jc and HD are first.

Democrats are putz's -they caved.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070522/ap_o...

from the bottom...

i think its really cool that people come back here when there's a reason to do so. this is the thing oler never got: the human does come through the post even if you've got an "imaginary" idea of who that person is. each of us have many facets which, when combined, make us. why should an internet presence be any different? we're here. we make our thoughts known. we let a part of ourselves become displayed for public viewing.

this whole thing, the internet, is real. real communication among humans.

think if you only knew some from telephone calls. would you doubt their humanity. granted, there's a voice that you would come to know. but isn't there also a voice here?

the evolution, not revolution, of the social contract will take place right here. may it last a millennium.

They claim the bill is not finalized.

The real putzes are the damn Rethugs still backing Bush in Congress. The fools would march in lockstep over a cliff in the name of party solidarity-- the trouble is, they propose to drag us over it with them.

Seriously, if the Rethugs won't give the Dems enough votes to override Bush's veto, what can the Dems do? Keep introducing things knowing Bush will veto them, and get labled as "obstructionist?"

What can we do? It seems to me we have two options:
1) Vote (did that already)
2) Rise up in a revolution and chuck BushCo bodily out of the White House.

What is there in-between that is left to us?

But on the other hand, "The Assault On Reason" is an assault on President Bush, 308 pages of professorially rendered, liberal red meat that shuns the cautious language employed by any politician standing to the right of Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, and the left of Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.

Gore Blasts Bush in 'The Assault on Reason'
Former Vice President's Book a Searing Assault on the Bush Administration
by Jake Tapper

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=...

4. 2) sounds interesting :~)

mprov,

In my understanding of Communist theory, that model is that everyone contributes what they can to a common resource pool, and takes what they need from it. The 'Net is becoming very like that in a great many places. Note the rise of freeware, shareware, open source, etc. I think that this is, and will, develop different habits of thought, and interpersonal interaction, on the part of its users (particularly the young generation).

Not only will the revolution not be televised, it could be massive and completely change how we run our world. If we are able to keep the internet free, and prevent the autocrats from blocking, filtering, and controlling the flow of information on it (a la China).

3. i haven't looked forward to a book release in a while, but this is one for me.

6. yes, communal, not communist. although, much of the freeware, linux, is a reaction to capitalist interests as much as anything else.

why must everything be sold? why must everything have a profit motive in order to succeed?

as to the net remaining open: why don't we start a bat to design, build, and put into orbit a series of people's satelites that would ensure our net???

  2.Sparkling Truth in a dark hour, improv.         I just sat down at the old kitchen computer for the first time in about a week and read about jc.   A life well-lived leaves a huge emptiness in those left behind.  What a life!    Make it worthwhile.  It is time for some impeaching, folks!   

Nice, warm $90 a barrel tar, feathers from an accidentally shot game bird or 3, and 20 feet of good straight rail  might be the best healing tools a Great Country could wish for.      

7. I've never studied poli sci. But I'm fascinated that under communism (at least in Cuba and the former East Germany) everyone had health insurance and could read. Of course there was plenty wrong with it (in E Germany anyway) based on some interviews I've been reading by/about 'my' opera singer. I think communism may have given him an entre he may not have gotten otherwise -- regular employment at the Staatsoper at a relatively young age. Of course one big down side was he couldn't travel to the West till the Wall fell.

Also,

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_5...
Internet censorship growing globally
REPORT IDENTIFIES COUNTRIES THAT FILTER WEB CONTENT
By Frank Davies
MediaNews Washington Bureau
Article Launched: 05/18/2007 01:35:19 AM PDT

WASHINGTON - Internet censorship around the world is becoming more pervasive and sophisticated, with government-directed content filtering documented in at least 25 countries, according to a comprehensive report to be released today.

...Not promising...

8. People's Satellites -- good idea.

The dems should hold firm and up the ante.  The WH  is rethinking the ISG according to today's news.

Good grief, don't cave now on the withdrawal dates, even tho it's the repugs who are crazy and obstructionist.   

Steve in Nebraska:

We'll need several hundred feet of rail; one piece for every one of those rat &(%#$@%. Bush didn't do all this alone.

