While Democrats continue to fight among themselves, Republican John McCain is gaining ground in three states that have gone solidly blue in recent elections.
In New Jersey — a “big state†that Hillary Clinton points to as evidence she can win in November — McCain has pulled even with the two Democrats, according to a new Rasmussen poll. He’s leading Clinton 45 to 42 percent and Barack Obama 46 to 45 percent, with a 4-point margin of error — a statistical tie. Clinton has seen her double-digit lead over McCain in the state evaporate.
In Michigan, McCain also has a slight lead (again, a statistical tie) over both Democrats, and in Washington state, McCain is competitive with both: Obama leads him, 48 to 43 percent, while Clinton trails him, 46 to 43 percent.
Of course, McCain is getting a free ride at the moment, and his numbers could change dramatically once Democrats start training their fire on him rather than each other. But the polls should remind Democrats that McCain is making political hay while they bicker and feud.
222 Comments
This is going to be interesting.
You just might see a lot of Democrats voting Republican and a lot of Republicans voting Democrat this November But either way the Liberals WIN!
RA - how do you figure that? If neocon McBush wins we ’stay the course’ that the neocons have set us out on.
Ben, you are looking at only one item, look at his other 99% positions!
RA - I am looking at the 800-pound gorrilla. His positions on minor issues pale beside his war.
Last night I listened to Joe Scar bough talking about how liberal John Mc Cain is and how he has deserted the Conservative base. I wondered if he has been following the same John Mc Cain I have? When Mc Cain said he would continue the “Bush Doctrine” that was not a moderate, liberal or intelligent thing to say!
When he gave his speech on the economy and basically it is the Bush economic policy I wondered if he even had someone with a high school diploma as a economic advisor!
What is that saying? Something like, “the definition of insanity is to do the exact same thing over and over and expect a different result“. If Mc Cain is gaining ground it is not based on the issues, it because many just love to be shown bright and shiny objects!
Didn’t we elect a “liberal Republican” eight years ago?
Alarmism from Randy to try and FORCE Democrats to hurry up and choose Obama.
The unknown candydate.
JR lets hope so and that it is not the “writing on the wall”!
**The Conservative Times: Exclusive: Obama Connection to Terrorists Revealed
March 22, 2008 by Jim Kouri, CPP vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/31408.html
**al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden is praying for an Obama victory because it would help the militants win in Iraq**
OBAMA LIES AGAIN AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA LIKE CNN HIDES IT!
Sen. Obama referres to himself as ‘a constitutional law professor on the campaign trail. TRUTH: He never held any such title! Obama changed website bio to reflect that he was a ‘lecturer’ rather than ‘professor. Chicago Daily Herald
MSNBC-OBAMA: ANOTHER SUPER, EXAGGERATION
Washington Post caught Obama in a lie about the Kennedy family role.
The WashigntonPost Fact Check- Senator Obama CAUGHT LYING about Kennedy Role in Helping His Father Contrary to Obama’s claims in speeches Kennedy family did not provide the funding for a September 1959 airlift of 81 Kenyan students to the United States that included Obama’s father. According to historical records and interviews with participants, the Kennedys were approached for support for the program a year later, July 1960. family responded with a $100,000 donation, which went to pay for a second airlift in September 1960.
Judicial Watch:
By Klaus Marre-Obama ‘intended to leave no paper trail’ OBAMA REFUSES to cooperate in releasing 8 years of his state senate records. One main reason REZKO!
Politico reports, “During his first run for elected office, Barack Obama played a greater role than he acknowledges in crafting liberal stands on gun control, the death penalty and abortion– positions that appear at odds with the more moderate image he’s projected during his presidential campaign. The evidence comes from an amended version of an Illinois voter group’s detailed questionnaire, filed under his name during his bid for a state Senate. In response to a Politico story, Obama’s answers he never saw questioaire?
NBC- Aswini Anburajan
GREENBURG, Pa
OBAMA LIES IN PENNSYLVANIA AD
It’s unfortunate that Senator Obama is using false advertising to explain why he can be trusted to do something about energy prices. In his ad, Obama says, I’m Barack Obama, and I don’t take money from oil companies or lobbyists, and I won’t let them block change any more. Obama has been the recipient of more than $220,000 from the oil and gas industry just since as of Feb/08. Two of Obama’s campaign bundlers are also CEOs for oil and gas companies, per his campaign Web site? Obama needs to answer to VOTERS about his dealings with one of his largest contributors Exelon, a big nuclear power company that he cut deals behind closed doors protecting them from full disclosure in the nuclear industry. Exxon, Shell, and others are among his biggest donors
Mainstream media needs to stop pushing Obama down voters throats and stop the stupid Clinton bashing. Wheres a tur journalist? Democrats NEED Clinton to stay in the race. OBAMA IS UNELECTABLE IN GENERAL ELECTION. Obamas campaign pastor is not going away anytime soon Rev Wright says you don’t have to wait for the afterlife for the mansion on the hilltop, he’s right! To shut him up Trinity United Church of Christ is building Rev. Wright a $1 mil house on a lot that was purchased for $345,000. According to his federal income tax return Obama gave the Trinity United church $22,500 in contributions. CBS Chicago has strangely not released video they have of Obama at Trinity United Church of Christ Service with Pastor Wright. According to a Chicago Tribune article, at the Service Obama spoke to the cheering congregation and the choir sang, “Hallelujah Barack”. After the service Wright and Obama sat together, laughing , talking and signing books. if ANY other candidate had this controversy swirling the footage would have found it’s way to the national and cable news networks by now! Obama who marched with Farrakhan Also Wright is OPRAHS Pastor; Slurs Italians in Latest Magazine (CNSNews.com) Wright continues his Obama supported attacks on non-blacks now slurring Italians in issue of Trumpet Newsmag. Wright states, Jesus enemies had their opinion, Italians looked down their garlic noses at the Galileans, and Jesus death on a cross was a public lynching Italian style! This government runs everything from the White House to the schoolhouse, from the Capitol to the KKKlan of white supremacy who is clearly in charge. Every issue published Wright’s rant against white people in which he covers a world that is controlled by white supremacy, a country that’s on its way to h*ll in a hand basket because of lying politicians, in a culture that still thinks ‘white is right! He said young African-American Christians are more concerned about ‘bling bling’ than about freeing their minds and still Obama says I could no more disown him than I could disown the black community. Trumpet Newsmagazine started 80s, Wright is CEO and Wright’s daughter, Jeri Wright, is the publisher. Requests for comments Obama camp of course not answered. Trumpet Nov/Dec edition, featured Louis Farrakhan, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement “Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Trumpeter” award. Farrakhan has called Judaism a “gutter religion” and said Jews are “bloodsuckers. Many of the biased cable news pundits try to make viewers believe Obama’s speech limited damage of Wright controversy, but the general election will show voters strongly disagree, especially non-black voters. Obama refuses to explain to the public why he would have someone as such a close spiritual advisor and mentor and why he would expose two young daughters to such hatefulness against fellow Americans. The problem Wright’s comments are not theological views, but political statements. This is a serious issue for Obama in general election. As with each new utterance on the topic of Reverend Wright, Barack Obama confirms his own moral obliviousness and he seems to have disdain for those who are troubled by his own unwillingness to break with Wright, even worse Obama still insists Wright is a brilliant man, So brilliant, apparently, that he has uncovered the plot by white America to kill African Americans, so insightful to perceive the 9/11 attacks caused by American terrorism and his discerning observation Israel is a “dirty” word, and still in Obama’s eyes, Wright is brilliant. This, we are told by biased cable news pundits like CNN Obamaphiles, is not supposed to affect voters’ view of Obama’s judgment. Perhaps voters are embarrassed to tell pollsters they are privately offended. General election Republicans as well as independents and democrats are irked by this moral obtuseness even though media like CNN or Hardball cover it up with bogus Clinton attacks.
