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TUESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2008
Hillary is Mom Jeans
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: POLITICS
HILLARY ORDERED THE LOBSTER ON YOUR DATE WITH HER AND ONLY ATE TWO BITESNot sure if you've caught these websites but they are very clever:
First one is Barack Obama is your new bicycle
[hit refresh once you're there]
What is cooler than your new bicycle? Nothing. Every phrase on the site is an example of what a cool person is:
Barack Obama took off when he heard you weren't coming
Barack Obama picked you up at the airport
Barack Obama helped you move a sofa
Barack Obama remembered your birthday
The exact opposite of cool is mom jeans.
[hit refresh once you're there]
What is less cool than your mom's jeans? Nothing. Every phrase on the site is an example of what an uncool person is:
HILLARY BLOCKED YOUR CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY
HILLARY KEEPS INTERRUPTING THE MOVIE SAYING "WHAT DID HE SAY?"
HILLARY FOLDED THE MAP WRONG
HILLARY LEFT ONE SPOONFUL IN THE ICE CREAM CARTON
These sites are user generated content so they keep getting better and better and better the more people submit. hillaryismomjeans has something like 10,000 random phrases submitted so far so you have to at least see it once (and reload it a few times...).
Politics blog | Permalink | One comment
THURSDAY JANUARY 03, 2008
Construction Spending for November 2007
Report comes out today at 10am
Read full post | Housing blog | Permalink | Add a comment
TUESDAY DECEMBER 11, 2007
Federal Open Market Committee December 2007 Statement
Fed Funds Rate released today
Read full post | Economy blog | Permalink | Add a comment
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2007
Construction Spending for October 2007
Report is released today at 10am
Read full post | Housing blog | Permalink | Add a comment
MONDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2007
Nice Job Fenway Park
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: OFF-TOPIC
Man with autism sings the national anthem and gets a case of the giggles half way through. Listen to what the crowd does to support him:
Off-Topic blog | Permalink | One comment
MONDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2007
The Politics of Planting - CNN
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: POLITICS
Thank you Judy for the question and thanks for the great work you do on behalf of culinary workers
Politics blog | Permalink | Add a comment
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 31, 2007
Construction Spending for September 2007
Press release from the Census today at 10am
Read full post | Housing blog | Permalink | Add a comment
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 31, 2007
Federal Open Market Committee October 2007 Statement
Fed Funds Rate released today
Read full post | Economy blog | Permalink | Add a comment
TUESDAY OCTOBER 16, 2007
First baby boomer applied for Social Security benefits Monday
This is the start of an avalanche of applications from the 80 million post-World War II generation born from 1946 to 1964. This lady is the first of the baby boomers, born one second after midnight on Jan. 1, 1946. She will be eligible for benefits after she turns 62 on New Year's Day.
Read full post | Economy blog | Permalink | Add a comment
THURSDAY OCTOBER 11, 2007
Republican National Convention Logo Photoshopped
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: POLITICS
http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink=3112814
Politics blog | Permalink | Add a comment
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2007
Construction Spending for August 2007
Today at 10am is the press release
Read full post | Housing blog | Permalink | Add a comment
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
Federal Open Market Committee September 2007 Statement
Fed Funds Rate released today
Read full post | Economy blog | Permalink | Add a comment
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2007
The United States Presidency on Ebay
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: POLITICS
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320157866712
Politics blog | Permalink | Add a comment
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 04, 2007
Construction Spending for July 2007
The press release from the Census comes out at 10am
Read full post | Housing blog | Permalink | One comment
TUESDAY AUGUST 07, 2007
Federal Open Market Committee August 2007 Statement
Fed Funds Rate released today
Read full post | Economy blog | Permalink | Add a comment
TUESDAY JULY 31, 2007
Construction Spending for June 2007
The report comes out today at 10am
Read full post | Housing blog | Permalink | Add a comment
TUESDAY JULY 17, 2007
Political ad from Argentina
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: OFF-TOPIC
Check it out, a little over 2 minutes: It's about 5 years old and has been translated to English - clever stuff 
Off-Topic blog | Permalink | One comment
SATURDAY JULY 14, 2007
The Tonkin Gulf Incident
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: OFF-TOPIC
There is some buzz around the net about the Tonkin Gulf phantom attack. I hate to admit but I had never even heard of this before. Here is some basic summary of it from NPR.org:from NPR:
On Sunday Aug. 2, 1964, three North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked the American destroyer the USS Maddox in Southeast Asia's Gulf of Tonkin. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara told President Lyndon B. Johnson that a covert strike against North Vietnam two days earlier likely provoked the attack upon the Maddox. Left, an oil painting depicting the attack.