Re internet: "they" are proposing an "Internet 2.0", "Oh, we'll replace those clanky old, overloaded, rickety patched together servers and routes with brand new equipment." Yeah, which has the same software as the Chinese internet servers, will filter and block whatever Internet traffic you choose.

The Internet we've got doesn't look that rickety to me, seems to have the bandwidth to transfer YouTube videos just fine, thank you.

seashell-- agreed.

I wonder when it will be time to hold a sit-in on the Capitol steps until they pass a staged, scheduled, withdrawal plan.

I doubt a sit-in will do it.  Voting and protests are not working and we need to acknowledge that.

Goodnight good Deaniacs.

13. Dean Nut, The rail can be re-used a few dozen times before it is retired to the Smithsonian.  Carry On!

I was trying to explain to my millionaire ex about open source, firefox, etc. And he just sat and shook his head: no one would do that NOT for money. . . . And yes, he is of course a Republican, and you'll note that he's an ex. I think he was really startled that money couldn't buy him everything. He never remarried. . . .

brains are thinking things, oh my!!!!

puddle--

Perhaps that is what will save the 'Net/us.
The fact that it is utterly incomprehensible to the Old Guard.

Great interview with Howard Dean in Denver May 10.  It is on the Aaron Harber show.  About 25 minutes long,  and vintage Howard.  

http://www.harbertv.com/index2.htm

My cousin, an internet pioneer in his own right topped his home page with this--

"The English language, properly expressed, is the ultimate form of encryption." 

I got this reply from the Cadorets re my offer to financially support JC's websites:

-----Original Message-----
From: The Cadorets
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2007 6:54 AM
Subject: Hello, I Knew Judy From the DFA Blog

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND OFFER, BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT NOT HAVING ACCESS TO JUDY'S CREATIONS. THE FAMILY HAS DECIDED TO KEEP HER WEBSITES IN OPERATION FOR THE INDEFINITE FUTURE.

Jerry Cadoret

floridagal --

EXXXXCellent.

I am saving the file and hopefully, someday I will get a chance to transcribe it. Thanks for the tip!!

Steve:

Love dat quote.

Olberman is on fire tonight.

Robert Greenwald takes on Murdoch's attempt to take over the world.

Crooks and liars, for those of use who don't have upper crust media coverage, satellite tv and radio etc.....

Please provide as much of this story as possible.! 

Rupert Murdoch is jumping the Shark!!

His steps (TRYING TO BUY dOW jONES AND THE ALREADY-RIGHTWING-ENOUGH wALLSTREET jOURNAL, are being portrayed by Robert Greenwald as Anti-democratic.

As far as I can remember, while those of use here have openly been using the term Anti-Democratic for YEARS, this is the first time Anti-Democratic has gone MSM!

Anti-Democracy has gone MAINSTREAM, baby! 

There is hope for Democracy!...

Unless...................., B Clinton signed the bill that made the MSM!

Hillary and Murdoch are "buds".

There should have been a provision in the Constitution that states that if 3/4 of the American people sign a petition to throw out the entire government and call a special election to replace    ALL OF THEM, then They Should Have That Right.

Right now, according to polls, bush the (subscript)b-the-lesser) and the Dem Congress, should be gone 3% from now.

3% from now.

That is why real (G)overnment is, rightly, of the people, by the people, and for the people.

With out PEOPLE all you really have left is 1%.

Australia has, or had a "none of the above" or "vote of no confidence" option on their ballots. If "None of the Above" got a majority, all the candidates were thrown out and they had to hold the election over.

If we were a parliamentary government, we might be able to force an election to happen now; at which point we could be well rid of Shrubya.

I wonder if Jefferson, Adams et al discussed this possibility when they were designing our government.

Well, I'm off to bed. Under the wing, everyone.
JC, ♥

Good morning, BFA! How lovely to see all the tributes to jc ... isn't it sad that we all too often do not let people know how much they mean to us until they are no longer here? I wonder whether jc had any idea how much she meant to this community.

I know that some whom I hold dear will be hearing from me more often, something that I don't do enough.

As I have heard ... and has become truer as I have gotten older, it is not what one has done so much that one regrets in life ... as what one has not done.

