Hillary's Only Hope

The Democratic Primary process is proving that Hillary Clinton doesn't believe that the rules apply to her (or her husband). It is pretty clear that she believes that she is owed the party nomination. And after listening to Terry McAuliffe speak on Tuesday, he was pretty confident that the delegates from Florida and Michigan were going to be seated and that Hillary would be the beneficiary.

And I can't help think that the only the way that Hillary can win the nomination is if the May 31 meeting on the DNC that the of the 30 members, those loyal to the DLC will secure her nomination on that day and deprive Obama of what he has to this date earned.

And should the Rules Committee decide to change the rules at the expense of the other 48 states to favor Clinton this is one independent voter who will be voting Libertarian or possibly Green party. Oh wait. I won't vote for Ralph Nader either.

Hillary Clinton's supporters

It is really interesting reading some of the pro-Hillary responses in the comment section of various articles in the internets. I have noticed that Hillary supporters are quick to point out that because Hillary won a primary (like WV) that Obama can't win against McCain in the general election come November. This sort of mindset reveals that a vote for Hillary is a vote for McCain.

Another interesting bit of information that might be of some note to Hillary supporters, according to the exit polls, those that voted for Hillary did so because of her husband. I guess the people of WV figure that a vote for Hillary is a vote for her Bill.

It looks like Hillary has but one objective, win the Democratic Party nomination. If she doesn't win the nomination then she appears determined, destined to destroy the party with blessings of her aforementioned supporters.

The Snow White Effect

When I train drivers to operate pedicab I stress to them the importance of having fun. I explain to them that if they set the bar at having fun when they drive that they will not only have fun but they will make money too. Of course, there are those drivers that climb upon their pedicabs with the sole intent of making money, to hell with the simplistic notions of having fun. If it works for them, so be it. I don’t begrudge those drivers

Well that last sentence isn’t all that true. I do have one caveat. I do begrudge those drivers when they work an event or venue and start bitching and bemoaning the fact that they can’t get any rides, and they aren’t making any money. And then at the end of the night when they are called upon to pay their rental fee the bitching starts all over. I’m sure you have heard it before, especially those drivers that have been around longer than me.

From where I sit in the “cheap seats” these drivers chase away potential fares. I started thinking about the various venues where the drivers interested in making money are always first to start complaining about how they aren’t making any money. And all it takes is one…it spreads like a virus, infecting other drivers and the way they think. The smiles tend to vanish, and what you are left with are drivers with chips on their shoulders and they all want a “break” on their rental fee.

So like I was saying, I started thinking about these drivers and these situation and I came up with my own theory. (Yeah, I know…I know…you have a theory too.) I call it the Snow White effect.

Everyone should be familiar with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Well, in my theory, there are some drivers that take on the characteristics of several of the dwarfs. The first and the most obvious is:

"Grumpy:" Never smiles, scares away potential fares, the last person anyone wants a ride from is the driver that doesn’t look like they are having fun. First to bitch and bemoan. The last person you call when you need a second pedicab.

"Bashful:" Too quiet for their own good. Relies on the kindness of passer-bys rather than soliciting potential fares. Needs encouragement. Usually available when a second cab is needed. Easily swayed to the “Grumpy” side.

"Sleepy:" You guessed it! They are the ones that spend more time on the backseat than the front seat. When roused they can get the job done. Capable of transforming into “Grumpy.”

"Dopey:" Just can’t seem to get it together. One and done. Can talk the talk, but can’t pedal the pedal.

"Happy:" They smile, they are the one’s having a good time and that people remember and look for after the game, after the concert etc. Encourages “Bashful” and “Dopey.“ They are often disliked by “Grumpy.”

“Doc:” An older and wiser “Happy.”


Well, there you have it, The Snow White Effect. I’d classify myself as “Happy.”

Which dwarf are you?

Moqtada al-Sadr's Surge

Well I can't wait to hear how BE-trayus will testify before the three potential presidential candidates. I suppose as a blogger I should embed a few links, but I a must confess I haven't the interest in doing any heavy lifting beyond the implements I use to draw.

Hillary Clinton Recounts, err, Recants

IT is really strange how a simple idea can change, can morph into something completely unexpected. The latest comic posted about Hillary is one such creature. The original idea (and drawing) contained the image of Hillary running across the page, fleeing what where originally arrows that said OBAMA upon the arrow shafts. And the tag line at the top was, "I'M THE BATTLE TESTED CANDIDATE."

