2008 | Election Square

Don’t Let Apathy Win the 2008 Presidential Election

November 1, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Whether you are a Republican, Democrat, Undecided, or None of the Above. Whether you are pleased or enraged with the current administration. Whether you think your vote will count or not, now is not the time to back away from the campaign and election process. It is time to become involved, but this time it will be different.

The 2008 Presidential election will be the most important and different election we have ever seen in American history. Apart from the issues, promises, and scandals, a new reason has joined the candidates on the stump- its that thing you’re surfing on – the internet.

In the past we have seen websites and maybe a Youtube advertisement or two, but in 2008, the election playing field includes social networking sites, video sharing sites, and blogs.

If you felt the only way to garner support for your particular candidate meant attending a rally with news coverage, may I suggest some new ways to help you spread the message of your chosen candidate:

1. Forums. It’s not just for TV shows and rock bands anymore. Topix.com is a great website with a huge group of forums for everything regarding political parties and candidates. It is a great place to find up-to-the-minute information, as well as find like-minded posters to join in discussions.

2. Social Networking sites. Whether you’re on MySpace, Facebook, or the multitude of other similar sites, it is becoming easier to find friends and groups that share your views. Show your support, and find support from others.

3. Interactive podcasts. Talkshoe.com is a web 2.0 interactive podcast solution that marries a conference call with live, on-screen text chat and a communal way to express yourself and hear from others as well.

So check it out, and interact.

4. Create you own podcast about your candidate. Everyone’s doing it, why not you? Podcast411.com is a great way to get started. In a few steps, you can get your voice heard with the best of them in the podcasting world.

5. Email signature line. It’s where you probably put that funny quote next to your name on emails, but it has many other uses. All email accounts (Gmail, hotmail, etc) have a place for you to add a signature line for every outgoing email. Type in your favorite candidate’s website url, special dates for events, and share it with people you communicate with.

6. Electronically invite others to vote with you. Many people have excuses why they don’t vote, but you can help your candidate by being a voting chauffeur. Evite.com is a fantastic way to gather people for parties and events, but why not use it for a Decision 2008 voting party? On voting day offer to drive yourself and like-minded friends to the polling place. Heck, you can even make it a “Vote and Pick up Lunch Day”, if you like.

7. Leave your thoughts behind. Youtube and other video sharing sites are being used by candidates, so why not leave your feedback for them and others to read. Let your chosen candidate know you care, and you were there.

and finally-

8. Do something. Whether its one of these ideas, or others, don’t slip into apathy. There is still time to get involved with promoting your chosen candidate or issue. Start now, and use the Internet and new technology to help you.

Filed Under: Election Issues Tagged With: 2008, Apathy, Don't, Election, Presidential

The Twelve States That Will Decide Election 2008

October 26, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Between now and Election Day, you will see both Barack Obama and John McCain campaigning almost exclusively in these twelve states. If you happen to live in any of these states, you should be preparing yourself for a media blitz that will surely make you dream of a quiet, remote vacation long before Election Day. Over the next several months, political pundits will refer to these dozen states as the battleground for the 2008 Presidential election.

A combination of recent polling, state voting demographics, and political history is a powerful formula that can be used to predict the likely outcome of thirty eight American states. In fact, if both candidates run a respectable and credible campaign, today’s polling results in these thirty eight states should not be much different than the actual results on Election Day.

The truth is that when reviewing the 2008 electoral map, Republican John McCain can now count on 174 safe electoral votes, while Democrat Barack Obama can feel comfortable winning 204. Therefore, it is the voting in only twelve states, representing 160 electoral votes, that will ultimately determine the outcome in this Presidential election. An outcome that requires the next President of the United States to obtain a minimum of 270 electoral votes on Election Day.

The twelve battleground states that will decide the 2008 Presidential election are; Florida, Missouri, Ohio, Nevada, Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Virginia. Let’s briefly look at these battleground states in the 2008 Presidential election.