Here is one who is certainly having no regrets ... and oh, what a comeback!

Give 'em hell, Al! You have certainly earned these moments of glory.

==================
Free To Be Al Gore
By E. J. Dionne Jr.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007; A15

Boy, it would be fun if Al Gore changed his mind and ran for president -- fun for the voters, anyway. Imagine a candidate whose preelection book is devoted in large part to an attack on the media for waging war on reason.

Politicians, it is often said, never win by attacking the media. That's simply not true. Conservatives have been attacking the media for decades, to good effect from their point of view. Their intimidation sometimes worked -- go back to the coverage of the 2000 Florida recount if you want to see media bias. When intimidation fails, they declare inconvenient facts to be merely "liberal" opinions.

It's delightful to see the critique coming from the other side. Gore's book, "The Assault on Reason," to be released today, is about "the strangeness of our public discourse" as mediated through television. He thinks the Internet may revive the art of reasoned argument that has been lost in our obsessions with "Britney and KFed, and Lindsay and Paris and Nicole."

It's entertaining to talk to Gore these days because he's so clearly enjoying himself. (That's probably why he won't run for president.) During a 40-minute telephone interview yesterday, he did not speak as if there were focus-grouped sentences dancing around in his head. Nor did he worry about saying things that some consultant would fret about for weeks afterward.

[...]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...

The Richest 1%.

I sincerely hope that Carter does not take his words back, although the RW'ers are shortling about his trying to smooth the rough edges a bit.

He was speaking truth. If the pundits won't, that is THEIR problem, and ours, I'm afraid. putz is indeed the worst President this country has ever had. If everything he has done to subvert the Constitution and spread death and destruction (calling it instead "freedom and democracy") throughout the world does not qualify for worst, I do not know what ever will. And those are just the things we KNOW about.

If we cannot support Carter's truth, then we are well and truly lost as a nation.

=========================
Carter Infuriates White House
By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com
Monday, May 21, 2007; 2:08 PM

After years of maintaining an exasperated silence in the face of uncommonly harsh scolding by the 39th president, the White House finally let loose over the weekend.

There was apparently something about being called the worst president of all time by Jimmy Carter that President Bush just couldn't abide.

Carter was quoted over the weekend as calling the Bush administration "the worst in history" when it comes to international relations. He also characterized British Prime Minister Tony Blair's support for Bush as "abominable, loyal, blind, apparently subservient."

Tradition calls for former presidents to avoid personal attacks on their successors -- and for the White House to treat previous presidents with great respect.

But with Carter's hyperbole apparently having violated the rules of the game, the White House responded with fire.

"I think it's sad that President Carter's reckless personal criticism is out there," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said yesterday in Crawford, where Bush was spending the weekend. "I think it's unfortunate. And I think he is proving to be increasingly irrelevant with these kinds of comments."

As it happens, Carter this morning backed down in a TV interview, saying his "worst" comment had been "careless." He said he is normally careful "not to criticize any president personally." As for the White House assertion that he was irrelevant, Carter replied disarmingly: "I don't claim to have any relevancy."

Nevertheless, another milestone in the polarization of political discourse had been achieved.

[...]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...

shortling s/b chortling (could have sworn that I typed a "c")

Nothing like being caught in the middle and shelled by both sides. Perhaps a fitting justice for putzCo would be for them all to be Palestinian refugees in their next incarnation.

==================
Lebanon Confronts A Fierce Adversary
Shelling Targets Well-Armed Force In Refugee Camp
By Ellen Knickmeyer
Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, May 22, 2007; A01

NAHR AL-BARED, Lebanon, May 21 -- A little-known Islamic militant group based in a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon battled government troops Monday in some of the country's fiercest fighting since the civil war ended in 1990, surprising the Lebanese military with the scope of the group's weaponry and financing.

Tank and artillery fire pounded blocks of the Nahr al-Bared camp, creating towers of black smoke, as the second day of fighting pushed the death toll among soldiers and militants to at least 50. Palestinian officials told news agencies that nine civilians had been killed inside the camp Monday, but there was no word of Sunday's civilian casualties.