Right, the three attacking North Vietnamese torpedo boats, as seen from the Maddox. The U.S. destroyer damaged two of the boats and sank the third. Retaliation by the Americans was limited to attacking those boats that day. The Maddox and another destroyer, the Turner Joy, were then deliberately positioned to draw a second attack.
Two days later, on Aug. 4, McNamara, left, reported to Johnson that an American destroyer in the region was under torpedo attack by the North Vietnamese. That brief conversation was the tipping point for the entire Vietnam War. Johnson ordered American forces to openly attack the North, and he asked Congress to pass a resolution pre-approving any military actions the president would take.
Johnson on Aug. 4, 1964, announcing that the U.S. will retaliate against North Vietnam for two attacks on American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Later, Johnson and others would learn the second attack, which propelled the president and Congress to enter the Vietnam War, never happened.
So if I get this right:
A United States covert strike against North Vietnam by an American Destroyer ship (the Maddox) provokes 3 North Vietnamese torpedo boats to attack back at the Maddox.
During their attack, the Maddox completely sinks one and damages the other two NV torpedo boats and never even gets hit.
Then the Maddox, as well as another American destroyer (the Turner Joy) are deliberately positioned to draw a second attack
The Defense Secretary (assuming that those two ships would be attacked) tells the President that they were under torpedo attack by the North Vietnamese.
Johnson orders American forces to attack North Vietnam
(and gets Congress to pre-approve further military actions)
America assumes that this is a retaliation so the Vietnam war begins - but it turns out that the second attack never even happened and the first attack was provoked...
But that is what justified the beginning of the Vietnam War?
Off-Topic blog | Permalink | Four comments
THURSDAY JULY 12, 2007
Ten reasons to sell your house NOW.
Here is a top ten list of why you shouldn't wait to sell your house:
Read full post | Housing blog | Permalink | Nine comments
WEDNESDAY JULY 11, 2007
Global Gasoline Consumption
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: ECONOMY
Petrol consumption per day in Liters and the price to fill up a Honda Civic in US Dollars:
The United States consumes more Gas than 20 other countries combined...From Economist.com
Economy blog | Permalink | One comment
WEDNESDAY JULY 11, 2007
Republican Comparison
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: POLITICS
A side by side comparison of Republican candidates and things they are against. Obviously made by a Ron Paul supporter, is it over simplified? I think it's well done
You have to click on it for the full size:
Via Digg
Politics blog | Permalink | Two comments
WEDNESDAY JULY 11, 2007
Subprime Derivatives Explained
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: HOUSING
A quick segment from CNBC. Watch this and you will understand what all this derivative and tranches stuff is. Very well done! Thanks to Housing Crash TV and HP
Housing blog | Permalink | One comment
FRIDAY JULY 06, 2007
Big Mac Index
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: ECONOMY
If a Big Mac costs $3.41 in the United States, how much are they in the rest of the world? The most inexpensive = China $1.45. Most expensive = Switzerland $5.20.