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Florida has voted Republican with its 27 electoral votes in each of the last two Presidential elections. Of course, we remember how close the voting was in 2000 when a few thousand votes determined the outcome for Republican President, George W. Bush. Currently, the state has a popular Republican Governor in Charlie Crist, who is also a potential candidate for Vice President on the Republican ticket. Recent public opinion polls in Florida shows that Republican John McCain has a double digit lead over Democrat Barack Obama.

Missouri almost always cast its ballot for the candidate who wins the White House. In fact, with the exception of 1956, no candidate since 1904 ever has won a Presidential election without winning the state of Missouri. Current polls indicate a dead heat in the race to capture Missouri’s 11 electoral votes in Election 2008.

No Republican has ever won the White House without winning Ohio’s 20 electoral votes. In fact, no candidate has won the Presidency without winning Ohio since 1960. Current polls show both political candidates in a statistical dead heat in the Buckeye state.

The states of Colorado, Iowa, Nevada, and New Mexico in total account for 28 electoral votes. Democrat Barack Obama enjoys a modest lead in recent polls in Colorado and New Mexico. Both these states voted Republican in the 2004 Presidential election. John McCain maintains a modest lead in Nevada while Barack Obama holds a lead in Iowa. If this recent trend continues, Nevada will vote for the same party as it did in 2004. However, a Democratic win in Iowa would be a change from the result in the Presidential election of four years ago.

Pennsylvania voted for the Democratic candidate in each of the last two Presidential elections. However, the final margin of victory was very small. Recent polls indicate another very close election in 2008 to win the state’s 21 electoral votes.

Michigan has cast its 17 Electoral College votes for the Democrats in each of the last four Presidential elections. However the margin of Democratic victory in 2004 was very slim. Recent polls indicate another very close race between Barack Obama and John McCain in 2008.

As far as the final three 2008 battleground states are concerned, Wisconsin’s 10 Electoral votes went Democratic by a very close margin in the last Presidential election. Recent polls show another very close vote is likely in 2008 as well. Both Virginia and North Carolina (total of 28 electoral votes) were found in the Republican column four years ago. John McCain holds very slim leads in both states in public opinion polls at the current time.

The party primaries are now over and the fall Presidential election campaign is about to begin. During the next several months, there will be televised debates, and the usual give and take of any Presidential campaign.

However, the truth is that in order to win on Election Day, each of the candidates have to work to deliver the right political message. It will need to be a message designed to win in America’s political battleground, the twelve swing states of Election 2008.

Filed Under: Election Issues Tagged With: 2008, Decide, Election, States, Twelve

2008 Presidential Election Betting Hits The Online Sportsbook Campaign Trail

October 14, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Election betting is not new. In fact, Las Vegas oddsmaker Jimmy The Greek Snyder gained fame and credibility (which later led to a spot on CBS NFL preview show) when, after noting that women did not trust men who wore mustaches, boldly predicted that underdog incumbent President Harry S. Truman would defeat New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey in the race for the Oval Office in 1948. Or so the story goes.

The irony is that Nevada sportsbooks do not accept wagers on elections. The often cited reason is not that, like entertainment award voting such as the Oscars, that someone knows the results of the balloting in advance, but that there is something queasy about mixing gambling and politics.

Yeah, right.

Certainly, most online sportsbooks outside the jurisdiction of the Silver State have little difficulty in posting futures on who will win the next four-year lease at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The process, which should come to a conclusion when delegate-rich states such as California, New York and Florida vote next February, already is underway with 10 Republicans and eight Democrats vying for the prize. Each party field could grow and there also is the possibility for a fusion ticket or an independent candidacy.

Generally, online sportsbooks attack the 2008 election in one of three ways. The simplest way is to post a generic proposition on which party will win the White House. Led by a President with record low approval ratings and saddled with an increasingly unpopular war in Iraq, the Republicans are clear underdogs to maintain control in 2008, usually listed as +140 underdogs (bet 0 to win 0). On the other hand, Democrats, with their base more energetic and independent voters tracking in their direction, are quoted as -160 favorites (bet 0 to win 0) to regain control of the Oval Office.