Yep, keep on thinking you Democrats have the election in the bag…
That was me… sry
Interesting stat — is it DeJaVu all over again or worse —- McCain finished 5th in his Naval Academy class — 5th from the bottom ….. and Howdy Doody was a C student in college —– I do believe we can do much better …..
Surely there is a better place for the intellectually challenged to hang their hat than the White House. Can we survive or afford more of Bushco? I don’t see how.
There may be some indication the person who chooses to run for POTUS isn’t hitting on all cylinders. In fact, this might be the one issue where we all agree.
“In Michigan, McCain also has a slight lead (again, a statistical tie) over both Democrats, ”
Well certainly THAT situation cannot be helped by telling several million voters that their vote does not count. Senator Clinton wants to reassure the voters in Michigan that they DO count. Obama is fighting that they should not count.
Gee, another thread with a veiled request for Hillary to quit? From Randy, the ultimate obama guy?
Color me shocked….
If the democrats nominate obama, he’ll lose the general, and you all will try to blame it on Clinton.
He’s all yours! Let’s see ya get him elected.
JR,
If voters in MI and FL knew prior to the election that their votes more than likely would not count, why should they?
Be honest, now. If you knew in advance that the MI and FL votes would overwhelming come in for Obama, you wouldn’t want them counted, would you? Hillary is betting on them being for her. The more she campaigns for them to be counted, the more people she assumes she will be swaying to her side.
It’s politics, not about the “right to vote”.
“Be honest now”?
When have I ever been otherwise?
Senator Clinton cannot know how a revote in Michigan or Florida would go. Neither can I.
Most people are not political junkies like us bloggers. They will simply hear, “your vote did not count” and they will react accordingly when next their vote is called.
These polls show Clinton leading in a match-up with McCain in key “swing” states:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080402/pl_nm/usa_politics_poll_dc_1
And Hillary would also win more EC votes than obama.
When they are neck and neck like this, why are the calls only for Hillary to drop out? It could just as easily be said obama is hurting her if she is the nominee.
Of course, we could just drop the primary facade and let the “party elders” pick the candidate. Then it could be all over by February 1.
Would that make the democrats happy? Geez. No primaries BEFORE a certain date, and they really want no primaries AFTER super Tuesday, since they want the nomination wrapped up ASAP.
Like someone said last night. The democratic party is suffering from too much, uh, democracy?
Only in America…
When Mccain has to debate one on one, his ratings are going to fall faster than Bush’s!
McCain may be a nice guy, but he never struck me as having a “Rocket Scientist” mentality. He’s more in the slingshot category with the Shrubster.
When forced to choose the lesser of evils, one has still chosen evil.
Phantom
Posted April 2, 2008 at 8:39 am | Permalink
When Mccain has to debate one on one, his ratings are going to fall faster than Bush’s!
Did you see the Repub. debate where the candidates asked each other one question?
Ron Paul asked McCain a question about monetary policy.
Deer in headlights look more composed than McCain throughout his entire answer
slingshot category with the Shrubster.
Pea shooter.
Or maybe pee shooter?
In states where one party dominates the legislature (not traditional caucus states such as Iowa or traditional primary states such as New Hampshire)there was a lot of political gamesmanship in extablishing “the rules” for delegate selection.
Primary elections are public events, funded by the state. Caucuses are generally generally party-directed and financed.
For example, it was the Republic Party-dominated Florida legislature that forced their early primary (against the DNC’s rules). Hillary wasn’t on the ballot in Florida but “just happened” to conduct a lot of personal appearences before the Sunshine State voted. Realistically, she probably would have won a competitive primary in Florida anyway — with former New Yorker snowbirds and a large Hispanic vote which hadn’t yet warmed to Obama’s candidacy. Clinton clearly flouted the rules in Michigan by not removing her name from the ballot after all the other candidates had.
Seems to me Clinton’s argument that she won Democratic primaries in big states — i.e., California and New York — doesn’t carry much weight since those states are likely to go Blue in November, regardless of who heads the ticket. Texas, a beeg state, will go Red regardless of how the Franken-caucus for the Democrats turns out (at first it was Hillary, now it seems Obama won it). But the strong turnout for both Democratic candidates in the Lone Star State might mean the Republic Party will have to commit more resources to assure its electors in November (actually, December, but why be pedantic?).
Back when the Republic Party nomination was still in play, Democratic turnout for Clinton, Obama, Edwards, etc. significantly out-drew the GOP. Huckabee had the twice-born die-hards, eCONomic Republics voted for Mittens, Fred Thompson wasn’t even interested enough to show up for GOP primaries so why would Republic Party voters bother?
It seems absurd to watch how Republic Party apologists were dancing in March about their “victory” in November. John Sidney McBush the Third is old. Really old. And he’s made a slug of old man mistakes already. He’ll make more. Count on it. Long after the media has forgotten that McPain is unsure of who the enemy is in Iraq (”He doesn’t know Shi’ite from Shinola.”), we’ll be reminded that McSame admits he “doesn’t know all that much about the economy.” All his “straight talk” against torture will suffer from his primary season vote *for* torture.
The average lifespan for American males (who haven’t even been tortured for five years in the Hanoi Hilton) is 74.1 years. John WMD McCain will be 71 years old if he takes the oath of office on January 20, 2009. So his Vice-Presidential selection will weigh heavily in the general election.
Mittens will offend the evangelicals, as would Rudy. Huckabee isn’t gonna happen. Are you ready for Vice-President Sam (Dan Quayle without the gravitas) Brownback?
