Politics: A new beginning

[bilmore]

Interesting page as a follow-up to an old topic:

Here's the main page to the "anti-global-warming" petition drive, which contains the following:

"The United States is very close to adopting an international agreement that would ration the use of energy and of technologies that depend upon coal, oil, and natural gas and some other organic compounds.

This treaty is, in our opinion, based upon flawed ideas. Research data on climate change do not show that human use of hydrocarbons is harmful. To the contrary, there is good evidence that increased atmospheric carbon dioxide is environmentally helpful.

The proposed agreement would have very negative effects upon the technology of nations throughout the world, especially those that are currently attempting to lift from poverty and provide opportunities to the over 4 billion people in technologically underdeveloped countries.

It is especially important for America to hear from its citizens who have the training necessary to evaluate the relevant data and offer sound advice."

http://www.oism.org/pproject/

And, here's the link to the pages with the (thousands, I think){Edit - 17,000+, it says} of signatures of PhD's, etc. who have signed on:

http://www.sitewave.net/pproject/listbystate.htm

I only put this here because someone asked why "all" scientists seem to buy into global warming. Don't know much at all about the people on the petition, except I do recognize quite a few U of M people on the MN portion.

[Not Me]

What the hell was he thinking?!?!? I mean, could he have given an angrier, more bizzare spech? Answer: No.

I am torn. See on the one hand, I want him to win the Dem nomination because he would be easy to beat in a general election. But if he is going to give us such entertaining post-defeat speeches, then I am all for him losing. I was rolling on the floor with tears pouring down my cheeks from laughing so hard while I was watching it. What a hoot!

A Kerry-Edwards ticket would be a decent ticket for the Dems, though, so, unfortunately, I would be willing to sacrifice the entertainment for a Dean win.

Go Dean, Go!!!!!

like I am going to tell you why I edited this post

[Bad_Rich_Chic]

Originally posted by Skeks in the city A client who needs to find out whether, say, a specific British banking regulation applies to a set of facts goes to the site and answers several questions about the deal's regulatory status....

This just doesn't worry me much - perhaps it's just my practice area or something, but clients don't hire me to find out if a reg applies, they hire me to find out how to get around it.

The Term Sheet Generator radically speeds up this process for syndicated lending, from hours to minutes. It enables bankers to create term sheets automatically at their desktops - with thousands of possible combinations - by completing a simple questionnaire.

Maybe strictly cookie-cutter banking types would worry a bit, but, again, this just doesn't strike me as a huge threat, even if the software can then turn it into a basic doc form. Doesn't strike me as being much different than the current situation where most basic document forms, with most significant variations, are readily available to laymen at the local library or B&N, for that matter. This just seems to speed it up a bit and make it more expensive.

And most clients have at some point had the opportunity to realize that, even working with a form thoroughly vetted by trained professionals, once the business person tries to update and/or customize it themselves they tend to really, really screw it up badly. Which makes for lots of nice work for the litigators, I guess.

BR(don't know how many times I've heard "but, this is the lawyer blessed form" while trying to fix some god awful disaster the client has made of some document that some lawyer drafted 5 deal-generations ago)C

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by Not Me
What the hell was he thinking?!?!? I mean, could he have given an angrier, more bizzare spech? Answer: No.

It was ... well, manic. (I understand, crushing losses put pressure on you, but still.) I've read a good bit about Dean over the last few months, but haven't really seen much of him live. If that's representative, I'm not sure how he became a frontrunner in the first place.

Seems Kerry was perceived as the grownup to whom voters turned as a realistic candidate once they tired of flirting with Dean. Bigger surprise to me was Edwards. He came out of nowhere in about 2 weeks.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Gattigap
It was ... well, manic

I watched it, and it just struck me as a guy on the edge of exhaustion and disappointment, trying to rally a whole bunch of despondent troops who got unexpectedly bad news. Seems like he did a decent job, too - everybody was up and cheering by the time he finished.

That being said, he's whacko.

[Not Me]

Originally posted by Gattigap
It was ... well, manic. (I understand, crushing losses put pressure on you, but still.)