Could someone unaligned with either of the major parties, such as an independent or a third party candidate, win? You can get +5250 on that remote possibility.

Many online sportsbooks also boast separate future books for Democrats and Republicans. Although she voted to authorize the Iraq war, a very unpopular position among party activists, New York Senator and former First Lady Hillary Clinton heads the list of Democrats, usually at odds around 4/5. Representing a younger generation, Illinois Senator Barack Obama is the clear second choice at 5/2 with former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, 5/1, and as yet unannounced candidate, former Vice President Al Gore, offered from a low of 4/1 to a high of 10/1. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who widely is viewed as an ideal vice presidential choice, Senators Chris Dodd (CT) and Joe Biden (DE), former Senator Mike Gravel (Alaska) and Congressman Dennis Kucinich, are longshots.

Despite holding liberal to moderate views on many social issues, such as abortion, gay rights and gun control, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is a 7/5 favorite to get the nod of the largely conservative GOP to run for President. Arizona Senator John McCain, who holds an unpopular position on immigration, is the 5/2 second choice with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, whose positions have evolved (his detractors would say flip-flopped) is quoted at 4/1 with former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson likely to enter the race in July at about the same odds as Romney.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, would enter the race at about 15/1 should he diced to run, ahead of previously announced candidates such as former Governors Mike Huckabee (AK) and Tommy Thompson WI), Senator Sam Brownback (KS), and Representatives Duncan Hunter, Ron Paul and Tom Tancredo.

Senator Chuck Hagel (NE), 30/1, could enter the race as either a Republican or as an independent.

The third way online sportsbooks offer Presidential election futures is to lump all the candidates together in one massive book. The difference between this type of book and the separate party books is the same as the difference between World Series and pennant futures; more risk but more reward in going for the whole enchilada.

Clinton is the favorite in the big book, usually at about 2/1. Giuliani checks in next at odds of 7/2 with Obama at 4/1, McCain at 6/1, Romney and Gore at 8/1.

As the 2008 election draws nearer, many online sportsbooks will add key Senate, House and Governor races to their wagering menu, providing even more options to election betting.

This article was written by Karol Luca for [http://www.thegreek.com-The] Greek Sportsbook & Casino is host to one of the top online sportsbooks offering sports betting on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and all other major sports. The Greek is a must have sports betting and entertainment portal with one of the largest wagering menus available online. Article reproductions must include a link pointing to http://www.thegreek.com

Filed Under: Election Issues Tagged With: 2008, Betting, Campaign, Election, Hits, Online, Presidential, Sportsbook, Trail

Candidate Families Do Matter in the 2008 US Presidential Election

October 6, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

It’s a cliché to say the world is changing fast but the implications of that change are most relevant in the 2008 US presidential campaign. America’s last presidential election four years ago occurred in a pre-twitter age when America’s war on the rest of the world was a major issue. In the current election, the Republican vice-presidential candidate is a self-described “hockey Mom” with a pro-life, anti-choice platform. That most private decision of a couple impacts heavily on the defining characteristic, by definition, of “family.”

The notion that a candidate’s family is “off limits” to the press is ludicrous to begin with, in view of the fact that families are very much part of the dog-and-pony shows of American political campaigns. But to keep those families in the public eye only when they’re dressed in Sunday best is a deception at the very least.

In an age of twitters and tweets, it is a hoodwinking that feeds a frenzy of curiosity and speculation that mesmerizes attention with the titillation of small town gossip and masks the real issues.

Among the real issues in this election is that of family and family values. It became part of the Republican platform with the choice of an ultraconservative vice presidential candidate chosen to court the ultra-right wing vote able to swing the current election as it did four years ago. Four years later, however, the ultra-conservative icon of the “hockey Mom” presents a family portrait not entirely in conformance with the common understanding of all that “family values” entail.