from the economist
Economy blog | Permalink | Add a comment
FRIDAY JUNE 29, 2007
Construction Spending for May 2007
Census press release comes out today at 10am
Read full post | Housing blog | Permalink | Add a comment
THURSDAY JUNE 28, 2007
Third Debate Transcripts Sorted by Candidate - Democratic
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: POLITICS
This was by far the the best debate this year. All candidates had an equal chance to answer each question - one minute each per question at the start; 30 seconds each towards the end. Much less moderator involvement. Nice job PBS The transcript of tonight's PBS Democratic primary debates broken out by individual candidate:
Joe Biden
Hillary Clinton
Christopher Dodd
John Edwards
Mike Gravel
Dennis Kucinich
Barack Obama
Bill Richardson
Full transcript of the debate here
check out DC Shuffle's breakdown:
Three interesting things of note:
-The general evasiveness was much higher than the last time they got together
-Hillary won the reviled DC Shuffle award a second time in a row
-They all got equal air time because Tavis did a great job
Direct Questions answered clearly
5
4
6
6
6
5
4
5
Additional questions answered clearly
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Questions discussed but not answered
4
4
3
3
1
4
4
3
Questions avoided entirely
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
Responds clearly to direct question ratio
50%
40%
60%
60%
67%
50%
44%
50%
Responds clearly to all questions ratio
50%
40%
60%
60%
67%
50%
44%
50%
Empty answer ratio
40%
40%
30%
30%
11%
40%
44%
30%
Question avoidance ratio
10%
20%
10%
10%
22%
10%
11%
20%
Politics blog | Permalink | Add a comment
THURSDAY JUNE 28, 2007
Federal Open Market Committee June 2007 Statement
The Federal Open Market Committee decided today to keep its target for the federal funds rate at 5-1/4 percent.
Read full post | Economy blog | Permalink | Add a comment
SATURDAY JUNE 23, 2007
Official 2008 presidential campaign blogs
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: POLITICS
All the official campaign blogs aggregated.Every candidate with an actual blog (meaning a blog with an RSS feed) is on here and gets checked a few times a day for their new posts:
Biden,
Clinton,
Dodd,
Edwards,
Giulianai,
Huckabee,
Kucinich,
McCain,
Obama,
Paul,
Richardson,
Romney,
Tancredo,
F Thompson
Click here to check it out To the rest of the candidates without RSS:One would think that Internet literacy would be a pre-requisite for a Presidential campaign staffer to build your website - guess not - good luck convincing others of your ability to lead the country with the obvious knack you have for picking the right person for the job: Welcome to the Internet.
Politics blog | Permalink | Add a comment
FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2007
Giuliani's website sucks
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: POLITICS
So I'm in the process of building a page for each of the candidates and thought it would be nice to have their latest official campaign blog post included. So after a bit of coding, I added a little box at the top of each candidate's page that links directly to their blog's most recent post - slick! I'm trying to be cool about it and link to every single candidate and I picked Rudy's candidate page here as a test to double check my mad programming skillz:
So I double check that the link to his latest blog post works. It says Weekly Wrap - Why Rudy and has a URL that looks like this: ( http://www.joinrudy2008.com/index.php?section=6&id=126 ). I click on it but then get completely redirected away to some huge sign up splash page that fills the screen (this one is shrunk way down):
What's this? That's not the article - How do I get out of this and to the article?
Oh I found it - There is only one way out without giving up an email address: so I click on ">> Skip to Main Site"
Then what happens - you guessed it, I did skip to the MAIN SITE ( http://www.joinrudy2008.com/index.php ) - THE MAIN SITE - not to the article I wanted ( http://www.joinrudy2008.com/index.php?section=6&id=126 ).
All kinds of stuff to click on his homepage, fiscal discipline - that looks interesting. Hey wait, why am I on Rudy's webpage again? What was that headline I clicked on again? Wasn't there something that I wanted to read about? - Oh well, I'm already here - might as well click on that polished picture of Rudy maybe - or hold it, look - a shiny red button what does that do I wonder?
Giuliani's website redirects their visitors to a splash page and then forces them from there to Giuliani's homepage. Not caring where the visitor was even going on the site, not caring what even brought the visitor there! This is how ecommerce webmasters increase their conversion numbers in the SHORT TERM because they don't give a shiat if the visitors ever return again - just force each web visitor onto the mailing list and then email blast them until they buy something or get so mad they opt-out. Yikes Rudy!