The intra-party division in the Democratic Party onthing like the true intra-party divisions of 1968 and 1980, and seems tame compared to 1948.
Ask President Dewey how that turned out.
Oh yeah, because all that “bickering” (read: competition) is just SO BAD for democrats.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080331_maybe_its_… /
Posted on Mar 31, 2008
By Marie Cocco
WASHINGTON—
“I guess the boys are just being boys again. They’ve failed to dispatch Clinton in the race thus far—remember, they were predicting the fall of the “house of Clinton” in New Hampshire. Then Kennedy magic was supposed to transform Obama into the anointed nominee on Super Tuesday, but star-power appearances in California by the women of Camelot failed to help Obama there, and not even Ted Kennedy could deliver his home state of Massachusetts. Clinton won decisively in the Bay State and took all the big states on Super Tuesday, except Obama’s home state of Illinois and Missouri, where he edged her by a single percentage point.”
“Since we’re talking boy-talk here, we might as well get right into their rhetorical comfort zone: Obama now is ahead by a field goal in the third quarter. But the fourth quarter has yet to be played and who knows what the score will be at the end of regulation? So here’s their plan, hatched in the locker room: Push Clinton off the field now so that Obama can take his early victory lap.”
“Now Clinton’s methodical, dogged history of work for the Democratic Party is treated just like the methodical, dogged histories of so many women in the workplace: Having come this far she must not go too far. She must step aside to take the smaller office, with the lesser title and the lower pay to make room for the younger guy with the thinner résumé. And please, would she just go quietly like a good girl?”
“Somehow the Obama campaign has come to believe that insulting Clinton is the same as beating her. It isn’t. And insulting her supporters—especially women and, in particular, working-class women, who have clung to her candidacy all these months—isn’t much of a general-election victory strategy. Women were 54 percent of the electorate in the presidential election of 2004. Without their support, Al Gore would not have won the popular vote in 2000 and John Kerry wouldn’t have come so close in 2004. Women voters put Democrats in control of Congress in 2006.”
“So, the Obama campaign can continue trying to get its allies in the media and various party pooh-bahs to push Clinton aside early. Or Obama can welcome the fight—and win it like a man.”
Check out Maureen Dowd’s column today at nytimes.com
I dont care HOW the manipulation or gamesmanship started in FL and MI. I think the gop rat buggered the process to trigger this, and the democrats fell right into it.
To not seat those delegations is to hand those swing states over to the republicans. Do democrats think the election is in the bag to the extent they have these states to “give” like a foul in the final four games?
So.. I hope the “devotion” to the rules will provide some comfort to democrats during President McCain’s term of office…
…and when the gop comes after obama, I wonder if his gentlemanly devotion to “rules” will hinder his responses? I mean, with the anti-intellectual jihad going on in the US, will voters in the general care? Will congress care if obama is elected?
Appeasement anyone?
Well, I havent checked out MoDo yet, but lemme guess…
She’s got something to say that is pro-obama and anti-Hillary?
Color me shocked…
Polls at this point don;t mean a darn thing. McCain will lose the eleciton. By default, the Democratic party candidate –whoever it is, will win. Sad, but true.
When the Right Wing Slime Machine goes after Obama, John Sidney McCain the Thrid’s nice little grampa persona will be over. He seems like a nice old guy now, but once he has to denounce and reject Limbaugh, et al… he’ll remind us of the coot who chases kids off his lawn.
Seat the MI and FL delegates as unsworn. Simple.
When they are neck and neck like this, why are the calls only for Hillary to drop out?
Because of the delegate count. Duh. If the situation were reversed, there would be people calling for Obama to drop out. Neither has any obligation to.
And getting back to the subject of the thread (before it was hijacked by blind partisans), I think any damage to Democratic nominee will be short-term, unless something really “sticks” that would have come out anyway. People have notoriously short memories.
http://action.credomobile.com/comics/2008/03/pick_a_side_sparky.html
Show me a Democrat elected official who had great grades, in College, would you please?
You will have a tough time with that one.
Econ, I think Hillary was valadictorian of her class. Does that count as an elected Democrat with good grades?
With all due respect Rage, that is the delegate count today.
When Hillary was ahead in the delegate count, and the popular vote, would it have been ok for her to call for Obama to drop out?
I dont think finishing the game is asking for too much. There isnt anything coming out now, about either candidate, that wouldnt come out in the general anyway. At least this way it will be old news in November.
Let’s play the fourth quarter and count the score at the end of the game. Neither candidate qualifies for the Slaughter Rule yet!
I think right now, the most likely thing to “stick” will be Rev. Wright. Let’s hope neither candidate has anything WORSE they are hiding.
Hillary FLUNKED her first bar exam.
Does that count?
Rage, that’s my opinion too!
Here we have Republicans using polls to advance their slim hope. I think that’s worth a belly laugh!
The Republicans have chosen a candidate quickly, when compared to the careful process the Democratic Party is using to come to their nominee.
In the end it will be McCain against the next President of the United States of America.
McCain will show many more signs of his dementia. McCain will be forced to continue his support of the Iraq war, or be shown (once again) how he has no principles other than doing what it takes to be elected and march lockstep with bushco. McCain really doesn’t know anything about the economy and his admission will be proven over and over again. No one has come up with any positives about McCain — NO ONE! Every comment made is some form of “the lesser of two evils.” Sol posted today that when you choose the lesser of two evils you are still choosing evil. That’s what the Republican Party has and that’s all they have.
Either Democratic Party candidate is superior and will easily prove their superiority to the American voters.
KFG
Hillary’s pathological lying might stick.
Here’s one I hadnt heard
From Boortz
Hillary got fired.
snip
Zeifman tells Hillary that Nixon is entitled to counsel. He cites documents in the committee’s public file referencing the fact that Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas had representation four years earlier while he was being investigated.
Hillary removes the documents from the committees public file and places them under lock and key in her office where they are not available for media or public scrutiny.
Hillary then prepares a brief for filing with a federal judge which falsely states that there is no precedent for an official being investigated by the committee to have legal representation during that investigation.
Nixon resigns before Hillary has a chance to submit the brief in which she makes knowingly false claims.
Zeifman then fires Hillary. Hillary asks for a letter of recommendation. Zeifman says no. This was only the third time in Zeifman’s 17 years with the committee that he had refused a letter of recommendation.
http://boortz.com/nuze/index.html
RealClearPolitics shows several polls on one page and even an average of those polls. So if you think polls mean something check out what they’re indicating.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls/
While you’re there, click on the Dems in Pennsylvania over in the left-hand column.
And, are polls still relying on land lines for the most part??
Well
Try this one:
Obama was a “neighborhood organizer” and then a State Senator — from a neighborhood that has seen 20 high school kids murdered by gangs since September!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/01/chicago.violence.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest
Perhaps of Pastor Wright would quite blaming “whitey” for all of the problems, in that neighborhood, we might be able to make some progress?