The Lebanese army blocked the estimated 35,000 camp residents from leaving, apparently for fear that fighters would slip out. Hospital officials in the concrete-built towns immediately surrounding the camp said they were treating some wounded civilians but refused to let a reporter interview them, citing military orders.

[...]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...

Look at what putzCo are now trying to do ... the old nameless "official" ploy that claims that inciting (mostly Dem, of course) politicians to vote for US redeployment from Iraq is an Iranian plot.

Hardly that ... our being there is what is enabling Iran to hold so much political sway in Iraq. If we left, the Sunnis would actually be able to wield more power than they do now, since the Shia members of government are only being propped up by us.

But then, putzCo are hardly characterized by competence, intelligence or long-term thinking.

Actually, if Iran really is orchestrating these acts of violence (more informed sources than this nameless "US official" say it is Iraqi insurgents, who are fully capable of doing it on their own ... Iraqi fighting forces were rightly feared during Saddam's days after all and they know their country well), it would indicate that Iran is far cleverer and more organized than any of the yahoos that we have in charge in Iraq.

Of course, that wouldn't be saying much, in the circumstances.

=============
Iran's secret plan for summer offensive to force US out of Iraq
Simon Tisdall
Tuesday May 22, 2007
Guardian

Iran is secretly forging ties with al-Qaida elements and Sunni Arab militias in Iraq in preparation for a summer showdown with coalition forces intended to tip a wavering US Congress into voting for full military withdrawal, US officials say.

"Iran is fighting a proxy war in Iraq and it's a very dangerous course for them to be following. They are already committing daily acts of war against US and British forces," a senior US official in Baghdad warned. "They [Iran] are behind a lot of high-profile attacks meant to undermine US will and British will, such as the rocket attacks on Basra palace and the Green Zone [in Baghdad]. The attacks are directed by the Revolutionary Guard who are connected right to the top [of the Iranian government]."

The official said US commanders were bracing for a nationwide, Iranian-orchestrated summer offensive, linking al-Qaida and Sunni insurgents to Tehran's Shia militia allies, that Iran hoped would trigger a political mutiny in Washington and a US retreat. "We expect that al-Qaida and Iran will both attempt to increase the propaganda and increase the violence prior to Petraeus's report in September [when the US commander General David Petraeus will report to Congress on President George Bush's controversial, six-month security "surge" of 30,000 troop reinforcements]," the official said.

"Certainly it [the violence] is going to pick up from their side. There is significant latent capability in Iraq, especially Iranian-sponsored capability. They can turn it up whenever they want. You can see that from the pre-positioning that's been going on and the huge stockpiles of Iranian weapons that we've turned up in the last couple of months. The relationships between Iran and groups like al-Qaida are very fluid," the official said.

[...]
Iranian officials flatly deny US and British allegations of involvement in internal violence in Iraq or in attacks on coalition forces. Interviewed in Tehran recently, Mohammad Reza Bagheri, deputy foreign minister for Arab affairs with primary responsibility for Iran's policy in Iraq, said: "We believe it would be to the benefit of both the occupiers and the Iraqi people that they [the coalition forces] withdraw immediately."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,32989...

One small measure of how bad anti-US sentiment is becoming, thanks to putzCo's policies.

==================
Paris calls off festival of US culture after threats
· Letters claiming al-Qaida link force postponement
· Event aimed at celebrating Franco-US relationship
Kim Willsher in Paris
Tuesday May 22, 2007
Guardian

A festival due to be held in Paris this weekend to celebrate American music and culture has been called off after death threats from an anti-US group claiming links to al-Qaida.

Organisers of the Three Days in America festival said the decision to postpone the event - also aimed at demonstrating "Franco-American friendship" - was taken to safeguard the public.

The death threats, along with warnings suggesting that the event itself might be attacked, were made in anonymous telephone calls and an apparently badly written letter containing numerous spelling mistakes.

These accused the festival's organisers of supporting the "American imperialists" and the recently elected rightwing French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, nicknamed "Sarkozy the American" for his pro-US views.

After meeting police and anti-terrorist officers, Gilles Yolle, the festival production director, said he had no regrets about calling off the festival.

