Its time I posted this...IM FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah Baby Yeeeah!

Howard Dean is first Mike. folllowed by Jessica and the rest of the team that put on deanfest, and then Monica and Reed and anyone else who live blogs here

mprov
Sun, 06/10/07
12:06 am
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Michael

It is of Hebrew origin, and its meaning is "who resembles God". Biblical: Michael is the archangel (chief or principal angel) who defeats the dragon.

Great firstie Michael!

And appropriate seconds, Phil, if doctrinaire.

I don't know about you Michael, but I've been enjoying the absence of sneering comments about dual citizenship--as if we aren't as good as those who had the good fortune to be born in this country.

but, that doesn't mean that i think any of his list will actually get elected.

__________________________________________________________________________

Thats OK mprov.............the country continues its further decline and decay........odd though, seems to me people are actually trying to avoid that in a rather half assed way, including politicians.............and incidentally, "all people are evil and greedy may apply in some places and some people but not all................

Huron John
Sun, 06/10/07
9:28 am

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The way i see it, certain types just enhance the American character and nation..........but i does get rather embarasing when other nationalities ask "whats wrong wih the rest of them, can you explain it to me"?

MODO

http://select.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/opinion/10dowd.html

Be honest. Who would you rather share a foxhole with: a gay soldier or Mitt Romney?

A gay soldier, of course. In a dicey situation like that, you need someone steadfast who knows who he is and what he believes, even if he’s not allowed to say it out loud.

Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue, as the gloriously gay Oscar Wilde said. And gays are the sacrifice that hypocritical Republican candidates offer to placate “values” voters — even though some candidates are not so finicky about morals regarding their own affairs and divorces.

They may coo over the photo of Dick Cheney, whose re-election campaign demonized gays, proudly smiling with his new grandson, the first baby of his lesbian daughter, Mary.

But they’ll hold the line, by jiminy, against gay Americans who are willing to die or be horribly disfigured in the cursed Bush/Cheney war in Iraq.

Peter Pace, whose job as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff became a casualty of Iraq on Friday, asserted in March that homosexual acts “are immoral.” Yet in May, he wrote a letter to the judge in the Scooter Libby case, pleading for leniency for the Cheney aide. Scooter always looked for “the right way to proceed — both legally and morally,” General Pace wrote of the man who lied to a grand jury about the outing of a spy, after he pumped up the fake case for the war that has claimed the lives of 3,500 young men and women serving under the general.

IRV is how you break the grip of the entitled majority.

If we can't get it done in party rules in the Democratic Party is isn't going to happen.

Bill Clinton's first appointment to the Justice Dept. head of the Civil Rights Division (the name escapes me) was crucified for daring to entertain the concept in writings as an academic where free speech rules. You can't even talk about true reform.

Reforming the way we do politics ought to be a regular part of the discussion here, and I welcome third party "talk", even if as a practical matter it means the other guys win.

I'd be happy to vote for a green, peace and justice candidate if my second choice also counted. 

OK. I'm on at the blogger's breakfast.  Had to move to another table.  We were just seranaded by Subway.  The mic's not working too well, so another songster has been deferred.

Holly Johson reminded us that we're missing some bloggers--OC and JC and Steve Gilliard. 

Changed over to Firefox, which wasn't working late yesterday afternoon.  In a minute, I'll try to take a picture of the room.

Posted most of yesterday's live blog on my blog on DFNH.  Haven't figured out how to link images there, though.  Hope nancy tobi will fix it. 

Jim Dean just arrived.  He's supposed to give another greeting.  Lots of people aren't here for both days. 

http://www.counterpunch.org/beattie06092007.html

MISSIE

John Edwards has apologized multiple times for giving George Bush the authority to go to war. He always is applauded for this. But Hillary Clinton-well, she just digs her heels in deeper to blame only Bush for the humanitarian catastrophe that is Iraq. Being human means having to seek forgiveness. Being Hillary means never having to say you're sorry.

In New Hampshire this past week, all of the Republican White House hopefuls except Ron Paul either spoke or nodded that we were right in attacking Iraq even though no weapons of mass destruction were found, even though Saddam Hussein wasn't connected to 9/11, and even though a majority of Americans believe the war hasn't made us safer from terrorism. In other words, the war was necessary and still is. According to all but Paul, the one thing wrong with the war in Iraq is its mismanagement. Oh, if only Ronald Reagan were president, this war would be flawless.

And, we have the three who do not accept evolution. During the first Republican debate, Sam Brownback, Mike Huckabee, and Tom Tancredo raised their hands to acknowledge that they are not descended from primates. On the spot, John McCain had an uh oh moment, frightened that he could lose some of the fundamentalist Christians he's so desperately befriending. He quickly sucked up with: "I believe in evolution. But I also believe, when I hike the Grand Canyon and see it at sunset, that the hand of God is there also."

More revealing to me about McCain is that when he listens to the Beach Boys song, "Barbara Ann," he changes the lyrics to "bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran," providing real insight into what kind of president he'd be and what kind of man he is. In fact, all these candidates who claim to rely on their faith and place themselves in the column of the religious should examine the atrocity of war and themselves.

