We had a small dinner for the baby jebus day. I don't go much for the holiday, but I do love the food. If you are tired of dry cornbread I have two tips: 1) Cook it in a cast iron, and 2) use this recipie: Texas Home Cooking, Jalapeño Cornbread (Jamison and Jamison, 1993, p. 318). It needs no extra oil or butter. It's moist. It's cheesy. It's full of sweet corn. It's yummy. It's the best stuff ever.


I did up a duck for dinner. It came out fucking awesome. I just put some lime, and sage in the body cavity, and surrounded the quacker with red and fingerling potatoes, carrots, shallots, and chicken stock. I did it in the cast iron so that I could use the drippings for gravy, which may be the most wonderful gravy ever. Before:

During:

After 3 hours:

I don't have any pics of the gravy, or Naomi's avacado pie, but they were amazing. It's a good thing I don't eat like this all the time....

As if a picture of gravy would be any good....

I was out in the field last week, and most of the fish we caught were about this size. This was a darter from the San Gabriel River. I forget exactly what species.


Then we got this one. This was a 1m flathead catfish that we got in a shallow little eddy. It doesn't seem like a river this size should have very many of these. The pics below are of it's mouth, which was huge, and of the little sunfish which was nearly eaten. I would have liked to get a sample from him, but I couldn't bring myself to take this fish for the less than 5 grams of sample that I needed. I should have clipped the adipose fin, but didn't think of it in time...




At the final site for this week's sampling, we found this. What would 14 boxes of pseudoephedrine, with no more than two boxes of any given brand be used for? Hmmm, I wonder. Meth anyone? I will not miss Tehuacana Creek. I feel violated every time I go there.


There's something in the water in Waco (well lithium, but I'm not so sure there isn't something else). I can see a West and South or East and North, or another combination of 90° off direction highways. But really, North and South on the same stretch of road, when you are travelling either due North or South?

Back in the dark ages, when I rode a BMX bike, this shit wasn't even dreamed of. Check out about 3:15 in where he pulls off a front flip-tail whip. Insane.

We are in the middle of a drought here in central Texas. A bad one. They keep putting rain 4-5 days out in the forecast. Maybe 5 drops fall out of the sky. Last summer not withstanding (where it rained almost every day in June and July) we are approaching the drought of the '50s.
That red in the middle of the state. That's us. We've gotten about 6" all year. Normal is about 35". And people insist on watering their lawns...

One of the good things about a Texas drought in the fall and winter is the great weather. I've recently been able to find the time to go mountain biking for first regular time in a couple of years. It turns out that there are a few nice trails here in San Marcos. We've got our own version of the Austin Greenbelt. The last couple of weeks have been amazing.

One of the nicer spots on the Upper Purgatory Creek greenbelt

It varies from wide open

To fun through the trees

Back to the open...

In and out, tight and twisty...

Then there are the rocky sections. Yes there's a trail there. There was a time when I'd work on riding that. Not so much anymore.

Oh, and it's Texas, so there are the requisite poky things. It's not a teddy bear cholla, but it wouldn't feel good...

Fall in Texas...

I helped get Kris a bike earlier this year and we actually got her out on a trail that didn't bite her. This is on an un-named trail in town.

A view from the ridge over the Hill Country. There's lots of rocks out there. Not a lot of trail, but a lot of rock.

I may have to start climbing again, Purgatory has a bouldering area. It may turn into the San Marcos Dualathon. Or better yet the San Marcos Tri: mountain bike, climb, float the river.

So far I've found three areas to ride in town. Another couple of weeks and I may shoot for a Sunday trifecta ride....

Hooray Beer!

Now that the political season is over, it's time for other interests... Here is what I've been drinking lately:

Lagunitas Censored Ale = Dangerously good. It's a great copper ale. Not too sweet. Not over-hopped for the style. Yummy.


Deschutes Brewing Company Black Butte Porter: Nectar of the Gods. This is the best porter EVER. Period. Perfectly balanced. Not too heavy. Recently available in Texas. Now if we can just get AVBC into the state...


