Iowa’s Democratic Governor Tom Vilsack officially announced his campaign for the presidency today. Text of his announcement speech was retrieved 11-30-2006

“Christie, thank you. It sure feels good to be home. I want to thank Christie, Jess, and Doug for their love, support, and inspiration. Without them I would not be here today. As a family we are committed to this campaign and this effort - you can be sure of that. And I want to thank all of you for being here and for your friendship and support for so many years. My life was profoundly changed and made better when you welcomed me into your community 30 years ago.

Three weeks ago, Americans courageously voted to create change. We sent a clear message that we wanted our country led in a new and better direction. But our job is not done. We have more work to do.

Today in the White House, we have a president whose first reflex is to divide and conquer…who preys on insecurities and fears for partisan gain…who has tried to rob us of the very asset that has made the United States the greatest country on earth: Our sense of community, optimism and can-do spirit.

In the last election, Americans were not fooled by political tricks or gimmicks. We said in one voice, from all regions of the country, for our children and grandchildren: Tomorrow does matter.

That is why I am here today — to bring even bolder change and build an even stronger future for our great nation.
Read the rest of this entry »

Thoughts
Well first off, if you haven’t noticed I am going to try and keep the Geek Corner posts a little more organized. Daily Thoughts at the top of the post before you jump to “read more” and then presidential news under, you guessed it, “President”, Senate News under “Senate” and, well, you get the gist. I will also switch over to a more courteous form of referencing people. Instead of taking the short hand of saying Giuliani, or Clinton or Hillary or Tom I will cite people as Senator Clinton, Former Mayor Giuliani, President George Walker Bush and so on.

As for my thoughts, one thing to remember throughout the 2008 election campaign and something I will probably write about further, is that speculation and prognostication is the name of the game for political pundits, candidates, campaigns, columnists and news organizations. Speculating is a fact of life and one of the joys of politics. With that said when people speculate without facts, then what seems like an informed opinion doesn’t often lead to results in reality, making speculation somewhat useless.

For instance there has been plenty of speculation about Senator Hillary Clinton’s potential campaign since, really now, 1992. There have been scores of books, movies, column space and interviews devoted to the topic for fourteen years now and it has all added up to, well, mostly nothing at all.

Before the 2006 election many individuals from a wide variety of fields speculated on rumors that if the Democrats won back control of the Senate Harry Reid would step aside and Hillary Clinton would run for majority leader leaving any presidential ambitions aside. A plausible notion and one spread throughout many different news programs, columns and Internet sites. At this moment it hasn’t happened. Leading one to wonder where the epicenter of that speculation came from. Was there ever any credible information or just conclusions based on nuggets of information and what seemed like logic?

After the election many speculated that because Senator Clinton spent so much money on a campaign she had deadlocked, it was a sign that she was showing her political might and setting up a presidential campaign. Again plausible, somewhat logical, but not truly based on any real information. Like a political playbook revealed by a staffer or consultant or Senator Clinton herself.

Now there are many articles and news reports citing speculation that Senator Barack Obama has thrown off the potential Clinton Campaign. The thoughts coming out are that Senator Clinton will not run because of the enormous upsurge in support for Senator Obama. Of course neither Senator Obama has said he is running nor has Senator Clinton. That hasn’t stopped the speculation though (Obama is Going For It)

Political Wire today noted an appearance on FOX News by Iowa’s Democratic Party Chairman speculating on that note. The story is now making the rounds.

The problem with this speculation is that it is based on rumors and hearsay and basic logic. The initial story gets picked up and cited in places like Political Wire. There isn’t a problem with that as it is news that someone speculates, but then it also gets picked up by other publications who then cite Political Wire and not the original source.

Then those secondary publications get cited as having the story and before you know it a small bit of rumor is now in every national publication and on television as a veiled fact. “So and so is reporting that” means your local station or national network isn’t the one bringing you the facts, just reporting on a valid story. Though that valid story was produced by someone speculating without facts.