So it isn't just Brownback, Huckabee, and Tancredo who aren't evolved. The truth and tragedy is that few of the candidates are.

Eddie from Maine is making a plug to retire last year's debt.

PENTAGON LIES

http://www.counterpunch.org/cloughley06082007.html

Who do you believe about the killing of Afghan civilians? Do you believe official US military statements, brought to us by the people who fabricated the story about Jessica Lynch and lied contemptibly at the highest levels about the killing of Pat Tillman? Or do you believe the Afghans who investigated the bombing?

The military gave a precise number for the number of supposed 'Taliban' killed by air strikes, so there are two points to be considered. First, in such circumstances how could they know the number and that all those killed were 'Taliban'? That is impossible. Second, the military tell us smugly that they don't do body counts. Then they feed the media with supposed exact figures of dead "enemy". How can we trust people who produce such garbage? But this atrocity, like so many others, will vanish into the dust of history, speeded into oblivion by the lies of the Pentagon.

During the barbarous obliteration of the town of Fallujah by US forces in 2004 it was stated by witnesses that in the course of their malevolent savagery US troops fired White Phosphorus (WP; what we old soldiers used to know as 'Willy Pete') shells which are terror explosives that kill people in the most hideous way. This was denied vehemently by Washington.

The official Pentagon lie was "they were fired into the air to illuminate enemy positions" but the army inadvertently revealed that they were fired to "shake and bake". In ordinary language that means to terrify and incinerate. A tiny morsel of WP burns instantly into flesh and cannot be stopped in its fiery chemical plunge deep into the body. There is no remedy. Victims die in shrieking agony from the effects of ammunition that the Pentagon boobies tell the world was fired "into the air to illuminate enemy positions at night, not at enemy fighters." They lied. They are beneath contempt.

There is little wonder that the military in Iraq and Afghanistan disguise facts, manipulate the truth, and tell downright lies. They have the example of the rancid Bush Administration, none of whose members have ever heard a shot fired in anger, yet have the light of battle in their steely eyes. They simply follow their leader, one of whose most absurd and blatant lies was that "We gave him [Saddam] a chance to allow the [nuclear] inspectors in, and he wouldn't let them in." This preposterous fabrication has not been challenged by any prominent public figure because of the deep-seated national belief in the myth of presidential probity, no matter what evidence may be presented to the contrary. It's on exactly the same lines as the blind, mindless repetition of "support our troops".

The lie was repeated on June 5 by Republican Mitt Romney, word for word, and was unchallenged by any other candidate.

The commentator Larry Beinhart recounts that "Wolf Blitzer, moderating the debate didn't correct him. The so-called journalists asking questions didn't seem to notice. The CNN post debate commentators didn't mention it. The New York Times and The Washington Post, in today's stories on the debate, didn't mention it. A web search this morning [June 6] didn't reveal any comments on Romney's astounding statement."

The Pentagon's lie machine is working well, but Washington doesn't realise how much damage is being done to the credibility of the United States. The liars might hope and imagine they are protecting their president from condemnation, but all they are doing is creating worldwide contempt, ridicule and loathing for their country. By manipulating facts and downright lying they are doing the reverse of supporting the troops. But once the leader lies, it's downhill all the way.

Repeat of the punchline from the lon post (13):

The Pentagon's lie machine is working well, but Washington doesn't realise how much damage is being done to the credibility of the United States. The liars might hope and imagine they are protecting their president from condemnation, but all they are doing is creating worldwide contempt, ridicule and loathing for their country. By manipulating facts and downright lying they are doing the reverse of supporting the troops. But once the leader lies, it's downhill all the way.

Jim Dean announcing that the fellow running to take Marty Mehan's seat in Massachusetts

is here.

Plug for representation for the District of Columbia--six hundred thousand people who don't have representation.

Jim Dean harking back to Gore speech a year and a half ago.  Failure of our executive branch and legislative branch.  Most important is that citizens had dropped ball in not getting into government.  Bloggers are making a difference. 

Jim Dean is big on traditional contact.  Bloggers make it possible to engage in political discourse.  Bloggers are affecting the major media attitude and political consultants.

"In fact, blogging has become the way to get engaged in politics as they never were before." 

It's a way for us to get involved.

Jim Dean has two personalities--one when he's talking in person; another when he's on the internet.  Internet is giving people an opportunity to express how they feel.

(I don't see a whole lot of others blogging. Did have a hard time getting on line and the link seems really weak)

Jim says that letters available to historians were written by ordinary people.

Bloggers, keep doing what you're doing and share what you've learned.

Open source politics.

clint curtis is running for congress in Florida. 

Bloggers about to be introduced.