Another CA beer recently available in Texas. It's a good example of a Marzen. I'm not sure what makes it different than a Bock, but it sure goes down nice.


It's for a good cause, so I had to pick up a sixer. They are a relatively new brewery out of Fort Worth. A portion of the proceeds goes to protection of endangered and native species. The Texas Blind Salamander is both, and local to where I live. It's o.k., a little sweet and underhopped for my tastes. I want a pale ale to have some bite. Maybe I'm spoiled by my time in NorCal, but Sierra Nevada is a proper pale. It's almost has a belgain flavor with how underhopped it is. Don't be afraid of the hops!


There are a few really good Texas beers which I will get to at some point (Real Brewing Company, Independence Brewing Company, St. Arnolds) and some which I won't since they only serve at the brewery or at bars (wierd Texas laws... Live Oak, North by Northwest, Draught Horse...) and believe it or not, Texas makes awesome vodka (Tito's, Dripping Springs...)

Happy drinking...

'nuff said.


I believe this is from stevemb. If someone knows who to give credit to, I'll gladly correct.

I don't know where this one came from, but Obama as Lebowski... Brilliant.

I've been buried in school so haven't posted anything for a while.
Got this off of DailyKos. I think it summarizes the race pretty well.

So, I hate the horror movies like The Saw or Hostel. Gratuitous violence is not my thing. However, I do like a good sci-fi thriller or something so campy that it's funny, and as such, I was really hoping the new M. Night. Shyamalan movie, The Happening, would be good. It's not. At all. I'm glad he got away from his twist at the end, but at least Unbreakable was fun. If you have even the slightest bit of scientific knowledge, then you will be nothing but frustrated by it. Is it a plant revolt? Is it the government? Fucking tell a story. Groan. Plants don't cause wind. Plants don't "evolve" on command. arrrrrgh.

Finally, a biofuel that doesn't use food crops: Sapphire Energy uses algae to make "green crude" which can be refined to gasoline or diesel, and unlike other biofuels the green crude can be shipped in existing pipelines. Read about it here or here. Competition with agricultural land is one of the problems with standard biofuels. That, and even cellulosic ethanol requires growing large stands of switchgrass, which is a highly invasive non-native plant in most areas. I don't know how much dinojuice could be replaced with this process, but it is a start, and should have the potential to be upscaled more than other biofuels.

Since $5/gallon gas isn't that far off, maybe people will start driving less. I think it is going to fundamentally change how we live. Much of the development in the US has been in exburb sprawl. At $5/gal. people will have to live closer to work, and consider other forms of transportation. It screws people who live in rural areas, and those that have to drive, but for the vast majority of people who have made the choice to commute 40-100 miles per day because housing was cheap in the exburbs, it changes that choice, and urban center areas are going to be a lot more desirable, even if there isn't the same amount of space. Europe has been living this way for years. Now is not the time to own in a bedroom community. I think it will fundamntally change San Marcos. Currently we've got just shy of 30K students. The school plans for a full 30K within 5 years. Right now, at least 30% of the undergraduates commute from Austin or San Antonio. That's not going to be economically feasible anymore. Rentals are going to be a hot commodity. Maybe it will get more people in this town out of their SUV's and onto bikes. I think it's already happening... I see more bikes here than I did 3 years ago.

I know this is old, but fuck it's funny. Shakira and "Danzig" mashup....

Digging out....

Whew. I am one (re)signature away from the M.S. The graduate college approved my thesis earlier today, but because they didn't like the fact that I put "Dr." in front of my committee member's names on the signature pages I have to get it resigned. I've got all of the signatures except one committee member. He'll be back on Tuesday. Maybe now I can get back to things like working on the house and riding my bike. I'm already starting work on my PhD project, and I have a NSF fellowship going in. This means I don't have to teach labs (which I do actually enjoy, but is time consuming) I do have about 15hrs per week commitment for the fellowship, but it's for more money and less hours than teaching at the university. Actually, I will be teaching, but it will be working with high school teachers and students, and I won't be grading or dealing with discipline. The teacher I'm paired with is already almost done with her MS in Biochemistry, so it will be mostly working with her to work on better ways to get students excited about science.

