going to have any affect on Obama's supporters.

So, they interrupted the financial news this morning for a breaking report on the New York Times allegations of McCain's affair with a much younger lobbyist...

...and why is it so expensive?

Gold, platinum, copper, every time I subject myself to financial news media I'm inundated with bullish reports on precious metals. "Gold is at record prices!"  "Gold is going to $x,000!"  "You can own gold, too!"

Well then its official.  The gold bubble is here. 

 

• Part 1:  Hillary Clinton's Michigan Power-Play
  
• Part 2:  Hillary Clinton Wins Michigan
• Part 3:  Hillary Clinton Wins Florida (Uncontested) 
• Part 4:  Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party Superdelegates
• Part 5:  Obama wins Elections:  Hillary wants More Party Support  
  
• 
  

• Part 6:  Hillary: Out of Options

I've been covering Hillary's campaign strategy since this thing started and I'm starting to think that she's just about finished now.

And I'm glad.  Its kind of a strain for me to get into the mindset of her politics and how politicians like her view voters, elections, and political parties. She comes from the line of thinking that goes back to "Machine" politics where party loyalty and time served translated into votes thanks to a top-down campaign system that often included everything from the union leaders, HR reps, and police department. 

Sure, its a popular vote at the end of the day, but the overwhelming cultural pressure from "official" sources often played a key role in determing the results. 

Media influences political opinions.  Period.  Music goes in its own direction, and it builds communities that perpetuates its views.

Dead Kennedies - Police Truck

I've noticed in the last few weeks people are actually surprised to hear about rising interest rates on loans and credit accounts in good standing being shut down.  People are indignant, they exlaim "But the fed cut rates!"  See, the fed rate isn't the market rate.  As much as central planners would love to dictate and regulate the day to day health of an economy, its impossible.  

 

New Commenting Software - Same Policies

Due to various issues with the previous software, I decided to install a new comments add-on.  It looks good, it was an easy install, and I was able to import all the previous comments without a hitch, so I'm probably going to keep it around for a while.  

Underground Politics: Comment Policies

No spam!  Seriously, don't even waste your time.  Everything is moderated so it won't ever go live.

• No registration required - and its not even an option right now.  I'm looking into some additional mods and configurations that will allow users to set up profiles and avatars, but at the moment that could be a problem with my limited server loads. I would rather spend the little time I do have writing political articles and having a discussion so if bells & whistles and shiny paint are what you want, don't hold your breath (unless you're willing to help)

• All comments must be on topic - This isn't hard.  Politics and Economics covers a lot of ground.  If you have some news development or activism campaign, search to see if there is already an article here that relates to the subject.  If it doesn't exist, go create a post on the discussion forum.  If its a great article I'll publish it on the front page and link back to your site or whatever resource best relates to & describes the specific topics covered.

• Comments dofollow

As far as I know.  I'm only semi-literate with website technology and my content management system.  I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure they follow.   Don't bother putting keywords in your name field, because for some reason this form uses a image for the URL link in the information section.  If you have an article directly related to the discussion, feel free to add a link to it in the body of the comment.  Remember, everything is moderated before its live and links should be directly related.  Off-topic links won't help either of us. 

• Comments are moderated.  I'm sure no matter how many times I say it, the spammers will add off-topic nonsense.  I reserve the right to modify, delete, or re-publish the comment anywhere on my website.  I might write an article about your comment.  I might take out completely unrelated links but leave your insightful analysis.  I might add it to this policy as an example of what not to do.

• NO PERSONAL ATTACKS.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  If you feel particularly insulted or angered by another poster's comments, CONTACT ME.  This is not a promise that something will be done, this is a promise that I will give another consideration as to whether or not I want that original comment on my website.  Keep focused on the politics, the finances, the long-term and geopolitical consequences and leave your prejudices & personal attacks out of it.

Listen, I have great respect for people who immigrate to America.  My mom is from South Korea originally - my girlfriend of seven years is from Ireland.  Now both my mom's side of the family and my girlfriend's family both have HUGE rates of home and business ownership.  Trust me, if anything, I'm biased in favor of immigration.  I look at U.S. history and the anecdotal evidence available in my life and I think a huge part of what made America so wealthy and powerful was its ability to attract ambitious immigrants with a strong work ethic and big dreams.

But there's a problem with immigration in America - and no one can deny it, not even the most rabid supporter and admirer of immigrantion like myself.