Political

February 01, 2005

State of the Union

Tomorrow night President Bush will be giving the first State of the Union speech of his second term.

I'll be in the Washington DC area while he gives his speech. I don't know if there are any political bars around the DC area that will air the speech, but I will look around.

Key things that Bush will cover:

• Iraq Elections
• Social Security
• National Security (Post 9/11 Era)
• Economy

Hopefully he'll outline the Iraq exit strategy. Let's see how much of the speech is focus on International affairs and domestic affairs. Since this is a State of the Union, it should focus on mostly domestic issues.

November 03, 2004

Election Results

Well looks like my predictions were correct, George W. Bush gets to keep the Whitehouse as his home address for 4 more years.

The good news is that the past two Presidents that served 2 terms, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, had very positive economic growth in their second term. So, expect some good times ahead!

Today I had the rare opportunity to be near the White House the day after a Presidential election. There were a few protesters at Lafayette Park, one even had a bull horn complaining about the election. Overall it was a quiet place. When I left a young couple was lighting candles, probably as a peace candle.

November 02, 2004

Election Day 2004

Well today is election day and I believe that George W. Bush will probably win this election. I don't think it will be a close race and a decision will probably happen around 11 pm tonight. I believe who ever wins Florida or Ohio will probably take the big prize.

I voted this morning at 8 am and there were 175 other people that voted before me. There were no long lines.

Expect the Drudge Report to have some "early returns" probably posted around 5pm tonight.

Real Clear Politics polling data has Bush out in front by about 2%. Bush has maintained a lead since early September.

At lunch today John Kerry will be at the Union Oyster House having:

"A plate of Littlenecks, which are smaller, cherrystone clams, plus a cup of clam chowder," - James Malinn, owner of the Union Oyster House

Tonight John Kerry will be at Copley Square hosting a party with friends and family. Also expected are Sheryl Crow, Carole King, James Taylor and Bon Jovi.

November 01, 2004

Down to the Wire!

The latest polls show that the President Election looks to be a very close one, with some radio stations saying that it could be closer than last time.

John Kerry will be having a party in Copley Square tomorrow night. I was planning on going in, however, it appears that it will be raining most of the night. I'll decide some time tomorrow if its worth being there in person. The last person to have a presidential party in Boston was Michael Dukakis.

We'll have to wait and see what happens.

October 14, 2004

Presidential Debate

At the Debate last night you might have noticed an eagle behind the two presidential canidates.

This eagle was pointing in the wrong direction!

Has the Eagle always faced the olive branch?

Yes, since the first die was cast, the eagle has always faced right and has held the olive branch in its right talon.

Presidential flags, seals (and coats of arms) showed the eagle facing left, towards the arrows, until 1945 when President Truman changed a number of items in the presidential flag and seal [Executive Order 9646].One of the changes was to have the eagle face right, towards the olive branch "This new flag faces the eagle toward the staff," Truman explained, "which is looking to the front all the time when you are on the march, and also has him looking at the olive branch for peace, instead of the arrows for war ...” President Truman meant the shift in the eagle's gaze to be seen as symbolic of a nation both on the march and dedicated to peace. It has remained that way ever since.

Contrary to a popular myth, the eagle in the Presidential seal does not flip his gaze during times of war. Although when Truman and Churchill were looking at the new symbol on a train car, Churchill remarked that he thought the eagle's head should be on a swivel. That may be the origin of the myth. In any case, it is incorrect. The arrows and olive branches are always held in the same claws.