When Hillary was ahead in the delegate count, and the popular vote, would it have been ok for her to call for Obama to drop out?
If the mathematical probabilities were as daunting, again, the obvious answer is yes. But they weren’t–that early on, they couldn’t have been.
Having said that, it ain’t over ’til it’s over, i.e. when one candidate has a mathematical “lock” on the nomination, if not actually the full requirement of delegates. And, presumably, Obama could be caught screwing a duck in a public park or something, changing the whole ball game.
And, as I’ve said above (and before), I don’t think a long contest will hurt in the long run (a brokered convention might be a different story!).
Heheheheheh Paulie, You make me laugh too! You just asked about grades in college. I answered. Then you changed the subject and added a new condition.
You are so REPUBLICAN!
Remember the one brain they share has short circuited and no new information can be processed.
“lindainks55″ asks –
“…are polls still relying on land lines for the most part??”
Yeah. For the most part.
It’s a real dicey issue in the polling business. I read a magazine article in a waiting room the other day about how the different polls are approaching the problem of more people (especially young and affluent) have gone exculsively cellular. Mathematical weighting, & stuff.
True, Hillary FLUNKING her bar exam was not an indication of her college grades.
But, such Flunking WAS an indication of how easy her law school must have been.
But, I will admit, Linda, I was thinking more of Gore and Kerry.
Neither Gore nor Kerry have much to brag about where grades are concerned.
I am willing to see contrary evididence, but I believe this link is fairly accurate:
http://www.insidepolitics.org/heard/heard32300.html
Well I don’t know whether to be hopeful or not.
Is it now SO bad that even the Republican candidate for President must admit it?
Or…is he just trying to get us acclimated to the new reality?
McCain said some are cynical because they have suffered economic dislocations while others profit as never before.
“
“Show me a Democrat elected official who had great grades, in College, would you please?
“You will have a tough time with that one.”
Welcome, once again, to shill world, where one believes what one wants to believe is the truth.
That has to be one of the dumbest challenges I’ve seen yet. And note the shifting goal posts, the hallmark of someone who will not compromise with reality (KFG: “Hillary was validictorian.” Econ: “She flunked her first Bar Exam.”). Uh huh (refer back to opening sentence).
And Heckler, the Zeifman charges need to be taken with a very big grain of salt, considering who Zeifman’s chosen audience has been for the past decade or so (right wing news outlets). It doesn’t automatically invalidate what he says, but this guy has been peddling this sort of stuff (evil Democrats out to get Republicans) for a while (his personal status as a “lifelong Democrat” to the contrary).
I have made no secret of my support, so far, of Barak Obama. However, calls for Hillary Clinton to drop out of the race are far too premature. I believe she cannot win the nomination, but that is just my belief. Anything in politics can happen. Let it play out.
Econ, I beg to differ. Many states have low pass rates on the Bar Exam (not Kansas, BTW); while I’m not up on the current statistics, “back in the day”, 55% passed the New York Bar; around 50% (+-) passed the California Bar; similar statistics for Illinois, Florida to name two more. The year I sat for the Kansas Bar Exam, 98% passed (IIRC).
So, what can be ascertained from these numbers? That the ones who failed went to “easy” law schools? I think not; rather, if my pet hypothesis may be indulged, the passing of the Bar Exam in the “hard” states is a barrier to entry to the practice in those states.
One trivial example, if I may, concerning the Illinois law and Kansas law. Civil procedure, namely Illinois (at the time I was graduating from law school) was a “Code Pleading” state, while Kansas is a “Federal Rules” state. This likely makes little sense to anyone who hasn’t grappled with these differences, but there are few similarities between the two systems.
Yes, a good bar review course might be of great assistance to a candidate for the bar exam in Illinois who graduated from a law school that emphasized the Federal Rules, but the complexities of Code Pleading, and other substantive law differences (IL corporate law is of an entirely different source than KS, for another example) would be difficult to assimilate and prepare for based solely thereon. Just my two cents.
As far as the right wing meme that Hillary is a liar?
That’s just what it is. A meme. It’s been around for a very long time. No specific incident or trumped up example is going to make it better or worse, it just is.
Like the meme that mcsame is senile.
Like the meme that obama is soft.
All candidates have to deal with “the water they swim in.” Like fish, after a while, they cant see “the water they swim in”.
It’s like that with memes. The people who WANT to believe them will, damn the facts (see also econ 101) and the people who DONT want to see them wont (see also various obama and Hillary supporters).
Someone said the other day this election will be decided by independents. I remember when the meme was that it will be decided by moderates.
The truth? It’s gonna be decided by the 3 to 5 percent that went into this election WITHOUT their minds already made up.
That’s also the way it’s been since 2000. It isnt going to change in 2008. Anyone hoping for any mandate or landslide on either said isnt going to get it. We are going to get government along the margins. Rule by the joe liebermans of the world.
Again.
Yeah paulie, because YALE is known as such a soft law school…
“But, such Flunking WAS an indication of how easy her law school must have been.”
Yeah, Yale Law School is widely known for being a piece of cake.
All of this talk regarding McCain yada, yada, is just hot air. The campaign for the General Election has not even begun. The polls, at this point, are meaningless.
In the blog world, we may pay attention to every nuance, but the general public won’t until September. When the campaign begins in earnest, votes will have to decide if they want four more years of Bush or a change in direction.
Guess which way they will go.
“And, are polls still relying on land lines for the most part??”
I read recently (can’t recall the source) that the political opinion polls are trying to reach cell phone users - but they have to offer money to get them to cooperate. Also they are developing some fairly accurate correction terms to their land line results to account for cell-only households.
Clark is, I believe, correct when he says this is pretty early to take any poll too seriously.
Don’t forget the meme that McCain is mentally ill because of his POW experience. That and that he fathered an illegimate black child were used on him by Rove and Bush. He was so peeved about that treatment that he seriously considered jumping ship and becoming a Democrat in 2000 and 2001. He even talked to Daschel about changing parties. Then he backed out.
VT
Should not a smart person know the differences in various bar exams and study appropriately?
Also, my experience with the CFP boards and the FINRA Series 7 exams are that many CPA’s and Attorneys who sit for those tests do not study, in advance, thinking they can “wing it” —
The failure rates are rather high, for both of those tests, as well.
LOL
My point was just made, again, by a LIBERAL
Of course Yale is not easy.
And, Bush graduated from YALE!
And, Bush is the first President with an MBA.
The MBA is from Harvard!