My point about speculation is this. It is unavoidable, it is interesting and sometimes it produces real results. Most of the time though it should be taken with a grain of salt. I don’t know if Senator Clinton is going to run. This blog will continue to point out the speculation, find the facts and then wait and see what happens. It will report on what is being said, who said it and when possible cite original sources and try to deconstruct spin.
Read the rest of this entry »

Thoughts
Things are picking up in the 2008 Election with almost everyone who has ever been elected to office seemingly considering a bid for the White House. With Giuliani & McCain dominating headlines Democratic runs haven’t gotten much play in the Geek Corner lately. Today though there is plenty of news and potential candidates to report on.

Meanwhile I have been finishing John McCain’s first autobiography Faith of My Fathers at a much slower but more enjoyable pace then I had planned. Writer Nora Ephron was on Charlie Rose the other night and she gave some thoughts on McCain and his potential supporters. She noted that McCain, in her opinion, was a guy’s guy. That because of his heroic experiences in Vietnam and the story of his life men gravitate to him in a way that she understood but couldn’t relate to.

She noted that many men she knows who wouldn’t ever consider voting for a Republican are big supporters of McCain. I dismissed her thoughts when I first heard them but as I read through his book I do ponder them a bit. His story and the tales of his father and grandfather are quite endearing. I would imagine to anyone but I do wonder if I find them more interesting as a man then a woman might.

I only bring it up because women, being a slightly larger majority, play an obviously large role in deciding elections. Though Hillary Clinton could run Ephron also noted that her support at the moment would be for Obama. So as the election plays out the question of how women might vote could be a more interesting outcome then a simple man/women down the line outcome.

Read the rest of this entry »

President
The Huffington Post (and many other sites) look at a new Quinnipiac University poll showing Sen. Bill Frist #18 ranking at the bottom for Republicans and John Kerry #20 at the bottom for Democrats in participants feelings about figures. Rudy Giuliani ranked #1 overall, Barack Obama #2 and John McCain #3. The polls ask participants (presumably of all political makeups) to rank their feelings about a particular politician on a scale from 1 - 100. The list includes all politicians both currently in and out of office.

Newt Gingrich who is taking a unique approach to campaigning for the presidency has also taken a unique stand on the issue of Free Speech according to CNN’s report from a Manchester Union Leader. Gingrich said that the nation might have to consider “a different set of rules” to reduce terrorists ability to use the Internet and recruit with their message. More information is still coming in about the event and what Gingrich meant specifically.

Co-Founders of HotSoup.com give their predictions for 2008. From Ron Fournier at MSNBC.

Senate
Julia C. Martinez writes in the Denver Post that Colorado Senator Wayne Allard will not seek reelection in 2008. Allard had pledged to only seek two terms which are up in 2008.

Jason Stahl of The Minnesota Daily looks at the 2008 Senate Races.

2006 Aftermath
Bob Von Sternberg writes for the Minneapolis - St. Paul Star Tribune that third party candidates did not do so hot in 2006 trailing far behind their Democratic and Republican counterparts.

Hope everyone is enjoying their return to work and their day of shopping online at the companies expense!

Steve Friess writes on IndyStar.com about the importance of getting good domain names quick in politics.

In an editorial for The Washington Times Rick Amato says we shouldn’t write off Republican Duncan Hunter as a presidential candidate. - Hunter appeared on Meet the Press yesterday. You can now download a copy of the show by visiting their site.

Bret Hayworth of the Sioux City Journal looks at the debate over Gov. and soon to announce for 2008 Tom Vilsack’s legacy.

Dick Polman of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that Senator Hillary Clinton could run and win in 2008.

The Washington Post looks at race in 2008 and how the two top Democratic contenders, a woman and an African American, may shape the election and the country.

Blogger Connecticut Bob looks at the primary schedule for 2008.

Read the rest of this entry »