Posts Made By: James Brown

Hi all, from Jeanie Babcock, Jim's wonderful wife:


[COLOR="Blue"]"Jim is slowly improving. He is now aware of what happened and what the situation is. We received some good news. Before the heart attack and stroke the doctors were deciding whether he would have to have his left leg amputated. They have now concluded that it will not be necessary. They can save the leg with more surgery and prayers.

He now watches some TV, so he knows what is going on. For about a week now I have been reading him some of the messages on the astronomy and politics site. He especially enjoyed Herb's messages about becoming an Obama supporter. He laughed so hard I thought that he was going to hurt himself. So besides solving all of the world's problems you all are good medicine for Jim as well.

Thank you all for being such good friends."[/COLOR]

Let me get this straight. The Red Sox are down 7-zip in the 7th in an elimination game and they come back to win it 8-7??? 8O

They are undoubtedly the greatest team to ever grace a ball field. If there was anything left in my 401k I'd liquidate it and put it all on the Sox to win the Series in 4.

By the way Rick, when the Sox complete the inevitable comeback against Tampa, do you cheer for them or your 1st love in the Series?

Jim

Gentlemen:

Why all of the preemptive whining from the left? In the threads below you will see allegations that the evil right is going to "steal the election." You will read that Republican voters should not be able to sleep at night. It has been posted that the right's only tactics are fear-mongering and hate. The Bradley effect, Race Race Race! etc. It goes on ad-nauseum.

Let me tell all of you something; if McCain wins, it will be because his values more closely match the values of the majority of the swing state voters. Period. In Colorado and in other swing states this means fiscal conservatism.

Obama and the other Democrats who are running in Colorado know this well. They are campaigning on a message that sound absolutely Reaganesque because of this reality.

I don't watch much TV but I hear a ton of commuter radio ads every day. It is all about the economy of course. The war is a non-issue. The radio ads for D candidates (senator, several representatives, Obama) are all about tax cuts and controlling spending! This is historically Republican turf, (although admittedly not Bush's forte.) The new and expensive programs Obama details on his web page are not featured in his radio ads at all!

Friends, at least in Colorado, the Democratic strategy is clear. Fact: the majority of Colorado voters are fiscally conservative. Therefore; run as a better fiscal conservative. The Democratic strategy is brilliant and it appears to be working. If the Republicans cede this turf they deserve to lose.

In November, 2005 one of my favorite astromarters, who unfortunately no longer posts said,

"A liberal is a person who believes in the power of Government to improve the lives of its citizens" Alexander Wilson.

I think this is an elegant and striking definition. Does Obama believe this? I think he certainly does. Good for him. Will he use this maxim in an ad or in a debate? Not so likely. He knows that it is not going to resonate with conservative and independent swing state voters. Obama certainly knows how to run a campaign.

Here's the deal though: Do us fiscal conservatives really trust Obama to deliver the goods? Some do. Some won't. The question I'm still asking myself is: Will McCain do any better on spending control? This is the issue that is going to determine who wins Colorado. A variation of these economic issues will determine who wins OH, PA, FL, VA and therefore the election.

I'm gonna shout now:

If Obama loses, it will not be because of:

Race!
Fear!
Stupidity!
Dirty tricks!
Cheating!

If Obama loses it will be because the swing state voters are predominately fiscally conservative and Obama failed to convince these voters that he really means it when he talks about tax cuts for 95% of the people and controlled spending.

Now quit whining about the stupid/racist/cheater crap already!

Jim

I love the drama and emotion of a close race. Tonight just might deliver! Did you see the final Battleground Poll predictions? Here is the link. You must go to page 2 of this pdf.

http://www.tarrance.com/files/Final-ballot-final-prediction.pdf

The truly non-partisan Tarrance Group/Lake Research Partners/George Washington University Battleground Poll has been uncannily accurate in the past (see page 2 of the link). This year, Battleground’s final prediction has Obama leading the nationwide popular vote by less than 2%. McCain could very well win the EC with those numbers.

Contrary to the expectations set by the major polling firms and the press, we could be in for a long night. If the Republican turnout is huge, well, this could be really interesting.

Jim

ABC called Pennsylvania and New Hampshire for Obama the moment the polls closed. Obama holding PA and NH is not unexpected, but the apparent non-competitiveness of these states is very bad for Mac nonetheless.

Jim

End game for McCain. Not surprising.

Jim

Good to hear from you Jim and Jeannie. We are looking forward to having Jim back here full-time as soon as possible!

Jim

Fellas:

I've wasted a few moments using the search function to read some early astromart references to Barack Obama. A few of the interesting ones are copied below. Rick Shaffer definitely gets my nod as prognosticator-in-chief with Chris Sauer a close second. Rick last posted on Astromart in late 2004. I trust that he is OK.

Enjoy!

Jim

[COLOR="Red"]"Obama is way to left of center. Wonder if the the Dems will learn this in 2008? Hope they don't. But some friendly advise would be, don't pick another Senator to run, find a more centrist State Govenor, might have a chance in 2008 then. I should shut up. But if its Hillary or any other senator, it will be a republican president and Congress in 2008 and perhaps 2012 as well."

