US Senator John Edwards

Having learned from his 2004 vice presidential race with Senator John Kerry that "you just can't talk about problems in America you have to take action..........." (paraphrasing from his comments on CNN on December 28th) former US Senator John Edwards announced yesterday via CNN that he is seeking the presidential nomination for the Democratic Party in 2008. What? Senator Edwards had to run for president/then vice president with Kerry in 2004 just to realize you have to "take action on problems not just talk about them..............." ?? I learned this lesson at age 11 when my father encouraged me to get a job to pay for summer camp -- clearly I do not need Edwards to be my president.

So what about Mr. Edwards' spouse, Elizabeth Edwards -- who is she?

http://johnedwards.com/about/elizabeth/

The campaign's website notes that Elizabeth is a "passionate advocate for children and families" -- which children and which families I have to ask? The only thing I want her advocating for the children and family members I have is the elimination of personal income taxes but is she doing that for us? Now that would give my family a "living wage"!!!!

Quoting from the campaign's website again -- here is an overview of Elizabeth's professional career:

" Like her husband, Elizabeth has an impressive legal background. Following law school, she clerked with U.S. District Court Judge Calvitt Clarke, Jr. in Norfolk, Virginia. Later, she worked for the North Carolina Attorney General's office and then was a bankruptcy lawyer in Raleigh, North Carolina. "

If you liked Bill and Hillary Clinton -- two other lawyers -- you might enjoy having the Edwards family in the White House.

Todd

Congressman Dennis Kucinich

Years ago I attended a US congressional hearing hosted by the Progressive Caucus which was chaired by US Congressman Dennis Kucinich (Democrat-Ohio). Clearly Congressman Kucinich's world view based on this hearing was that government, NOT businesses create jobs in America. Now he is ready to take his show on the road again -- he ran for President of the USA in 2004 -- by announcing his candidacy to become the Democratic Party's nominee for the 2008 presidential campaign.

Congressman Kucinich is the former mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, which is not one of America's most literate cities (see http://erasmusbookclub.blogspot.com -- "Cities for Readers" posting), and is a true peace activist who promises to create a "Department of Peace" -- his campaign website is not clear regarding whether he would keep the "Department of Defense" or just add another federal department to increase the size of government. Hey politicians, how about creating a "Department of Government Garage Sales" to sell buildings, furniture, etc. of agencies and departments that I would eliminate during my one term as President? :)

Congressman Kucinich's wife -- Elizabeth -- is a self-described "Libran" so clearly astrology would guide her as our First Lady. I am a big fan of President Ronald Reagan but was never fond of his wife, Nancy, who reportedly was a great believer in the influence of astrology so assuming Kucinich wins the White House we may see a revival of astrology on the national stage. Readers can review Elizabeth's musings at her campaign blog and TV interview from 2005 via You Tube which are found at --

http://www.kucinich.us/blog/6

http://www.kucinich.us/node/922/play

NOTE -- Dennis and Elizabeth met at Shirley McLaine's home in New Mexico. As most readers Ms. McLaine's has a rather colorful history and personal beliefs. Her personal website features a tab focused on "Astrology" so perhaps she will be named the "Secretary of Peace" if President Kucinich is sworn in in January 2009:

http://www.shirleymaclaine.com/

It gets more interesting,

Todd

Senator Sam Brownback

Well it is official now --- US Senator Sam Brownback (Republican-Kansas) has announced that he is seeking the Republican Party's nomination for President of the USA in the 2008 election. Senator Brownback is known as a solid social conservative but does not have a high profile among general American voters:

http://brownback.senate.gov/

During his career Senator Brownback has been a radio broadcaster, attorney, teacher, administrator, and US Congressman. Senator Brownback and his wife Mary --the former Mary Stauffer, heiress to a Topeka newspaper fortune -- have five children.

Mrs. Brownback's family newspaper is noted below courtesy of the Wikipedia service:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stauffer_Communications
Oscar Stauffer founded Stauffer Publications. This later become known as Stauffer Communications and was set up to oversee Stauffer newspapers and broadcasting in Topeka, Kansas, from 1977 to 1995, In 1957, Stauffer Publications, owner of the Topeka State Journal, bought WIBW-AM-FM-TV which remained the flagships of Stauffer until 1995. It then merged with Morris Communications Corporation of Augusta, Georgia. As a condition of the sale, Morris had to sell Stauffer's television holdings. Most of the former Stauffer television holdings, including WIBW-TV, were sold to Benedek Broadcasting in 1996. Stauffer Communications was bought for US$275m, and Morris sold off all of Stauffer magazines, TV stations, insurance and alarm operations.


It looks like the Senator might have some personal wealth to keep his candidacy alive if the political contributions don't come in right away.

The (wheat) field of candidates for president grows,

Todd

Governor Tom and Christine Vilsack

Governor Tom Vilsack and his wife, Christine, First Lady of Iowa made the following political campaign contributions for the 2002 through 2006 election cycles:

Total for this search -- $2,986
Source: www.opensecrets.org

VILSACK, ANN CHRISTINE
DES MOINES,IA 50312
NONE/UNEMPLOYED
10/25/2002
$235
Democratic Party of Iowa

VILSACK, ANN CHRISTINE
DES MOINES,IA 50322
SELF/CONSULTANT
9/28/2004
$201
America Coming Together

VILSACK, THOMAS J
DES MOINES,IA 50312
STATE OF IOWA/GOVERNOR
11/19/2003
$600
Democratic Party of Iowa

VILSACK, THOMAS J
DES MOINES,IA 50312
STATE OF IOWA/GOVERNOR
10/19/2004
$500
Democratic Party of Iowa

VILSACK, THOMAS J
DES MOINES,IA 50312
STATE OF IOWA/GOVERNOR
6/13/2005
$500
Casey, Bob

VILSACK, THOMAS J
DES MOINES,IA 50312
STATE OF IOWA/GOVERNOR
10/26/2005
$400
Democratic Party of Iowa

VILSACK, THOMAS J
DES MOINES,IA 50312
STATE OF IOWA/GOVERNOR
11/8/2005
$250
Democratic Party of Iowa

VILSACK, THOMAS JAMES
DES MOINES,IA 50312
STATE OF IOWA/GOVERNOR
9/26/2001
$300
Democratic Party of Iowa


Nothing too surprising here although I would note that George Soros -- billionaire who apparently hates capitalism or just wants to keep voters dumb and poor by working against the free enterprise system that made HIM a rich man -- is highly involved with "America Coming Together" (ACT) which Christine Vilsack contributed $201 to support their efforts:

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=America_Coming_Together

ACT is clearly NOT a "centrist" organization like the Democratic Leadership Council - which Governor Vilsack is the current chairman of -- portrays itself to be so Mrs. Vilsack's political activities are worth a closer examination.

Todd

Congressman Duncan Hunter

US Congressman Duncan Hunter (Republican-California) announced his plans to pursue the Republican Party nomination for President of the USA before this blog went live so I am catching up on the current field of candidates.

http://www.hunterforcongress.com/index.html

Congressman Hunter was first elected to the US House of Representatives in 1980 where he serves as chairman of the Armed Services Committee although he will lose this position once the Democrats take control of the US House in January 2007. Congressman Hunter lives in El Cajon, California with his wife, Lynne (Layh) whom he married in 1973 and with whom he has two sons.

Initial searches on "Lynne Layh" have not produced any results but the search continues.

Todd