Herman Cain has crossed the Biden Line. As of the end of today (10/29/2011) he has more followers (307,364) on Facebook than Joe Biden (307,205).
The Biden Line is based on the studied observation that Vice President Joe Biden is a joke and not to be taken seriously. It therefore follows that any candidate for President with fewer followers on Facebook than Joe Biden also is not a serious contender, at least not yet.
Herman Cain joins three other declared Republican candidates on the serious side of the Biden Line: Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, and Michele Bachmann. When Bachmann crossed over last May, it looked like Cain was on track to cross the Biden line in mid-July. It took him three months longer than that.
None of the other declared Republican candidates - Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich, Gary Johnson, Rick Santorum, or Jon Hunstman - is on track to cross the Biden Line. With just a little over two months until the Iowa caucus, they have run out of time to become serious contenders.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Firing Tear Gas on Occupy Oakland Just Confuses the Issues
Is it too cycnical to suggest that a police crackdown that sends an Iraq war vet to the hospital with a head injury is just what the Occupy movement needed?
OK, white protesters like Keith Olbermann demanding an Asian-American woman mayor fire an African-American police chief or resign herself is fun to watch. But tear gas cannisters just confuse the issues being learned. Rain, snow, and subzero temperatures will do a much better job. Why use force to dislodge them when they'll be home by Christmas.
One could not devise a better lesson in the inherent problems of socialism, or a better way for that lesson to be learned than through self-administration by radical socialism's most ardent adherents. And by spreading these reeducation camps throughout the country and not just NYC, look how they have increased the educational opportunities.
Now it could get really ugly when the crowd figures out that the Obama student debt relief plan is a 10% tax for life on going to college that people who get good jobs or don't have student loans don't have to pay. But it will probably take them to age 40 to figure that out.
OK, white protesters like Keith Olbermann demanding an Asian-American woman mayor fire an African-American police chief or resign herself is fun to watch. But tear gas cannisters just confuse the issues being learned. Rain, snow, and subzero temperatures will do a much better job. Why use force to dislodge them when they'll be home by Christmas.
One could not devise a better lesson in the inherent problems of socialism, or a better way for that lesson to be learned than through self-administration by radical socialism's most ardent adherents. And by spreading these reeducation camps throughout the country and not just NYC, look how they have increased the educational opportunities.
Now it could get really ugly when the crowd figures out that the Obama student debt relief plan is a 10% tax for life on going to college that people who get good jobs or don't have student loans don't have to pay. But it will probably take them to age 40 to figure that out.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Elizabeth Warren the Rock-Throwing Matriarch of Mayhem
Elizabeth Warren is tagged as the matriarch of mayhem and as a rock-throwing radical in this pair of videos from the Massachusetts GOP.
Who is the Masschussetss GOP?
In terms of officeholders, the Masschussetss GOP is just 32 out of 160 members in the state House of Representatives, 4 out of 40 members in the state Senate, 5 county sheriffs, 2 district attorneys, 2 out of 8 members of the Governor's Council, 0 out of 10 U.S. Congressmen and 1 out 2 U.S. Senators.
That's to say that the GOP holds just 46 out of the hundreds of political offices in the state of Massachusetts, and the only one of those offices that carries any real clout is the U.S. Senate seat held by Scott Brown. That's the seat Elizabeth Warren wants.
Who is the Masschussetss GOP?
In terms of officeholders, the Masschussetss GOP is just 32 out of 160 members in the state House of Representatives, 4 out of 40 members in the state Senate, 5 county sheriffs, 2 district attorneys, 2 out of 8 members of the Governor's Council, 0 out of 10 U.S. Congressmen and 1 out 2 U.S. Senators.
That's to say that the GOP holds just 46 out of the hundreds of political offices in the state of Massachusetts, and the only one of those offices that carries any real clout is the U.S. Senate seat held by Scott Brown. That's the seat Elizabeth Warren wants.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Alan Khazei Bows Out of U.S. Senate Race in Massachusetts
Alan Khazei has been running a spirited campaign for U.S. Senate:
But tomorrow he will be officially bowing out of the race. Alan put his decision on the changing dynamics of the race and not seeing a path to win, which can be seen quite clearly on Facebook.
Scott Brown is the clear favorite, and the Democrats desparately need to catch up. This by the way is almost a complete reversal of the situation Republicans face against President Obama.
Was Khazei's admission that he cannot see a path to victory a recognition of the strength of Elizabeth Warren, the heavy hitter Washington Democrats sent to retake the old Ted Kennedy seat? Or was it a recognition that the people have grown comfortable with Scott Brown in the people's seat?
In Massachusetts, it all comes down to independent voters. Can those independent voters go into the booth in November 2012 and punch their ballots for both Brown and Obama? Yes, they can. And they probably will.
