Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (13565)	10/23/2003 7:14:32 PM
From: LindyBill	Respond to of 793622

No, but I get to play dictator here. :>) I have to admit that I have a sneaking admiration for Al Sharpton. Reminds me of "The Sting." I love watching a good con man. ________________________________________________ Sharpton anything but boring Aubrey Salazar Columnist The Arbiter - Boise Iowa October 23, 2003 The recently CNN-televised Democratic Presidential debates in Phoenix, made clear that the Reverend Al Sharpton will continue to make waves for the other candidates and the current administration. Most of these debates have an air of choreography that could parallel a Broadway show. The questions and answers are usually scripted and none of the candidates sway far from the appropriate presidential hopeful attire – French-blue shirt and patterned red silk tie. Sharpton seems to know that if you want to differentiate yourself, you start with your clothing, which is why he was the only one on stage wearing a white shirt. Though it’s evident no one in this race or the media would like to take Sharpton seriously, he is definitely a crowd pleaser. On the subject of President Bush and the Iraq war, Sharpton lamented the unilateral nature of the President’s actions that has now distraught many Americans. Sharpton orated in his usual street-preacher tone, “Tony Blair and Bush met together and called it a ‘World Summit’...he thinks two men at a phone booth is a ‘World Summit.’” The debate crowd obviously delighted in this observation and responded with roaring laughter. The only other presidential candidate to top this comedic gesture was Senator John Kerry, who on the subject of healthcare said, “There are only two ways to lower the cost of prescription drugs, hire Rush Limbaugh’s housekeeper, or elect me President.” Every presidential candidate should know that these debates are partly show business, and should not shy away from entertaining. Sharpton takes full advantage of this. When Sharpton began to answer a question by the moderator, Judy Woodruff of CNN, Woodruff cut him off with a follow-up comment. Sharpton immediately shot back with, “Now are you going to take that off my time, or what?” Woodruff meekly shuffled back and let Sharpton continue with his answer. Again, the crowd snickered their approval. Sharpton knows how to control the media, and has no inhibitions about putting them in their place. It’s no doubt a defensive strategy against the media, who seem to bask in an endless barrage of attacks on his checkered political past. There were surprisingly no moderated questions about Sharpton’s past or from the other candidates during the Phoenix debate. The other democratic candidates should logically see no reason to mouth off to or about Al Sharpton. He poses no threat to any of them in the primary with the exception of Senator John Edwards of North Carolina. Sharpton does have potential in the Southern states. Another reason is that Sharpton seems to have a built-in bullshit detector, couple this with his ability to verbally whip someone at his whim, and squaring off with him becomes dangerous. If Sharpton is politically “owned” by anyone, it’s himself, and voting segments that none of the other candidates care about. One of those segments is young, minority voters. The other eight democratic candidates are satisfied with pandering to older voters. Why shouldn’t they though, the Baby Boomers will be the largest retiring segment of Americans in U.S. history. Lavishing attention on issues like healthcare, prescription drugs, Medicare and social security, will surely pay off come November of 2004. Not since President Clinton and his frequent visits to the MTV studios and late night talk shows, have we seen any presidential candidate care about the generations dubbed “X” and “Y.” Yet, Sharpton was the only candidate in the Phoenix debate to mention the words “young voter” in his answers. Sharpton asserted, “Our margin of victory is in younger voters.” As a young voter,k this pleases me. Younger voters may not be able to nab a presidential victory if matched up with the Baby Boomer vote, but the Baby Boomers are clearly split, and our vote may become increasingly necessary for a democratic win. Al Sharpton won’t win this presidential race, but everyone should agree that he makes the debates a lot more interesting and the other candidates should think about following his lead in a few areas. arbiteronline.com

To: Lane3 who wrote (13565)	10/24/2003 7:39:16 AM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793622

How can the Democrats vote against the Medicare Drug bill and not get nailed by the Seniors? Mickey Kaus doesn't see an answer either. _______________________________________ Medicare 'Means-Test' Mystery By Mickey Kaus Updated Thursday, October 23, 2003, at 3:39 AM PT Fate of Means-Testing as Urgent as it is Unpredictable! The proposed "mean-testing" of Medicare (i.e. making the rich pay more for their benefits) barely makes the list of Democratic complaints in Amy Goldstein's WaPo story and is completely absent from Robert Pear's NYT account. ... Does this mean means-testing is in like Flynn if the prescription drug bill passes? I certainly don't think it means Democrats no longer care about means-testing. And often one side in a legislative debate will make a big deal over Issue A when they're really worried about Issue B--especially if pushing A looks better in press than pushing B. (Predictable example: If you were a Democrat upset with welfare reform's work requirements during the 1990s, you made a big fuss--not about the work requirements, but about day care money.) But it's hard to characterize as mere stalking-horse issues the Democratic complaints that are prominently featured in WaPo and the NYT. Forcing Medicare to compete with private insurers--the big issue, according to both papers--would seem to threaten the program in a way means-testing doesn't. Democrats may have to swallow means-testing to avoid the privatization threat. ... P.S.: The best hope of the Democratic anti-means-testers would seem to be another bit of Washington Kabuki: Engineering an impasse so the prescription drug bill doesn't pass, but they can't be blamed for it. slate.msn.com