Not sure what I'm talking about? Go try it: See if you can read their recent article titled Mayor Curt Pringle: Why I Am Supporting Rudy Giuliani for President - Notice the URL for it: http://www.joinrudy2008.com/index.php?section=6&id=17 and watch where they take you in the location bar and see what I'm talking about - how many clicks and how long did it take you to read the article? - Did you EVER find it? I couldn't.That Pringle article is their most recent post on this feed: http://www.joinrudy2008.com/rss/thebuzz.xml which I guess is their blog? Not sure? If I can't figure it out I wonder who can?
This is exactly why I never link to any article from forbes.com - forbes is always 90% pop-ups, splash screens and ads - whatever their short article is about is not even worth the hassle - they've turned into a spam site. Learn from forbes mistakes Giuliani staff.
If it was just some sort of typo in the code I really doubt it; I think it was much more about greed than building a visitor base - a rookie mistake made a zillion times by web masters 5 years ago. I'll give them a bit to fix it but I think I'll have to remove the links to them eventually. If a hyper link does not go to where it is pointing to, then that is intentionally deceiving - SPAM. No one wants to be permanently redirected off to some junk sign up page and then to a start page like that - I don't care what website it is.
That said, still have to give team Rudy props for at least trying - Hunter, Brownback, Tommy Thompson and Gravel don't even have RSS Feeds ( Needed to automatically figure out what their latest blog post was )
UPDATE JUNE 23: Whoa - now it properly redirects you to the article after the email sign up spash page. Better; much much better - well done whoever fixed it - it would still be best without the redirect to the splash page but at least now it eventually goes to the article.
UPDATE JUNE 23: Not so fast hold short... it seems that only links to their /news/pr/ pages work - so the jury is still out on this one..
UPDATE JULY 12: I can no longer stand them doing that - I deleted Giuliani's website from the aggregated candidate feeds page and will no longer update the Giuliani page here with his new content. If they fix it I'll put them back in ASAP. I hated to do it and I went back and forth on it but decided there is no point in linking to an article that redirects somewhere else then somewhere else with no way to get to where you intended and just frustrates the visitor ... That being the case, what point is there linking to them? Why even bother?
Politics blog | Permalink | Add a comment
WEDNESDAY JUNE 20, 2007
Earmark Transparency
Despite the new Democratic congressional leadership's promise of 'openness and transparency' in the budget process, a CNN survey of the House found it nearly impossible to get information on lawmakers' pet projects:
Read full post | Politics blog | Permalink | Add a comment
TUESDAY JUNE 19, 2007
Hillary Clinton Sopranos Parody
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: POLITICS
I have to admit this was clever; doing a parody of the Sopranos episode everyone is talking about. Clinton's announcing her new campaign song in this video (she picked You and I by Celine Dion). If you don't watch the Sopranos you won't get this - but it's a replica of the final scene - with Hillary instead of Tony. Funny that the best song she could pick is written and sung by Canadians 
Politics blog | Permalink | Add a comment
MONDAY JUNE 18, 2007
The Money Race (1st quarter)
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: POLITICS
Presidential fund raising by candidate up through March 31, 2007. The next quarter ends June 30 and the data will be released mid-July.