Beyond that, while unwed teenage pregnancy is no longer a stigma in 2008 American society, the announcement of that family development in context of a new and premature legitimate family being formed is hypocrisy, political machination or both, especially since the new father- and husband-to-be was trotted out at the Republican Convention.

At the very best, the scenario presents the height of a high-tech shot-gun wedding, which may or may not come off during the two months remaining for the presidential campaigns.

The right to freedom of the young people involved and the impact on the families and the country itself in the event either chooses to exercise that right by deciding not to marry, could impact on votes in November. For that reason and in the interest of fairness, then, all the candidates’ families are now part of the candidate’s candidacy and they are a reflection of the candidate’s performance in decision making, leadership, guidance and overall eligibility for national leadership.

Furthermore, in the twitter age, that new, modern standard for full disclosure of fitness by opening the window onto candidate families is not limited to the “nuclear” family. It extends to siblings, as it did during Bill Clinton’s campaign in 1992. And it also extends to ex-spouses and to the circumstances of divorces for a consideration of how well the unfortunate family break-up was conducted in conformance with family values.

Filed Under: Election Issues Tagged With: 2008, Candidate, Election, Families, Matter, Presidential

A Question of Media Objectivity in Election 2008

October 4, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

The campaign of Republican John McCain has just released two web videos which highlight what the campaign feels is a national media bias in favor of Democrat Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential election. It is asking people to vote for their favorite video.

This McCain campaign video release contest comes at the end of a week in which hundreds of members of the national media followed Barack Obama throughout the Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe on his fact finding mission. However, the same press coverage was not to be found when McCain took a similar trip a few months ago or when he more recently visited Colombia and Mexico.

Meanwhile the New York Times featured an editorial from Barack Obama and then refused to publish one written by John McCain. The McCain article was to appear on the paper’s op-ed page and was rejected because it was supposedly incompatible with the article from Sen. Barack Obama that the Times previously had published.

There are three questions about the news media that should be considered in this Presidential campaign. Is the national media as biased in election 2008 as it appeared to be in 2004?. Does John McCain make a point with his recent web video on media bias? Does the American public perceive media bias in favor of Barack Obama in election 2008?

To answer the last question first, the American public does detect media bias. In fact, according to a recent poll (Rasmussen), nearly half of Americans believe that the media is biased toward the candidacy of Democrat Barack Obama. In the same poll only 14% believe that the media favors Republican candidate John McCain.

Certainly, political partisans in both major parties often feel that their candidate is the victim of unfavorable media coverage. So, for a more objective view of media reporting in election 2008, consider only what the independent voter is saying in that same public opinion poll. Indeed, nearly 50% of these unaffiliated voters see a media with a pro-Obama bias while just 21% see unbiased coverage. Only 12% of those not connected with either major party believe the media is trying to help Republican John McCain.

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Is this perception of media bias toward Obama by the public based in news reporting reality? To answer this question, let’s consider the results of the study of the media in election 2008 from Jounalism.org. The organization’s Project for Excellence in Journalism evaluates more than 300 political stories each week in newspapers, magazines, and television in order to measure whether each candidate is talked about in more than 25% of the stories.

This excerpt from their ongoing election media study describes the national media’s election coverage to date; ..”It was the sixth straight week since the general election began in which Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, enjoyed a distinct advantage in the race for exposure over the presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain. Last week, Obama was a significant presence in 83% of campaign stories studied, vs. McCain in 52%. That advantage for Obama is only slightly higher than what he has enjoyed throughout this early phase of the general election period.

In the six weeks since Hillary Clinton suspended her campaign and the general election phase began, Obama has been a significant factor in 78% of the stories and McCain in 51%. The closest they have come in coverage was the week of June 30 through July 6, when Obama enjoyed an 11 percentage point advantage (73% of stories about Obama vs. 62% for McCain).”

