Things Smackie Thinks You Need to Know...

[ratioci nation]

Vansmack should have been telling us about this, Sudhir Venkatesh of Freakonomics fame is watching The Wire each week with a group of current and former gang members and blogging about it, great stuff
 
 http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/09/what-do-real-thugs-think-of-the-wire/

[vansmack]

Jag, that message is Smackie approved, Smackette is WAY smarter than I am.  She might even be smarter than I pretend to be.
 
 Pollard, Sports Guy beat me to that in his links so I passed on it, but you're right, some things should be passed along regardless.

[vansmack]

An argument for Barack Obama:
 
 A President Like My Father, By Caroline Kennedy

[vansmack]

For Econo...
 
 Uncovering the origin of syphilis

[vansmack]

And this one's for Mr. Wallace:
 
 According to the research, married, extroverted optimists are happier than single, pessimistic introverts, and Republicans are happier than Democrats...it helps to be religious, sexually active and a college graduate with a short commute to work.

[Brian_Wallace]

Originally posted by Julian, good manners AFICIONADO:
 I gave 15+% of my income last year to charity. Seriously. [/QB]

Considering how awful and disappointing the entire "Zeitgeist" campaign was, I'd agree that all the money you spent on the Smashing Pumpkins last year was "charity."  Seriously.
 
 Brian

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

The $300 directly related to my daughter will go into her college account.
 
 The rest toward our vacation in France.
 
 

Originally posted by vansmack:
  I love an election year.
 
 What are you going to spend your ~$300 on?
 
 Since Seth isn't going to get a rebate (although now would be a good time for him to make capital improvements to his venues), I think you should all spend more money on shows at the 9:30 Club.
 
 Except those with kids.  Don't spend your kids $300 at the 9:30 Club.  Put it away for college.

[vansmack]

Has there ever been a worse campaign strategy than what we've just witnessed from the Rudy Giuliani camp?  I don't want to be the campaign strategist that floated that idea - he'll never work again.
 
 From #1 to never ran in a matter of months.

[sweetcell]

Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
  The $300 directly related to my daughter will go into her college account.
 
 The rest toward our vacation in France.

spending your economic stimulus package on the french - that's *exactly* what the hawks on the hill had in mind.
 
 rhett, you're brilliant.  now i'm tempted to do this.  maybe i'll splurge and order myself a case or two of chateuneuf du pape.  or maybe i should remit my money to some random family in yemen.

[vansmack]

If you're a Democrat, that was the perfect debate last night.  Taken right out of the Republican mantra, I might add.
 
 (1) Acknowledge your opponents position as being similar to yours.
 
 (2) Point out small differences between the two.
 
 (3) Point out huge differences between the current administrations position.
 
 (4) Occassionaly point out differences between the opposing front runners position.
 
 (5) Make it a lovefest maintaining an us against them mentality.
 
 If the Dems aren't going to snatch defeat from the clutches of victory, Obama and Clinton are going to have to keep the party unified like last night.
 
 Now what to do about Bill?

[sweetcell]

new from the other side:
 
 Coulter wants Clinton over McCain: Coulter said she is prepared to campaign on Clinton's behalf should McCain win the party's nomination.  linky

[vansmack]

This whole notion that John McCain is somehow divding the Republican Party is nothing short of ridiculous.  
 
 George Bush destroyed the party by alienating EVERYONE in the coalition Reagan built (coalition of anti-tax conservatives, social conservatives, and hawk conservatives).  He energized the base, ignored the center and then betrayed everyone by entering a war without properly funding it (creating one of the most free spending governments without any fiscal responsibility).  His narrowmindedness (or simple over trust in Cheney) then cost him the trust of the base.  
 
 John McCain is the only chance for the Republican Party to not fall into a 40 year slumber.  If they don't see that, then far be it for me to point it out.
 
 Of course, this could all be politicking on Ann's part because she would rather not see Clinton get the nomination, but I doubt she's that smart.

[vansmack]

Russia Slams OSCE Election Monitors
 
 Oh yeah, there's still an "election" to be had in Russia.  What a farce.

[slappy]

I'm digging the return of  Fundrace  2008.
 Stripper's dollar bills are currently going to Ron Paul.
 Custodians are also cleaning up for Ron Paul.
 Models are looking good for Clinton.
 
 And the all important Village People money watch.
 Construction workers - John McCain
 Sailors - Ron Paul
 Indians, none in occupation, but one guy works for 'Indians' - He gave to Rudy
 Police - Ron Paul
 Cowboys, none, but Bill Richardson was getting the most cash from 'Ranchers' and 'Rodeo'
 No leather or biker occupations have yet given to the reportable level.

[vansmack]

An American Parliamentary Presidency?
 Candidates may have to run from within Congress, not away from it