Econ, yes, but (and a big but) preparing for a bar exam over a relatively short period of time after three years of law school, especially given the great difference, in many cases, in the substantive law being tested in any particular state versus that learned over the three years, is difficult. Not impossible, to be sure, but difficult.
As to your comments on the various exams where CPAs and Attorneys “wing it”, well, I’m not too surprised by this attitude. It’s incorrect, of course, but after passing the CPA exam (which I believe to be one of the more difficult things one may do in one’s life) or a Bar exam, there is a mindset, IMO, that nothing can be any more difficult than those.
“The truth? It’s gonna be decided by the 3 to 5 percent that went into this election WITHOUT their minds already made up.”
I think part of Obama’s appeal is that he is offering a different strategy than winning the blue states and picking up Florida and Ohio and calling it good, as Kerry tried to do.
I think the one thing that seperates Obama from Clinton supporters is the acceptability of the old strategy. Clinton supporters being more inclined to the old. Mark J. Penn had it figured out in terms of eeking out a national victory for Hillary.
I have read and heard several feminist takes on expecting Hillary to quit in the forth quarter, etc.
McCain is having serious trouble connecting to the Republican base and this is especially worrisome in regard to funding. You have to wonder if he will decide to be seen with Bush again to shore up that problem.
Sorry, just a collection of random thoughts on this interesting political year.
Let’s not forget that theory of relativity was produced by “Mr.” Einstein, a clerk in the Swiss patent office (he didn’t get his doctorate until later). He showed exceptional aptitude in mathematics and physics, but no one marked him for greatness.
By the way, he also failed his initial college entrance exam (though he was only 16 at the time).
Way too soon to even think about this. The election is months off, and peoples’ minds have a 15 minute collective memory. Must be a dull day for news.
“I think part of Obama’s appeal is that he is offering a different strategy than winning the blue states and picking up Florida and Ohio and calling it good, as Kerry tried to do.”
Sincere question. What is this strategy? I know he is pursuing a “50 state strategy” in the primary, but what is his strategy for the E.C.?
Because Hillary continues to do better in the EC.
In this book,
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/books/04thom.html it says Bush in a small group comes off a lot better than he does when speaking to larger groups. He does not mangle language, does not smirk inappropriately. The authors of the above source cite the opinions of Bush supporters that he has pretty bad stage fright and that is what leads him to be so awful in front of big groups.
Bush may not be stupid, but all of his ideas are guided by strident ideology. Our economy is a testament to the value of said ideology, in my opinion.
“ksfarmgrrl” offers –
Like fish, after a while, they cant see “the water they swim in”.
Good post.
As Vonnegut noted, “Only nut cases want to be President.”
As much as I understand the process of Hillary’s sniper story, it’s hurt her badly.
We all have “war stories,” in our repertoire. I can entertain a circle of friends at a cocktail party where I tell about the time I got beaten up by a girl in a bar in North Topeka. I’ve told it a dozen times and, like a stand-up routine the story gets better with the re-telling.
I’ll bet all the chalk and coins in my pocket that there was talk about potential snipers before Hillary and Chelsea’s (and Sinbad’s) plane landed in Bosnia. Just as when they tell you “…in the unlikely event of a water landing your seat cushion…” when you’re taking off from Wichita. Hell, if a pilot’s gonna crash into what’s left of Cheyenne Bottoms he’s gonna have to aim for it!
So “they warned us about snipers” became “I was dodging snipers…” and the video tape becomes a deadly political ad. And supports the meme.
When Gerald Ford said “the Polish people are not ‘oppressed,’ everyone knew what he meant to say. It wasn’t all that long that the Poles rose up and helped bring down Soviet communism. George HW Bush parlayed the Flag Salute and Willie Horton into the presidency. Go figure.
Jimmy Carter said “I will never lie to you” and was castigated for telling people the truth.
We want to be lied to, perhaps.
“Sincere question. What is this strategy? I know he is pursuing a “50 state strategy” in the primary, but what is his strategy for the E.C.?”
I don’t know. I wonder if he does? I assumed he would continue with the “let’s do away with partisan bickering - we’re all Americans” “I’m new, not old” memes, but I honestly don’t know. For some reason this message appeals to journalists and one reason why Obama has gotten pretty light treatment by the press. Note Davis Merritt’s editorial yesterday as an example.
I think whoever is the Dem nominee, McCain’s biggest problem is the Republican base.
I’ll take the fodder for political ads that McCain creates on a daily basis over ANYTHING they can use against either of the Democratic nominees.
“Bomb. bomb. bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.”
Steven, that’s why I asked. Because I dont think he has a strategy beyond “hope and inspiration”. I think democrats are way more likely to fall for that than independents and republicans.
I thought mr. unity was going to bring all those crossover republican voters with him. While mcsame has problems with the base, they dont seem too anxious to stick with obama after their foray into the primaries. My prediction is that at the end of the campaign, they will all go “home” and vote republican.
And obama will be left with half of his base unless he shows us those “uniter not a divider” skills in his own party. Havent seen them yet…
Farmfrrl,
McCain has offered NOTHING different on either the economy or the war in Iraq. In fact, he hasn’t offered anything different in any area. I think people will stay home rather than vote for more of the same. I agree they won’t for a Democrat, but there are some Republicans smart enough to not vote for more of what we’ve got.
To this point Obama has run an excellent campaign and seems to truly have a pulse of what’s needed. I’m not counting out that he has a strategy to win more than the nomination. When have you seen voter turnouts like we’ve seen this election season?
Watsa matter Dems?
You’ve already thrown your two best candidates underneath the bus, Edwards and Richardson - you know, the guys with experience and actual plans.
Now you are left with Hill-Billy, who will take her experiences of the past, elaborate (lie) them and deny that she elaborated (lied)about them.
Or Osama Obama who claims he has experience, only to find out, he really doesn’t have any experience, but like any street corner yapper rapper, can make it up as he goes along.
You may say I’m a dreamer,
But, I not the only one…
(new lyrics) - there may not many of us, though…
I was impressed by Obama’s race speech, I was moved to read his book The Audacity of Hope, wherein I thought he outlined more policy details than I have seen before. The book put to rest, for me, the idea that he would be clueless on day one.
I still think the dream ticket is the best idea. Any perception that HC stole the nomination will not be good. There won’t be a landslide victory for either of them in the primary race.
Thanks, Regular. I was just thinking how well this thread was going sans idiotic statements. Thanks for your contribuion of reality.
Or Osama Obama who claims he has experience,
You forgot the “Hussein” part. But do continue. People like you are living advertisements for the Democratic Party!
I know I’m just me and I am as average as average can get. I am a middle aged (bordering on older) woman who supported Hillary so happily and with great enthusiasm. It was the first time in my life I felt that kind of allegiance to a political candidate. When she let me down I went down really hard.