DeanforFirst--Jessica Falker

dogma--Jessica's mom

Subway--David Teller

Denise from San Mateo--Denise

mainefem--Holly

Rich Kolker

David A. Stevenson

sarahJ--Sarah John 

HollyJ--Holly Johnson

deanfem--Marcia Moody

John Odom

Syracusedean

Orientleft

Jenniferin Boston

Eddie in Maine

Susan Rowe

Cos

Kesh

Monica Smith

Annie

ElizSan

nej 2887

Kate donahue

Jamie Eldridge

tracy in hell's kitchen

kt at act blue--Karl Thomas

Teresa Hommel

stan boyd

SusanBruce

Quintus Jett

Dr.Ala Brown 

guy in tails

Marianne Aredondo

Murphy

wild prophet

A moment of silence for all who have died of AIDS.

Talk to action blogger

mandi

thankful2thankful4dean 

Gee, the post was so long it almost timed out.

Subway singing again.

My batter is down to 37% 

Paul Twomey, the attorney who stuck it to the phone spammers just sat down for a chat.  He suggests that every DFAer should adopt a Republican to watch in the legislature.

Maybe something for the July agenda. 

Subway doing song "He kicks Butt"

Dean is back! 

Moved to an outlet and a (hopefully) better connection.

Subway's got a new CD

Love songs from ground Zero, DemocracyFest 2007 Edition 

I'll find out later where you can order one.  You know, none of the talent gets paid for performing here.  Last year's debt is a consequence of the fact that the band on Saturday night was paid. 

Subway's CD can be ordered on

TEOCAWKI.blogspot.com

or send an email to

dave@tellercreations.com

you can also order through Amazon

Tom Hughes is starting a workshop over in the corner about the DFA operating model. 

People are supposed to share their biggest success over last year.  IN ONE SENTENCE!!

Monica, thank you. I'm enjoying this.

And thanks to Reed, I now can picture you when you're sitting in bed blogging :)

***********************

Reed, so happy you had a good time...and obviously a FULL one day at DemFest.

Thank you for the pictures.

Massachusetts is running a special election fot replace marty Mehan.  Eldridge was active in the Deval Patrick campaign.

Michigan group does its own training of candidates.  Everybody wins.

Kesh mentioning representatio for D.C. campaign--got through House; now in Senate.  Also working in northern Virginia. 

JudyforDean
Sun, 06/10/07
3:33 am

WOOHOOO! What a gREAT response and letter.

__________________________________________

You've given me some joy this morning. I actually couldn't help but laugh at Putz in Rome. Wait, that's a great title for a new movie. They wouldn't even have to show any trailers in advertisements, just say, "it's coming, the movie you all can stay away from Putz in Rome". There would be long lines at every theater. It's about time we all get a little laughter out of this fool, after all the pain, suffering and crying he's caused.

that should have been..."the movie you can'T stay away from ..."

Tracy from hell's kitchen's group helped elect John Paul in NY.

NY City council up for election in 2009.

Susan Rowe works for three groups.  Fresno California area.

Monica, is Clint Curtis there at Demfest?

Glad to hear he is running again here in Florida against the dirties of dirty Congressmen -- Tom Feeney.  I heard and met Clint at a voting seminar several years ago. He is the programmer from Yang who blew the whistle on some the Jeb's henchman AND Feeney for asking Clint's assistance in fooling with the electronic voting machines.

Thanks for all the blogging Monica. Sounds like the Wayfarer hasn't upgraded much up on modern technology, like mics that work and DSL service -- can be a big problem when operating from a laptop.

It is soooo impressive how the folks from DFA are involved with so many groups and candidates. ONe person can make so much difference, like linda b, but when you have so many it gives up great hope for 2008 and beyond!

gives up = gives us

Montgomery County DFA in Pennsylvania --elected 4 new Congressmen and replaced Santorum.  Penn House is now democratically controlled.

Pennsylvania for Democracy having a hard time getting organized.  Big pay raise for state legislators was rescinded.

Online surveys and letters to the editor seemed effective.

Gloria from Hartford just started a DFA group in Hartford, CT.

Marcia reporting on revolution after 154 years in new Hampshire. 

Bragging on DFA in New Hampshire and message over hype. 

31. Joan, yes, Clint Curtis is here. The mic wasn't carrying well this morning so Cecelia St. King opted to not perform this morning - she was awesome last night!

We had a moment of silence for Edwin, jc, and Steve Gilliard (firedoglake). There are a couple poster boards showing a range of jc's graphics, several jc t-shirts scattered around the room :-)

Monica, many thanks again for all your coverage.

Not sure if it was posted yesterday, so belated...

Happy Birthday to Charlie Grapski

and

Happy Birthday to Imn2Paine's mom (today)

31.

Some people and literature for Clint Curtis is what I've seen.  He may be on the agenda for a workshop. 

Thanks Thankful.

Rick just came in to talk about Virginia.

Jim explaining how this is the lowest point in the four-year election cycle. 

Well Lieberman is talking war - big time - "claims 90% of people killing are soldiers in Iraq are the same people that struck us on 9/11 - and the Iranians are helping them" - He also threw in a few words for Israel of course.

Moncia,

Curtis has a lot to say and teach re: electronic voting. He needs to be heard in hearings it they ever get to do a new voting act.

I think I forgot to put up Charlie's picture yesterday.

36.