Democratic Candidates
CANDIDATE
HOME
RAISED
SPENT
CASH ON HAND
DEBTS
Clinton, Hillary
NY
$36,054,568
$5,079,789
$30,974,779
$1,582,639
Obama, Barack
IL
$25,797,721
$6,605,200
$19,192,520
$190,560
Edwards, John
NC
$14,031,662
$3,299,781
$10,733,641
$0
Dodd, Chris
CT
$8,795,706
$1,313,239
$7,482,467
$0
Richardson, Bill
NM
$6,249,354
$1,226,881
$5,022,473
$19,579
Biden, Joe
DE
$4,013,089
$1,174,174
$2,838,915
$0
Kucinich, Dennis
OH
$344,891
$194,217
$163,887
$0
Gravel, Mike
AK
$15,534
$18,304
$498
$88,516
Republican Candidates
CANDIDATE
HOME
RAISED
SPENT
CASH ON HAND
DEBTS
Romney, Mitt
MA
$23,434,634
$11,570,981
$11,863,652
$2,350,000
Giuliani, Rudy
NY
$16,623,410
$5,688,207
$11,949,734
$88,862
McCain, John
AZ
$13,087,559
$8,379,214
$5,180,799
$1,812,636
Brownback, Sam
KS
$1,871,057
$1,064,431
$806,626
$0
Tancredo, Tom
CO
$1,256,090
$711,012
$575,078
$15,000
Paul, Ron
TX
$639,989
$115,070
$524,919
$0
Huckabee, Mike
AR
$544,157
$170,239
$373,918
$52,502
Hunter, Duncan
CA
$538,524
$265,971
$272,552
$0
Thompson, Tommy
WI
$391,628
$252,404
$139,723
$129,194
Gilmore, Jim
VA
$203,896
$113,789
$90,107
$88,013
Source and a lot more detailsWhere does all this money come from so very early in the campaign?? I don't understand how the so called top three favorites of each party have all this 10++ million dollars campaign money to start with right off?
What makes them a top three favorite in the first place - the money? Who makes them the favorite? - The media? Why? Because they are going to be a big ad spender - or did someone in their party make the call?
Does more money = more sold political favors?
Not sure...
BTW this is old first quarter data but I wanted to get the first quarter snapshot of it in the archives here to compare changes / rankings quarter by quarter
Politics blog | Permalink | One comment
SUNDAY JUNE 17, 2007
Ron Paul on Morton Downey Jr Show 1988
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: POLITICS
1988 - Ron Paul's one minute argument against the war on drugs
Politics blog | Permalink | Three comments
SATURDAY JUNE 16, 2007
Presidential Elections: A Purple America
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: POLITICS
How Americans voted from 1960-2004
Full size here
Politics blog | Permalink | Add a comment
THURSDAY JUNE 07, 2007
Female Gamers
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: OFF-TOPIC
Off-Topic blog | Permalink | Two comments
TUESDAY JUNE 05, 2007
Transcripts of the third GOP debate sorted by candidate
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: POLITICS
New Hampshire republican debate broken down by individual candidate...
Ability to answer direct questions:
Who among them was most likely to answer the question asked, who preferred giving hollow answers by speaking about a question but never actually answering it, and who avoided the question altogether.The merits of the answers were not evaluated - that's a value judgment for each voter to make:
Here is a 'who gave a straight answer breakdown' thanks to DC Shuffle's analysis:
The Buck Stops Here award:
Paul
(Zero question avoidance)
Straight Talk award
Tancredo
McCain
Paul
(highest clear answer ratio)
Where's the Beef award
Gilmore
Romney
(most empty answers provided)
Moderator's Pet award
Giuliani
Romney
(received the most direct questions)
Good Boy Award
Thompson
Huckabee
(only answers questions directed at them)
The DC Shuffle award
Gilmore
Romney
(Most likely to not clearly answer a question)
Put up or Shut up award
Tancredo
(Zero empty answers)
Direct Questions answered clearly
9
6
7
7
11
6
7
4
11
9
Additional questions answered clearly
1
0
1
1
3
0
2
0
1
2
Questions discussed but not answered
0
2
2
7
1
3
1
6
2
5
Questions avoided entirely
1
2
2
3
1
2
2
1
0
2
Q1
Introduce yourself
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Q2
Was it a mistake to invade iraq?
2
3
4
Q3
Did you read the NIE?
0
4
3
Q4
Was it appropriate for Congress to auth war w/o reading NIE?
2
Q5
If no prog in Iraq by Sept, what then?
3
4
4
Q6
If no prog in Iraq by Sept, how much longer should the US stay?
2
4
Q7
Do you have confidence in Iraqi govt?
