More Republican Primary/Caucus Results

There was a primary and a 2 caucuses held yesterday and things did not bode well for the Republican heir apparent Mitt Romney. In fact, other than Colorado (which he still lost), he lost big time. Things did not go well for former Speaker Gingrich either.

Here are the results so you can see the numbers yourself:

Minnesota Caucus:
Rick Santorum - 44.8%
Ron Paul - 27.2%
Mitt Romney - 16.9%
Newt Gingrich - 10.7%

Missouri Primary:
Rick Santorum - 55.2%
Mitt Romney - 25.3%
Ron Paul - 12.2%
Other - 7.3% (people in Missouri apparently are not big fans of Newt)

Colorado Caucus:
Rick Santorum - 40.2%
Mitt Romney - 34.9% (see? not as huge a loss as in the other 2 states)
Newt Gingrich - 12.8% (ok, he actually came in 3rd in this one)
Ron Paul - 11.8%

So, as you can tell, the former Senator from Pennsylvania Rick Santorum was the big winner last night. Interesting considering up until now, I never really took him too seriously as a candidate. Perhaps, we still shouldn't take him seriously and these 3 states are not that important in the grand scheme of things but this at least shows up that not everybody thinks Romney and Gingrich are the only candidates running this race.

Next stop is Maine on the 11th of February and Arizona and Michigan on the 28th of February (both of which are primaries).

Third Way?

I just found out about this organization today while listening to something on NPR. They said something about it being an organization dedicated to advancing the centrist cause.

Interesting, a centrist/moderate political organization. Sounds like something that might be right up my alley.

So I went to their website to check out more about it. According to the "About Us" section of the website they are a "think tank that answers America's challenges with modern ideas aimed at the center."

As I continue reading more about this organization, I will probably write some more stuff about it.

2012 Nevada Republican Caucus Results

Mitt Romney had a huge win in the Nevada Caucus yesterday. Apparently, the Republican Party of Nevada really wants Romney to be the Presidential candidate for their party.

Here are the results:

Mitt Romney - 49.7%

Newt Gingrich - 21.4%

Ron Paul - 18.6%

Rick Santorum - 10.4%

If you do the numbers here, you will find that Romney's percentage is almost the same as the other 3 candidates combined.

However...this campaign is far from over.

Next stops are Maine, Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri.

Decentralism in a Nutshell

I was reading this blog that I ran across tonight (Left-Liberty.net and found an article that I found quite interesting. It was aptly titled An Overview of Decentralism

Decentralism is a political theory that I have read some stuff on but never really got a really good grasp of what it was about. This article really puts it in the simplest terms possible.

So I, in turn, have decided to write here, in a nutshell, based on that article, the main tenets of the Decentralist theory.

Here they are:

1. Big = Bad.

The centralized state, the hierarchical bureaucracy, is a failure. It is authoritarian and top-heavy. Big government is dangerous.

2. Power should be diffused to the lowest level possible. For example, the community level. Nothing should be decided at a level beyond those who are affected.

3. Freedom comes first. From that flows order and harmony of the society at large.

This sounds like a really good idea. I don't think it would ever happen because people, as I have stated time and time again, are inherently greedy and once they get a small taste of power, they get power-hungry and want more of it. But it is a good theory, nonetheless.

It seems to me that more would get done and people's basic needs would be met more easily if everything was decentralized.

It makes me wonder a bit if the style of government that was set up by the Articles of Confederation would have been a better system than what we have now. I think I'm going to read more about those Articles and get back to you on that.

2012 Florida Republican Primary Results

Another win for Romney down in Florida.

Right now, it seems like the nomination could be ether Romney or Gingrich and since both candidates has stated that they are in this thing until the convention, it really could be either candidate's race to win at this point in time.

Here are the results:

Mitt Romney - 46.4%

Newt Gingrich - 31.9%

Rick Santorum - 13.3%

Ron Paul - 7%

Hump Day Shuffle (2.1.12)

1. Allison Road - Gin Blossoms (from the album New Miserable Experience)
2. S. Soup - Sebadoh (from Bakesale)
3. Hit That - The Offspring (from Splinter)
4. Miranda - All (from Pummel)
5. Pardon Me - Weezer (from Make Believe)
6. Pushover - Face to Face (from Laugh Now, Laugh Later)
7. All My Loving - The Beatles (from Meet the Beatles!)
8. 1953 - Dropkick Murphys (from Going Out in Style)
9. Primeval - The Staggers (from The Sights, the Sounds, the Fear and the Pain)

Monday Morning Shuffle (1.30.12)

1. Go - Pearl Jam (from the album Vs)
2. Anna Theme - Stavesacre (from the album All Stars and City Lights)
3. Roadside - Rise Against (from the album The Sufferer and the Witness)
4. The Un-Manifest - Haste the Day (from the album Attack of the Wolf King)
5. Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revivial (from the album Willy and the Poor Boys)
6. Along the Way - Bad Religion (from the album Back to the Known)
7. Straight from the Jacket - No Use For a Name (from the album Leche Con Carne)
8. Gonna Be a Blackout Tonight - Dropkick Murphys (from the album Blackout)
9. Fire to My Soul - Demon Hunter (from the album The Triptych)
10. Under the Knife - Motorhead (from the album No Remorse)
11. True Love Way - Kings of Leon (from the album Because of the Times)

NHL Roundup (1.28.12)

EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

Atlantic Division

Rangers

Flyers

Penguins

Devils

Islanders

Northeast Division

Bruins

Senators

Maple Leafs

Canadiens

Sabres

Southeast Division

Capitals

Panthers

Jets

Lightning

Hurricanes

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

Central Division

Red Wings

Blues

Predators

Blackhawks

Blue Jackets

Northwest Division

Canucks

Wild

Avalanche

Flames

Oilers

Pacific Division

Sharks

Kings

Stars

Coyotes

Mighty Ducks

STATS LEADERS

Points Leaders

Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh) - 58

Claude Giroux (Philadelphia) - 55

Marian Hossa (Chicago) - 53

Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit) - 53

Goals Leaders

Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay) - 32

Jonathan Toews (Chicago) - 27

James Neal (Pittsburgh) - 27

Wins Leaders

Jimmy Howard (Detroit) - 30

Pekka Rinne (Nashville) - 28

Marc-Andre Fleury (Pittsburgh) - 26

Save Percentage Leaders

Brian Elliott (St Louis) - .938

Tuukka Rask (Boston) - .938

Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers) - .937

ESPN NHL Power Rankings (Top 10)

New York Rangers

Boston Bruins

Detroit Red Wings

St Louis Blues

Chicago Blackhawks

Philadelphia Flyers

Nashville Predators

Vancouver Canucks

San Jose Sharks

Pittsburgh Penguins

Saturday Afternoon Shuffle (1.28.12)

1. Heart is Gone - Roustabouts (from the album The Only One)
2. Of Pirates, Cowboys and Lawyers - Ryan Harvey w/Tom Frampton (from the album The Revolution Will Not Be Amplified)
3. My Best Friend - Weezer (from the album Make Believe)
4. May the Future Forgive Us - Fall City Shakedown (from the album Birds + Leaves)
5. Haight Street - Anberlin (from the album New Surrender)
6. Brushing of the Wings - Traindodge (from the album Wolves)
7. Fashion Victim - Green Day (from the album Warning)
8. Fun Tonight - The Riverdales (from the album The Riverdales)
9. She Sells Sanctuary - Cult (from the album Love)
10. Trust - Megadeth (from the album Cryptic Writings)
11. Bro Hymn - Pennywise (from the album Pennywise)