January 2008 photos

Super Tuesday!!

Forget Waitangi Day and all its protests, today was Super Tuesday! Most of the results of the day's voting are in now, and what does it really tell us? Well, not a lot really. In the Democratic race Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both had a number of wins today but the race is still very close between them, although Hillary is still slightly ahead. For the Republicans John McCain won a few more states than his opponents, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, so his lead overall has increased a bit. But of course it all comes down to delegates so it's not over yet! Let's have a look at some of the results today:

I think it was quite amazing that all the main candidates had primaries in their own states today. So Hillary won New York, Obama won Illinois, McCain won Arizona, Mitt won Massachusetts, and Huckabee won Arkansas. Hillary won Arkansas for the Democrats as I thought she would, as Bill Clinton was the governor there before he became president. And of course Mitt won Utah easily with all the LDS voters there! In the big states today Hillary and McCain did well. They both won California and New York, so this gives big boosts to their campaigns. One result I was quite surprised about was Hillary's win in Massachusetts, especially after Obama's endorsements from Senators Kennedy and Kerry. I'm still supporting Hillary in the Democratic race, although I'm starting to lean towards Obama - we'll just have to see how it goes. I think it will be good to have the Clintons back in the White House. Those were the good ole days when Bubba was president! Mitt Romney, who I'm supporting on the Republican side, has a long way to go to catch up now. McCain as president would be a disaster! So if he gets the nomination for the Republicans let's hope the Democratic nominee thrashes him!!

Here's a list of the states won today for each candidate with the percentage of votes they got:

Hillary Clinton:
Arizona (50%)
Arkansas (69%)
California (54%)
Massachusetts (56%)
New Jersey (54%)
New York (57%)
Oklahoma (55%)
Tennessee (54%)

Barak Obama:
Alabama (56%)
Alaska (74%)
Colorado (67%)
Connecticut (51%)
Delaware (51%)
Georgia (67%)
Idaho (80%)
Illinois (65%)
Kansas (74%)
Minnesota (67%)
Missouri (49%)
North Dakota (61%)
Utah (57%)

Democratic undecided:
New Mexico

John McCain:
Arizona (47%)
California (44%)
Connecticut (52%)
Delaware (45%)
Illinois (47%)
Missouri (33%)
New Jersey (55%)
New York (51%)
Oklahoma (37%)

Mitt Romney:
Colorado (60%)
Massachusetts (51%)
Minnesota (42%)
Montana (38%)
North Dakota (36%)
Utah (90%)

Mike Huckabee:
Alabama (41%)
Arkansas (61%)
Georgia (34%)
Tennessee (34%)
West Virginia (52%)

Republican undecided:
Alaska

It's interesting to see for most of McCain's wins today he got less than 50% of the vote. This shows that even though he is the front runner, over half of the Republican party don't like him. the two biggest Republican wins were Mitt in Utah with 90%, and Huckabee in Arkansas with 61%.

Next up this weekend are the Republican Kansas caucuses, the Louisiana primary, the Democratic Nebraska caucuses, the Democratic Virgin Island caucuses, and the Washington caucuses.

Just going back to Waitangi Day briefly, it was good to see TV3 news tonight mention Super Tuesday before Waitangi day (state controlled TV One did the opposite of course).

For full Super Tuesday results see:
http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/dates/#20080205

We have a new prophet!!!

This morning Thomas S Monson was called as the 16th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Of course we've seen him speak many, many times, so he is going to be an excellent prophet for the church. It will be interesting to see what direction the church goes under his leadership. I'm sure it will be a very exciting time for the church.

His two counselors are Henry B Eyring (no surprise there), and Dieter F Uchtdorf - yes, a German! I think this is an excellent move. This will really show that this is an international church and not just an American church. And also these two counselors are young (relatively speaking) so they will be leaders in the church for a long time (like President Hinckley and President Monson).

Here are some news articles about the new First Presidency:

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/thomas-s-monson-named-16th-church-president

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695250131,00.html

http://origin.sltrib.com/ci_8164315

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080204/ap_on_re_us/mormon_president

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/15214573/detail.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/religion/sns-ap-mormon-president,1,2808233.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?S=7819098&nav=menu554_2

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iIHg_z4nRHPS06eOH9RhZv-wj1PAD8UJNE600

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20080205-116867/16th-president-of-Mormon-Church-named

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/04/AR2008020401853.html?tid=informbox

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-02-04-new-mormon-leader_N.htm?csp=34

Photos from this morning's press conference:

Mitt wins in Maine

While everyone is concentrating on Super Tuesday, we can't forget the Republican Maine Caucuses today (why should they miss out?) Mitt Romney won Maine today with 52%, followed by McCain with only 21%. Mitt even won Maine today by taking time out of his campaign to attend President Hinckley's funeral this morning!

http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#ME

So on Super Tuesday, GO MITT!!

Rebuilding from the fires in San Diego

Who says Mitt can’t get down and dirty! Make sure that you scroll down to the bottom to see the pictures. One of the great things that you don't see on the news!

