US-How demographic changes may influence outcome of Presidential Election

Major changes are occurring in the demographic structure of the US. There were 44.3 million Hispanics in the United States as of July 1, 2006. This represents 14.8 percent of the population. They are the fastest growing ethnic group, accounting for about half the growth of population during the previous year -- 1.4 million out of a total increase of 2.9 million.
African -Americans are now the second-largest minority group in America with a population of 40.2 million.
Both ethnic groups will exercise a major influence on the outcome of the Presidential Election of 2008. The majority of Hispanics and African-Americans are leaning towards the Democrats . This presents the GOP with a major problem. A minority of Hispanics can be relied to vote for the GOP. This group is conservative on social issues. However the majority view the GOP as largely hostile on the immigration issue. Sons and daughters-of illegals-born in the US are entitled to vote.
The Republican Party should not concede these ethnic groups to the Democrats. The GOP must make meaningful gestures to both groups before it is too late. Otherwise Hillary Clinton will be elected President.

Ireland-O'Dowd launches blistering attack on Government

Fine Gael Front Bencher, Fergus O'Dowd TD has today (Tuesday) condemned plans by the Health Minister, Mary Harney, to allow the HSE to retain 25% of the interest earned on the accounts of nursing home patients.

Deputy O'Dowd said that the new regulation was unjustifiable and that the Minister was trying to sneak the measure through.
"This is yet another stealth tax on the elderly and the Minister is making the announcement in the summer months to try and sneak it through without due attention. The fact is that when the Minister outlined her plans for funding nursing home care late last year this measure was not included; to introduce it now is completely unjustifiable.
"Fianna Fáil and the PDs have a dismal track record when it comes to the elderly and bringing in this new regulation is just the latest Government assault on nursing home patients.
"This comes in the same week as we learn that less than half of those entitled to refunds as a result of illegal nursing home charges have submitted applications and less than a fifth of those who have applied have had their claims settled.
"Furthermore, almost two and a half years after the Leas Cross scandal, national quality standards for nursing homes are still only in their draft stage.
"This attempt to sneak through a new stealth tax on the elderly during the summer period suggests that the FF-PD-Green-Ind Government is set to perpetuate the unfairness of its predecessor. Fine Gael opposes the introduction of this regulation and is calling on the Minister to withdraw it."


Has the Government learned nothing? Increasingly it appears to be at war with the elderly. When Charlie McCreevy was Minister for Finance the blame could conveniently be laid at his door. McCreevy is gone but the meanness and pettiness continues. De Valera would turn in his grave. Per capita we are one of the richest countries in the world. This penny pinching at the expense of the elderly is unbecoming of a civilised society. Rescind this decision immediately.



Well done to Fergus O'Dowd on exposing this unfair imposition on the elderly.

US-Republican Party field is overcrowded.

The battle for the Republican party nomination is wide open. New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Arizona Senator John McCain and former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee are acknowledged as strong contenders.

However the field appears somewhat overcrowded. Mitt Romney buoyed by a strong performance in the Iowa straw poll has the financial resources-estimated to be worth over $200 million dollars- to make an impact. Mike Huckabee has now come to the forefront after a strong performance in the Iowa straw polls. Newt Gingrich may enter the race in October. No clear front runner has emerged. Many Republican voters are not satisfied with the current group of candidates. Social conservative voters in particular are looking for a true conservative in the tradition of former President Ronald Reagan.

Shannon Airport-can people power succeed

Since the announcement by Aer Lingus that it intended to axe the Shannon to Heathrow route there has been a huge groundswell of opposition to the decision. This opposition extends from Mayo to Kerry. A survey conducted by IBEC is expected to say that thousands of jobs are now at risk in the region as a result of the decision.
Catholic and Church of Ireland bishops in the mid-west joined in the condemnation of the Aer Lingus decision yesterday.
In a statement delivered at services and Masses, the clergy described the plan as a serious blow to tourist and business enterprises in the region.
Willie O'Dea is quoted as saying that the Aer Lingus decision "should be reversed as the economy as a whole will suffer". I think that this is a coded statement which means that Aer Lingus will not change its decision. It is a rather weak statement. Looks like Willie will have difficulty extricating himself from this imbroglio. Will Willie resign on the issue?
Jackie Healy Rae wants the decision reversed and the Dail recalled. What hypocrisy. Is Jackie about to withdraw support from the Government. Will he vote against the Government? Of course not. This is a formula of words to cover his tracks. All blarney bluff and bluster but no action.
This issue will not be diffused by spin. The people of the Mid West and West are wide awake.
Government politicians are running scared of people power. Luckily for them the next General Election is due in 2012.

UN website targeted by hackers

The UN was today reviewing the security procedures on its website after
a group of hackers posted anti-Israeli messages on the personal page of the Secretary-General.


A page usually given over the speeches of Ban Ki Moon was yesterday displaying messages which read: "Hey Ysrail and Usa dont [sic] kill children and other people Peace for ever No war."
The messages, apparently written by a group of hackers who go by the name CyberProtest, were posted in the early hours of Sunday, but had been removed by 9:15am East Coast time, a UN spokesman said.
The Times

Afghanistan-Korean hostage crisis drags on

Over the weekend hopes rose that this crisis would be resolved. Taliban kidnappers freed two South Korean female hostages today, a move the fundamentalist militants described as a gesture of goodwill while they negotiate the fate of the 19 other Christian aid workers they still hold.
Los Angeles Times

US Politics-Iowa straw poll analysis

Former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Senator John McCain decided not to participate in this straw poll. So the former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney was installed as favourite.

Romney's huge financial muscle and strong organisation ensured success.
He took 4516 of the 14,000 votes cast. But the big surprise was the former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee, who snatched second place from Sam Brownback, the senator from Kansas. Both are strongly opposed to abortion.


This is undoubtedly a boost for Huckabee's campaign. Huckabee is hamstrung by lack of funds.
All in all he can feel reasonably happy with his performance. He has been catapulted from relative obscurity. Extra funds may flow from conservative supporters into his campaign coffers. Huckabee's conservative credentials are impeccable. If he can rally conservatives behind him, he could spring a surprise when Iowa holds its formal caucuses next January.

Fred Thompson is expected to announce his intention to seek the GOP nomination soon. So the Iowa caucuses will be intensely competitive.

Romney and Huckabee now have a head start on Thompson, McCain and Giuliani . Their campaigns have built up momentum. Can they sustain this?