Anyways what this means is that I actually have a weekend off. I'll be spending the summer doing fieldwork, reading, and developing my PhD project with my advisor, at least on an educational level. The rest of the time I hope to spend riding my bike and climbing. Hopefully, I can also make it to my cousin's wedding and my 20yr high school reunion. Maybe even a vacation, although I do have to deal with a seminar class associated with the NSF grant over the summer. Maybe I'll even make a non-political post or two.

So I'm trying not to get too distracted by the political BS right not. I'm in the midst of writing my thesis, and I have to give a 45min talk tomorrow... But FUCK ABC!!!!!!!! It took them an hour to get to any question of any substance. Stephaclintonopolis was a former high level Clinton (Bill) staffer, and he was allowed to be a moderator?! Fuck them. He took notes from an interview with Hannity. Fuck them. Obama isn't connected to the Weather Underground. It's a total republican smear. Hannity is a white supremacist jackass who Fox gives a show. He brought the flag pin "issue" up again. What the fuck?!!! First off, a flag pin really is the least you can do. Secondly, why is Obama's patriotism being questioned when Hillary wasn't wearing one either. It's a bullshit manufactured issue. You hypocritical pieces of shit don't deserve to be called journalists! I hope you rot. Both ABC and Fox. Fuck you, fuck you, and fuck you.

Because I got the award for best graduate student presentation at the departmental colloquium:

That is all...

Speaking of campaign/media shenanigans...

Obama has been getting all sorts of bad press about his association with a nutjob preacher, who is black, so therefore speaks for all of the scary black people (according to MSM).

BUT:
Huckabee was a candidate for president for 14 months and is a former Southern Baptist preacher, yet wouldn't release his sermons. He doesn't believe in evolution. He supports the anti-gay marriage amendment. He supports the overturn of Roe v. Wade. He thinks the constitution should be changed to make it in-line with the Bible. He doesn't believe in the separation of church and state.

McCain has support from John Hagee and considers Rod Parsley his spiritual advisor. Let's look at Hagee first: Hagee thinks the Catholic church is a "whore" and false religion. He believes in the end days prophecy and that we are nearing them. Now Parsley: He believes that Islam is a "false religion" and that we are at war with them. He makes no distinction between Islamic moderates, and the whackjobs who have warped it into justification for terrorism. (Don't they see their hypocrisy? No of course not...) He believes that Planned Parenthood can be likened to Nazi's. He thinks that we should be prosecuting people for adultery. McCain hasn't had to distance himself from either of these nutjobs.

During the Reagan and Bush I era (as well as Nixon), the Reverend Billy Graham was a regular visitor to the Whitehouse and spiritual adviser. Graham was a confirmed anti-Semite.

My point is that if the MSM is going to take Obama to task about this, then they need to do the same with the conservative white repugnicants who are pushing this shit. I think it is a problem, that religion has made it's way into our politics so insidiously. Any church that promotes political candidates should immediately lose their tax free status. No questions. Religion has to leave our political discourse. Separation of church and state should be absolute. If you can't separate your religious views from your political behavior, then you need to get out of office. NOW. How have conservatives made religion a litmus test for office? I hate them.

In-case you missed it with all the campaign shenanigans of the past couple of weeks:

The EPA has recently made a couple of decisions which go against all their internal scientists and further show how much BushCo. will politicize anything: First, the EPA denied the right of CA to set their own, stricter, standards on automobile emissions. As CA goes, so goes the nation, and the automobile manufactures don't want that. There is precedent for CA to set their own standards, as they've done it many times in the past. Many other states were awaiting this decision as, they want to do the same thing. Apparently, that's not good enough. By EPA justification, since CA doesn't have problems that are any worse than anyone else's, the administration doesn't think that they have the right to do anything about the problems they do have. This has caused the scientists and legal counsel of the EPA to openly state that they have no confidence in the BushCo. puppet director. Remember this is an issue being pushed by a Republican governor, who actually sees the importance of it, and for all of CA's reputation, it's not that blue of a state. If my memory serves me correctly, other than Grey Davis, CA has had a republican governor for the majority of the past 20 years.
Secondly, the president just directly intervened in the decision on regulating seasonal ozone levels nationwide. Again, going against the scientific and legal council within the EPA. If it wasn't perfectly clear that this administration doesn't care about actually enforcing laws, such as the Clean Air Act, which specifically states that economics can't be considered, because the regulations have to be made on health and welfare standards only. President Bush broke the law (again), by intervening in this decision.
Look, I understand that Pelosi can't actually push impeachment, it has to come from elsewhere in the party. If Bush is impeached, Cheney has to be impeached as well, that puts Pelosi as President, and it would be politically impossible for her to push it. That doesn't mean that we can't have others push it. Wexler and Kucinich have called for it. We need to encourage every Dem in the house to sign on. Cheney first, then Shrub.

Molly Ivins wouldn't have voted for her, and I will hold my nose while doing so if she is the nominee. A month or so ago I thought we had two good candidates. The longer this goes on, the more clear Clinton's true character comes out, and I the more disgusted I get. Those that have the chance to vote still, please spread the word.

Molly Ivins: Not. backing. Hillary.

spread the word

There's a text version of this up on DailyKos if you can't forward the html. It's time to stop the lies.

Subject: The Real Truth About Barack Obama!

As enthusiastic volunteers in the Barack Obama campaign for the Presidency,
we have put together a list of facts about Barack so that you will know the
truth about him. Please follow the links we have included for documentation
of these facts. If you value the truth as we do, please spread this information
via email, blog, or any other means, to everyone you know.

1. Did you know that Barack Obama is a devout Christian? He has been a member of the same United Church of Christ congregation for 20 years, and was married there to his wife Michelle in 1992.


2. Did you know that Barack Obama often leads the US Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance?


3. Did you know that Barack Obama is a strong friend of Israel and has spoken out strongly against anti-Semitism?


4. Did you know his grandparents from Kansas were part of the "Greatest Generation?. His grandfather served with Patton's Army during World War II, and his grandmother, a real "Rosy the Riveter", worked in a bomber assembly plant back home.


5. Did you know that Barack Obama was opposed to the war in Iraq from day one, before we invaded, even while he was running for the Senate, and knowing his opposition might be politically unpopular?
   

   "I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world and strengthen the recruitment arm of al Qaeda. I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars." --Barack Obama, 2002

   
   


6. Did you know Obama favors transparency over secrecy in our government? Did you know that Obama worked with Republican Senator Tom Coburn to pass one of the strongest government transparency bills since the freedom of information act? He's calling it Google for Government and you can see the results at www.usaspending.gov. Sen. Obama has also released his own tax returns for public review.


7. Did you know that after graduating with honors from Harvard Law School, Barack practiced civil rights law and also taught Constitutional Law for 10 years at the University of Chicago, one of the nation's best law schools, where he was consistentl y rated by his students as one of their best instructors? Did you also know that he was the first African-American elected pres ident of the prestigious Harvard Law Review?


8. Did you know that Barack Obama is an outspoken advocate for women's rights and has been a principled defender of the civil rights of women?


9. Did you know that despite the grueling schedule of running for President, Senator Obama remains a devoted family man, making time to do things like pick out a Christmas tree with his wife and two young daughters, or hurrying home to spend Valentine's Day with them? Did you know he hasn't missed a single parent-teacher conference while running for President?


10. Did you know that Barack Obama has a stellar environmental record, including having the highest rating from the League of Conservation Voters (96%) of any Presidential candidate, Democrat or Republican?


11. Did you know that Barack Obama has been an elected legislator longer than Senator Clinton?


12. Did you know that Barack is a member of all of these Senate Committees: Foreign Relations; Veteran's Affairs; Health, Education, Labor & Pensions; Homeland Security and Government Affairs?