Is Charlie Grapski there? I thought he was on the agenda to speak.

OK, Question answered.

Good morning almost afternoon

Thanks Monica and Reed for the great pix

Judy thanks for the great posts on the overnight

Where's seashell

Here's my harvest, a little meager

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19140631/sit...
Fineman: Americans Warm Up to Universal Health Care
By Howard Fineman
Newsweek
It would be nice to think that the urgency is the result of outrage at our mediocre infant-mortality and life-expectancy numbers, which are among the worst in the developed world. With a sure sense of how to be annoying, Moore praises Cuba's record (which in some respects is better than ours), and heaps kudos on France, the health-care paragon.

But the real reason the topic is atop the agenda is that the middle class is scared—again. In 1991, in the midst of a recession, Democrat Harris Wofford scored an upset victory in a U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania with an ad, written by James Carville and Paul Begala. It asked: if every criminal is entitled to a lawyer, why isn't every family entitled to a doctor? Carville and Begala migrated to Bill Clinton's presidential campaign; a promise to push for universal health care went with them. "Back then, the concern was that people were losing jobs, and, with them, their health care," says Len Nichols, an economist at the New America Foundation. "Now it's not that you will lose your job, but that you simply can't afford the coverage." Twenty years ago, Nichols's figures show, health spending comprised 7 percent of the average family's income and compensation. Today that number is 20 percent.
==============

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/wo...
From The Sunday Times
June 10, 2007
Putin: How worried should the West be?
Angered by western 'imperialism' and emboldened by soaring oil riches, the Russian bear is growling again. Sunday Times reporters analyse the new threat from the east and explain why it cannot be ignored

(It occurred to me while reading the above that Putin may be starting a fight to deflect from not letting UK extradite the guy who poisoned the other guy?)
===============

Pulling Off the Obama Look
By RAY A. SMITH
How hard can it be to take off your tie?

With the suit-and-no-tie look gaining prominence lately -- presidential hopeful Barack Obama has drawn attention for sporting a version of the approach, and Microsoft's Steve Ballmer and Boeing CEO Jim McNerney have done it, too -- more men are trying it out themselves. In the process, they're discovering that this seemingly effortless style takes work to get right.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article_pri...
====================
and finally, just to p*ss you guys off :~) here's Roger Simon your favorite describing my feelings exactly on the terminally ill immigration bill

Immigration ain't broke. Don't fix it.
By: Roger Simon
Jun 9, 2007 12:38 PM EST

The urgent need for a sweeping, grandiose immigration “solution” came from where? I don’t remember hearing about it much before last year, which was an election year.

Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean has his own theory. As he told me in an interview in March, “For the short-term purpose of winning in ’06, [the Republicans] ginned up a big anti-immigrant fervor, which helped them in a few races, turned Hispanics against them by 12 more points, and now they don’t know how to get out of it.”

Everybody have a restful Sunday - bbl

28.

Putz = the Village Idiot

Add McCain to the idiot list too. Kind of sad after all his service.

Tom--

Burlington HQ has 11 employees.  Anyone who's email address they get is a member.

Number of members hovers around half a million.  Impeach Alberto  campaign increased to 660,000.  During Dean Campaign it was at 680,000.  

(the numbers seem to fluctuate quite a bit which suggests that the people who are in are really interested)

"There's a lot of need for a new community in U.S.--particularly political community." 

50,000 in DFALink are real activists.  880 groups in which members are really new to politics.  Goal is to train 25,000 between 2004 and 2008.

Each of twnty-five thousand  people needs to get out one hundred new Democratic votes in 2008. 

Monica, thank Mr. Sneir for the EXCELLENT pictures. I very much enjoyed them.

31/37 Joan, I may have misspoken - pretty sure I heard he was here but could be what Monica said.

43. yep, Charlie is here. After Subway's performance last night a bunch of us went to the lounge and watched a well done documentary of what's been going on in Alachua.

45.

Immigration ain't broke. Don't fix it.
By: Roger Simon
Jun 9, 2007 12:38 PM EST

gotta agree with Simon

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. All it needs is to enforce the laws we already have. Forget about bigmouth Lou Dobbs and his right-wing friends on CNN.

49.

Thankful, Wish I was there with you to meet you and everybody there. Hopefully, next year.

Alachua and Charlie should also be at hearings for the voting act, should Reid ever decide it is important.

I forgot this one - what interests me here is that Germany is alleged to be complicit in the doings:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/673289...
First CIA rendition trial opens

The cleric, Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr - also known as Abu Omar - was snatched from a Milan street in February 2003.

Italian prosecutors say Nasr was taken to US bases in Italy and Germany before being taken to the Egyptian capital of Cairo. Nasr says he was tortured during his four-year imprisonment in Cairo.

At the time of his arrest he was suspected of recruiting fighters for Islamic groups but had not been charged.

He was released by Egypt earlier this year, his lawyer said.

bbl

Hi Folks,

Thanks Monica and Reed.  It's terrific to be able to be there vicariously through your posts and photos.  