0
0
Q8
Did Pres Bush make the right call to open dialogue w/ Iran
4
Q9
Would you authorize a pre-emptive nuclear strike on Iran?
2
4
2
2
Q10
What are the consequences if immigration bill becomes law? Discuss.
4
4
3
4
4
3
4
4
Q11
What would you do w/ the illegals in the country now?
2
Q12
If illegals leave the country, who will fill the jobs they vacate?
4
Q13
Under what circumstances would you let them begin that path?
4
Q14
Did you vote for the 700 mi fence on mexican border?
4
Q15
Is there a need for a fence on Canada border?
4
Q16
Do you believe that English should be official language
Question was unclear, muddled and poorly phrased. How Ironic!!
Q17
Is Fred Thompson conservative enough for America?
2
2
Q18
How do you feel when words like that from a Bishop?
2
Q19
Why should conservatives believe you oppose abortion?
2
Q20
Do you believe in creation as described in the Bible? Where do you stand on evolution?
0
2
Q21
Do you believe creationism should be taught in schools?
0
Q22
What do you want to say about your fait, yourself, and God?
4
Q23
What do you say about the separation of church and state?
4
Q24
Is science wrong on Global warming?
3
3
4
Q25
what steps if any would you take to address climate change?
1
2
Q26
What do you say to those who say there's too much alliance between big oil & Republicans?
0
Q27
Do you have a problem with big oil making huge profits?
.
4
Q28
Do you believe that big oil needs tax breaks from the govt?
4
Q29
Do you agree with previous question?
2
Q30
Is it time to end dont ask/tell in the military?
4
4
2
2
Q31
Was it appropriate to dismiss military linguists who were gay?
0
Q32
Speak up if you believe gays should serve openly?
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Q33
How would you use GW Bush?
4
4
4
Q34
What happened to the GOP (that they are losing seats around the country)?
4
Q35
Is it appropriate for Bush to pardon Libby?
0
Q36
Would you pardon Libby?
4
2
4
2
2
2
4
2
Q37
what would you do to bring the troops home?
2
3
4
Q38
Is dividing Iraq into three federated states a good idea?
4
Q39
What do we do to strengthen Iraqi govt so we can pull out?
4
2
Q40
Can a conservative platform have a conservationist agenda?
4
4
Q41
What would you do about drug /health care costs?
4
4
4
Q42
Would you support a govt single payer system?
0
Q43
What do you say to critics of how you did healthcare in MA
4
Q44
What is the most pressing moral issue?
4
4
4
4
Q45
How would you address the previous?
0
1
Q46
Could you support Giuliani?
2
Q47
Why air ads in Spanish?
4
Q48
Would you air ads in Spanish?
4
Q49
How does your position differ from Bush/ His biggest Mistake?
4
0
0
0
4
4
0
0
4
4
Q50
What does it mean to be an American as it relates to immigration?
4
3
1
3
Q51
Should we effectively end most legal immigration?
4
4
4
Q52
What would you do to bring back moderates and independents?
2
4
2
3
Q53
Shouldn't GOP follow CA Gov example?
4
0
Direct Questions answered clearly
9
6
7
7
11
6
7
4
11
9
Additional questions answered clearly
1
0
1
1
3
0
2
0
1
2
Questions discussed but not answered
0
2
2
7
1
3
1
6
2
5
Questions avoided entirely
1
2
2
3
1
2
2
1
0
2
Questions asked directly
10
10
11
15
13
11
10
10
12
16
Questions responded to
11
10
12
18
16
11
12
11
14
18
Responds clearly to direct question ratio
90%
60%
64%
47%
85%
55%
70%
40%
92%
56%
Responds clearly to all questions ratio
91%
60%
67%
44%
88%
55%
75%
36%
86%
61%
Empty answer ratio
0%
20%
17%
39%
6%
27%
8%
55%
14%
28%
Question avoidance ratio
10%
20%
18%
20%
8%
18%
20%
10%
0%
13%
The Talk Clock:
June 5th debate transcript by candidate:
Sam Brownback
Jim Gilmore
Rudy Giuliani
Mike Huckabee
Duncan Hunter
John McCain
Ron Paul
Mitt Romney
Tom Tancredo
Tommy Thompson
Full unsorted transcript here
Politics blog | Permalink | Two comments
SUNDAY JUNE 03, 2007
Second Debate Transcripts Sorted by Candidate - Democratic
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: POLITICS
New Hampshire Democratic debates broken out by individual candidate: A big thanks to the DC SHUFFLe for the analysis and data
who prefers giving hollow answers by speaking about a question but never actually answering it, and who's given to avoiding the question altogether. I also don't evaluate the merits of the candidates' answers. That's a value judgment each voter has to make independently.