Certainly, an advantage of nearly 8-5 in media exposure is a significant benefit for any politician running for the highest office in the land. The extent of Obama’s favorable exposure from the national media indicates a distinct Democratic bias so far in this election campaign.

Consider that media bias was also perceived by the voting public just prior to the actual voting in the Presidential election of 2004. In a Fabrizio, McLaughlin, and Associates election night survey of 1,000 voters in twelve battleground states, 46% thought the media’s coverage of that election campaign was biased. 32% thought the Democrats were favored by the media while just 14% felt the same way about the media and the GOP.

Of course, in the last election, a national network and prominent news anchor became the news for promoting and defending forged documents in an attempt to influence the election for the benefit of the Democratic Party nominee. Dan Rather and CBS will continue discussions about that dubious matter in their civil litigation currently scheduled for this fall.

Indeed, a lack of national media objectivity in election 2008 may well be a replay of the Presidential campaign of 2004. It looks like John McCain may have a valid point when he highlights media bias in favor of his opponent. However, based on the media’s recent history of political election coverage and an attractive and articulate Democratic candidate, his campaign should certainly not be very surprised.

Filed Under: Election Issues Tagged With: 2008, Election, Media, Objectivity, Question

Karnataka Assembly Elections 2008 – Expected Results Through Ganesha’s Eyes

October 1, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Political alleys of Karnataka are now tingling with excitement of election manifestos as the Assembly Elections 2008 are looming large. To be held in three phases, elections will start from May 10 and second and third phase will take place on 16 and 22 of May. Apart from the major political parties like BJP, Congress and JD(S), a new political group has come into picture in the name of Janapara Rajakeeya Ranga. The result of this battle will be declared on May 25, but Ganesha can tell you the fate of political parties in this election.

Janata Dal(S) has its party leader and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. He is born in Cancer Ascendant and the Ascendant Lord Moon is placed in the 8th house with Rahu. Deve Gowda has not been praised in the media for his tricks and treachery which is signified by affliction of Moon in the 8th house. He will be under the influence of Sun-Rahu period from 20th April this year.

Rahu in the 8th house placed with Moon doesn’t look good for him. Maybe, he is fighting for his pride but continuous hard work and tensions may affect his health and his dream to return to power look very far from visible.

For Kumaraswamy, the transiting Saturn squaring natal Sun and transiting Rahu in the 8th house from natal Moon looks adverse and may not be able to make a big mark in the forthcoming elections.

Congress Party will be under the influence of Rahu-Mars-Rahu period. Moon-Rahu conjunction is placed in the 7th house and Mars is placed in the 5th house in Scorpio Navmansa. The planetary influences are indicating lack of focus and confusing mindset of leaders and also friction within the party. The only heartening factor is the transiting Jupiter.

So they might recover some of their lost grounds.

The Saffron party BJP will be passing through the Venus-Mercury-Mercury period and Mercury, the Ascendant Lord is placed in the 9th house and well placed in Navmansa as well looks good. The transiting Jupiter moving retrograde in the 7th house in trine with natal Jupiter may boost the party’s moral during this election.

Yediyurappa is the candidate of CM for BJP. He was under the influence of Sun-Mars period and Sun and Mars are powerful in his chart and very much responsible for his Chief Ministerial ship last year. But unfortunately at the time of confidence vote meeting, he was running Sun-Mars-Saturn period and Saturn is not only placed in 6th house of Natal chart but also in D-10 chart and debilitated in D-9 chart caused his downfall. The transiting Rahu was moving over the natal Sun denying the authority. He will be under the influence of Sun-Rahu-Saturn period, so again Saturn is playing important part in his political career. Although BJP has planetary influences in their favor, Yediyurappa’s chart is showing some constraints and obstacles.

Considering all these aspects, Ganesha feels that BJP looks well placed but they might fail to get the comfortable majority in Assembly and may fall short to dominate the Karnataka’s politics.