I WILL VOTE FOR HILLARY if she is the Democratic Party nominee. I would prefer voting for Obama. I think he is better for America.
I don’t think division will ever get us on a road to being stronger and better than where bushco have put us.
McCain is more of bush which (at least) half the country is negative about.
Clinton has (at least) half the country holding a negative opinion of her.
Why in the world begin with a negative??
“McCain gains ground in Democratic states”
Whoopee (sarcasm)! Why shouldn’t he be gaining ground in blue states? He is a democrat at heart isn’t he?
Mournfully,
American Way
Not a problem Rage and Steven Davis.
But you know, when Hill-Billy made the claim about “sniper fire” that never happened or the time she relayed the story about being on a soccer team and some goalie made a mean comment to her - problem is, that school never had a soccer team.
Or, how about the time when Osama Obama claims during a Congressional Race, he was a Constitutional Law Professor when he was merely a part-time adjunct professors. Or, when he claims that duh Reverend Wright is his mentor - now the Obama is agin him.
Both of your candidates have little experience, no plans and just make up crap as they go along.
As I said before, you’ve already kicked your most solid, experienced candidates to the curb.
It appears duh Dems want to elect personalities so they can be entertained. They don’t want a President, they want a freaking late nite talk show host or an evolved Saturday Night Live caricature of a politician.
Interesting stats…
‘Dems, Reps Agree: Obama Tougher Opponent for McCain
Perceived as having better chance than Clinton of winning in November’
http://www.gallup.com/poll/105904/Dems-Reps-Agree-Obama-Tougher-Opponent-McCain.aspx
McCain and is full staff of paid Airbus Lobbyists just gave the home states of many Armed Service Committee members the Air Force Tanker contract. For fourty BILLION dollars for French Lobbyists to steal American defense work they should be happy!
How is the poll being conducted? Usually polls are done through phone calls but do not include cell phones. Since landlines are typically owned by older Americans who tend to vote Republican the polls leave out the younger Americans that tend to use cell phones.
So the polls may be inaccurate as they tend to have been throughout the primary. McCain’s support is probably inflated. Then again, Guiliani showed a lot of support until the press started covering what he stood for, then his numbers dropped. The same will happen with McCain unless the media continues to coddle and protect the corrupt McCain.
McCain voted against MLK day you know.
Those that are conservative, not meaning the Neo-Cons or blind GOP faithful, will not vote for Clinton, Obama nor McCain. They will either stay home or vote libertarian or Constitutional party.
I know there are mostly Dems in here, but y’all pay attention to the RNC. Dr. Paul has stuffed the delegate box. While they can not stop the abomination of McCain, we can bring truly conservative issues to the platform and force McCain, the Congress and the Senate to start acting like freakin conservatives.
The revolution is taking the party back from the inside. Damn brilliant that.
Wow! A Superdelegatem a racist AND a KC Chiefs hater
“”‘If I had to make a prediction right now, I’d say Barack Obama is going to be the next president,’ Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver said in a Canadian public radio interview this weekend. ‘I will be stunned if he’s not the next president of the United States.
But after his district voted for Obama in the February 5 primary, Cleaver did indicate he would consider voting for the Illinois senator at the party’s convention if the delegate count was extremely tight between the two candidates.
In the Canadian radio interview, Cleaver made clear he doesn’t expect Clinton to overtake Obama, comparing his support of the New York Democrat to that of his hometown losing football team.
‘Even though I don’t expect the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Indianapolis Colts, I cheer for the Kansas City Chiefs,’ he said.
He also pushed back on the notion Clinton should take her fight for the party’s nomination all the way to the August convention — though he acknowledged that is not the position he is supposed to take.
‘If I do the party line, I’m supposed to say — and maybe I’ll say, just so if anybody hears it they can say well, ‘Cleaver did the party line before he told the truth’ — we believe that a contest going all the way to the convention is good for America.’
But, he added, an actual convention fight would be a ‘tragedy of tragedies.’”
Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who is black, told Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that Obama “is articulate. In the black tradition, he would probably be mediocre.”
“For White Americans, it’s like, this guy can speak,” Cleaver said in the radio interview. “If you put him on a level with a lot of other African-American public speakers, he may not even measure up.”
I think for many white Americans, they are looking at Barack Obama and saying ‘This is our chance to demonstrate that we have been able to get this boogeyman called race behind us,’” Cleaver said. “And so they are going to vote for him, whether he has credentials or not, whether he has any experience — I think all that’s out the window.”"
Doug,
From the link in my 11:51 am post,
“Interviews are conducted with respondents on land-line telephones (for respondents with a land-line telephone) and cellular phones (for respondents who are cell-phone only).”
“force McCain, the Congress and the Senate to start acting like freakin conservatives.”
I admire your dream Sol. I’m not quite so hopeful.
I will vote for Obama - just to shake up my former republican/conservatives.
I will vote for McCain if Hillary is on the ballot.
All this is out the window if the ballot in Kansas has an independent Ron Paul candidate. But not for an unproven radical libertarian if listed.
“McCain voted against MLK day you know.”
And that means,…….. what?
Haven’t looked into him that much yet, but I think the Libertarians are eying Bob Barr. Ron Paul will not run independent. I have heard many folks say that they will write him in on the ballot. That’ll do about as much good as my voting Libertarian.
“McCain voted against MLK day you know.”
And that means,…….. what?
That he is a racist dontchaknow
“And that means,…….. what?”
That he has no respect for the single greatest civil rights leader this country has ever seen.
That’s all.
First time I’ve heard the “soccer team” slam against Hillary. Geez, talk about grasping at straws!. And I’m considering the source too. . .
As for the Obama “professor” business, you can scratch that one off your list anyway.
From 1992 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004, Barack Obama served as a professor in the Law School. He was a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996. He was a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004, during which time he taught three courses per year. Senior Lecturers are considered to be members of the Law School faculty and are regarded as professors, although not full-time or tenure-track. The title of Senior Lecturer is distinct from the title of Lecturer, which signifies adjunct status. Like Obama, each of the Law School’s Senior Lecturers has high-demand careers in politics or public service, which prevent full-time teaching. Several times during his 12 years as a professor in the Law School, Obama was invited to join the faculty in a full-time tenure-track position, but he declined.
http://www.law.uchicago.edu/media/index.html
WS
There is an way to honor someone without making that person a reason for a national day off.
I wish McCain had voted for MLK day, if only to lessen this baseless political attack, against him.
However, you can admire MLK without wanting another national holiday.
Rage
It was Obama, himself, that trimmed his own sails, a bit, on the “Constitutional Law Professor” stuff.
I still think that the 20 kids killed in Obama’s neighborhood, in the last 6 months, after all of that “neighborhood organizing” Obama did, is an issue.