Hillary Rodham-Clinton actually got more than double the number of questions offered to Mike Gravel. What's especially sad about that is Mike Gravel was the most likely to answer clearly while Hillary was the least likely.
You learned twice as much about Mike Gravel as a candidate in about 1/3 of the time it took Hillary to tell half as much about herself...
Direct Questions answered clearly
Additional questions answered clearly
Questions discussed but not answered
Questions avoided entirely
Q1
Has Bush administration's effort to thwart security at home been successful?
Q2
Does the Bush administration deserve any credit that there's been no attack in 6 yrs?
Q3
Do you believe the US is not at war with terrorists?
Q4
Do you agree that the war on terror is nothing more than a bumper sticker?
Q5
Why are the other candidates wrong to vote against recent troop funding?
Q6
Why are you reluctant to say they were wrong and you were right?
Q7
What is your response to the charge of playing politics with the lives of the troops?
Q8
Where, if at all, do you disagree with any of your Democratic colleagues -- Democratic candidates -- on this issue of the troops, the funding of the war, how to get out?
Q9
You want to name names?
Q10
Response to charge by Edwards of failing to lead
Q11
Are the differences minor between you and these Democratic candidates?
Q12
What moral responsibility does the United States have to deal with the scenario: unilateral, quick U.S. withdrawal from Iraq leads not only to an increased civil war, but to genocide in Iraq?
Q13
Can you tell me if the mission we accomplished during our deployment in Iraq was worth our effort and sacrifice, or was it a waste of time and resources?
Q14
Do you regret voting the authorize the president to use force against Saddam Hussein in Iraq without actually reading the national intelligence estimate, the classified document laying out the best U.S. intelligence at that time?
Q15
Do you regret not reading the national intelligence estimate?
Q16
Do you think someone who authorized the use of force to go to war in Iraq should be president of the United States?
Q17
Why is granting legal status to about 12 million people who have entered this country illegally not an amnesty program?
Q18
Governor Richardson doesn't think there needs to be a 700 mile fence. Why is he wrong?
Q19
If you don't think there needs to be a fence, why did you vote for that legislation?
Q20
Raise your hand if you believe English should be the official language of the United States.
Q21
Are the other candidates being honest about the true costs of universal health care in America?
Q22
Response to charge by Edwards that Obama's health care plan is not universal
Q23
What do you think of Senator Obama's plan?
Q24
Can you provide universal health care without raising taxes?
Q25
Response to charge by Edwards that Obama's plan leave 15 mil uncovered
Q26
Was President Clinton's policy of "don't ask/don't tell" a mistake?
Q27
Raise hand if it's time to get rid of "don’t ask/tell"
Q28
Is it time to move beyond civil unions and let gays and lesbians get married?
Q29
How if at all would you use former president Bill Clinton in your administration?
Q30
What would you do to reduce gas prices?
Q31
Are the big oil companies engaged in price- gouging of the American consumer?
Q32
What is your vision on ending major military operations?
Q33
How do you plan on rebuilding the military after such many years of conflict?
Q34
What do you say to Congressman Kucinich, who says he wants to cut the size of the U.S. military?
Question misrepresented Kucinich assertion which Obama noted and corrected
Q35
Are there relics of the Cold War, big- ticket military items that you would cut?
