Can't believe it, but summertime is here in Southern California with temperatures in the 80's -- pushing 90 degrees in record February heat. We're all wondering what happened to our El Nino rains? Something about a high pressure system pushing the storms to the northern part of California as instead we're receiving dry hot high winds..
That's just fine as long as they keep dumping snow in the four mountain ranges -- Shasta Cascade, Klamath-Siskiyous, Sierra Nevada, and the Coastal Mountain Range -- all together said to be a total of 138 mountains more or less. Snowmelt from those Sierra Nevada mountains provide many of us a portion of the water we rely on as described here. Now weather predictors tell us El Nino's rains will come the end of February and in March -- we'll see!
Last Weekend I checked out my local area strawberry patch as February had been the earliest I had ever known those addicting luscious red fruits to be ripened for sale. Not only was the stand open, but they had first begun selling berries this year in December -- just before Christmas! Had I only known I would have been their first customer. One more indicator of our climate changing.
I continue to wonder what's next in this political year as candidates have rigorously pursued voters, first in Iowa and next in New Hampshire. Now they're off to South Carolina with their numbers not winnowed down enough to suggest who would actually receive their political party's nomination though both major political parties have unexpected front runners. Rumbling in the background continues that a possible third party candidate may join the fray if he doesn't like the two major party finalists selected.
So far this rather unorthodox election campaign has resulted in an increase in the number of election primary voters. More citizens fulfilling the voluntary responsibility expected of those of us living in our democracy/republic is encouraging. Pundits, candidates and voters are finding not much is predictable which makes this election of interest to more people, I think.
I know what principles, political issues and plans to resolve our nation's problems are important to me. I know the candidates whose views I can most closely share presently. But we have many more election primaries in the months ahead as each candidate tries to effectively express themself to convince voters to select them. The bottom line is the candidate in each party who becomes their party nominee needs to be electable!
I don't think Madeline Albright and Gloria Steinem did their candidate
and women voters any favors by suggesting we should vote on the basis of
gender. Coming from an older generation, cognizant first hand of
gender discrimination, I do understand the intent of their words. But,
frankly, I was offended, and I think many younger generation women
might be resentful, too. Hopefully, the candidate won't be penalized by voters.
Some pundit discussions I've heard have included observations that democracies around the world are being clobbered by extremist anti-establishment candidates. The world is truly in a state of flux and our nation is not an exception. What could this mean for our future?
Obviously, younger women were offended, if the exit polls are accurate. Climate change is certainly upon us. So which candidate is most environmentally froiendly? I look for that.
ReplyDeleteRubio will do well in the South as will Bernie. Bernie comes from the Live Free or Die State where folks keep guns. Hillary has stupidly been bashing gunownership. Dems lose a lot of votes on the gun issue.
I, too, want to know candidates position on climate change plus what, if any, measures they'll support being taken to minimize man made pollution. I'm always intrigued with instances I experience first hand as evidence of climate change and like to point them out as supporting what's occurring on our earth for those who deny this is happening to consider.
ReplyDeleteYes, there will likely be a geographic divide by States as to which of the Republican candidates garner major support in their party. The young inexperienced Rubio is especially attractive to many who reject Cruz. I expect the Democrats' Clinton could elicit more votes from some gun owners if she wanted to be dishonest about her beliefs. But she continues to appeal to those gun owners who support a need for select ownership requirements and limitations.
It is the most interesting campaign I've witnessed. Your observation on increased numbers of voters is astute. I've always thought the media overdid coverage because most journalists want to do something positive about the poor voting record of Americans. Perhaps this time, that theory could have a little merit.
ReplyDeleteThe media does seem to have reason to be genuinely enthusiastic about this election with the campaigning "out of the box" though important issues also existed in prior elections. I wonder if the increased primary voting will translate to the general election?
DeleteI watched the Sanders/Clinton debate very carefully and concluded that I prefer Hillary Clinton. Sanders was perfectly correct in everything he said. But has he been effective in public life? How have his positions led to read change?
ReplyDeleteI must also point out that Albright and Steinem made those remarks, not Clinton herself. And not to be overlooked, she has the endorsement of all the Democratic senators plus the President. Remember that guy everyone was crazy about once upon a time? Now the person he backs can't get a break.
And don't forget the third rail in U.S. politics: Israel.
We're certainly hearing a lot of "pie in the sky" statements about what each candidate in both parties will do if elected. Voters, hopefully, will consider what realistically can be accomplished since the makeup of Congress will be critical.
DeleteI agree with everything that Hattie said. I really like Bernie but feel we should keep the Affordable Care Act since it's already law (a miracle in itself, thank you Pres. Obama) and I fear if he tried a different health system it would all go down the tubes and we would be back to square one.
ReplyDeleteSo many issues including health care this election's results will impact and now the Supreme Court is unexpectedly open for an appointment. Truly, what's next?
ReplyDeleteYes, Scalia's death on top of everything else.
ReplyDeleteScalia replaced Renquist when he was promoted. Now both conservatives are gone. Obama could appoint a moderate, there are many good candidates in the wings, a few having received huge votes from both sides when they were appointed to a lower court. I hope Obama does the right thing. And I hope the Congress comes to its senses and votes the candidate up or down. Congress has enough votes to block any candidate. Why should either Obama or the Senate provoke a fight?
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's too much to ask of our President and Congress to do the right thing -- time will tell.
DeleteI wrote a comment and it went into the nether region. Probably doen't matter anyway. I canvote for Hillary or Kasich, but none of the others. A tough year for sure.
ReplyDeleteI think your first comment did not vanish, but was waiting to be published after I reviewed which I have been doing for some time now.
DeleteIt's frightening me that Trump is winning so much. I can't believe we have so many Americans voting for him.
ReplyDeleteI'm also for the Affordable Care Act. It might not be perfect yet, but it's a start. Nobody else could get anything started earlier to help those who needed it.
Apparently many people fall for cons every day as I've read some view Mr. Trump's candidacy rhetoric. I wonder if privately he is laughing at all his supporters?
DeleteI believe when ACA was adopted it was clearly stated that once the plan was implemented it would require adjustments. Wouldn't Congress spend their time much better by doing just that if they truly cared about citizen welfare?