Poker Perambulation

I’ve been relatively quiet about this political season. By tonight there will be a chapter added and then they move on to my home state for the next. This will bring unexpected revenues to our media outlets and contribute to local economies across the state. Eat your heart out Iowa and New Hampshire – you didn’t get it all this time around.

The big three have moved from manufacturing autos to trying to manufacture dreams. Like a `62 Chevy, they aren’t building them to last. Any resemblance of stump speeches to future reality is purely coincidental. But they all give us hints to the future they are going to try to manufacture.

I do have opinions. (If you weren’t expecting that, welcome first time reader and hopefully long time something or other.) I won’t disappoint. I don’t care for the whole lot and will be again voting for one of the more honest louts in the fringe parties.

OBAMA

He bothers me. He’s the consummate snake oil salesman. Don’t take that as a total diss. Reagan was “The Great Communicator” and that is another way to say the same thing. He’s keeping his policy close to the vest but some crept into that debate the other night.

MR. GIBSON: …you would favor an increase in the capital gains tax. As a matter of fact, you said on CNBC, and I quote, “I certainly would not go above what existed under Bill Clinton, which was 28 percent.” It’s now 15 percent. That’s almost a doubling if you went to 28 percent. But actually Bill Clinton in 1997 signed legislation that dropped the capital gains tax to 20 percent.

SENATOR OBAMA: Right.

MR. GIBSON: And George Bush has taken it down to 15 percent.

SENATOR OBAMA: Right.

MR. GIBSON: And in each instance, when the rate dropped, revenues from the tax increased. The government took in more money. And in the 1980s, when the tax was increased to 28 percent, the revenues went down. So why raise it at all, especially given the fact that 100 million people in this country own stock and would be affected?

SENATOR OBAMA: Well, Charlie, what I’ve said is that I would look at raising the capital gains tax for purposes of fairness.

Now, folks, we have an economy that is under huge pressure. $4 fuel has hit Linda and the truckers and is headed for a gas pump near you. The dollar is in the toilet; so you’re foolish to think Europe for the vacation this summer along with a car trip. Into this Obama talks about deviating from the prudent fiscal idea that the moderator cites. His reason: punish those with the money on behalf of the downtrodden. Let me guess here that I haven’t paid off properly on the slavery issue. Gee, Barack, my ancestors living back then were surfs in Europe.

Throw in him being on the record as willing to invade Pakistan if that’s what it takes. We’re pretty close here to another Dubya in black sheep garb. George never understood finances or international dealing but came across as a pretty good guy you like to have a drink with. Hello, Barack … you buyin?

CLINTON

If she doesn’t win the nomination, look for her off Broadway reprising Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat although I have doubts the cast recording will beat out Donny Osmund’s release. Hillary remakes herself from moment to moment. She sells dreams. If you have a wish, just look closely — you will find an accommodation in a speech from somewhere. That’s often contradicts one down the road but a one size dreamcoat doesn’t fit all voters.

On economics she’s a disaster of record. Her first lady chores included chairing the search for medical insurance. The economic results there were so bad that even the pure liberals had to stick their finger down their throat to avoid sharing the poison. But, we voters have short memories, right?

On the foreign relations side, she would improve our overseas friendships. It’d probably look a lot like her husband’s policies – NAFTA aside. Back when Dubya was popular, one of the things in the toilet was Clinton’s foreign policy. The State Department tries to be all things to all people and should fit right in with a waffling family of politician like Bill and Hill. The angst the Dubya created will square being accommodating. Maybe we should just join the EU and get it over with.

McCAIN

This one might be the most scary. He at an age that has his age group worrying about Alzheimer’s and his authoritarian personality has been a recent issue that he’s denying. He is the product of the Naval Academy and the child of an Admiral. If you change that to West Point and General, you get Douglas MacArthur who was seen by the Neocons of his day as Presidential timber. If that doesn’t scare the crap out of you, you need to review history.

McCain has lived in a crucible his whole existence. His flag-grade fathers expectations, POW, and Senator provide a mix like no other. This isn’t a personality with a lot of flexibility built in. The ideas he has today are the ones he’ll see through – come hell or high water.

*******

Depending on your view, it looks like the smart way to register for this primary is either Green or Libertarian.

Poker player reality tells me we need the luck factor here kicking in for the next four — BIG TIME.

ADDENDUM:

Well, I got the .50-1 level back up to break even and then proceeded to dump $50+. I knew I was being too optimistic. Coolers at PokerStars are worse than at Fulltilt. They keep cards in order so you see the river in all its horror glory. I watched my set of queens die there against a set of 6’s. When a cooler comes, you see a lot of that. I’m able to avoid breaking things but I’m sure my blood pressure is affected.

Tuesday afternoon. I am back down to -$100 at the ol’ .50-1 table. Nasty, nasty results. Either card dead or second best hands.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 at 2:33 pm and is filed under Off Topic. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.