[...]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,32989...

Senseless slaughter everywhere ... and when will it ever stop?

==============
Robert Fisk: A front-row seat for this Lebanese tragedy
Published: 22 May 2007

There is something obscene about watching the siege of Nahr el-Bared. The old Palestinian camp - home to 30,000 lost souls who will never go "home" - basks in the Mediterranean sunlight beyond a cluster of orange orchards. Soldiers of the Lebanese army, having retaken their positions on the main road north, idle their time aboard their old personnel carriers. And we - we representatives of the world's press - sit equally idly atop a half-built apartment block, basking in the little garden or sipping cups of scalding tea beside the satellite dishes where the titans of television stride by in their blue space suits and helmets.

And then comes the crackle-crackle of rifle fire and a shoal of bullets drifts out of the camp. A Lebanese army tank fires a shell in return and we feel the faint shock wave from the camp. How many are dead? We don't know. How many are wounded? The Red Cross cannot yet enter to find out. We are back at another of those tragic Lebanese stage shows: the siege of Palestinians.

Only this time, of course, we have Sunni Muslim fighters in the camp, in many cases shooting at Sunni Muslim soldiers who are standing in a Sunni Muslim village. It was a Lebanese colleague who seemed to put his finger on it all. "Syria is showing that Lebanon doesn't have to be Christians versus Muslims or Shia versus Sunnis," he said. "It can be Sunnis versus Sunnis. And the Lebanese army can't storm into Nahr el-Bared. That would be a step far greater than this government can take."

And there is the rub. To get at the Sunni Fatah al-Islam, the army has to enter the camp. So the group remains, as potent as it was on Sunday when it staged its mini-revolution in Tripoli and ended up with its dead fighters burning in blazing apartment blocks and 23 dead soldiers and policemen on the streets.

[...]
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/fisk...

More than we ever wanted to know about Rummy, perhaps ...

My questions:

-- Why was Rummy so cool and unsurprised during the events of 9-11?

-- Why was he proceeding calmly with his morning schedule without moving heaven and earth to find out what was happening?

-- What did he know and when did he know it?

-- Am I the only one who finds this chilling?

==============
Donald Rumsfeld: Andrew Cockburn on an American disaster
He's a Machiavellian warmonger whose actions will forever be associated with the catastrophe that is Iraq. But how did a popular congressman known as 'Boy-Boy' become a 'ruthless little bastard'? In an extract from his gripping new book, Andrew Cockburn reveals the unknown unknowns about Donald Rumsfeld
Published: 21 May 2007

Just after 9.37am on the morning of 11 September 2001, Officer Aubrey Davis of the Pentagon police was standing outside Donald Rumsfeld's office on the third floor of the Pentagon's E Ring. Inside, Rumsfeld, though aware that the World Trade Centre had already been hit, was proceeding with his regularly scheduled CIA briefing. Davis, on the other hand, had concluded from watching the TV news that the country was under attack and the Pentagon might be a target. Assigned to the defence secretary's personal bodyguard, he had come on his own initiative, ready to move Rumsfeld to a better-protected location.

"There was an incredibly loud 'boom'," says Davis, raising his voice slightly on the last word. Fifteen or 20 seconds later, just as his radio crackled with a message, the door opened and Rumsfeld walked out, looking composed and wearing the jacket he normally discarded while in his office. "Sir," said Davis, quoting what he had heard on his radio, "we're getting a report that an airplane has hit the Mall."

"The Mall?" replied Rumsfeld calmly. Without further word, the secretary of defence turned on his heel and set off at a sharp pace toward the so-called Mall section of the Pentagon. Down the hall, someone ran out of a VIP dining room screaming, "They're bombing the building, they're bombing the building." Davis frantically waved for colleagues to catch up as the stocky, 5ft 8in defence secretary marched ahead of his lanky escort.

[...]
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books...

The last for now ...

more canaries in the mine.

================
Early arrival of butterflies demonstrates impact of climate change
By Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor
Published: 22 May 2007

Britain's astounding April, the warmest on record, has produced an astounding effect in the natural world, with at least 11 species of butterfly making their earliest recorded appearances this spring in what will be seen as the most remarkable demonstration yet of the effects of climate change on Britain's wildlife.

