Oh dear. I was reading this discussion and saying "hey, it's time I went to a CLUE meeting!" but wow, it went from enthusiastic to analytical to wounded egos, just like every other political discussion I've seen :-( But it's still time, if you'll have me after reading this... :-) I learned an interesting thing talking politics overseas (where it's safe to do so, like Western Europe), many people outside America support candidates without worrying about whether they "can win," a fascinating concept in itself, and if another person waves generalizations and/or opinions, the other people will debate furiously, but they come from a passionate point of view, not a need to defend themselves. So refreshing! But then, when you read where I have recent arrived from, you'll see why I might be particularly jaded in this area.
<br><br>Other countries love to hear about "how Americans think" especially on politics. The BBC had a correspondent here for decades just reporting to the amazed Brits about things in the former colonies in his "Letter from America." I know our Earthly future (only future for atheists I suppose) depends on who we elect, but still, the whole process is pretty funny, even if you cry a little too. Having seen the video of Ralph Nader getting rejected from a presidential debate hall with just a video audience ticket by a Mass. State trooper, I think this here horse race is fixed, as someone said above. They showed a "face book" of all the others to keep out, too. But I'm not cynical, no no no...
<br><br>I will end with a joke: when I arrived here from Taxachusetts (though I only paid 5% sales tax there), the motor-voter clerk signed me up while I got my driver's license, and joked at my Republican choice "what, did you get kicked out of Massachusetts?" Nearly, oh man they will shoot themselves in foot there if it serves their ideology. Anyway, come to get my confirmation in the mail - Democrat. I didn't know they had political press-gangs here! Probably just in Denver. Or was it a "computer error?" Ahem...
<br><br>Oh, and the more populous bottom third of New Hampshire is now Massachusetts, if you haven't heard. They went up there for a better life and lower taxes, and now they want all the services they're missing.
<br><br>Do I have to do an ObLinux? Just in case, I will: I did a lot of Linux stuff in the past, drivers and realtime stuff, even. But I didn't keep up recently, and I'm wondering what folks tend to install at the Installfest I just missed. I've got a Toshiba Satellite laptop that I will be retiring hopefully this spring from Windows XP servitude, and I only know SuSE and Redhat flavors, it seems like Ubuntu might be interesting. If this is a FAQ, well, I tried... :-) Thanks!
<br><br>Dave<br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div><div class="Wj3C7c"><a href="http://www.cluedenver.org/mailman/listinfo/clue-talk" target="_blank">
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