Rage
Posted April 2, 2008 at 12:18 pm | Permalink
First time I’ve heard the “soccer team” slam against Hillary. Geez, talk about grasping at straws!. And I’m considering the source too. .
————————-
I do believe the source is the Huffington Post.
A leader who worked hard to free millions of Americans from oppression through peaceful means. McCain doesn’t care much for that since MLK wasn’t touting an assault rifle and killing people. War and death is all McCain pays homage to.
“There is an way to honor someone without making that person a reason for a national day off.”
Name another American more deserving than Dr. King.
“I still think that the 20 kids killed in Obama’s neighborhood, in the last 6 months, after all of that “neighborhood organizing” Obama did, is an issue.”
How is that an issue?
I still think that the 20 kids killed in Obama’s neighborhood, in the last 6 months, after all of that “neighborhood organizing” Obama did, is an issue.
Right , Paul. It’s all his fault.
Do go on. . . this is highly entertaining.
“That he has no respect for the single greatest civil rights leader this country has ever seen.”
That is complete BS and you know it. If you don’t you are just plain stupid. (and I am not a Mcclame fan).
There were many issues with making MLK’s Day a national holiday. Unlike you, congress/president cannot just create a new holiday on every whim.
Business had concerns about ANOTHER federal holiday. (many pay for holiday pay/overtime, etc.. no business when closed, etc..)
It’s not just a wave your hand decision. After years and many proposals it was decided to combine Lincoln/Washington Birthdays in February, which would free up a holiday to promote as MLK Day.
This is just one aspect of the decision.
But if you want to post trash, please provide a link to something McClame actually said to support it, or I have labeled it as trash correctly.
Not something the media said. Something McClame said or did.
“That is complete BS and you know it. If you don’t you are just plain stupid.”
Really, so McCain was just concerned about the day off issue? Right.
Now who is stupid, AmWay?
“Name another American more deserving than Dr. King.”
Caesar Chavez is rather awesome for his efforts to organize farm laborers and provide them with basic human rights through peace. I say that because recognizing him with a holiday may be coming up for a vote soon. I expect the racist McCain to vote against that as well.
“Business had concerns about ANOTHER federal holiday. (many pay for holiday pay/overtime, etc.. no business when closed, etc..)”
What businesses close on Federal Holidays?
Banks. Post Offices. Strip clubs.
Whoops! Strip clubs stay open.
(No, I don’t go to strip clubs, either. Never have, never will, I prefer the real thing.)
McCain employs the White Supremacist Richard Quinn on his campaign staff. Quinn had plenty of racist things to say about people like MLK and Nelson Mandela and thought we should elect “a maverick” like David Duke.
But Quinn is White so Republicans don’t care that he, like McCain, espouse racist rhetoric. Only Blacks can be racist in the eyes of a Republican.
From Alternet:
***********************
In 1983, McCain voted against passing a bill to designate the third Monday of every January as a federal holiday in honor of King. Four years later, then-Arizona Governor Evan Mecham rescinded Martin Luther King Day as a state holiday, saying it had been established through an illegal executive order by his Democratic predecessor.
McCain said he thought Mecham was correct in his decision.
Two years after that, McCain’s viewpoint began to change, but only gradually. In 1989, he urged lawmakers to make Martin Luther King Jr. day a state holiday, but said he was “still opposed to another federal holiday.”
“I support the (Arizona) Martin Luther King holiday,” he added, “because of the enormous proportions this issue has taken on as far as the image of our state and our treatment towards not only blacks but all minorities.”
By 2000, McCain had come full circle. In an interview with ABC News during the Republican primary, he said he regretted voting against the 1983 bill. “Yes,” he stated, “It was a wrong vote.”
Why did he make that decision, he was later asked.
“We didn’t like outsiders coming in and telling us what to do, how we would conduct this effort to get the majority of Arizona to recognize Dr. Martin Luther King as a holiday,” McCain told ABC. “I worked very hard to achieve that recognition of Dr. King. And I did resent it when people parachuted in from other parts of the country to try and tell us what to do.”
To his credit, McCain has been repentant on his earlier MLK Day positions. In 2000, he went to the South Carolina, following his primary loss, and condemned the Confederate flag, something he declined to do during his run for office then. And, on a segment of Hardball taped in February 2000, he described what he deemed a political evolution on the issue of MLK Day.
“I believe that Barry Goldwater [McCain’s political hero], to start with, regretted his vote on the 1964 Civil Rights Act,” he said. “I think that Barry grew, like all of us grow and evolve. In 1983, when I was brand-new in the Congress, I voted against the recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King. That was a mistake, OK? And later I had the chance to…help fight for…the recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King as a holiday in my state.”
*****************
http://www.alternet.org/module/email/?storyID=81013&type=wire
Irregardless of the person nominated, and their respective qualities, aren’t there enough National Holidays already. I feel that my mail, etc., are manned on a part time basis now as it is.??
I don’t like getting mail, anyway. I have a policy, I throw out every other piece of mail, regardless of where it came from.
As far as I am concerned, they can just deliver mail once a week.
/sarcasm/
“Banks. Post Offices. Strip clubs.”
Is that all the businesses which close for federal holidays. Wow WSCLark, I didn’t know that. Sure an awful lot of people on the lake on the 4th of July. And Christmas?
But using your logic, there are businesses which pay 1.5 time or double time for holiday pay.
Don’t work much or get out much do you?
But thanks for confirming. You posted a BS lie about McClame. Bad mouthing is completely permitable . But posting lies?
“Irregardless”
One of my pet peeves.
The word, “regardless” works just fine as designed.
jimmymac posted April 2, 2008 at 11:50 am
“They don’t want a President, they want a freaking late nite talk show host or an evolved Saturday Night Live caricature of a politician.”
How about a person like this?
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/time/1999/12/06/mccain.html
“A presidential candidate is not supposed to talk at length and on the record about the rules he broke or the strippers he dated, or the time he arrived so drunk that he fell through the screen door of the young lady he was wooing.
The candor tells you more than the content, and reporters sometimes just decide to take him off the record because they don’t want to see him flame out and burn up a great story.
…”
So drunk he fell through the screen door? That’d make a great Saturday Night Live skit!
H/T to http://www.dailyhowler.com — a great site to learn about our dysfunctional media.
“McCain employs the White Supremacist Richard Quinn on his campaign staff.”
Is he a racist? So it’s sort of like Obama and his preacher: I cannot blame Obama for what his preacher said….
(I don’t know why I’m defending McClame on this issue, the old fat will die of old age before reading his oath of office. Besides, we all know the black vote majority is going to Obama, with a little bit to Hillary. Another republican poor quality trait is not apealing to more blacks and minorities.)