For several years biologists have been watching warming temperatures affect living organisms, with leaves opening, birds nesting and insects emerging earlier. But what has happened in 2007 with butterflies has been quite exceptional.

Of our 59 resident and regular migrant species, 37 have now appeared, and of these, all except one (the orange tip) have emerged earlier than they would have done a decade ago, according to the wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation.

More remarkably still, 11 of them have broken all records for early emergence, some by scarcely-believable margins.

The Lulworth skipper, which normally appears in the third week of June, was recorded in its Dorset downland habitat near Weymouth on 28 April, seven weeks early, while the speckled wood, normally out and about at the end of March, was seen in Cornwall on 16 January, also seven weeks ahead of its record. The green hairstreak, the chalkhill blue and the wall brown were all recorded six weeks earlier than ever before.

[...]
http://news.independent.co.uk/environmen...

. . . . . . . . . ♥ . ♥ . ♥ .♥ .♥ .♥ .♥ . ♥.. ♥..♥. ♥.. ♥ . . .
. . . . . . . . . ||...||...||...||....||...||....||...||...||...||....||...|| . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . ~~~~~~~~~♥ H A P P Y ♥~~~~~~~~~~ . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . ~~~~~~~♥ B I R T H D A Y ♥~~~~~~~~ . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . ~~~~~♥ NATIONAL NURSE ♥~~~~~~ . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . ~~~~~~~~~~~♥ T E R I ♥~~~~~~~~~~ . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .(_________________________­­_______) . . . . . . . .

Condi worked at Chevron for ten years before she quit to join the Bush administration. During that time, it was her job to make sure that the oil company didn't do things like give illegal bribes to Saddam Hussein in exchange for oil---bribes that he could conceivably use to buy or build illegal weapons. But the DOJ is cutting a sweet deal with Chevron. They will pay a small (for an oil company) fine and admit that they gave money to Saddam in the 1990's (when Condi was supposed to be keeping them from doing such things) but not admit that they were doing anything wrong in paying the bribes. And they get to keep all the oil contracts in Iraq that W. is forcing the Iraqi people to sign away and which he is killing US soldiers and Iraqi civilians to protect. And no one is the MSM is asking what Condi knew about the payoffs to Saddam which happened during  her watch at Chevron . No one in the press seems concerned about the peculiar timing of Saddam's execution this Christmas, when the Chevron payoffs to Saddam were known at the Justice Department and were about to be made known to the public and the Democrats were about to take control of Congress, and Sec. of State Rice must have been in a tizzy.

"Oh dear me, W.! What if the Democrats send someone to Iraq to ask Saddam if I knew about the payoffs?"

In illustrated form "W.'s Christmas Gift to Condi or Dead Men Tell no Tales (to Democratic Congressional Committees)"

http://www.grandtheftelectionohio.com/070520.htm 

Firefox froze up and I forgot how to link from Safari....

OK, here's the link, I hope.

http://www.grandtheftelectionohio.com/070

Yes, Rummy on 9/11 showed no concern nor dismay nor surprise.  I always found that surprising and chilling. They knew....they all knew, with the possible exception of putz.

IMO 

This is important to keep front and center, along with the detention camp stories.

From a post by Kpete: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

"In a new National Security Presidential Directive, Bush lays out his plans for dealing with a “catastrophic emergency.”Under that plan, he entrusts himself with leading the entire federal government, not just the Executive Branch. And he gives himself the responsibility “for ensuring constitutional government.”
He laid this all out in a document entitled “National Security Presidential Directive/NSPD 51” and “Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-20.”

(More)

http://progressive.org/mag_wx051807 

What's really scary about the Presidential Directive is that putz doesn't have much time left.  Did he do this for a repug successor?  Or is he planning something very soon....