Well, a lot can happen over the course of 24 hours. Now As I was drawing the cartoon for the second time, because Hillary looked like she was walking like an Egyptian more than running away I was struck by the recent furor of her recounting then recanting herstory about her trip to Bosnia back in 1996.

A challenge for my fellow pedicabbers (and non-pedicabbers)

I wanted to offer a challenge to my fellow pedicab drivers. You can think of it as the ultimate karma ride and you don't even have to turn a single pedal stroke. What is it? I want to challenge you all to donate a pint of blood, plasma or donate platelets.

I started out donating whole blood when I was in my late 20's to my local blood center, the Central California Blood Center. I was first motivate to donate because a family friend was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 6. After donating over 6 gallons (yes, 6 gallons) of whole blood over the years (I have met others who have surpassed 6 gallons) I was told about Platelet Apheresis, the process of donating platelets.

Well, it has been several years since my first apheresis donation. And there is one question that I am asked most often, and that is how much do I get paid. Well folks, I don't get paid. I give of myself freely and in return I receive the occasional free t-shirt, or a coupon to Baskin Robbins Ice Cream. I even have a few plastic displays that proclaim just how much of this (blood) or that (platelets) I have donated over the years.

So, once again I challenge all my fellow pedicab drivers, to donate whole blood, plasma or platelets. When you donate you give the "gift of life." If you are willing to take up this challenge you should consider registering with the National Marrow Donor Program. Here is one more interesting fact for those that aren't aware, "only 5 percent of the eligible population of blood donors actually gives blood."

What I'd like to find out is, how many of those that donate regularly ride a pedicab?

I'd like to extend this challenge to anyone and everyone that reads my blog to go out and donate!

Cross posted over at Pedicab Blog.

Geraldine Ferraro, victim of reverse racism.

Like Hillary Clinton, Geraldine Ferraro plays the victim when she is the perpetrator of some pretty vile statements. She repeatedly states that Obama is where he is because he is black, and for no other reason. Then she says that Obama should thank her for what she has said. She wasn't trying to denigrate what he has accomplished, she was paying him a compliment. And now, well now she is the victim of what I would best describe as reverse racism from the Obama campaign.

Thanks to Geraldine Ferraro and Keith Olbermann for the inspiration.

Calling John McCain at 3 am

If experience is the measure by which we are to select our preferred presidential candidate in the 2008 election cycle then all I can say is: We are fucked! Let's face it the candidates with the most experience are Hillary Clinton (according to her) and John McCain. Now we should remember that the experiences of both of these candidates led them to vote in favor of abdicating their constitutional role to declare war against Iraq and allow Bush carte blanche to do whatever he has seen fit as it pertains to the invasion and occupation of Iraq. (Bush has seen fit to interpret the same abdication as giving him the authority to attack Iran. But that is another cartoon and another post.) Neither Clinton or McCain have the wisdom to be the President of the United States. Of course Bush didn't have either wisdom or experience and look what he has done to make the world more unstable.

Experience...Red Phone...3am...

The inspiration for this cartoon came after I came across this! Who would have thunk it...being inspired by Tom Daschle. It certainly wasn't divine inspiration. I have yet one more cartoon in the works (I just need to draw the damn thing) stemming from the 3 am phone call...

In a strange way I suppose that I should be thanking Hillary for providing me the material that I have been using to hoist her upon her own petard.

Thanks Raw Story.

The Red Phone

It's 3 am and the red phone in the White House on Pennsylvania Ave. is ringing. Who is going to answer the phone? If you want someone with experience then you'll have to accept that between the Hillary Clinton and John McCain, then McCain is the candidate for you. After all, McCain has more experience than either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.

Of course, the same experience that Hillary claims would make her a better commander-in-chief is the same experience (when her husband was the president) that led her to vote in favor of the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Her experience was surely lacking when she voted to support Bush's personal vendetta against Saddam Hussein cause he tried to kill his father. Why should her experience be any more valuable now then it was back then?


An aside: If Hillary is the DNC candidate it will be interesting to see her try to out-hawk McCain on Iran. Oh boy I can already imagine the cartoons...