Haiti

I did some research on Haiti awhile back and I do consider myself particularly familiar with its history, economics, and political problems. I'm thinking of doing a series of blogs on how to solve for the major problems in Haiti. Unlike some other countries I think Haiti's cycle of crisis can be solved.

This is how I feel Haiti's problems lie:
1) Economics/Environment
2) Politics
3) Too much direct foreign intervention
4) AIDS

I will cover this more in the future but here's my solutions:
1) Immediately input a reforestation program
2) Open up Haitian trade by including Haiti in DR-CAFTA
3) Gradually withdraw the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti
4) Refocus the UN to:

• Monitoring elections
  
• Treating AIDS through the World Health Organization
  
• Focus aid through UNICEF

5) Have the US and EU train a police force and a (small) military
6) Respect Haiti's sovereignty

More on this later...

Well I'm already wrong but that's a good thing

Salazar has turned down running for governor and now supports Hickelooper. Probably a good thing. Salazar is a cool guy and I really disagree with him on Iraq/Gitmo issues and some economic issues as well but his run for governor would have been interesting.

Hickenlooper however is more interesting though Hickenlooper is so popular he can only loose (thing Obama). As a guy who is both a policy wonk and a campaign junky this certainly appeals to the campaign junky side.

Now I wonder if there will be a primary (probably not), will Hickenlooper actually run (he in all likelihood will), who will he pick as his running mate, and will this be the western slope McInnis v. the Denverite/Front Ranger Hickenlooper?

Hickenlooper will probably have to make a Western Sloper his running mate or make a huge splash to put him over the top.

Colorado Political Questions

Major lack of updates on my part. Anyway lets get to it.

Some major political questions in Colorado that will become clearer as time goes on but I am going to ask and speculate on now:

Who is going to run on the Democratic ticket for governor?
My guess Ken Salazar if not than Hickenlooper. Salazar will probably win though. Most interesting question for me is who will he pick as a running mate.

Will Romanoff beat Bennet and Norton?
I think Romanoff has a good chance certainly name recognition and anti-incumbency mood helps. Norton is a formidable opponent probably stronger than Bennet.

Will Markey keep her seat?
Yes, yes, and yes. I bet it is hers as long as she wants it.

How much will the anti-incumbency feeling actually effect the election?
Not much actually but then again I am prepared to be shocked. Best chance of anti-incumbency is in the senate election and maybe state treasurer.

What was Rep. Kathleen Curry thinking?
If you ask me not very much. She thinks she will be more effective without her chairmanship and leader position? Now she has to run as a write-in candidate. Yeah seems like she's committing political suicide.

How are Ali Hasan's chances?
I make no secret how much I like him. Kennedy is smart but not much of a campaigner on the Democratic side. Republican field is crowded not sure he can win a primary. I do believe he would be a challenge for Kennedy in a state wide race though with his money and cross party appeal. His anti-cumbency views and new face could help. I do worry though that his last campaigns have killed his appeal in the front range with ironically should be his base for a state wide office. He's also had some bad press.

Still the biggest question on my mind what is Josh Penry's future?
I have no idea. I think he may have hurt himself a big with his run for governor. I do have a sneaking suspicion he made some sort of deal with McInnis. I'm guessing has his running mate but I'll be honest I have no clue and I'm really curious.

Why CO Senate race is absent?

Well I haven't done much writing recently but I will say I do not plan on writing about the Colorado senate race next year because I am myself involved in it. I'm doing some volunteering for Romanoff and therefore I will recuse myself from speaking about it on this blog. It would be unfair to Romanoff and the campaign to make any comment on the race. Not that I have any secrets but I'm just saying this because I think bloggers should have some ethics.

This blog was primarily the project of an outside observer. I have done some volunteering and internships in the past but during 2008 I decided to take some time off. In the future, I will this blog will probably be more focused on speculation outside Colorado and national/international politics. Basically, anything that can be linked to Romanoff is strictly off limits. If Romanoff were to loose the primary or I stop working for Romanoff then be more open to discussing the race. However, whatever happens in Romanoff's office stays in that office.

Hey Dana Perino you're a tool. There was no terrorist attack in the US while Bush was president? Really? Were you in a cave or are you more correctly a political hack? As for Sean Hannity so if Obama is a terrorist for reaching out to Al Qaeda (which he did not but for the sake of argument I'll go along with) does that make Nixon a communist for reaching out and visiting Soviet Union or China? How about Reagan? You're booth tools and not very sharp ones at that. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

*Sorry for the terrible writing but I'm honestly so mad and sick of Bush newspeak.

Next time a European criticizes America

I love Europe. I love Europeans. However, what the heck is going on in Switzerland? I guess the Bradley effect applies to the Swiss more than Americans right now.

The problem in Europe is for all their talk of tolerance and liberalization there are major ethnic problems. A few Germans were rude to me because I am of Russian heritage. Gypsies are roundly persecuted throughout Europe. Nationalist, extreme-right wing parties are on the rise. These are problems the United States doesn't have to the same degree as Europe. Sure we have complicated ethnic histories. Japanese interment, slavery, genocide of Native Americans, anti-immigration against everyone from Germans to Irish to Asians to Slavs and now Latinos are all things that America has had problems with in the past (and present). Yet in America we don't ban Nazis or other groups just because they hate we seek justice for people who are violent or actively discriminate (Europe feels their people are so out of control they have make political expression in some cases illegal).

Still American, after 9/11 mind you, still allows head scarves, minarets, and American Muslims are far better assimilated than their European counterparts. The fact is the more tolerant a society is the better race relations you have and the better assimilated people are. Freedom, acceptance, free markets, and fairness are not western values they are universal. Everyone does better when they can practice their religion and celebrate together. We eat better food, learn knew things, experience different art and culture. In short, diversity is exciting.

Tell me were else can you have Chinese food, watch French movies, drink Corona, read Russian novels, and listen to jazz? America is not perfect but in some ways we are far ahead of our friends across the Atlantic.

Medicare Part E

Took Democrats long enough right? I mean I think Keith Olbermann is a smart guy who puts on an entertaining show (though I find many places of disagreement) but there are three big questions on my mind:

1) Is Keith Olbermann the next Rush Limbaugh? Can he claim to be the voice of the Democratic Party?
2) Why are the Democrats (and Republicans for that matter) so reluctant to support a public option that is so ridiculously popular?
3) What took everyone so long to call the public option Medicare Part E?

These are all process questions obviously but I tend to be a practically minded political person (say that three times fast).

If I were a member of congress I would vote for a public option if and only if all of John Mackey's reforms were included with health care reform.

Health care is quite an interesting subject for me because it seems to throw all of political perceptions out of wack. When I look at politics I first look first does it fit my libertarian-independent (small l) philosophy. Second, does it make economic sense? Third, can this idea become law politically and practically. Lastly, is it the morally right thing to do.

The libertarian hates health care reform.
The economist and the moral view sees the need for reform.
The political strategist is confused on what the hell everyone is doing. It seems everyone is acting irrationally.

In summary this is really exciting.