I've seen a couple of requests for a 'jc bat' - I had saved this link from 'back when' - I swear I must have over 200 urll's I saved from those days, and am so happy I saved them. it's a wonderful feeling knowing that so many who were engaged by Howard are still hard at work for democracy. jc's work lives on in all she's done. thank you, jc!

http://www.takeyourcountryback.com/DEAN/...

oh, I should mention that jc compiled that page, with the help of 'Robert in WI', MilesK' and 'Thom K in LA'. there are some great bats and totals there - it's a snapshot of some exciting times! I haven't seen anything like that yet for this election, and I'm betting we won't see it again, unless of course Mr. Gore throws his hat into the ring.... run, Al, run! for jc and for me and for the rest of us crying out for the better side of humanity. yes, we could fill a few bats for Al, for sure.

Judy, 41 - I noticed a different type of hummingbird here a couple of weeks ago - one I've never seen in Vermont. I'm wondering what brought it this far north. poor things, it was warm a couple of weeks ago but has been staying pretty cold at night lately.

{{{{{{{{{jc}}}}}}}

Good morning, everybody

Yes, posters not only have a distinctive voice; they have distinctive writing styles.  You can tell from the post who wrote it.

My thought for the day is that the oponents of evolution may have a point. 

Thought it best to change browser.  Opera LOOKED like it was behaving, but, as you see, appearances are deceiving.

Anyway, to get bach to the anti-evolutionists, if what they're objecting to is that the changes we observe in organisms over time are for the better, then they're point is well taken.  Certainly, humans are not getting any better.  Indeed, you could make an argument that they are devolving.  At least, it's increasingly obvious that exchange and trade, which used to be the hallmark of our economic behavior, has reverted to the modus operandi of the predator--acquire and destroy.  Failure is no longer accidental; it's intentional.

Even some of our legislation is designed to fail or to cause someone else to fail.  Think about it.  Much of the Republican agenda is designed to fail, so they can make the same promises over and over again.  Who was it that kept pushing that rock up the mountain without getting there? 

SISYPHUS REPUBLICANS

That's what we should call them.  GWB is just evidence that the gods got it right.  He was never intended to get where he's at. 

Why we need a right to privacy amendment to the Constitution

Surgery in the morning so I have to do a couple of days work ahead today. A report from the meeting showed Edwards,Clinton, and Obama with staffs in place and organizing continuing with Edwards still in the lead in the Iowa Poll. John and Elizabeth and the kids are visiting the area over the Holiday weekend, and I'll report if mobile as my wife supports Edwards and wants to attend. Iowa and New Hampshire get to work with some of the most talented and organized young people in the country in the early hires of these campaigns and whatever candidate they work for are dedicating a part of their lives to making the country a better place and with a committment to democracy.

Our local committee got hours of free labor out of them helping with our mass mailing which is a quarterly newsletter. We insert a self-addressed envelope and it becomes a self financing way of promoting the party. Next meeting is a pot-luck picnic at the park on the river in Guttenberg (where Howard made his first stop), and we meet the third Monday of the month if anyone is in the area and wants to share a meal.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR SURGERY, PHIL! hugs to your wife!

and yes, I was shouting - it's a long way from Vermont to Iowa.

The stripped down supplemental would be a move to end the war if it added a few words to paygo the spending by rescinding the top rate of the tax cut. It hasn't been passed by both bodies and it might be best to let Bush crow about getting his way before slipping it in in conference. It wouldn't be a tan from Crawford turning his face red, as he read the language. Who needs impeachment when you can cause a stroke?.

Thanks Jo. Just got a 5:45 A.M. e-mail from the Obama staffer following up on last night. They are putting in long nights or long days, don't know which but I'm impressed. The three leading candidates are all passing out position papers now. Fully financed and fully staffed.

Al Gore could get into the race anytime and not skip a beat though. I wouldn't be in a hurry if I were him either because having three strong candidates means no one is gaining a majority of the support. 

I love driving to work in the AM along the freeway doing only 60mph......especially when a truck or suv gets behind me......................

Many of you hear me tout the TBA Conference. It is a Progressive's dream conference.

www.ourfuture.org

The speakers are world class, the plenaries are outstanding and informative. One leaves the conference with so much valuable information to take back to their communities.

Speakers this year include John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Jim Webb, Dennis Kucinich, Jason Alexander, Randi Rhodes and so many more.

I have often wondered why Democracy for America isn't involved and even set up an information table.