My friend and I were speculating that the Bush family represents insularity and complete ignorance about ordinary folks and oher cultures.  When George W. called the pontif sir, I had to cringe.  Not surprising.  But, I have the sense that the Bush family had and has no clue about anybody else other than oil and finance cronies.  They represent and demonstrate an appalling ignorance aobut the world, about humanity, about even the ordinary people in the USA.

Poppy Bush in Richard Dawson's The God Delusion remarks that people who are not Christian, should not be allowed citizenship in this country.  This is astounding.  So, why are we surprised that this administration is so disastrous!

One last thing, AARP which purported to be a retirees' advocacy group reaches 60 million readers with its magazine.  Time reaches about half of that.  We can thank AARP for attempting to privatize Medicare.  I'm in the process of trying to figure out Medicare and the needed supplements so that should I have a catastrophic illness, my family won't be bankrupted, and by the way, most bankruptcies are connected to medical problems.

The one payer not for profit health program is very much needed.  Colorado alone has over 30 health insurance programs to supplement or replace Medicare.  This is absurd.  And, the conning of insurance comapnies like AARP are evidence of the hypocrisy and greed so prevalent in this country.  (Learned from NPR yesterday, that over 60 percent of our pharmaceuticals are manufactured in China!) And, student loans where universities took kickbacks and advocated various banks and lending institutions.  What kind of a people eats its young?  

And, one hopeful note, in the latest issue of Newsweek Fareed Zakaria has an essay about what we need to do to repair the damage of this administration.  He lauds America's former inclusiveness, creativity, energy, equality, and opprotunities.  All of which, the Bush Adinistration and all those citizens who supported it are trying to undo.

Again, thanbks so much for the blog coverage of Dem Fest.  

Wish you were here, too, Joan. I think there's 3 groups already working on proposals for next year!

:-)

Jim says we're getting new members.  We're not exclusively into candidacy, but also issue advocacy.

Charles Chamberlain is going to do more organizing conferences around the country.

550 office holders around the country have been provided support by DFA HQ.

Group remarks.

Rick is getting his opportunity to talk about training.  Night school is great.  If training is not coming to your town, send a member or two from Link-ups and have them come back and share information.  

Arshad is talking about how trainings are spawned.

Marcia talking about difference from Meetup.  Relationship with Meetup is no longer.

46. McCain has always played his POW status to the hilt in AZ, all the while being the mean-spirited, ideological Repug.

50. Joan I agree with Dobbs on a lot but the man does blather. Since Comcast came and conquered cable, I don't know why I keep 'extended' - CNN just rehashes what we've already seen on the 'net. And they took away all my play channels - TCM, Travel, MSNBC -- and I think you can stream all the CSPANs from their website these days. I just may cut back to the basic 'network' channels b/c I mostly watch PBS when I'm watching anyway.

bbl (3rd time - you guys are addictive)

Repost of Sneirson photo site:

http://flickr.com/photos/jsneirson/sets/72157600332857214/

Off to do my mile

bbl

53.

Annilow

=====================

From your link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19140631/site/newsweek/print/1/displaymode/1098

But the real reason the topic is atop the agenda is that the middle class is scared—again. In 1991, in the midst of a recession, Democrat Harris Wofford scored an upset victory in a U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania with an ad, written by James Carville and Paul Begala. It asked: if every criminal is entitled to a lawyer, why isn't every family entitled to a doctor? Carville and Begala migrated to Bill Clinton's presidential campaign; a promise to push for universal health care went with them. "Back then, the concern was that people were losing jobs, and, with them, their health care," says Len Nichols, an economist at the New America Foundation. "Now it's not that you will lose your job, but that you simply can't afford the coverage." Twenty years ago, Nichols's figures show, health spending comprised 7 percent of the average family's income and compensation. Today that number is 20 percent.

================

Especially, when so much of our illness comes from unnecessary pollution and corporate toxins in our products, delivered into our bodies from contact, ingestions, gases, and vapors

Then they put all the research into "genetics" like it is not the poisons that's slowly killing us, it is our defective genes.

Ann,

Seashell is sick. Fever, sinus infection and other things. She is trying to rest and get well. :) 

gotta agree with Simon

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

===================

The problem is that the proverbial  "cure" is always worse than the "disease"  with lots of sweeteners and perks for corporations written in the fine print.

What I don't get, is if they are getting new members, why is their fundraising tanking each year? I checked the financials at the FEC since 2004 when DFA formed and it started really high and each  12 month period decreased. This year was tracking the worst when I checked it a few months ago. Hopefully they are doing something to change that.

Also, the website hits are so low it isn't even on the map anymore. I think DFA needs a change in strategy in their marketing and branding...and in the way they build their base. 

♥ seashell ♥ Be well soon.

Trainings are great! Rich was the catalyst for getting several MeetUp groups to send reps to trainings in the past - a great idear.

It would still be nice to see one happen in southern VA!

bbl, have to put my feet up for a few. been breaking in the 4" heels for the Stiletto Challenge :-)

Jim Dean restating that 20 people make a huge difference and organizing should start locally.  In a town of 50,000 just five people showing up at meetings is important.