Ganesha’s Grace,

Tanmay K. Thakar,

The GaneshaSpeaks Team

Filed Under: Election Issues Tagged With: 2008, assembly, elections, Expected, Eyes, Ganesha's, Karnataka, Results, Through

2008 Election Holds Lessons For Small Business Marketing Campaigns

September 26, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

This form of marketing was especially dominant at the state and local levels in the form of voter initiatives- propositions in California. Whether you felt intrigued or insulted over the ever increasing onslaught of commercials trying to influence your vote, many of these messages were cleverly concocted using the basic tenants of persuasive marketing: Interrupt, engage, educate and offer.

Most political campaigns have the luxury of seemingly limitless spending which tends to foster the strategy of endless repetition vs. using their message to target the market they want to reach. The average small business owner must exercise more judgment over directing their message to the intended customer target group. Here’s how small businesses can get the same hard hitting marketing impact while spending significantly less money (and potentially alienating fewer consumers).

- Commercials supporting political causes will frequently open with a bold or controversial statement that seeks to gain the audience’s attention with something shocking. Shocking statements, often revealing problems, are the most effective way to engage your target audience. For businesses, this means identifying a problem you know resonates with your potential customers. Whether the problem is the alleged cruel treatment of farm animals advanced by Prop 2 or finding out you don’t have the right automobile coverage after an accident as with one national insurance company, you now have your audience’s attention.

- Once the problem is defined, the message needs to provide a solution. Several propositions that sought funding for their projects advanced the idea of bond issues. In the prescription drug industry, launching a new drug that will control or eliminate an affliction is their mainstay. Solutions need to be well thought out to insure they reflect your unique approach to the problem and eliminate any risks that would prevent the target audience from accepting them.

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- In order to solidify your position, a key fact must be provided that will validate your solution. In the bond issues example, announcing the fact that certain bonds would not increase taxes is a way to reduce the perceived risk the voter must consider before giving support. The golf equipment industry has been very successful at selling incredible varieties of clubs using technology and professional endorsements to appeal to the average golfer’s desire to lower their handicap.

- Once the table is set; all that is left is to invite your guest to dinner. Make your offer urgent with a ‘call to action’ statement. Every proposition commercial ends the same way by asking the viewer to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. This simple request is usually followed by a statement called ‘future pacing’, the desired outcome if the requested response is accepted by the viewer. Sprint Telecom is doing this very effectively by offering customers the opportunity to learn new things about their cell phones if they visit a Sprint store for service. Ultimately, your offer must be clear and compelling if you expect your marketing campaign to achieve your desired result.

As political events go, the 2008 election season had Madison Avenue’s best and brightest participating. Small businesses should definitely take note of the outcomes (both good and bad) before going to market with their message. The key to any persuasive marketing campaign is to follow the above recipe to insure your message resonates with the clients you want to attract.

Steve Smith has lived and worked in the Orange County, CA area for more than 15 years. As a sales and marketing professional with several nationally recognized consumer product companies, he established himself as an expert in brand marketing, networking and sales team development which earned him several awards and promotions to more strategic levels of responsibility. On the road constantly and dealing with increasingly unfulfilling work, he began looking for ways to use his talents to help businesses who did not have the resources that his prior companies all too often took for granted.

Smith serves small-business owners and entrepreneurs out of his OneCoach Saddleback Valley franchise. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in sales, marketing and management, along with practical strategies to enable all OneCoach members to achieve their financial goals faster, so they can live extraordinary lives.

OneCoach is the leader in small-business growth services, providing small-business owners with the tools and strategies necessary to grow their businesses faster. Smith combines his own innovative and practical ideas with the coaching, networking and best practices that OneCoach provides. For more information visit [http://www.saddlebackvalley.onecoach.com]

Filed Under: Election Information Tagged With: 2008, Business, Campaigns, Election, Holds, Lessons, Marketing, Small

Astrology & The 2008 US Presidential Election – 1952 Deja Vu?