13. Did you know that Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become law, and has introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted since he joined the Senate in 2005?


14. Did you know that Senator Obama sponsored legislation working together with Indiana Republican Senator Richard Lugar, to keep Americans safe by keeping dangerous weapons out of terrorist hands? The two senators also visited the former Soviet Union to inspect the decommissioning of nuclear weapons. Sen. Lugar said of Sen. Obama, "He does have a sense of idealism and principled leadership, a vision of the future."


15. Did you know that Barack Obama is the only candidate running for president who voted against using cluster bombs in Iraq and the only candidate who supports banning the use of landmines?


16. Did you know that, as an Illinois state senator, Barack Obama succeeded in passing legislation requiring the videotaping of police interrogations, gaining the respect and support not only of fellow legislators but that of the police, who had initially opposed the legislation?


17. Did you know that Theodore Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland, Ulysses S. Grant, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton were all younger when they took office than Barack Obama will be?

During election season many emails are circulated about the candidates. Some are true, some aren't. It's often difficult to determine the truth. We encourage you to visit the following non-partisan sites that do a good job of fact checking the candidates.

http://www.snopes.com/

http://www.factcheck.org/

This shit is just funny: Cracker Plu-ease. It's called "aspirational goods", and whitey is a sucker for it. Well everyone is...

This is my new favorite blog: Grocery Eats. This cat is in Minneapolis and knows a thing or two about strange food combos. Look around for the Pork House. Could anyone imagine such a wonderful land?! Yippeee......

So, somehow San Marcos and Texas State University made it onto the Obama radar. Last week, a thousand people or so showed up for Ted Kennedy (for comparison only about 100 showed up for Chelsea Clinton earlier this week). Kristen and I waited in line for an hour or so to get in. I figured it was a last chance to see the last one of that generation of Kennedy. We actually got two Kennedy's. One of the grandsons talked briefly. One of the former governors of Texas spoke (Dolf Briscoe I believe (but it might have been Mark White), who is still a muckity-muck in Texas Democratic party, Texas politics, and very spry given his age (89?)). I was most impressed with Lloyd Doggett, as one of the introductory speakers. I'd hate to lose him representing this part of Texas, but he's be a great pick for VP. Ted Kennedy was o.k. He's no master orator, but he still has some fire, even if he forgot that TxState is the Bobcats, and not the bulldogs. At that point I figured that was all we were going to get, and I was impressed that that many students actually know who Ted Kennedy is. It's not every day a Kennedy comes to central Texas.

Then Monday, it was announced that Obama would be here. I was amazed by how many people showed up! I think the unofficial estimates are 10,000 - 13,000. I didn't think that many people in San Marcos would show up for free beer! I'm sure we had people from out of town, but about half the crowd was wearing TxState garb. San Marcos is only 50,000 or so people. Half of them are students. Don't believe me about the crowd? (update: The local paper has the estimate at greater than the expected 15,000. Any street you could possibly see from was packed...)

Whatever you may think about his politics, you have to admit that it is bordering on a movement. I've been voting since we got stuck with Bush I. Even Bill Clinton didn't get this kind of attention, and I remember feeling pretty good about him (my feelings have changed somewhat, which is why I'm not a Hillary supporter. I'll vote for her if she ends up being the nomination, but I don't see that happening at this point.) The crowd was a mix of everyone. Young, old, Black, White, Hispanic..... Hell, it IS a movement.

I have to admit that I have some hesitation with how enthusiastic people are about him. Mainly because I get suspicious when people like the same things I do, and I have to resist the conspiracy buff in me letting me think that he is some sort of Manchurian Candidate. I don't think he is, but I do think we need to stay open about what his faults are and not blindly support him (like Ron Paul supporters do their guy). Dammit, I've been cynical for so long, it's hard to let go. I've grown up with an intense mistrust of politics, and seen how nasty and deceitful the repugnicants are willing to get. My grandparents were the eternal optimists about politics and future generations. Because of the past..., well ever since Reagan, I've been unable to live up to their optimism. I've been so disillusioned with the past two elections that I don't know what to do with actually feeling like he could do some good. Feeling like I am actually voting FOR someone, instead of voting for the lesser of two evils. Fuck. He's getting to me. I just don't want to be disappointed again...