TTT says have forums and show films.

There were 170 Iraq War Forums.  Big turn-out in places like Iowa.  Also book clubs are good membership building intities.

We need better access to membership in geographic areas from DFA HQ.--a suggestion for Jim Dean to take back.

Sending out too many mailing causes people to un-subscribe.

Improvements  to LINK?

Tom says "yes"  New Guy is Tim Watson.  Luigi was spirited away by MyDD.

Hi, Pat. Good to "see" you here.

Say, David Sirota (my favorite political writer) just moved to Denver from Montana. He is going to be writing a nationally syndicated newspaper column starting in August. If you have an event and want a speaker or a book signing, you now have easier access. :) 

Incorporate into messaging a promo for linkup.

Arshad talking about how important it is to make emails short and not too many. 

Charles' Conference Calls?

He's just moved up from Florida.  He's going to be sent to do organizing conferences. 

Arshad is going to be training at YearlyKOS.

Last year's was well organized.  A thousand people.  There will be a number of organizations training, being co-ordinated by Arshad.  Going to be in Chicago. Jim Dean and Sheri will be at TBA Conference.

End of this session. 

69.

Monica Smith

??? Charles Grapski....or did you mean Chamberlain? Which Charles just moved up from Florida that will be sent to organizing conferences?

I'm curious as to whether there is any grumbling (at Demfest) regarding the Democrats' cowardly capitulation to Bush over Iraq war funding. Or is everyone sipping the koolaid and making nice?

Just heard Lieberman wants to attack Iran.

Why do they keep introducing him as an "Independent Democrat?"

The Party needs to completely oust him.  

The Assault on Reason
By Al Gore

It is simply no longer possible to ignore the strangeness of our public discourse.

**

We must create new ways to engage in a genuine and not manipulative conversation about our future.

**

It is time to change the nature of the way we live together on this planet.

68 I think it is more important that the email is relevant to your group then how many or how long.

I sent out three last week to one of my groups, thought maybe it was too much, but got a great response from many members I never hear from. Apparently, the info I was sending was not stuff they were aware of and were grateful.

While you don't want to spam people, it is more important to make it relevant to their interests. 

Colin Powell giving Obama foreign policy advice? ya gotta be crappin me......................

66.

Jim Dean restating that 20 people make a huge difference and organizing should start locally.  In a town of 50,000 just five people showing up at meetings is important.

We have a state chartered Dem Club in a town of 3500. Our club has 18 members, but most monthly meetings despite my sending out reminders each and every month to the members and the paper get out only 6 or 7.

I guess we're doing better than I thought!

Huron John
Sun, 06/10/07
12:35 pm
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

i doubt it..........I know a handful of em and they are pretty tough cookies....just patriotic Americans seeking a differant direction for the country.........as for the rest, Im not sure..........

Hey John, plenty of grumbling going on here. Save your pennies and come to the next one and you can see for yourself.

Why on earth would you think we are kool aid drinkers?

Good morning everyone.

Just found this news about Microsoft/Google.
The true innovation versus old competittevness again back at the spotlight. The kind of Netscape#2 story.
-------------
http://weblog.infoworld.com/techwatch/ar...

NYT: Google seeks antitrust action against Microsoft
Filed under: Microsoft
It's like deja vu all over again, with the New York Times reporting today that Google has filed a confidential antitrust complaint against Microsoft with the U.S. Department of Justice.

According to the Times, the complaint alleges that the Windows Vista search feature slows down Google's competing Google Desktop Search (GDS) program, discouraging consumers from using its search program. Windows Vista's search feature cannot be disabled, thereby forcing users to forego GDS, or put up with drastically reduced system performance as both search programs index the contents of the hard drive.


According to the Times article, Google complained to federal and state prosecutors, claiming that Microsoft was violating the 2002 antitrust settlement against the company, which prohibits Microsoft from designing operating systems that limit consumer choice. That suit, originally brought by Web browser company NetScape, alleged that Microsoft used its operating system monopoly to push NetScape out of the Web browser market by tying Windows and its competing Internet Explorer browser closely together. Microsoft was determined to be a monopoly, but an Appeals Court ruling allowed the company to narrowly escape being broken up. In return, Microsoft agreed to take a number of steps to avoid future anticompetitive behavior, including information sharing with competitors, opening parts of its proprietary source code, unbundling middleware, and loosening its grip on PC manufacturers.

According to sources in the article, including Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, the Google complaint, which has not been made public, is eerily similar to NetScape's original compliant. "In concept, if not directly word for word, it is the Microsoft-Netscape situation," Blumenthal is quoted as saying in the Times article.
................

According to the Times article, Barnett sent a memo to states prosecutors urging them to reject Google's complaint, reiterating arguments that Microsoft made in its defense. The memo "raised eyebrows" among States attorneys general, and may have had the exact opposite effect: many states are now looking closely at Google's complaint and considering action, and the Department of Justice is considering whether to take part in those actions, the Times article says.
..............
http://weblog.infoworld.com/techwatch/ar...