Doug Matulis, 11/3/04[/COLOR]


[COLOR="Blue"]Alexander Wilson said:

"I would like to see Obama run for President next time around"

Kevin Conville replied:

"Obama. A black man. Look at the map again my friend. Where do you think that all important eleven fingered albino vote resides. As long as we're being held hostage by the south there will NEVER be a black man, woman of any race, or jew as President. Count on that."

11/3/04[/COLOR]


[COLOR="Red"]Russell said: "Mc Cain vs. Hillary in 2008."

Jim replied: Absolutely not! 2008 will be a "to be determined" moderate Democrat, like Bill Clinton with a zipper v. Guiliani (Maybe Barack Obama, but he is quite young)

11/03/04 [/COLOR]


[COLOR="Blue"]"The sooner you abandon Dean and Sharpton, the sooner you can bring Barack Obama to the forefront. He may very well be the man to return the democrats to their former glory. Heck, based on what I've seen of him, he'll probably even get my vote."

Regards, Chris Sauer 11/05/04[/COLOR]


[COLOR="Red"]"The Republican Party has one in Sen. John McCain. If he were the GOP candidate for president 2008, I would find it hard to vote for any Democrat I know about at this time, despite the fact that Sen. McCain and I don't share some political beliefs. (However, Barak Obama of IL, who was just elected to the Senate, looks like a man of great quality. Will he have enough experience in 4 years to be considered for the presidency? Probably not.)

Just remember, though. You don't have to agree with my politics to be my friend...."

Best Regards, Rick Shaffer 11/07/04[/COLOR]


[COLOR="Blue"]"That pretty much leaves Barak Obama, who has just been elected Senator from Illinois. What's remarkable about Mr. Obama is that he's a slightly-left-of-center Democrat who got a LOT of support in conservative downstate Illinois, not just in Chicago. That suggests to me that he'd be good at including a wide variety of Americans in the democratic process, rather than engaging in "the politics of fear", as Bush and cronies do.

I'd love to have a contest between John McCain and Barak Obama. Regardless of their politics, it appears that they are both men of great character and quality. Wouldn't a contest between two such candidates be refreshing?

Best Regards, Rick Shaffer
Sedona, AZ 11/16/04[/COLOR]


[COLOR="Red"]"(Obama is)the flavor of the month, like Hillary was a month or two ago. November '08 is still 2 years away.

I'd certainly give him better odds than Hillary though. I think republicans have been crossing their fingers for years hoping aloud that she'll be the Dems' nominee."

Paul Kammueller 10/26/06[/COLOR]


[COLOR="Blue"]"IMO, a woman or a minority will never be elected president in my lifetime. If you think the Red states are "red" now, imagine if a Black man was nominated...by either party."

Tom Steinberg 10/26/06[/COLOR]


[COLOR="Red"]"It is amazing to me how our left leaning group pretty much believes that the US is just a bunch of bigots. Around here these days I am about as far right as exists, and I live in a fly over red state; I completely disagree with the consensus. IMO the US is ready for the right woman or minority President. I believe that Obama will be the next President. Hilary will not be the next President, not because of her gender, but rather because she is Hilary. Just as anyone can see that Kerry is a pompous jerk, Hilary rubs a lot of people wrong.

The interesting question is why does the left and center believe that the country is so bigoted? Are they projecting their views on the masses? I am sure that many will say otherwise, but if cons are open to a lib like Obama, then I think this demonstrates the fallacy of the typical stereotypes of left and right. If Obama loses the primaries it will demonstrate the bigotry of the left. The left may not be ready for a minority or woman President, even if the country is."

Jim Babcock 12/19/06[/COLOR]


[COLOR="Blue"]"As for your Oprah thread, the Orca endorsement and active campaigning for Obama could actually keep me from voting for him (half-kidding). I think I have a similar visceral reaction towards Oprah that many have towards Hillary."

Rick Margolies 11/29/07[/COLOR]

40 years ago today Arthur Brown released the "The Crazy World of Arthur Brown” a psychedelic classic. Tip'o the hat to the KBCO morning show for this tidbit. When the hit single "Fire" was played on the radio to commemorate this occasion, I was immediately reminded of our own Rob and Doug.

No doubt our dynamic duo spend an extraordinary amount of time dressed up like Arthur Brown, in the privacy of their own homes of course. (Not that there is anything wrong with that…)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOErZuzZpS8

Jim

[COLOR="Blue"]Fire

I am the god of hell fire and I bring you:
Fire, I'll take you to burn.
Fire, I'll take you to learn.
I'll see you burn!
You fought hard and you saved and learned,
but all of it's going to burn.
And your mind, your tiny mind,
you know you've really been so blind.
Now 's your time burn your mind.
You're falling far too far behind.
Oh no, oh no, oh no, you gonna burn!
Fire, to destroy all you've done.
Fire, to end all you've become.
I'll feel you burn!
You've been living like a little girl,
in the middle of your little world.
And your mind, your tiny mind,
you know you've really been so blind.
Now 's your time burn your mind,
you're falling far too far behind
[/COLOR]

We are having a spell or exceptionally clear and warm weather in Colorado. For the past two days Venus has been an easy naked eye object starting at about 12:30 in the afternoon, provided you know where to look and hold your right hand over the blazing sun.

I just showed some co-workers the daytime planet and they were amazed! If you happen to be going out soon look about three "fist lengths" to the left of the sun along the sun's arc in the southern sky. You can't miss it!

Jim