Anyways, I've never seen a political rally this big. I've been to a couple of smaller ones. None were ever that close, and no one cared enough. Hell, the biggest before Ted Kennedy was actually in Mexico, and by accident. Last night, we ended up being about 15m from the stage. I don't get star struck much. I've met musicians and sports stars. They're regular people. I have to say, that I'm a little in shock having been that close to who I want to believe will be the next president. Dare I hope? Can he repair the damage done by the current administration? Will people believe that the government can work for the people and not Exxon/Mobil/Shell/GM/Halliburton/Boeing/Lockheed? Could this be the moment where we live up to the challenge of JFK and RFK? We lost 40 years of progress because of RFK's assassination, can we finally get back on track?

It's my favorite city I could never live in...

Any time a Republican tells you they are the party of fiscal responsibility, mention this. Then tell them to go away.

Because alien cattle abduction is a growing problem....

Yes, it is the most retarded exercise machine ever.

No you shouldn't listen to everything in the bible. Sometimes it's just bad advice.

File under no-shit-sherlock. If the media had been doing their job then, we might not be involved in the clusterfuck of Iraq.

Normally they give us stories like this. Do ya' think that getting in shape might reduce your death risk? Certainly not.

At least Grandpa Fred dropped out of the Republican race, and Mitt Romney thinks he's down with the brother-man. Who let the dogs out, indeed.

I hope you don't think there will ever be any real justice in the Enron case. You remember them. The accountants cooked the books in collusion with the banks, they artificially jacked up energy prices and caused energy shortages in CA in the form of rolling blackouts. They folded and $30 BILLION dollars (much in pension investments) was lost. At least one of their top executives committed suicide as I recall (I could be wrong). I guess it was all fake money anyways...

It's a couple of years old, but it bears repeating that, apparently, the Daily Show's "fake" news is just as good as the networks, just a lot more fun. No big surprise, but what does that say about our real news?

I love The Onion!

So, I've done it. I've turned in my application for the PhD program. Another four years... Right now I don't see why they won't accept me, but you never know. I'm switching labs if it does all work out. I'm not unhappy with my current lab, but one of my current committee members has funding for at least 3 years, which will hopefully mean not having to teach. I like teaching, but it will be nice to be able to focus on work which will be part of my dissertation. Now I have to figure out something that is actually worth a PhD...

As far as the MS goes. I've got my proposal in. I'm waiting on data to come back on a couple of analyses, I'm finishing up the last bit of work that I'm doing here, and then it will be on to writing. February will be a month chained to the computer.

I've got to get back on the bike, so that I don't go insane or gain 30lbs...

I just lost respect for Gloria Steinem. Read both the truthdig article and her NYT op-ed. I'm too tired to get into details, but her insistence that gender issues come before race or class issues is a bit offensive, and shows a fundamental self absorption that I can't respect. Let me start by saying that it is amazing that we have both a black and a woman who are not just serious candidates, but the two Dem. frontrunners. However, as an upper-middle class, white woman, she can't say HRC is any more discriminated against than a black man. She buy's into HRC's "experience" lie. O.k. fine, if you are going to discount Obama's experience, then you have to discount Bill Clinton's state experience as governor. And Richardson's. And Huckabee's. And Romney's. And Bush's... Well that should be discounted, it didn't work out so well... but you get my point. Steinem even touts her time as first lady as OTJ training. Bull shit. Be consistent.

Again, I will vote for her if she is the Dem nominee, because we need constitutional triage, but she's not experienced and not a real progressive. She's taken way too much money from the lobbyists. Her husband wasn't either, but was tons better than either Bush he was sandwiched between. Grrr. Sorry. I wish I didn't care about politics....

