Comments on: thank you Bill Richardson http://www.amystevensonline.com/blog/2008/01/12/thank-you-bill-richardson/ a virtual sewer pipe to channel the random thoughts that pour out of my brain Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:54:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ali B. http://www.amystevensonline.com/blog/2008/01/12/thank-you-bill-richardson/comment-page-1/#comment-90927 Ali B. Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:50:49 +0000 http://www.amystevensonline.com/blog/2008/01/12/thank-you-bill-richardson/#comment-90927 Hey, Amy - I heart you, but I gotta' take issue with your quick dismissal of John Edwards because "a little bit of greed is good." I agree: a little bit of greed IS good. But runaway greed is very, very bad for all of us. Look at how predatory lending has been the catalyst for the entire world economy melting down. Look at the Houston teachers losing their entire retirement savings, because of a few over-greedy folks at Enron. Runaway greed is very, very dangerous - for all of us. The point is moot, because Edwards is clearly not a viable candidate, but his message is an important one, and I think it's far too simplistic to dismiss the message as "he doesn't like greed." Here's one of my problems with Hillary: she is just as polarizing a figure as Bush is. One side hates Hillary just as much as the other side hates W...so, yes, she might be able to win, and if she does, she can probably squeak through a number of policy victories by getting a mere 51% of congressional votes here and there. And then in a few more years, we'll pass the country to another polarizing figure, who will undo things with 51% margins, as well. But the corrosive divide between red and blue won't go away, not with her. We won't even be able to start bridging the divide. My other problem with her are her ties to huge $$. You can claim they all have it, which is true, and it's true that Obama's getting more big $ these days, but he launched his presidential campaign refusing PAC $ and lobbyist money (PAC money still makes up 0% of his totals for this campaign) - Hillary took it all. The truth is, Obama is viable precisely because of that vision... because so many individual donors under $1000 reached into their pockets to support him. No major candidate is a saint but her ties to big $ are bigger, and deeper, than any of the other candidates. Their pie charts really do look different. So, I dunno. I just can't root for her. Not yet. Not even as much as I'd love, love to have my girls grow up with a woman president. Not even as much as I admire her skills, and strategy, and determination. For the time being, I'm still rooting against her in these races. Hey, Amy – I heart you, but I gotta’ take issue with your quick dismissal of John Edwards because “a little bit of greed is good.” I agree: a little bit of greed IS good. But runaway greed is very, very bad for all of us. Look at how predatory lending has been the catalyst for the entire world economy melting down. Look at the Houston teachers losing their entire retirement savings, because of a few over-greedy folks at Enron. Runaway greed is very, very dangerous – for all of us. The point is moot, because Edwards is clearly not a viable candidate, but his message is an important one, and I think it’s far too simplistic to dismiss the message as “he doesn’t like greed.”

Here’s one of my problems with Hillary: she is just as polarizing a figure as Bush is. One side hates Hillary just as much as the other side hates W…so, yes, she might be able to win, and if she does, she can probably squeak through a number of policy victories by getting a mere 51% of congressional votes here and there. And then in a few more years, we’ll pass the country to another polarizing figure, who will undo things with 51% margins, as well. But the corrosive divide between red and blue won’t go away, not with her. We won’t even be able to start bridging the divide.

My other problem with her are her ties to huge $$. You can claim they all have it, which is true, and it’s true that Obama’s getting more big $ these days, but he launched his presidential campaign refusing PAC $ and lobbyist money (PAC money still makes up 0% of his totals for this campaign) – Hillary took it all. The truth is, Obama is viable precisely because of that vision… because so many individual donors under $1000 reached into their pockets to support him. No major candidate is a saint but her ties to big $ are bigger, and deeper, than any of the other candidates. Their pie charts really do look different.

So, I dunno. I just can’t root for her. Not yet. Not even as much as I’d love, love to have my girls grow up with a woman president. Not even as much as I admire her skills, and strategy, and determination. For the time being, I’m still rooting against her in these races.

]]> By: molly http://www.amystevensonline.com/blog/2008/01/12/thank-you-bill-richardson/comment-page-1/#comment-90265 molly Sun, 20 Jan 2008 01:01:05 +0000 http://www.amystevensonline.com/blog/2008/01/12/thank-you-bill-richardson/#comment-90265 Rock on Amy. I love Obama too, and I would be also be delighted with Hilliary. I would be relieved to have someone who knew what the whole president deal was all about. She has such courage and strength. I forgive her hardness, I can see myself wanting to play tough if I were in her shoes. It is hard to be vulnerable when you are also trying to kick ass, and run in the race of your life. Rock on Hilliary. Rock on Amy. I love Obama too, and I would be also be delighted with Hilliary. I would be relieved to have someone who knew what the whole president deal was all about. She has such courage and strength. I forgive her hardness, I can see myself wanting to play tough if I were in her shoes. It is hard to be vulnerable when you are also trying to kick ass, and run in the race of your life. Rock on Hilliary.

]]> By: The End of Motherhood? http://www.amystevensonline.com/blog/2008/01/12/thank-you-bill-richardson/comment-page-1/#comment-89226 The End of Motherhood? Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:17:29 +0000 http://www.amystevensonline.com/blog/2008/01/12/thank-you-bill-richardson/#comment-89226 I had exactly the same reaction in the beginning of last week regarding Hillary! I think it was a "tipping point" for many women. I realized that I am furious at the way she has been treated simply because she is a woman. The scrutiny of her is much harsher and more personal than it is of any of the male candidates and as a woman I find that deeply insulting. Anyway, glad to find a kindred spirit out here in the blogosphere. I had exactly the same reaction in the beginning of last week regarding Hillary! I think it was a “tipping point” for many women. I realized that I am furious at the way she has been treated simply because she is a woman. The scrutiny of her is much harsher and more personal than it is of any of the male candidates and as a woman I find that deeply insulting. Anyway, glad to find a kindred spirit out here in the blogosphere.

]]> By: Southview http://www.amystevensonline.com/blog/2008/01/12/thank-you-bill-richardson/comment-page-1/#comment-89207 Southview Sun, 13 Jan 2008 10:03:39 +0000 http://www.amystevensonline.com/blog/2008/01/12/thank-you-bill-richardson/#comment-89207 Amy.....The sad realization in our country's political arena is that there is only (two) parties vying for control. Why only two? Actually their are more, but we are not allowed to hear from them. And the bigger problem is that they are not really very different from each other. We need more voices and choices to choose from, if real change is to come. Sadly I must reveal to you, that no matter who becomes president, their will NOT be any drastic changes that will effect your lifestyle or dependence on oil. They will throw out a few crumbs and waste hugh amounts of tax money on do nothing studies with no money for development. And you can take that to the bank! Amy…..The sad realization in our country’s political arena is that there is only (two) parties vying for control. Why only two? Actually their are more, but we are not allowed to hear from them. And the bigger problem is that they are not really very different from each other. We need more voices and choices to choose from, if real change is to come. Sadly I must reveal to you, that no matter who becomes president, their will NOT be any drastic changes that will effect your lifestyle or dependence on oil. They will throw out a few crumbs and waste hugh amounts of tax money on do nothing studies with no money for development. And you can take that to the bank!

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