As I mentioned I had to take a last minute trip to D.C.
For a non resident I do have to say it is cool to be here during the State of the Union. As sirens go off I can hear them on television a few seconds later. (I am staying not far from the national mall). I am sure if you have to deal with the traffic and the closing of streets etc. it is a pain but sitting in the hotel room I am enjoying it.
Last night I walked up to the Capitol building, I always love going late at night, especially on a weekend. Everything is empty and you can just walk unbothered. For someone who sits in Upstate New York thinking and writing so much about this place it is always so wonderful to actually be here.
Finally, we don’t have a lot of wonderful public transportation where I come from so let me say what a treat it is to ride the metro. Of all the subway systems I have ever traveled on I do think the metro is one of the cleanest and most easily navigable.
You can listen to me discuss the South Carolina primary on the Shaun O Mac radio program on Blog Talk Radio with Shaun Daily at 9:00PM Eastern. I also believe Nate from will be on the show as well.
I will be on Blog Talk Radio Today with Shaun Daily again today. We will be discussing last nights Democratic debate. Look for me at 3:30PM Pacific or 6:30PM Easter, you can listen live at the site.
I was reading CNN’s compilation of thoughts from Michigan voters and also heard from a friend in the state this morning. I don’t think it is a surprise that the sentiment coming from Democrats there is not a pleasant one because in short, their voices were not heard. That isn’t to say they aren’t happy with Senator Clinton, all things being equal she might have won anyway, but because the state’s delegates will be denied from the convention and because their race was uncontested.
I have made no secret on this blog that I am not in favor of keeping Iowa and New Hampshire’s hold over either parties nomination process. This was a concoction that has only developed since the 1970’s and in short it is one that won’t last. When we look at the mainstream media’s desire to call the entire Democratic nomination after just the small state of Iowa’s caucus, you see the sheer stupidity of this system and how it can be mishandled.
I am as guilty as anyone else in the media or blogosphere when it comes to New Hampshire. I assumed, like everyone assumed, because everyone assumed, helped others assume, that Barack Obama was going to run away with the win and because of that, we were witnessing the potential end of the Clinton campaign. What were we all thinking? (The same thing the Clinton campaign was, they though they would lose too!)
The truth is, polling often works and works well. There is almost no better way of finding out what people will do than asking them. However polling is not perfect, people lie, questions are asked in weird ways or at the wrong moments, but most importantly our “interpretations” of polling are often what get the nation into trouble, especially when everyone agrees on something without really looking into it.
As I mentioned yesterday I was on the Shaun O Mac radio show last night to discuss politics and Iowa. You can listen to my appearance either using the player below or visiting the show site and listening to the 1/2/2008 11:00 PM show.
So I am fighting off a major cold of some kind and my sinuses are going crazy. So sorry about the lull in updates. I am also fighting off RSS withdrawl. Read the rest of this entry »