So, I'm half watching the New Hampshire primaries, and a few things strike me.
1. Like with Iowa, the Democratic turnout is again shockingly greater than the Republican. Good. It's about time. The reason that the Repugnicants were able to fix the last two elections (Yes, I think there was by far enough chicanery in Ohio and Florida to make that statement) is that those were close elections. If this keeps up through the general election the Repugs. are done. At the national level and state. Good riddance.
2. For the most part the Republicans look like scared old white men. Oh, wait, they are. Now there are some that don't disgust me, and I have to say that unlike our current president, I truly don't believe that the top 3 Republicans (McCain, Romney, Huckabee) are going to purposely drive the country into ruin. Now don't get me wrong. I have serious problems with all of them, and I think that electing another Repug is a huge mistake for the country. BUT, they can all form thoughts and complete sentences, which makes them not total fucking morons. I don't think any of the top three Republicans are truly evil (unlike BushCo).
I respect McCain, but his support for the Iraq war is so entirely out of touch with reality that I am suspect of everything else he says. Romney is just too overtly slick. I'll readily admit that my distrust of Mormons is a personal failing, but I'm universal in my distrust of all overtly religious people. I do have to also admit that the way he balanced the budget in Mass. was good. He closed loopholes, and made corporations actually pay their taxes. I don't trust Huckabee for many of the same reasons. It's true that he's not truly a conservative, and out of all of the Repubs., I think he truly means well. BUT, I'm sorry if you don't believe in evolution, you can't set your religion aside and listen to reason. It's only the second most supported theory in science (behind gravity). I do find some joy in the fact that after years of misrepresenting religion, the Republicans finally have to deal with someone who has actually read the Bible and I think, uses it to make himself a better person, not as a reason to hate and marginalize people. As has been the case for all the "fundamentalists" of the past 30 years. In other words, he's not truly a conservative.
The rest of the Repugs really scare me, but luckily they're not doing well. Grandpa Fred, has gotten a whole 1%. Wasn't he supposed to be the Repug savior? HaHa. Go back to sleep Fred. Guliani? That egotistical fuckface? Hopefully, people are finally seeing through his bullshit. Go away. Ron Paul? Well his supporters have the determination of zombies. They will overlook all his racist and absolutely batshit crazy ideas, just because he talks about the war and fiscal responsibility. Guess what Republicans DO NOT get to talk about fiscal responsibility. When was the last balanced budget delivered by Republicans? Long before I was aware, and that makes it before the 70s. Bush Jr. inherited a balanced budget 8 years ago, and ruined it. Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you.
3. I don't trust Hillary. She's taken way too much money from lobbyists. She's no agent of change. If she's elected, it will be 24 years of a Bush or Clinton. That is not good for the country. I'll vote for her if I have to, but she's just triage. Her claiming "experience" is bullshit. She's been in congress for 3 more years than Obama. Before that it was throwing tea parties at the White House. That is not experience. Piss off. Obama was in state government since 1994. That is far more relevant experience. You don't hear people saying Romney doesn't have experience? Richardson and her husband were only governors. You don't get it both ways.
4. Richardson may be the best candidate, but because he is just like every other democratic nominee since 1980, except for Bill Clinton, he can never win. By just like, I mean smart but BORING. That's what has lost us the last two elections. Gore is smart, but not engaging. Kerry is smart but not engaging. IF the Dems had put some some smart AND likable, then it wouldn't have even been close.

I truly think that Obama or Edwards could do a better job, but that any of the Dems, will wipe up the Repug. field. I hope that remains true. They are ALL better than ANY of the Repugs. I was actually heartened watching the Dem. debate last weekend (and catching bits of the Repug one) I may not like Hillary like I do Obama and Edwards, but they are all smart and capable candidates. I think Obama and Edwards are less tied to the corporate money machine, but none of them are truly progressive. Unfortunately, I don't think a true progressive can get elected right now. We need to move the country away from the scared greedy old men of the 50s, but it won't happen in one election.

All that said, I am really glad that a woman and a black man are both seriously considered as presidential candidates. Hopefully, the Dems can keep having double the turnout of the Repugs.