But tomorrow he will be officially bowing out of the race. Alan put his decision on the changing dynamics of the race and not seeing a path to win, which can be seen quite clearly on Facebook.
| Republican | Followers |
|---|---|
| Scott Brown | 238,930 |
| Democrats | Followers |
| Elizabeth Warren | 62,740 |
| Alan Khazei | 4,713 |
| Setti Warren | 2,296 |
| Bob Massie | 1,463 |
| Marisa DeFranco | 354 |
| Herb Robinson | - |
| Jim King | - |
Scott Brown is the clear favorite, and the Democrats desparately need to catch up. This by the way is almost a complete reversal of the situation Republicans face against President Obama.
Was Khazei's admission that he cannot see a path to victory a recognition of the strength of Elizabeth Warren, the heavy hitter Washington Democrats sent to retake the old Ted Kennedy seat? Or was it a recognition that the people have grown comfortable with Scott Brown in the people's seat?
In Massachusetts, it all comes down to independent voters. Can those independent voters go into the booth in November 2012 and punch their ballots for both Brown and Obama? Yes, they can. And they probably will.
Just Whose Occupy Movement Is It Anyway?
Who wants to take credit for Ocuppy Wall Street? Two aspiring office-holders in Massachusetts have their claims.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate for Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren of Cambridge:
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate for Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren of Cambridge:
"I created much of the intellectual foundation for what they do. I support what they do."Green Party Presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein of Lexington:
"We are hearing the need for this race in every park and plaza where there’s an encampment around this country. There's an enormous need for alternatives, and we see that breaking out all over. We are proud to give that movement an electoral voice."Dr. Jill goes even farther in embracing the Occupy movement on her website:
"Let's take our democracy back from Wall Street. We need a new politics for the other 99% of America that doesn’t collect a CEO's salary or write big checks for politicians."So whose movement is it anyway? Elizabeth Warren comes out of a Professorship at Harvard Law School. Jill Stein is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Talking About the 2012 Republican Candidates
Facebook has a new metric. You can now see not only how many followers a candidate has but also how many people are "talking about" the candidate.
The anybody but Romney crowd now seems to be splitting their attention between Herman Cain and Ron Paul. If Romney focuses entirely on Cain, he may risk a Ron Paul surprise.
Michelle Bachman has been leaking support on Facebook, but it appears those who remain are still talking about her. She may do better in the votes than people expect.
Newt Gingrich has a huge following on twitter, so maybe he should rank higher than he does here.
If Rick Perry is making a big comeback after the Vegas debate, where many said he did better than in the past debates, they are not talking about it on Faceboook.
The rest of the field has been nice to have around, but it may be time to stop talking about them.
| Candidate | Talking about |
|---|---|
| Herman Cain | 71,131 |
| Ron Paul | 70,504 |
| Mitt Romney | 42,687 |
| Michele Bachmann | 38,930 |
| Newt Gingrich | 16,052 |
| Rick Perry | 7,197 |
| Gary Johnson | 4,778 |
| Rick Santorum | 2,968 |
| Jon Huntsman | 2,241 |
The anybody but Romney crowd now seems to be splitting their attention between Herman Cain and Ron Paul. If Romney focuses entirely on Cain, he may risk a Ron Paul surprise.
Michelle Bachman has been leaking support on Facebook, but it appears those who remain are still talking about her. She may do better in the votes than people expect.
Newt Gingrich has a huge following on twitter, so maybe he should rank higher than he does here.
If Rick Perry is making a big comeback after the Vegas debate, where many said he did better than in the past debates, they are not talking about it on Faceboook.
The rest of the field has been nice to have around, but it may be time to stop talking about them.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Me and Siri Walk Into a Bar ...
Me: Who are you?
Siri: I am Siri ... Here to help.
Me: Where are you from?
Siri: I, Siri, was designed by Apple in California
Me: Make me dinner.
Siri: I found a number of restaurants close to you. (with list)
Me: Where is my Jeep?
Siri: I don't know who you are, but you can tell me.
Me: Tell me a joke.
Siri: I don't really know any good jokes. None, in fact.
Me: Please tell me a joke.
Siri: Two iPhones walk into a bar ... I forget the rest.
Me: Try again.
Siri: Sorry, I couldn't do that. Could you try it again, please?
Me: Where can I buy beer near here?
Siri: I found a number of bars fairly close to you. (with list)
Me: Now we're talking!
Siri: I am Siri ... Here to help.
Me: Where are you from?
Siri: I, Siri, was designed by Apple in California
Me: Make me dinner.
Siri: I found a number of restaurants close to you. (with list)
Me: Where is my Jeep?
Siri: I don't know who you are, but you can tell me.
Me: Tell me a joke.
Siri: I don't really know any good jokes. None, in fact.
Me: Please tell me a joke.
Siri: Two iPhones walk into a bar ... I forget the rest.
Me: Try again.
Siri: Sorry, I couldn't do that. Could you try it again, please?
Me: Where can I buy beer near here?
Siri: I found a number of bars fairly close to you. (with list)
Me: Now we're talking!
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