September 17, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

There is a spiritual hunger in the world today – and it cannot be satisfied by better cars on longer credit terms. – Adlai E. Stevenson (1952 / Democratic Presidential Candidate)

I despise people who go to the gutter on either the right or the left and hurl rocks at those in the center.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower (1952 / Republican Presidential Candidate)

Can you imagine Barack Obama uttering the first quote? What about John McCain as the deliverer of the second? Neither is a stretch, is it?

A recent business event at which gifted political pundits Tucker Carlson and James Carville squared off for some lively chat about the upcoming election brought this thought to light. It was Carville, a Hillary supporter who now puts her prospects of becoming the Democratic nominee as akin to drawing to a 16 in blackjack, who noted that an Obama – McCain duel resonates with nothing so much as the Stevenson vs.

Eisenhower election of 1952. Certainly there are some mammoth differences—most significantly, at the earlier election the Democrats had controlled the presidency for two straight decades—but one gets the gist of Carville’s observation in the elevated populism of the highly educated Obama and the iconoclastic centrist tendencies of former military-man McCain.

True political history fans will note a number of nifty in-fighting parallels in the respective nomination processes of Stevenson/Obama and Eisenhower/McCain, but there are certainly far more compelling cultural kinship ties between 1952 and 2008. One can see the correspondences in the entropic drag of unpopular ideology-driven wars (Korea, Iraq) and in the bullying domination of ‘right-thinking’ political forces (McCarthyism, The Patriot Act). And surely the bogeyman of terrorist attack that is paraded before us on a daily basis today is somewhat resonant with America’s first test detonation of a hydrogen bomb, 30 more times more powerful than the Hiroshima A-bomb, in November of 1952.

Quite thrillingly (if one is an astrologer) the strongest cosmic tie between the two years is to be found in the identical placement of the nodes of the moon. Now as much as I’d like to get all astro-pedantic here, suffice it to say that the moon’s nodes, which astronomically have to do with orbital inclination and intersection, are an essential calculation in any horoscope cast by a reputable astrologer. These extremely powerful points are said to deal with evolutionary direction, from the south node (where we have been, what we know, and where we are most comfortable) to the north node (where we must go, what we must learn, and where we are challenged to grow).

Right now, as in 1952, the nodes are suggesting that mankind is confronted with a choice on a path between a south node Leo foundation and a north node Aquarian destiny. Without intending this to sound judgmental, one may think of Leo as representing every human endeavor that grants preeminence to personal predilection and self-satisfaction. Aquarius, the diametric opposite of Leo, is emblematic of selfless social consideration and preeminence granted to the requirements of the collective.

Now it has rarely been a smart bet to push all of one’s chips onto the self-sacrificing community-mindedness square of the humanity craps table. This is especially true at an astro-historical moment that emphasizes how familiar and comfortable (south node) it feels for humanity to be selfish. When one factors in the sheer anxiety of the times, how can anyone be blamed for worrying about numero uno?

The answer in 1952 was, of course, to go on a frenzy of production and consumption and baby making…and to elect as president a retired general who history suggests would rather golf than govern (although some historians celebrate the generally laissez-faire Eisenhower for not breaking anything, including the peace). It is now fashionable to disparage the values formed with the advent of Ike’s election as selfish but, dammit, everybody was war-weary, anxious, and ready for the pay-off promised by victory in WWII – The Big One. It was about time for life to provide a nice car, and a decent payment schedule, and an interstate highway system to facilitate suburban living and personal adventure.

So where do we go this time around? Does a less promising environment for economic growth force our hands? Do we have to become socially-concerned citizens because we’ve run out of stuff…or maybe even the desire for stuff? Is social concern where we have to go inevitably, whether we want to go there or not?

Now a truly wise person might suggest that the issue of the nodes is not a case of either/or but, rather, one of both. May we not simultaneously be wise stewards of our personal desires and our social obligations? Is the hybrid car a sort of religious object?