Maniacal. That was the word I was searching for to describe it. Thanks. Yeah, he is a real nut-case.

The only vision that Howard Dean has is of himself as the Prez.

I felt bad for Gephardt. He seems like a good guy even if I disagree with this politics.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Not Me
Gephardt.

I heard that if he is elected President, his first act wil be to issue an executive order declaring the Iowa Caucus a nullity.

[bilmore]

Watching Dean's speech last might, I now remember my first impression.

Ever been on stage, in a noisy environment, with inadequate or turned-down monitor speakers? So you can't really hear yourself? He struck me that way - he was yelling like the noise was drowning him out - but our sound feed was good, so we could hear fine.

Anyway, just an impression.

[Not Me]

Originally posted by Skeks in the city [the sky is falling, the sky is falling]

Yeah, when PC's first came out, people said that computer programs would replace doctors for making a diagnosis and when robotics was the hot technology, people said surgeons would be replaced, too.

I ain't scared.

[bilmore]

[Not Me]

Originally posted by bilmore
Watching Dean's speech last might, I now remember my first impression.

Ever been on stage, in a noisy environment, with inadequate or turned-down monitor speakers? So you can't really hear yourself? He struck me that way - he was yelling like the noise was drowning him out - but our sound feed was good, so we could hear fine.

Anyway, just an impression.

Naw, I think he was drunk.

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by bilmore
Watching Dean's speech last might, I now remember my first impression.

Ever been on stage, in a noisy environment, with inadequate or turned-down monitor speakers? So you can't really hear yourself? He struck me that way - he was yelling like the noise was drowning him out - but our sound feed was good, so we could hear fine.

Anyway, just an impression.

I know what you mean. I remember when he first walked out, after (clumsily) high-fiving Harkin*, he yelled out the first few words, punctuated by "yeahhhh!"

It would've been ok if he were drowned out by the crowd, but the feed from his mic to MSNBC was perfectly fine -- so it sounded overplayed, and landed with a thunk.

Gattigap

Side note to Dean and Harkin: Your playing days are over, boys. Please, no more high fives, chest bumping or end-zone dances.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Gattigap
Seems Kerry was perceived as the grownup to whom voters turned as a realistic candidate once they tired of flirting with Dean. Bigger surprise to me was Edwards. He came out of nowhere in about 2 weeks.

From what I've read, high turnout hurt Dean. He had his core of supporters, but a lot of people voted, and the extra folks turned to Kerry and Edwards. It makes you wonder whether Dean can build on his base. But he obviously has some serious talent, or he wouldn't have made it that far, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him adjust and improve.

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
actually proven empiracally. but thanks for playing.

Your statement [i.e. that the Earth revolving around the Sun was proven empirically, rather than by the use of telescopes] is a non sequitur.

Why, yes, indeed, Hank! It was empirically proven that the Earth revolves around the Sun. As I said, much of the data which was used for that proof was gathered through the use of telescopes.

S_A_M

P.S. At least you have panache. Never lose that quality.

[Bad_Rich_Chic]

Originally posted by Gattigap
Seems Kerry was perceived as the grownup to whom voters turned as a realistic candidate once they tired of flirting with Dean. Bigger surprise to me was Edwards. He came out of nowhere in about 2 weeks.

those are almost exactly my thoughts on it. Add to that:

1: The labor movement is dead, dead, dead and even those to the left of the left have realized it and are moving on to more promising pastures.

2: Nice to see the Dems pulling back from the brink & focusing on who can actually get elected. If they went into a death spiral a la the Tories in the UK it would suck - single party governments without real, threatening opposition being generally a bad thing (see California).

3: Did Edwards do well because people actually listened to his positions (more coherent and interesting, frankly, than just about any of the other Dems) or just because he didn't seem to be either bragging about his arrogant self all the time or trying to bust Dean's ass?

4: Kerry/Bush would make a much more interesting race, but one perhaps more likely to be influenced by peoples' takes on their respective personalities? Dunno why I think that, gut feeling.

5: Edwards should be the VP pick for whomever wins - they should groom that guy, he'll go far.