Most of the rest of the week will find us happily attending to some personal matters. That doesn't necessarily mean absolutely positively no posting whatsoever. For instance, we'd probably feel compelled to fire up the Internets if Jim Gibbons declares that in Nevada, there aren't any gays. Or if he's arrested. But the odds against either of those things happening, by the end of the week, anyway, are at least 8 to 5.
We would also be convinced to start typing if Rep. Dean Heller and Sen. John Ensign, on behalf of their trainer Little Mikey Slanker, call their Republican Nevada congressional colleague and erstwhile (?) fellow Slanker stablemate Rep. Jon Porter a socialist and ... oh, never mind. That already happened.
Meantime, let's have a quiz! No, relax, it's more of a survey. It emulates the mainstream media by virtue of its preoccupation with the horse-race element of presidential politics. But it also borrows from the Bush administration and its Republican apologists in that it is decidedly not based on anything having to do with sound science. Consider it the Gleaner's small bit in the nation's glorious and patriotic war on science.
On to the survey! Follow the links, make your selections, then marvel at how the opinions of Gleaner readers differ dramatically from or are exactly the same as conventional wisdom.
1. So, will you be caucusing in Nevada come Jan. 19?
2. Assuming you find yourself caucusing Jan. 19, who will you support?
3. Who do you think will be the likely Republican nominee?
4. Who will win the presidential election — a Democrat or a Republican?
5. Bonus Wildcard round: Which of the following (includes Gibbons' arrest, VP Ensign, etc) do you think is most likely to happen?
A couple notes/caveats/whatever:
1. Though we can think of nothing we've done to encourage the behavior, it's come to our attention that a small but fervent number of readers insist on taking stuff seriously. Thus, it's not hard to imagine a subset of readers, particularly those familiar with polling techniques by virtue of volunteering on a campaign that one time (or working for one now), complaining that the survey questions would be more valid or interesting or complete if they they were phrased this way or that. Lest there be any misunderstanding, rest assured that we totally don't care. Having said that, by all means, go here and write your own poll, and provide a link to it in the comments if you like.
2. While we genuinely want to know who you think the War Party will pick as their nominee, we confess that we're also mildly interested to see if some Paultard (as apparently the entire Internets have dubbed Ron Paul's geeky supporters while we weren't paying attention to Ron Paul) stumbles upon the Gleaner, and then notifies the other Paultards through the SuperPaultard Network, and Ron Paul ends up with 68 times more support than anybody else — or if that whole fad has passed already. Oh, and yes we know Gingrich isn't an announced candidate.
Finally, if you're looking for yet another way to kill time at work, or if you just want to help the lowly Gleaner amass market data that can be used to sell some more ads, please, by all means, spend a few minutes to take our reader survey. Gracias, as they say in Pahrump.
The republican party will go down in flames this year. They will nominate Giuliani or Thompson but neither can win. Only Ron Paul can win as a republican. Whats sad is that I was at a Ron Paul rally in San Antonio about a month ago. The crowd was huge, well over 1000 people, and overwhelmingly young enthusiastic grass roots supporters. These people could be the future of the republican party but the other republicans would rather score points with those who support the war by denigrating Pauls stance. I doubt that if Ron Paul doesn't win the nomination that many in crowd would vote for the republican nominee. A correction will happen but it seems the republicans will put off for 4 years so they can defend and promote their war. This is why they cannot win.
Posted by: ray | 09/26/2007 at 10:23 AM
Survey didn't work for me.
Meanwhile, not quite so amusing, the Senate passed the Kyl-Lieberman amendment, which (as if you couldn't guess based on its sponsors) designates the Iranian armed forces as a terrorist organization, thereby authorizing the US government to take action against it.
Among those who promise they will end the war in Iraq if elected President, Obama continued to show that he can overcome partisan divisions by avoiding tough issues -- he skipped the vote.
And Hillary Clinton joined with almost all the Republicans to vote for it.
Posted by: Gus | 09/26/2007 at 10:52 AM
On Thursday, Vice President Dick Cheney is appearing at a big ol' fundraiser in Vegas for the Republican National Committee. Joining him will be billionaire and backer of Freedom's Watch—the right-wing's pro-war ad machine that's been attacking MoveOn for weeks—Sheldon Adelson.
This is just the kind of party we need to crash! That's why our friends at Americans Against Escalation in Iraq are planning a big rally outside the event.
While Republican big-wigs are inside dining on caviar and champagne making small-talk about how to keep the war in Iraq going, a bunch of us will hold a rally outside with the press to spread our "Support the Troops—End the War" message—a position that over 70% of Americans support.1
We need a good crowd to show the media that the Republicans—no matter how many fat checks they write—can't hide from the American people on this war. Can you join us tomorrow?
What: Rally and press event outside of RNC fundraiser
Who: Iraq vets and their families, community leaders and MoveOn members like you
Where: Meet at N. Rampart Blvd. and Tournament Hills Drive in front of the guard shack
Las Vegas, NV 89134 (Click here for map: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3000)
Parking is located across the street at Bruce Trent Park
When: Thursday, September 27 @ 10:30 a.m.
In the lead up to the rally, Iraq vets will be giving interviews on the local radio shows advocating for a speedy end to the war. At the event itself, organizers will be handing out signs and stickers with our message. If enough of us show up, we'll steal the spotlight from Cheney and the fat-cats and dominate the headlines with our "Support the Troops—End the War" rally cry.
Come join us, bring your friends and neighbors and help bring our troops home now.
We hope to see you tomorrow.
Posted by: RussBBinVegas@aol.com | 09/26/2007 at 11:12 AM
Don't be surprised if the Republicans nominate Willard. Yeah he's a Mormon but nobody thought a Catholic would ever get elected until Kennedy came along.
Posted by: The Penguin | 09/26/2007 at 01:05 PM
Great video...
John Edwards at the SEIU Political Action Conference
Posted by: mc | 09/26/2007 at 01:35 PM
Those Richardson stafers sure are efficient at getting their volunteers to visit this website and vote.
Isn't this the 2nd Gleaner poll they have run away with?
Posted by: Pedro | 09/29/2007 at 02:11 PM