Thank you Monica for keeping me at DemFest even though I'm back in Vermont. It was wonderful meeting so many of the bloggers and some other great folks as well.

I just got off the phone with Granny D and she said she'll send the transcript of her speech to me first thing...she also wants to be present at the Vermont legislature session re: Gov. Douglas' veto of Campaign Finance bill and Energy Efficiency act, I had only asked for a letter. Maybe the headlines in Vermont papers will read "Granny D spanks Gov. Douglas over veto of bills" and we will override the vetoes.

I still need to finish editing my interview with her, it's been a hectic week but a fun one. 

Wow...Granny D is fast. I just checked my email and here's her speech...enjoy.

================== 

Thank you. 

It is normally expected that, when given an opportunity to speak, I 
will talk about campaign finance reform and, more specifically, about 
the public financing of campaigns as a way of cutting the threads of 
the big-money puppet show in Washington and in Concord.

But today I would like to talk about unauthorized immigration.

Of course, unauthorized immigration has nothing to do with the big 
money corruption of our political system.  It is just a matter of 
people in poor countries trying their best to find their way to 
better opportunities in the north for their families.

It seems to be a big issue with our Republican candidates, as they 
are well-known to be the law and order party. That, after all, is why 
they are demanding that Scooter Libby pay the full price for his 
perjuries and obstructions of justice. They are the law and order 
party, with the normal exceptions of the Geneva Convention and the 
U.S. Constitution, especially its Bill of Rights.  But we know what 
they mean: When they say they are for law and order, they are talking 
mostly about keeping down the uppity poor folk. They are certainly 
not talking about the big corporations, hotel companies, agribusiness 
giants, retailers who employ millions of unauthorized immigrants but 
who make up for that sin with large campaign donations.

But I do not come to talk about corrupting campaign donations and the 
need for public campaign financing. I come to talk of unauthorized 
immigration and a little about corn and something about tortillas. I 
call it unauthorized immigration, not illegal, because I don't want 
to use words that confuse Republicans.

In saying that the Republican candidates are more interested in the 
immigration issue, I do not mean to imply that it is less important 
for any of us.

If you will look around the check-out lines at the grocery stores and 
notice the widening measurements of our fellow citizens �we can 
hardly get through the aisles any more. We can certainly see for 
ourselves the problem of having too much cheap labor around to do all 
our yardwork and housework for us.  By my calculations, the roughly 3 
billion pounds of extra weight now being carried on the hips of 
working-age American citizens is roughly equivalent to the combined 
weight of the unauthorized immigrants now in our communities. The 
math is clear and persuasive. Cheap labor is bad for every�body.

But why are so many people risking their lives to come into our 
country now?  When did this big rush begin?

It began when Mr. Clinton approved NAFTA � the North American Free 
Trade Agreement, and when he militarized our southern  border at the 
same time.  Prior to these combined actions, families crossed the 
border very commonly, especially during harvest seasons.  After 
harvest, they would go home to Mexico or  Central America because 
that�s where they lived with their families in quite happy communities.

When the border was militarized, it became to risky to go back and 
forth. So they stayed.

Why did Mr. Clinton militarize the border?  He did so because NAFTA 
was about to pull out the rug from under Mexico�s small family 
farms.  We flooded Mexico with cheap corn--exports that we subsidize 
to the tune of some $25 billion dollars a year by Congress to a 
handful of agribusiness giants.  Of course, I am not here to tell you 
why Congress does that, and what might be done to stop it. But they 
do it, and Mexican family farmers cannot compete.  In the years since 
NAFTA was signed, half of Mexico�s small farms have failed.  The only 
kind of farming that can now compete in Mexico is big agribusiness, 
which does not employ many people.  Tortillas in Mexico now contain 
two-thirds imported corn, and they are three times as expensive at 
retail level than before NAFTA. The people have less money, and the 
cost of food is rising. We have done that. Our precious Senators and 
Congressmen and their corporate cronies have done that raw and cruel 
exploitation in our names.

The result of undermining Mexican farms, as Clinton expected, was a 
rising flood of poor people moving from rural areas into Mexico�s big 
cities, which have become so poor and overcrowded that all one can do 
is dream of going north across the border.

Now, if any Democratic candidates for President would like to show a 
little courage and intelligence, let them address the real cause of 
our flood of unauthorized immigrants. Will Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Obama 
or Mr. Edwards or any of the other candidates face down the agri-
gangsters that are behind this problem?  Probably they will not, so 
long as  Iowa has a major primary.

Let me say that I am not ranting and raving about these new 
Americans.  When Mexico owned Texas and everything west, and when 
they cut off migration across their borders, our people kept coming �
crossing illegally in search of opportunities for their families.  
When Mexico got upset by this, we trumped-up false reasons for a war, 
and we illegally took those lands.  So let�s not stand on any moral 
high ground.

The people coming across the border today, with the usual exceptions, 
are family people with an incredible work ethic.  Personally, I 
welcome them.  I congratulate them for their courage and their 
dedication to their families. I want them to stay and become 
citizens, or, if some prefer, to return to their homeland at a time 
when there is international justice and a decent chance for their 
prosperity at home.

