China quake death toll rises to nearly 10,000
May 12, 8:01 PM (ET)
By WILLIAM FOREMANCHENGDU, China (AP) – The death toll from a powerful earthquake that toppled buildings, schools and chemical plants climbed to nearly 10,000 in the worst-hit province Tuesday, while untold numbers remain trapped after the worst quake in three decades.
The 7.9-magnitude quake Monday devastated a region of small cities and towns set amid steep hills north of Sichuan’s provincial capital of Chengdu. Striking in mid-afternoon, it emptied office buildings across the country in Beijing, could be felt as far away as Vietnam and in Chengdu crashed telephone networks and hours later left parts of the city of 10 million in darkness.
The official Xinhua News Agency reported nearly 10,000 people died in central China’s Sichuan province alone and 216 others in three other provinces and the mega-city of Chongqing.
As things have gotten bad in Asia. Now, China got struck by a strong earthquake, which was felt throughout the nation and as far as Taiwan and Thailand. Also, disaster ridden Myanmar felt the earthquake as well. 10,000 people have died in this quake. Condolences to the Chinese people affected by this tragedy.
I have a bad feeling that something bad will happen in America, especially after the election year. I have noticed after a Presidential election, something major tends to happen the following year.
1993-World Trade Center Bombing, Branch Davidian Fire, and Midwest Flood.
1997-El Nino and string of Muslim terrorist attacks in the Middle East, especially in Algeria.
2001-September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack
2005-Hurricane Katrina
2009-?
Also, when the media follows something that is tripe and meaningless. They are scandalous in nature. In the summer of 2001, the media was reporting string of shark attacks and Chandra Levy. Well, sadly, she was found dead and the killer is yet to be found. This year has had more shark attacks reported than in 2001. In 2005, they were reporting about Natalee Holloway in Aruba. Sadly, she is still missing and likely dead. Before 1993, the media was so focused on Amy Fisher, the Long Island Lolita.
1929 was after the 1928 election and there was the stock market crash that year. It marked the start of the Great Depression. 1937 had the New London, Texas School Explosion and Hindenburg disaster. Pearl Harbor Invasion happened in 1941, which got America into World War II.
It could also be said that elections years have had many major events too.
1992-Los Angeles Riot
1996-String of mass shootings in Scotland and Australia
2000-Elian Gonzalez and Election Crisis
2004-Terrorist Bombings in Madrid and Beslan Massacre. Five Hurricanes Affecting the US Coast.
2008-Tropical Cyclone Nargis and Sichuan Earthquake
The Great Galveston Hurricane if 1900 was in an election year. The Titanic disaster happened in 1912, which was also an election year. There were many upheavels in 1968, which marked a turbulent and wasted time period, the late 1960s to mid 1970s. 1976 had the deadliest earthquake in centuries in China, which claimed 250,000 lives.
The year before a Presidential elections has had major events too.
1991-Bangladesh Cyclone and Killeen Massacre
1995-Oklahoma City Bombing
1999-Kosovo War, Columbine Massacre, Izmit Earthquake, and Venezuelan Flood
2003-Columbia Disaster and Start of Iraq War
2007-Virginia Tech Massacre and Yazidi Communities Bombings
1939 was before the 1940 Presidential election year, which was the year World War II started. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963.
Well, anyways, disaster does not care for year. It can strike without warning and before you even realize it. Hurricanes on the other hand, can be predicted and warnings can be give in advance to evacuate people. Had the government of Myanmar had given warnings and orders to evacuate, less people would of died.
2008 Iowa Caucus
Tags: 2008, democrat, election, iowa caucus, politics, president, republican, vote
The 2008 Iowa Caucus is happening as we speak. Here is my prediction on who will win the Iowa Caucus tonight.
Democrat-Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton
I am leaning towards Obama for this because he has a stronger support and base.
Republican-Mike Huckabee or Fred Thompson
I am leaning towards Huckabee as the same reason as Obama.
However, I think this election year will be the election year of outsiders. The likely candidates are:
Republican-Fred Thompson
Democrat-Barack Obama
Libertarian/Constitutional-Ron Paul
Another conisderation is that past presidents were governors.
Frankling Delano Roosevelt
Jimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
Bill Clinton
George W. Bush
Some were house members, senators and/or vice president, going back to World War II.
Harry S Truman
John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
Richard Nixon
Gerald Ford
One was a military general
Dwight Eisenhower
If history has a telling, it will most likely be governor or senators that will be the candidate for presidency.
I have a hunch that this year’s election we could see a repeat of 2000. We could see razor thin margins. The candidate who becomes president will be decided by the Electoral College. In 2000, Bush lost in the popular vote, but won in the Electoral College vote. It has happened in the past.
1824-John Quincy Adams
1876-Rutherford B. Hayes
1888-Benjamin Harrison
2000-George W. Bush
2008-?
One difference is 2000 Election was not as contentious as the 2004 Election. I know 2008 Election will be really contentious if not outright nasty. The candidates in both parties are taking snipes at each other. Once, the political party nominates their candidates for the general election, it will get outright dirty and bloody. Mark my words.