MAJ Andrew Olmsted, 1970-2008

I read Olmsted's Iraq War blog on the Rocky Mountain News website regularly and his honest straight forward messages were of hope and he strived to be upbeat. His loss is devastating and he is unreplaceable, particularly for his family. The army major and his colleague CAPT Thomas J Casey of Albuquerque were the first casualties of 2008 in the Iraq War.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003692089

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jan/05/just-devastating-news/

http://www.npr.org/blogs/bryantpark/2008/01/final_post_1.html

http://www.andrewolmsted.com/

http://www.icasualties.org/oif/

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Economy Worsens

With this rise in umemployment that I saw coming nine months ago, the recession is even more so underway despite objections by government and corporate lackeys and hard statistical proof in other ways. Look for unemployment to rise closer to 6 %, perhaps higher, by Spring.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/04/AR2008010401564.html?hpid=topnews

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A View on John Edwards

My stance remains the same today after the Iowa caucuses. My support goes first to Kucinich. I do realize that he is strongly unlikely to win. So John Edwards gets my vote among the top three Democratic contenders. I am not sold on Obama yet, although his message and ideas are becoming more refined and sophisticated over time; and Clinton is totally out.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/29761

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The Twenty Dumbest People, Events, & Things of 2007

The most troubling thing about the list is that it contains a number of elected and public officials guilty of stupid and inept actions that are on a par with mindless celebrities and the flash in the pan rabble.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2004097410_maddumblist310.html

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A View on Ron Paul

The GOP political establishment and hierarchy is in a stunned state of shock following the strong showings of Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul in Iowa. The news will not be much different next week in New Hampshire. Although John McCain probably will win the primary, the two insurgent candidates will continue to do better than the GOP establishment would like. The race and fight for the GOP nomination may last much longer than what was envisioned even just a few weeks ago.

http://www.seeingtheforest.com/archives/2008/01/the_appeal_of_r_1.htm

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Will Obama Win in New Hampshire ?

After his victory in the Iowa caucuses, one would believe so. The demographics in New Hampshire will be more favorable for the Illinois senator than in Iowa. Another third place for Clinton may put a serious wound into her campaign. One is starting to get the feeling that it is deja vu all over again -- we are living a repeat of the 1968 campaign and Osama is channeling the spirit of Robert Kennedy with his message of hope and idealism that is strongly appealing to the youth and disenchanted across this nation.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/01/04/will_nh_be_obama_territory_too.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-a-palermo/barack-obama-rfk-and-bl_b_79751.html

http://www.madison.com/tct/mad/topstories/265458

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Bill Moyers on PBS Program Tonight

Please catch the Bill Moyers Report tonight, Friday 4 January at 9pm MST to watch his interviews with Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_the_web_080102_kucinich_and_paul_to.htm

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Submarines Bringing Cocaine into the US

If this is being done on a scale more than we can imagine, one has to be concerned that al-Qaida may deploy a similar method to bring terrorists and a nuclear weapon onto US soil this way.

http://newssophisticate.blogspot.com/2008/01/cocaine-laden-submarines-over-18.html

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Understanding New Hampshire in 2008

The Granite State has undergone enormous changes in the last decade plus as the sprawl from the Boston metropolitan area has swelled north and west resulting in significant noteworthy changes including in the political landscape. While once New Hampshire was a relatively sure GOP stronghold in largely Democratic New England, the changes that have been seen have also converted the state to a more Democratic stronghold with greater economic diversity, population, wealth, and economic development.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/24139.html

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Latest on '08 US Senatorial Elections

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections%2C_2008

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A Look Back at a Post 45 Weeks Ago

Obviously the biggest error, among others, was judging the viability of Mike Huckabee's campaign. He has come a very long way and could become the nominee. That was considered impossible when I made my first post analyzing the presidential candidate field.

http://colocowboyprofessor.blogspot.com/2007/02/early-look-at-08-presidential.html


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