Primaries and Deadlines
From what I can see and from all I am hearing, Hillary will cleaned today in West Virgina. She will be in it until June 3rd I think honestly, but the die is already set and she has lost. She really should get out sooner, but she won’t. This is one time that I don’t think the Clintons can even pull one out of the dust bin.
It is obvious that Obama considers it over as he is already talking about the huge differences between himself and McCain. Though there may be a FEW (and I do mean a FEW) differences in their personal views and goals, in office there will be even fewer as Obama’s most liberal ideas will never get through the House and Senate - even if they are heavy Democrat - and McCain has always been a compromiser on his conservative stances.
In the end I think either guy that wins this is a one term President. In 2012 my money will be on Bill Richardson or Jeb Bush, though I would love to see a real run from Herman Cain but I think Mr Cain is out of the political office game due both his health and his personal desire to enjoy life a bit more.
Regardless of the 2008 winner, the US has in for a rough go until we take a two prong approach to our energy problems / issues - at least in my mind. In my plan the first prong would be to begin a program similar to the one in the 60’s where we went from non being able to orbit a man in space to landing on the moon within a decade where our best minds and large amounts of funding goes toward the goal of a 50% increase in fuel economy in new cars. Though it may take 5 to 10 more years for 80 to 90% of drivers to be in those cars it is a glide path. Heck, there are still people driving 1965 Ford Falcons and 1975 AMC Pacers, i.e. it will never be 100%. The second prong I see needed is a expansion of both domestic drilling - the Gulf, the Dakota’s, ANWAR - and refining capacity. As I understand it that would take about 6 to 8 years to see real results, so if we start NOW we should be ready for both a increase in population and the average MPG in cars by 2016.
Unfortunately, I don’t think either Obama or McCain will pursue either of the prongs I suggest due to their concern with being labeled, criticized, or branded the press and due to their personal views and commitments to special interests.