This year it may happen.. I have been talking to HQ and they are willing to pay one half of the cost of the table - the total is $750. They are going to pay $375 and we need to pay the rest - $375. I am willing to put in $50 so we need help with the rest ($325)

Can you help?

Also we need wireless laptops and people to man them throughout the convference.

HQ will supply literature.

I am willing to do my part, can you help? If so email me via dfa link message and I will give you the info on how you can donate.

http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=20387

Thanks in advance. Hope you can help make this happen for DFA

Linda Brooks

Newport News, VA

I will keep posting this so I can get some help with this. I am on my own here folks. Let's see where it takes me.

I am dancing as fast as I can.

I also emailed the dfa groups in NOVA and go nothing back from them so ....

Thought this was interesting, that Budowsky has this pairing:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brent-budowsky/american-dream-team-draf_b_49026.html

American Dream Team: Draft Gore-Obama

Brent Budowsky

A ticket of Al Gore for President and Barack Obama for Vice President would create an electricity and enthusiasm that would transform American politics and send shock waves of excitement throughout a world yearning for new American leadership.

...

Al Gore would bring the most commander in chief qualities in the history of presidential candidates with a passion and depth that would lift the hopes and hearts of Americans ready to inaugurate the post Bush era.

Barack Obama would bring an enthusiasm, idealism and spirit that would make the ticket soar above partisan politics, would rally young people into public service in ways reminscent of John and Robert Kennedy, and would be the greatest worldwide boost to American leadership for freedom and democracy in many years.

...

He (Gore) has excelled in every endeavor he has undertaken as Member of Congress, Senator, Vice President and idea entrepreneur who thinks big and knows how to get things done.

...

Obama's appeal would transcend political parties, generations, and nations.

Partnered with the most experienced presidential candidate in American history Barack Obama could well ensure his ultimate path to the Presidency.

A Gore-Obama ticket would lift the hearts of Americans ready to dream again and lift the spirit of a nation that hungers for a unity of optimism, patriotism and community.

...

mike, went over to va beach yesterday on the race track known as i 64. finally got behing someone doing 60. it was heaven. just relaxing driving.

and phil my best to you on your surgery keep us updated.

mike, went over to va beach yesterday on the race track known as i 64. finally got behing someone doing 60. it was heaven. just relaxing driving.

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Hi Linda,

Like my Dad used to say, "theyre all in a hurry to get nowhere fast".........idiots all...........dont get me wrong, i have a neat little sports cars that could easily blow most of them away.......but why bother? Driving at 60mph is relaxing, I dont weave or cut anyone off, Im not breaking the law and simply obeying the speed limit, plus saving $ on gas as well........................

It's knee surgery, right Phil ?  Good luck (immediate and long-term post physical therapy, especially water thereapy, is critical to a good recovery no matter how much it hurts)

* rdorgan
Tue, 05/22/07
8:18 am
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Err, I thought you left? Again.........

Phil in Iowa,  Good luck today with your surgery.  I will be thinking lots of good thoughts for you.

Michael, I was in Raleigh visiting my son two months ago. Loved it there, beautiful part of the country.  Next time I visit we should try to have a mini meetup.

 Jo in Vermont, Great to see you here. 

 listener, thanks for the lovely birthday cake.

Michael -

Ok, I came to express yesterday my condolences to jc.

But I'd be off with my SUV now, thanks for reminding me.

Mike wrote "it took the super duper payroll boys with the hall of fame coach 3 OT periods to squeak by .................its history now, but believe you me.....thats one time when you dont mind being a underdog....................It laid the foundation for the Cup in 2006."

I give all credit to Carolina for its accomplishment in 2006, an improbable championship, earned through sheer will and hard work. Everything else you wrote was ridiculous.

Phil, I'll be thinking of you today.  Make sure they give you the 'good stuff' that makes you forget you ever HAD surgery, except for the part about feeling better. 

Here's wishing you a speedy recovery, friend.

Michael, I was in Raleigh visiting my son two months ago. Loved it there, beautiful part of the country.  Next time I visit we should try to have a mini meetup.

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Hi Teri,

Happy Birthday...........my door is always open to any friend anytime.........cheers

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