Dyre Portents The Rantings and Ravings of a Radical Moderate Statistics Unique Visitors: Total Unique Visitors: Outgoing: Total Outgoing: 0 0 61 6340

Articles from Dyre Portents

Ron Paul On Foreign Policy 2007-10-10 01:02:12 Since I'm a "Walk softly and carry a big stick." kind of guy I have to admit this has a certain appeal to me.From the Union Leader:It is not we non-interventionists who are isolationsists. The real isolationists are those who impose sanctions and embargoes on countries and peoples across the globe because they disagree with the internal and foreign policies of their leaders. The real isolationists are those who choose to use force overseas to promote democracy, rather than seek change through diplomacy, engagement, and by setting a positive example. I do not believe that ideas have an expiration date, or that their value can be gauged by their novelty. The test for new and old is that of wisdom and experience, or as the editors wrote "historical reality," which argues passionately now against the course of anti-Constitutional interventionism.A Paul administration would see Americans engaged overseas like never before, in business and cultural activities. But a Paul administration woul ... Ron Paul

Obama on Faith and Energy 2007-10-09 00:43:00 Today Barack Obama addressed a "multiracial evangelical congregation in traditionally conservative Greenville, South Carolina" (which is a really nice place) and stated "I think it's important, particularly for those of us in the Democratic Party, to not cede values and faith to any one party,"from CNN:Obama: GOP doesn't own faith issue"I think that what you're seeing is a breaking down of the sharp divisions that existed maybe during the '90s," said Obama. "At least in politics, the perception was that the Democrats were fearful of talking about faith, and on the other hand you had the Republicans who had a particular brand of faith that oftentimes seemed intolerant or pushed people away." Obama said he was pleased that leaders in the evangelical community such as T.D. Jakes and Rick Warren were beginning to discuss social justice issues like AIDS and poverty in ways evangelicals were not doing before. "I think that's a healthy thing, that we're not putting people in boxes, ...

Random Thought 2007-10-07 01:44:22 No one likes a backseat cat washer. ...

Dear Readers, 2007-10-03 23:02:39 Please excuse Dyre42 from blogging for the next two days. He is participating in a "special" project at work and will be working twelve hour days until the end of the week. Thank you.Sincerely,Dyre42 ...

Is the GOP Crashing? 2007-10-02 23:17:54 Because its traditional supporters are certainly bailing out fast. Take the business sector for example:From the WSJGOP Is Losing Grip on Core Buisness VoteWASHINGTON -- The Republican Party, known since the late 19th century as the party of business, is losing its lock on that title. New evidence suggests a potentially historic shift in the Republican Party's identity -- what strategists call its "brand." The votes of many disgruntled fiscal conservatives and other lapsed Republicans are now up for grabs, which could alter U.S. politics in the 2008 elections and beyond. Some business leaders are drifting away from the party because of the war in Iraq, the growing federal debt and a conservative social agenda they don't share. In manufacturing sectors such as the auto industry, some Republicans want direct government help with soaring health-care costs, which Republicans in Washington have been reluctant to provide. And some business people want more government action on global warmi ...

Ron Paul’s Fund-Raising Takes Off 2007-10-02 16:01:52 From the WSJ"Rep. Ron Paul is bucking trends in the political money race. While both Democrats and Republicans in the presidential race are finding it more difficult to pass the hat as their big donors hit federal giving limits, the trajectory for the Texas Republican keeps climbing. The antiwar libertarian raised more than $3 million in the third quarter, up from $2.4 million in the second quarter and $641,000 in the first three months of the year. For the three months ended Sept. 30, Paul out-raised old Washington hands including Democrats Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, who took in $1.5 million, and Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, who raised just under $2 million. For the year, Paul has collected around $6 million. He remains stuck in national polls at around 5% or less — about the same level of support as another Republican dark horse, Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor."Last quarter he out fund raised John McCain this quarter he beat Biden (with tiny bit of help from me). N ... Ron Paul

Ron Paul Wins Maryland Straw Poll 2007-10-01 23:39:55 If Ron Paul can could win states the way he wins straw polls he'd be a shoo in.From the WaPO:Ron Paul Takes the Ribbon in State Fair's GOP Straw PollA curious thing happened this year at the Maryland Republican Party booth at the State Fair: A GOP presidential straw poll was won by Ron Paul, the idiosyncratic congressman from Texas who is a fierce critic of the Iraq war.Perhaps just as curious was the Maryland GOP's decision to trumpet the results in a news release last week with the headline: "Maryland GOP Presidential Straw Poll Is a Big Success; Grassroots Candidate Wins Surprise Upset." According to the release, Paul received 263 votes, and former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani (for whom Republican former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. is toiling) was second with 220 votes. (Ehrlich received three write-in votes.) Former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson-- who had yet to declare his candidacy -- finished third with 188 votes. No other candidate cracked 100 votes. moreI doubt t ... Ron Paul

Has Rush Limbaugh finally gone too far? 2007-09-28 01:14:31 Unfortunately, I think not...From Media MattersDuring the September 26 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh called service members who advocate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq "phony soldiers." He made the comment while discussing with a caller a conversation he had with a previous caller, "Mike from Chicago," who said he "used to be military," and "believe[s] that we should pull out of Iraq." Limbaugh told the second caller, whom he identified as "Mike, this one from Olympia, Washington," that "[t]here's a lot" that people who favor U.S. withdrawal "don't understand" and that when asked why the United States should pull out, their only answer is, " 'Well, we just gotta bring the troops home.' ... 'Save the -- keeps the troops safe' or whatever," adding, "[I]t's not possible, intellectually, to follow these people." "Mike" from Olympia replied, "No, it's not, and what's really funny is, they never talk to real soldiers. They like to pull th ...