Fisher's Assisted By Mitt and Matt Romney and Friends

(Personal Journal Entry By Reed and Kathy Fisher, 11372 Luz Place, Westwood Neighbourhood, San Diego, CA 92127)

Remember that big pine tree right in the front as you walk out the front door. It pretty well got cooked in the fire. In fact Brian Brockbank, Steve Chidester, Chris Odenwalder and Jeremy Dixon cut most of it down the first day we were allowed back in the neighbourhood.

But the trunk and the stump was too much to handle that day. Last week a brother in the Del Sur Ward sent me an email and said he and some others would like to do something to help. I told him that one of the things on my 'to-do' list was to remove a tree stump from my front yard, but it was a pretty big job! He said they wanted to come and do it. I reluctantly said OK, but, 'I do not expect you to really get it out because it is a big root. It has been there for over 20 years.' So he called me to confirm and said that they were coming at 7am on Wednesday morning and his DAD might come too. I decided to go to Los Primos and get some breakfast machaca burritos and orange juice for the crew coming to work on my stump, so I was late in arriving. I drove in from Cabela because it gives me a better feeling entering our street as none of the homes at the top of Luz Pl were burned. As I drove up I looked and saw several men down in the hole around the tree. They were really going at it with power saws provided by the LDS Church. Then I got a Big Surprise. First I saw Matt, then beside him with chain saw buzzing away was a candidate for President of the United States!!! You guessed it!! Matt Romney was there with his DAD, 'MITT ROMNEY ', former governor of Massachusetts and Republican presidential candidate. He was actually in Levi's and a blue T shirt and tennis shoes, with leather gloves and goggles. He was really sawing away at my stump! Others who were there working were LDS Bishop Jim Davies, Greg Davis and 6 LDS Missionaries. Oh and I almost forgot the Secret Service bodyguards were nearby standing guard. The Mormon Missionaries were there because they have been reassigned to disaster relief projects all over San Diego where the fires burned. They got assigned by their leaders to come to our home at 11372 Luz Place that morning. There were no local news media. Mitt and Matt Romney were just being good neighbours helping neighbours.

Mitt was in Southern California for some meetings later in the day up in Riverside/San Bernardino. I can really tell that the Romney's know how to work and to work really hard. I looked over my shovel at one point and sweat was running down Mitt's face. When I suggested we stop for a breakfast burrito, I got a polite 'maybe later, gotta get this root out.' Mitt told me that this reminded him of taking out a stump on the ranch with his father. After it was too much his Dad (George Romney) said get some dynamite! Well, Mitt attacked that old stump, cutting as many of the big roots as he could until it was well time past for he and Matt to leave for their meetings up north.

I put a Machaca burrito in Mitts hand and a glass of O.J. I could tell he didn't like leaving the job partially completed and neither did Matt. But I knew they had 'bigger stumps' elsewhere that day. Just before he left, those missionaries showed up. This is where faith takes over. God is always a partner in a good act of service I believe. Well, you know how believing Mormon Missionaries are. So these six Elders from the Carlsbad California Mission said, Bro Fisher WE WILL GET THIS STUMP OUT. (You can tell these young men understand the principle of determination.) All were wearing their special disaster relief yellow T-shirts, provided by the church. It was an inspiring sight to see this' mass of yellow' wielding axe, pick and shovel on this stump. About this time a policeman patrolling the neighbourhood pulled up. The Officer took one look at the stump and the tools and said, ‘You fellows will need more than those to get that one out'. A missionary responded, ‘That stump is coming out for sure’ The Officer gave encouragement using the indirect method... Do you really think you can do it? I am not so sure.' The 'challenge was laid down' Officer Smith left and the Mormons went to work. No slackers among them. Later Officer Smith came back to check on progress.

And there was plenty of it, but still there was a ways to go. He said had spoken to some other officers about the stump project on Luz Pl and could those Mormon boys get it out. Then the suggestion w as made that maybe we could get a skip loader in the area to lend some assistance. A great idea! After the officer left I did observed a tractor going down a nearby street and flagged the driver down. He said he would come over later. He only had a limited time. Those Mormon Missionaries continued to hack away (I forgot missionaries are not allowed to use power saws for safety reasons so this was ALL pick and axe). They finally girded the stump completely. The tractor came back as promised. He got way up under the root because the Missionaries did such a good job clearing out around the base of the root. I watched as smiles, then cheers went up from all as that big old pine tree stump popped out of its hole. THEY DID IT! As the hole was being filled back in, Officer Smith drove back up. He came over to the filled hole a little amazed 'Where is it he asked?’ I think I heard one of the Elders say, ‘Officer Smith, you should have been here 10 minutes ago. the heavens opened up, a light came down, and that big old stump was taken up!

Well this is what I have to say. Mitt and Matt Romney, Jim Davies, Greg Davis and those Missionaries efforts were fully rewarded. After all they could do, the Lord was not going to let their efforts go unrewarded. The tractor man came about the time the stump was prepared for removal. This we must all remember. Out of small things proceeded that which is great! This was a memorable day for all of us.

J R FISHER

11372 Luz Place

San Diego, CA 92127

858-485-0559

rfisher8@byu.net