The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Anyone following this Nigerian cease fire story? It's kinda bizarre. The rebel group is claiming an appeal from Obama has made them consider a truce, but Obama's campaign doesn't seem to have any knowledge of said appeal. Meanwhile, the rebel group also wrote a letter to Bush requesting that Jimmy Carter and George Clooney come in to mediate negotiations.

Not sure what to make of this.

[scaeagles]

Sounds like the Nigerian Rebels have been punked.

Jimmy Carter and George Clooney? That's bizarre.

[Alex]

REQUEST FOR URGENT PEACE RELATIONSHIP

FIRST, I MUST SOLICIT YOUR STRICTEST CONFIDENCE IN THIS PEACE PROCESS. THIS IS BY VIRTUE OF ITS NATURE AS BEING UTTERLY CONFIDENTIAL AND 'TOP SECRET'. I AM SURE AND HAVE CONFIDENCE OF YOUR ABILITY AND RELIABILITY TO PROSECUTE A PEACE PROCESS OF THIS GREAT MAGNITUDE INVOLVING A PENDING PEACE REQUIRING MAXIIMUM CONFIDENCE.

I AM SOON TOP OFFICIAL OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACT REVIEW PANEL WHO ARE INTERESTED IN IMPORATION OF PEACE INTO YOUR COUNTRY WITH CEASE FIRES WHICH ARE PRESENTLY TRAPPED IN NIGERIA. IN ORDER TO COMMENCE THIS PEACE WE SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE TO ENABLE US TRANSFER INTO YOUR COUNTRY THE SAID TRAPPED CEASE FIRE.

THE SOURCE OF THIS PEACE IS AS FOLLOWS; DURING THE LAST MILITARY REGIME THERE IN NIGERIA, THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SET UP COMPANIES AND AWARDED THEMSELVES CONTRACTS WHICH WERE OPEN ONLY TO GEORGE CLOONEY, ADAM SANDLER AND JIMMY CARTER. THE PRESENT CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT SET UP A CONTRACT REVIEW PANEL AND THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED A LOT OF INFLATED CONTRACT TERMS WHICH ARE PRESENTLY FLOATING IN HALLS OF POWER IN NIGERIA READY FOR USE.

HOWEVER, BY VIRTUE OF MY POSITION AS CIVIL SERVANT AND MEMBERS OF THIS PANEL, WE CANNOT ADVOCATE THE INVOLVEMENT OF ADAM SANDLER. I HAVE THEREFORE, BEEN DELEGATED AS A MATTER OF TRUST BY MY COLLEAGUES OF THE PANEL TO LOOK FOR A NIGERIAN PARTNER INTO WHOSE NAME WE WOULD TRANSFER PRESENCE AND INVOLVEMENT OF JIMMY CARTER AND GEORGE CLOONEY. HENCE WE ARE WRITING YOU THIS LETTER. WE HAVE AGREED TO SHARE THESE CELEBRITIES THUS; 1. 20% FOR THE NIGERIAN FRONTMAN 2. 70% FOR ME (AS I DO LIKE FACE TIME WITH CLOONEY) 3. 10% TO BE USED IN FILMING A DRAMATIC SUSPENSE FILM. IT IS FROM THE 70% THAT WE WISH TO COMMENCE THE IMPORTATION OF THE PEACE PROCESS.

PLEASE, NOTE THAT THIS CEASE FIRE IS 100% SAFE AND WE HOPE TO COMMENCE THE TRANSFER LATEST SEVEN (7) DIPLOMATIC DAYS (24 NORMAL YEARS) FROM THE DATE OF THE RECEIPT OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATIOM BY TEL/FAX; 234-1-7740449, YOUR SIGNED, AND STAMPED LETTERHEAD PAPER THE ABOVE INFORMATION WILL ENABLE US WRITE LETTERS OF CLAIM AND JOB DESCRIPTION RESPECTIVELY. THIS WAY WE WILL USE YOUR NAME TO APPLY FOR PASSPORTS AND VISAS FOR THESE VITAL CELEBRITIES.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING THIS PEACE WITH YOU AND SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY IN THIS TRANSATION. PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECEIPT OF THIS LETTER USING THE ABOVE TEL/FAX NUMBERS. I WILL SEND YOU DETAILED INFORMATION OF THIS PENDING PROJECT WHEN I HAVE HEARD FROM YOU.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

BARACK OBAMA

NOTE; PLEASE QUOTE THIS REFERENCE NUMBER (VE/S/09/99) IN ALL YOUR RESPONSES.

[Ghoulish Delight]

George Clooney has been very active in Darfur, it's not as bizarre as it sounds.

[Ghoulish Delight]

V.A.M!!!

[BDBopper]

Sources claim that Mike Huckabee is at the top of McCain's shortlist for Veep. That is exciting and sobering at the same time. If this does become the case there is a lot of work to be done.

Meanwhile (while very early) the bottom seems to be falling out for Obama vs. McCain. I have been following things over at THIS SITE for the past few weeks. Instead of looking at things from a national scale it is broken down state by state if the election were held today. When I started looking at it Obama was whipping McCain six ways to Sunday. It has almost reversed in a matter of weeks. The pendulum will likely swing back and forth.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by BDBopper

Sources claim I have been following things over at THIS SITE for the past few weeks. Instead of looking at things from a national scale it is broken down state by state if the election were held today.

Looks to me like Obama is going to have to choose Strickland(+20) as his VP instead of Richardson(+5). Of course, as things sit now not even the 20 he could get out of Ohio will get him close enough to win.

I still think McCain should go for Pawlenty(+10) and see if he can be the first Republican in like forever to take Minnesota

[BDBopper]

Originally Posted by sleepyjeff

Looks to me like Obama is going to have to choose Strickland(+20) as his VP instead of Richardson(+5). Of course, as things sit now not even the 20 he could get out of Ohio will get him close enough to win.

I still think McCain should go for Pawlenty(+10) and see if he can be the first Republican in like forever to take Minnesota

No matter who McCain chooses I think his best bet if he wants to win Minnesota is put Huckabee on a bus for a month through the state. He is already popular with Republicans in Minnesota considering his surprisingly strong 2nd in their Caucuses (he spent no time there). I know of no other better at retail politics.

Pawlenty might be a good choice but I think the VP choice needs to come from the right (at least socially). If McCain chooses wisely he will be able to cover the Center and offset Bob Barr on the right (while leaving Obama for the far left). The GOP is going through a time of flux and change. They will likely lose more seats in the House and maybe some in the Senate as well. The can try to minimize the damage by keeping the White House.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by BDBopper

Pawlenty might be a good choice but I think the VP choice needs to come from the right (at least socially). If McCain chooses wisely he will be able to cover the Center and offset Bob Barr on the right (while leaving Obama for the far left).

Another person he might consider would be Romney. This would help McCain solidify his lead in Michigan, and could turn Colorado back to red. It would also put the solid blue states of Massachusetts and Oregon into contention(large Mormon pop in the eastern part of the state)...not winning these States but at least forcing team Obama to spend more money and time there to secure it then they would normally have to.

[innerSpaceman]

Or McCain could go back in time 8 years to when he was an exciting candidate, or perhaps 18 years to where he wasn't too old for a job that ages you 12 years for every 4.