Ron Paul Video Contest 2007-09-26 08:28:10 Ron Paul supporter known as Treg is ponying up four grand to shell out as prize money for the best Ron Paul promotional video submitted by Nov. 5 2007. Odds are Treg will discover much in the same way Heinz did that when you run a contest for commercials that the quality of content varies wildly and may not always be appropriate. However this is just another shining example of the innovation and dedication of Ron Paul's supporters. If any of the front runners were capable of drumming up this level of interest from their supporters the election would be all over save for the ballot counting.Now what do you want to bet that the winners donate at least a portion of their prize money to Ron Paul? ... Ron Paul

GOP Not Participating in Minority Debates is Pure Folly 2007-09-26 02:05:22 I'm not one to buy into or promote stereotypes which is why when the front running GOP candidates pulled a no show at the NAACP debates I didn't post about it. Additionally when the same candidates blew off the debates hosted by Univision I didn't post about that either. (They also all blew off a conservative Christian forum in Florida around the same time.) However now that they have all opted out of the PBS debates at a historically Black college we officially have the beginning of a pattern. While many may attribute the worst possible motives to this behaviour I see other more likely and more logical reasons.Number one being that by and large the GOP has written black voters off much in the same way the Dems had previously written off the South. Meaning that the numbers have shown that spending time and effort elsewhere turns out a greater number of voters or wins more districts. However in regards to the Hispanic debates I see another motive altogether. Simply put the odds of ...

Privacy Vs Security 2007-09-25 01:36:34 Over at Donklephant Justin Gardner has had some rather interesting posts regarding privacy abuses under current US Anti-Terrorism laws. I'm practically Libertarian about privacy. Largely I think that stems from growing up in the middle of nowhere with so much privacy that we could have sun bathed naked on the front lawn and nobody would have known coupled with the fact that I'm an only child. I'm just used to more privacy than most Americans. On that note it was largely The Patriot Act and the ease with which it could be abused that started me down the path to become a blogger. Since the Patriot Act it's only gotten worse. Take for example this article from the WaPo:The U.S. government is collecting electronic records on the travel habits of millions of Americans who fly, drive or take cruises abroad, retaining data on the persons with whom they travel or plan to stay, the personal items they carry during their journeys, and even the books that travelers have carried, according ...

Now Appearing At 2007-09-22 01:15:55 Pete Abel has invited me to contribute at Central Sanity. I of course said yes before Pete had a chance to come to his senses/sober up/get back on his meds/or any combination thereof. Since Central Sanity is one of my daily reads needless to say I'm pleased as punch to be posting there. ...

Ron Paul Girl 2007-09-21 01:37:24 Ron Paul Girl - Click here for another funny movie. It'd be better if it kept to the Obama Girl formula. Then we could have some sort blogosphere "Candidate Girl" web primary. Hmmm...h/t The Daily Dish ... Ron Paul

Thompson Ties Giulianni 2007-09-21 00:16:24 From the AJC:ROCHESTER, N.Y. — After officially declaring his candidacy, U.S. Senator Fred Thompson moves ahead of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani in the race for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. One-third (32%) of those who say they will vote in a Republican primary or caucus will vote for Thompson while 28 percent will vote for Giuliani. Much further back is John McCain, who continues his downward slide with 11 percent saying they would vote for the Arizona Senator, and 9 percent who say they would vote for former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.On the Democratic side, Senator Hillary Clinton continues to build on her large lead. Just under half (46%) of those who would vote in a Democratic primary or caucus would vote for the former First Lady while one-quarter (25%) would vote for Illinois Senator Barack Obama. Former vice president candidate and North Carolina Senator John Edwards is further back with 14 percent saying they would vote for him. No other ca ...

Jackson Vs Obama 2007-09-20 01:37:49 Former civil rights leader and self appointed spokesman for all Black Americans Jesse Jackson recently accused presidential hopeful of "acting like he's white" in regards to the case of the Jena Six, stating that "If I were a candidate, I’d be all over Jena." I think the fact fact that Obama is not acting like JJ is actually one of his strengths. Jackson could never stop being an activist long enough to be a serious political candidate. He has always tended to focus on incidents rather than issues which ultimately worked both to his detriment and marginalization. Obama, love him or hate him, on the other hand has focused on the bigger picture and avoided swooping in uninvited for photo ops and sound bytes. In fact I posit that part of Obama's success has been the fact that he has focused on the forest rather than the trees.As for the "acting white " comment its as ridiculous as it is offensive. As neither of Obama's parents are American blacks and his family isn't lacking in mu ...