Now, a poll you might not imagine

Even now 14 months out from the '08 election, politics is everywhere these days. At least around this blog.

A new ERA Real Estate survey of 1,002 Americans age 50 or older asked a whole bunch of questions about baby boomers' housing plans in coming years and their real estate habits. For instance, one in five plan to move in the next five years and 24% of those baby boomers say the main reason would be to upsize their house. Even with the kids gone.

But the ERA folks also threw in a couple of political questions. What presidential candidate would you most like to live next door to? 

First of all, it probably doesn't matter because few presidential candidates are ever home anyway. They're always somewhere else, meaning as neighbors things would be nice and quiet. But then the fence between your house and theirs would be electrified and there'd be all those Secret Service SUVs parked everywhere, the guard dogs running around and the snipers on all the roofs.

You could perhaps pick Mike Huckabee as a candidate neighbor because he'd always be telling jokes through the fence. Or Ron Paul because as an isolationist he pretty much sticks to himself. You wouldn't want to live next door to John Edwards because he'd always be hawking you about poor people from one of his balconies. And, according to Michelle Obama, her husband Barack is pretty "snorey and stinky" at least in the morning.

Rudy Giuliani could be good if you want to reminisce about 9/11 a lot. Or Sam Brownback if you're short on Bible quotes. Mike Gravel doesn't need any neighbors since he talks to himself so much. And Dennis Kucinich never stops talking period.

So who who would you pick? Well, the largest number of ERA respondents (21%) chose Hillary Clinton as their favorite wannabe-president, would-be neighbor. Funny because a new Times poll yesterday found her to be among the least likable candidates.

Coming in second (13%) was Fred Thompson, who could loan you all his "Law & Order" tapes. In a tie for third place were Obama and Edwards at 12%, Giuliani at 10%, John McCain at 8% and Mitt Romney was last at 6%, probably because of the reputation for all those wild Mormon parties.

The survey found the most desirable celebrity to live next door to was Tiger Woods (24%), Regis Philbin (15%) and Teri Hatcher (8%). The least-desired neighbor for the second year in a row was Tony Soprano, James Gandolfini.

Finally, you were no doubt wondering who the most desirable celebrity real estate agent would be. Well, Donald Trump, the real estate mogul and frequent apprentice firer, was beaten out by Oprah Winfrey, the talk-show diva who likes Obama so much she had him and 1,500 of her closest friends over for $2,300 mini-burgers last weekend.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[ronald]

Somebody's got to stop this Giuliani. He truly is not afraid to play hardball. Have you seen his online ad campaign? If you haven't, for starters, check this one out. Vicious (funny too, I must admit.)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qxu1Yoi50BY
You can see a whole bunch at abrad2345 on youtube. Giuliani's gonna be our next president. Watch, you see.

[NH]

Ron Paul would be the best neighbor. He is NOT an isolationist. He would merely not be over your house telling you how to bring up your kids.
Now THAT is an interventionist!
If you are going to write articles for a 'big' paper, at least get your terms right...please?

[Rey]

Ron Paul is not an isolationist. He explains it all the time. Stop reporting wrong facts. The LA Times is lying in their papers. He is non-interventionist and a free trader. Lot different. Did you guys ever go to school and learn to analyze someones stance? Learn!

(Ans: We try to take a very wide stance here.-AM)

[John B. Weems]

If you had done your homework before writing this blog, Mr. Malcom, you would have a clear idea of the difference between isolationism and non-interventionism. I highly recommend that you research both of these terms before you write another blog that makes you look foolish.

While you're at it, you might read more about Ron Paul's positions so that you can understand them before you take your own position. Read it. It's out there. You're too intelligent to make these kinds of mistakes.

[Andy]

Not wanting to militarily invade other countries, not supporting puppet governments, and not getting involved in their internal affairs is NOT isolationist! Not trading with other countries, not talking to other countries...that IS isolationism. Ron Paul is not an isolationist. Read the encyclopedia folks!!

[ThanksForNothingLATimes]

You guys just keep distorting the facts don't you just like a pair of pathological liars? We've pointed out to you over and over again that Ron Paul is not an isolationist in any way. Avoiding military invervention in other countries is not isolationism.

You know this. We know this. You're just blatantly distorting fact for all to see. You always censor the blog posts with well constructed arguments or at the least include your snide little remarks in the posts.

So much for journalistic ethics. I guess that doesn't exist anymore. I can't believe people like you are employed by the LA Times.

[J.D. Redlands ca]

"Or Ron Paul because as an isolationist he pretty much sticks to himself."

The distinction between isolationist and non-interventionism has been made so many times through so many media that I find it hard to believe that you can still be ignorant of the meanings of the two words and have just made a mistake here.

Stop trying to marginalize the good Dr. through lies and slander.

Thanks,

jd