From http://www.strategic…

Below are the results of a three-day poll in the state of Iowa. Results are based on telephone interviews with 600 likely Republican cacus goers and 600 likely Democratic cacus goers, aged 18+, and conducted September 21-23, 2007. The margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.

If the 2008 Democratic presidential caucus were held today between, Joeseph Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson, for whom would you vote? (Democrats Only; Names Rotated)
Hillary Clinton 24%
John Edwards 22%
Barack Obama 21%
Bill Richardson 13%
Joseph Biden 4%
Chris Dodd 1%
Dennis Kucinich 1%
Undecided 14%

Do you favor a withdrawal of all United States military from Iraq within the next six months? (Democrats Only)
Yes 84%
No 7%
Undecided 9%

When making your selection for a presidential candidate, what are you looking for most in the candidate, charisma, experience, or ideology? (Democrats Only)
Ideology 30%
Charisma 30%
Experience 27%
Undecided 13%

It’s time to make it official:  Bill Richardson will receive my vote in the primary.

Why pick the 4th in running candidate just breaking into double-digits? 

More than any other candidate, Bill Richardson offers the following:

1.  Face-to-face negotiating experience with our most dangerous enemies.  Unlike Clinton and Obama, Richardson won’t speculate  about nukes because he knows that’s a poor play in the art of brinkmanship.  It’s unfortunate that we are at the point of brinkmanship because of the Bush administration; but it’s for that very reason that I believe Richardson is the most able leader to clean up Bush’s mess.

2.  Executive leadership.  Candidates who have previously been in the governor’s seat have a great perspective on how to get the job done.  Senators tend to waffle.  Our next Commander In Chief needs to be a solid leader who will deliver sensible foreign policy and stand behind it.

3.  Ethnic bridge.  In my opinion, Bill Richardson creates a stronger ethnic bridge than Barack Obama.  America’s Hispanic tradition is very strong, and I suspect we might see a position bump for Richardson in the early Florida primary.  I feel very comfortable with Richardson as America’s ambassador of our rich ethnic heritage.

4.  Bipartisan support.  Once again, I refer back to Richardson’s experience in turning around New Mexico, a complicated state to govern.  If he can please Republican’s in his home state, he has a good chance of keeping Red America pleased with his work as a solid Democrat.

5.  Dark Horse Candidate.  Simply put, Richardson is currently a sleeping also-ran.  But once we get out of Iowa and New Hampshire, watch out.

Respectfully submitted,

Nate Freeman

( – promoted by odum)

Driving to Shelburne today on a delivery, I was once again sadly amazed at the translucent gray haze obscuring the view of Camel’s Hump, Mount Mansfield, and the entire Green Mountain Range. Down in the valleys the diminishing quality of Vermont’s air is less evident, but the view to the hills is difficult to miss.  It’s also hard to miss the “Very Unhealthy” red zones representing pollution on ANR’s Air Quality Index map:

http://www.anr.state…

What’s particularly interesting is that the air quality monitoring locations in Burlington, Rutland and Brattleboro are all situated at elevations less than 600′ above sea level.  Bennington sits at 709′ and Underhill at 1291′, but when you glance to either the hillsides where people live, or to the ANR air quality map, the evidence of unhealthy air is staring you right in the face. Today, the Taconics, the Greens, and the Northeast Highlands have an AQI index exceeding 200, landing in the category of “Very Unhealthy”.  Even with lower elevation monitoring stations, Air Quality Advisories have been issued three times this year. 

In my opinion, and only partially verified, the primary source of air quality degradation results from eased emission standards for coal-burning plants in the Midwest.  No matter where this pollution is coming from, it seems as though the fact of diminishing air quality would be of high concern not only to ANR, but to the Department of Health and the Department of Tourism, and that some legal action might be taken on it.  I’d be curious to learn if anything is being done, or can be done due to the hurdles of interstate law or the Clear Air Act.

Despite various myths, pollution is not caused by humidity, nor is it only present on hot days.  It is only with complacency that one could say, “Our air will always be clean,” especially since on this very day, a thick, “Very Unhealthy” cloud rises up the hills. 

What do you think?  How is your view of your favorite mountain? 

Nate Freeman

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