Hold on, I’m supposed to get time and a half for working on holidays? I work for the Post Office and I have to work holidays and I don’t get extra pay. The USPS works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Somebody better inform them they have to take holidays off.
Banks aren’t federal institutions but they take the day off. So clearly it’s optional. But if you want to make it fair we can always get rid of the Christmas holiday and replace it with a holiday recognizing a figure which actually did exist in history.
Amway, when did Barack say anything racist? Did he say something like calling a bunch of Asians “Gooks”?
“But thanks for confirming. You posted a BS lie about McClame. Bad mouthing is completely permitable . But posting lies?”
Well, just for shits and grins, AmWay, post the LIE that I told.
Irrespective of your “pet peeve”, irregardless is in the dictionary. Perhaps you are syllable impaired?
I work for the Post Office and I have to work holidays and I don’t get extra pay.
Are you salary or hourly?
get rid of the Christmas holiday and replace it with a holiday recognizing a figure which actually did exist in history.
Jesus did exist. Many more writtings about Jesus other than the Bible.
irregardless - (Wiki) an illogical word is created. “Since the prefix ir- means ‘not’ (as it does with irrespective), and the suffix -less means ‘without,’ irregardless is a double negative.
Essentially, you are stating the opposite of what you intended when you use irregardless.
I’m hourly.
There are no contemporary writings about Jesus by people who lived during that time. You’d think someone would have taken notice of zombies roaming the Earth and a guy magically healing people. Nope, nothing. Jesus only exists in the images of stains in coffee cups.
Holidays
The Postal Service observes 10 holidays each year.
http://www.usps.com/employment/compbenefits.htm
“I still think that the 20 kids killed in Obama’s neighborhood, in the last 6 months, after all of that “neighborhood organizing” Obama did, is an issue.”
Econ clean it up they were not all in his neighborhood but pretty much all around the city — quit spreading lies
“The Postal Service observes 10 holidays each year.”
And yet we still remain open. Go figure.
You should talk to someone about this.
i. Pay for Holiday Work
(1) A full-time employee under a CWS program who performs nonovertime work on a holiday (or a day designated as the “in lieu of” holiday under 5 U.S.C. 6103(b) or (d) or section 3 of E.O. 11582) is entitled to basic pay plus premium pay equal to his or her rate of basic pay for the work that is not in excess of the employee’s compressed work schedule for that day. (See 5 CFR 610.407.)
Note: Since CWS schedules are fixed schedules, employees must not be required to move their regularly scheduled days off solely to avoid payment of holiday premium pay or to reduce the number of holiday hours included in the basic work requirement. See 5 U.S.C. 6101(a)(3)(E).
(2) A part-time employee under a CWS program is entitled to holiday premium pay only for work performed during his or her compressed work schedule on a holiday. A part-time employee scheduled to work on a day designated as an “in lieu of” holiday for full-time employees is not entitled to holiday premium pay for work performed on that day, since part-time employees are not entitled to “in lieu of” holidays. (See 5 CFR 610.406(b).)
http://www.opm.gov/oca/aws/html/comp.asp
Doesn’t matter Sol, I’m not classified in those two categories. I do the same work for less pay and less benefits. Such is the way of capitalism.
Seriously, if you aren’t getting it, you are getting screwed.
Holiday Work
“Holiday work” means nonovertime work performed by employees during their regularly scheduled daily tour of duty on a holiday. (See 5 CFR 550.103.)
Holiday Premium Pay
For each hour of holiday work, employees receive holiday premium pay. Holiday premium pay is equal to an employee’s rate of basic pay. Employees who are required to work on a holiday receive their rate of basic pay, plus holiday premium pay, for each hour of holiday work. (See 5 U.S.C. 5546(b).)
Employees who are required to perform any work during basic (nonovertime) holiday hours are entitled to a minimum of 2 hours of holiday premium pay. (See 5 U.S.C. 5546(c).)
https://www.opm.gov/oca/worksch/HTML/HOLIDAY.asp
You are a postal worker? Civil servant? This is the law. Are you a private contractor or something? Do you draw your pay from the government?
Not trying to get personal or “out you”, but this is the law. You have a case if you are a civil servant.
Sol, while I’m far from claiming any expertise in the matter in which Doug finds himself, I would note that as he is an hourly employee of USPS (as I understand it), he is not covered by the OPM regulations you quote, as USPS is not a federal agency subject to Civil Service, but rather a quasi-public corporation.
“quasi-public”=”quasi-governmental”.
According to the Wiki article, the USPS is statutorily described as an “independent agency of the Executive branch of government”.
Doesn’t the USPS use the Civil Service Agency to track, administer and monitor employees?
I mean, they had the same pay scales (General Service) as other civil servants. (least they used to - haven’t looked at them in years)
Technically speaking, Commerce Day is probably a church-state violation, but I know plenty of atheists who’d be pissed if they lost the day off.
In my family, it’s “Let’s buy crap we can’t afford for people who don’t need it, then get together and party” Day. There are some Christians among us, but the yi-ho-God thing never comes up.
I’ll be damned. When I was in, everyone talked about going into the USPS because you retained your benefits and time served towards retirement.
“Postal employee benefits are similar to federal employees’ benefits which are featured on this site.”
http://federaljobs.net/usps.htm
But wait, what is this?
“and they receive generous holiday, vacation and sick leave allowances.”
http://federaljobs.net/usps.htm
So this is a farce then as Doug points out.
So this is a farce then as Doug points out.
Yeah, the ‘no holiday pay’ thing is something even the most evil of private corporations won’t do. Geez.
Private corporations are not statutorily required to pay ‘holiday pay’ in the absence of what is called a ’special contract’ between the employer and employee. Of course, collectively bargained agreements have provisions for holiday pay, a ’special contract’ if one will.
While many private corporations may well provide ‘holiday pay’, it is an inducement to its employees to work on the holiday, and not otherwise required by statute.
It is amazing how some of those who think McCain is “racist” for, at first, not wanting a Federal day off for the Rev. Martin Luther King are such radical atheists.
The Rev. King was a human being with human mistakes, but a very brave man and a person to be admired.
The Rev. King ALSO violated the “Separation of Church and State” FALSE doctrine that our Blog Atheistss try to feed us all the time.
The Rev. King actively used churches in his political cause.
(AS does Obama)
Actually Econ101, I have to disagree with you.
MLK used churches for social change not political change.
Sure, the venue to ultimately change racial inequality was institutional and needed to be changed at the political level, but what MLK did was purely social protest of that condition.
That imo, is acceptable when there are those that are unjustly oppressed.
Econ, can you show here either Dr. King, or Obama have encouraged people to vote for a specific candidate in a Church Worship setting?? OR raised money for a political campaign during a Church Worship setting??