Q36
Why is it that veterans cannot receive medical services at the hospital of their choice?
Q37
Are you satisfied or unsatisfied with VA health care?
Q38
Did Obama do any oversight or know of problems at VA hospitals prior to Walter Reed scandal?
Q39
Would you use force or would you use diplomacy in Iran? / How would you approach solving the problem we have Iran today?
Q40
And if you used diplomacy, what would you do?
Q41
if diplomacy, when all is said and done, fails, then what?
Q42
Is that what you're saying, no military option on the table?
Q43
If you got word from the U.S. intelligence community that Ahmadinejad and his government were on the verge of having a nuclear bomb capable of hitting targets in the region on missiles, what would you do?
Q44
How do you reconcile our security interests with Pakistan with our interest in promoting liberal democracy?
Q45
You've got to give the order yes or no to take Osama out w/i 20 min with a Hellfire missile, but it's going to kill some innocent civilians at the same time: What would be your decision?
Q46
If you were elected president, would role do you think the United States should play in addressing Darfur?
Q47
Would you use force to save people in Darfur?
Q48
What about that idea about possibly boycotting the Beijing Summer Olympic games if China doesn't use its influence to stop the genocide in Sudan?
Q49
Should we have 1 year mandatory govt service and if so, how you plan to make it happen?
Q50
Is it time to bring back the military draft?
Q51
What the definition of rich is on the part of the candidates, but using, perhaps, an income level.
Q52
Do you have a problem with running huge federal deficits again?
Q53
How will you alleviate the deficit?
Q54
What do you say to Republicans who argue your all tax and spend Democrats?
Q55
Would you vow, if elected president, to veto all bills containing earmarks?
Q56
Respond to charge by Gravel that Clinton's balanced budget was funded by raiding social security
Q57
What would be your top priority for your first 100 days?
Questions asked directly
15
18
15
14
11
11
9
11
Questions responded to
15
19
17
16
13
11
10
11
Direct Questions answered clearly
12
9
12
11
10
6
8
9
Additional questions answered clearly
0
0
2
2
0
0
1
0
Questions discussed but not answered
3
5
3
1
1
1
1
2
Questions avoided entirely
0
5
0
2
1
4
0
0
Responds clearly to direct question ratio
80%
50%
80%
79%
91%
55%
89%
82%
Responds clearly to all questions ratio
80%
47%
82%
81%
77%
55%
90%
82%
Empty answer ratio
20%
26%
18%
6%
8%
9%
10%
18%
Question avoidance ratio
0%
28%
0%
14%
9%
36%
0%
0%
The Buck Stops Here award:
Obama
Edwards
Gravel
Dodd
(Zero question avoidance)
Straight Talk award
Gravel
Edwards
Dodd
(highest clear answer ratio)
Penn & Teller award
Clinton
Obama
Edwards
Dodd
(most empty answers provided)
Moderator's Pet award
Clinton
Obama
Edwards
(received the most direct questions)
Good Boy Award
Everybody but Edwards, Richardson, & Gravel
(only answers questions directed at them)
The DC Shuffle award
Clinton
(Most likely to not clearly answer a question)
Put up or Shut up award
No One
(Zero empty answers)
New Hampshire Democratic debates broken out by individual candidate:
Joe Biden
Hillary Clinton
Christopher Dodd
John Edwards
Mike Gravel
Dennis Kucinich
Barack Obama
Bill Richardson
Full transcript of the debate here
Politics blog | Permalink | Add a comment
THURSDAY MAY 31, 2007
Construction Spending for April 2007
The report comes out today at 10 in the morning
Read full post | Housing blog | Permalink | Two comments
TUESDAY MAY 29, 2007
Video : Right Now
POSTED BY RICHARD HODGE PERMALINK FILED UNDER: HOUSING
A housing video I noticed at youtubeFrom http://www.longislandbubble.com/
Ow! Ouch! OMG!!!
Housing blog | Permalink | One comment
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