Anyway, the suggestion here is that McGovern may be best understood as a symbolic step back towards Leo, and that Obama may be a symbolic step towards Aquarius. But don’t count out Hillary just yet. As Tucker Carlson was prepared to concede, “Hillary Clinton is the toughest person who has ever lived…she’s been attacked for everything since 1978 and she’s still a game fighter who expects to win.”

What else would you expect from a Scorpio?

Filed Under: Election Issues Tagged With: 1952, 2008, Astrology, Deja, Election, Presidential

2008 Election – Values Do Matter

September 4, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

All of the current issues we have with the economy and the rest of societies ills are a result of us abandoning our core values. The current economic meltdown is a direct result of the government and our financial institutions abandoning long established lending practices and values. Back in the old days, a mortgage was only granted to some one if they could qualify. To qualify meant that the monthly mortgage payment could only equal 0ne week’s pay, in other works 25% of your monthly income. Also a 20% down payment was required. These practices were abandoned when the democrats wanted to insure that more poor people could own a house. Owning a house is the American dream and should be pursued by everyone who can afford it. However, now because of the standards for qualifying for a loan have been eliminated, a lot of people own a house, or a bigger house than is affordable.

The end result being, most of them will probably lose the American dream, that does no one any good.

In some instances the republicans went along with this idea to garner votes, however warnings were sounded several times, bills were introduced,and each time the warnings were ignored and the bills voted down by liberals. Despite the warnings from various individuals, including John McCain and President Bush, the economy is in a mess that should have never been. A direct result of sound practices and values being ignored in the financial world and congress, for the sake of votes and greed.

In my opinion one of our presidential candidates has no core values, schooled in Marxism, socialism, financed at least in part by Arab interests, and with mentors such as Reverend Wright, Bill Ayres, Louis Farrenkhan and others, his core values are values not shared by most Americans. This man has as his financial advisers, Mr. Raines, and Mr. Johnson,two of the people largely responsible for the Fannie Mae and Fannie Mac melt down. One of which walked away with a cool 90 million dollars. Barney Frank and Chris Dodd were also largely responsible. Do we want these people controlling our financial world?

Some people are so blinded by the Hate Bush Syndrome they aren’t thinking straight. The HBS has been perpetrated so much by the left and the main stream media that people don’t even consider the fact that maybe some things that happen in the world might possibly not be Bush’s fault. Is it possible that someone else might be responsible?

I hope people wake up soon enough, hopefully they haven’t cast early ballots. Remember, your vote doesn’t expire for four years, it could be a long four years!

Gary had his wife own and operate a travel business specializing in cruises. To read more articles about their many travels go to:http://www.travelnsnap.com

My Travel Blog featuring articles of my travels to various parts of the world.

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Filed Under: Election Issues Tagged With: 2008, Election, Matter, Values

2008 Election – Values Do Matter

August 12, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Character in a president is very important, during times of crisis he must fall back on his or her core values to make sound judgements. If there are no core values, he has no foundation from whence to make correct decisions. In my opinion one of our presidential candidates has no core values, schooled in Marxism, socialism, financed at least in part by Arab interests, and with mentors such as Reverend Wright, Bill Ayres, Louis Farrenkhan and others, his core values are values not shared by most Americans. This man has as his financial advisers, Mr. Raines, and Mr. Johnson,two of the people largely responsible for the Fannie Mae and Fannie Mac melt down. One of which walked away with a cool 90 million dollars. Barney Frank and Chris Dodd were also largely responsible. Do we want these people controlling our financial world?

I hope people wake up soon enough, hopefully they haven’t cast early ballots. Remember, your vote doesn’t expire for four years, it could be a long four years!

Gary had his wife own and operate a travel business specializing in cruises. To read more articles about their many travels go to:http://www.travelnsnap.com

My Travel Blog featuring articles of my travels to various parts of the world.

http://www.thefloridahoosier.com

Filed Under: Election Information Tagged With: 2008, Election, Matter, Values

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