I regret what the political corruption of our system has done to 
their farms and their communities back home.  It is not the peoples� 
fault �it is the fault of corrupt leaders of both parties. We must 
speak this truth to these powerful people, even to those candidates 
that we otherwise admire.

So, candidates Clinton, Edwards, Obama and the rest:  Do you 
understand the reasons why immigration numbers are growing?  Are you 
smart enough to understand the situation?  Are you brave enough to do 
something--to even say something--about it?  Or is the truth too big 
for you?

I ask you all to be good citizens and good Democrats. And that means 
to ask the toughest questions so that the interests of the people �
the people of our nation and of the world �will be served.  Isn�t 
that what we�re here for?

And do you see why I do not need to harp on campaign finance reform, 
to cut the strings of the puppet show in Washington and in Concord 
that allows these cruelties to continue? I didn�t have to say a word 
about that, because you understand it. You understand what must be done.

Thank you.

72.

_ FiReFoX!
Sun, 06/10/07
12:34 pm

Just heard Lieberman wants to attack Iran.
Why do they keep introducing him as an "Independent Democrat?"
The Party needs to completely oust him.
------------

I'm waiting for some Jewish organization having bravery, BRAIN and common sense to condemn him...HARSHLY, he deserves it, imo. To have Neturei Karta only is not enough now.

Don't think his case is simply about deep confusion. He is smart and educated enough not to be. It is rather unfortunate choice that he made to fight natural history path. Shame on him..., and double-triple shame...because he is a Jew!

Time will come his enemies, his cousins (e.g. islamo-fascists) will get chance to forgive him...

My DLC Congresswoman has already started doing TV ads for her campaign. In June. The ad was on twice in a matter of a little over an hour. My goodness, what is this coming to! Has raised half a million.

In her ad she is portrayed as single handedly bringing the minimum wage increase to workers.

Now, not only is that deceptive, but Arizona had a minimum wage increase that went into effect which is the one that people are experiencing. She had nothing to do with that...that was the state legislature. However, the ad makes it appear to the average citizen that the nice pay increase they got in the state was the one she gave them. Typical.

This is  how she has her "townhalls". She has people who want to talk to her for a few seconds line up like outside a grocery store and go through the line one by one. Get this. It is 100 degrees here and you have 75 year old people standing in that heat for an hour just to talk to her. Why that setup? The rumor is she doesn't want to do it in and inside and open forum where people can hear each other's questions and her answers for fear of an uprising (like her recent war funding vote) and so no one can videotape her. This is the kind of Democrat I have representing me. It is disgusting.

She has only been in there 5 months, has not represented what her constituents want, and is already campaigning for her next term on tv.

 Yup, Rahm got his corporate sellout.  I guess the rigging and theft paid off big time for them.

Reed thanks so much for posting that!

Glad to see you made it home safely.

Subway and I are enjoying a bit of R&R at the moment. Thankful is taking a nap - still several hours to go before Howard gets here!

w00t!!!

#80

I was involved in that lawsuit in the 90s when my company testified against MS. 

We just had a run-through of "Mark Twain"

Now there's a fellow who's taken the mic to talk about waste--my favorite topic, you know. 

Denise, I'm surprised you're all not taking naps, party was going strong when I left. I got home around 3:30 am and drove through some pea soup fog around the Dublin Lakes. I decided to stay up so didn't get rest until 8 am. I noticed Charlie's name was missing on the bloggers roll call this morning, a wee bit too much on his birthday? ; )

Hi Fire...long time no see. 

Staying connected to the internet today is difficult.  The WiFi is wavering.

Reed, haven't seen Charlie this morning.  I suspect he's a bit of a night person.

Just a quick hello from DFest.  It'd has been great to see old friends, some for the first time (the nature of blogging) and after listening to his CD for years, meeting and hearing Subway Serenade in person.

Thanks to the organizers, and see you all on the blog.

wow, the reporting from deanfest is amazing.

and thanks to thankful for putting in a plug for training in southern va.

there is so much going on in my community and most of the training I got was from DFA , just blogging and getting the thoughts from Howard when he ran. He told us to become involved and I have.

We are having a rethug primary this tuesday and if the wacko wins, we are gonna run someone against that person. more info forthcoming.

Yes, a city comm. that 2 years ago was going nowhere is going somewhere.

so when I get to TBA and talk to Jim Dean about training and such. we will get stronger down here.

Thanks to Monica for keeping us informed and thanks to my DFA friends for always keeping me sane.

Love you all. Back later.

76.

Michael Ellis

Most fitting.

Will someone please tell LIEberman he is irrelevant.

81

Thank goodness someone is speaking to the trade deals (Obama, Hillary, John Kerry voted for the one in June...Oman...when most Democrats opposed it).

The violence on the border here is getting worse. Four people died in the desert in 4 days last week. Coyotes get paid by corporations to traffic people with no regard for their safety, often dumping them in the middle of the desert in 100+ degree heat.

Democrats aren't helping. The "humane" thing to do is not to give corporations more power to exploit via work visas, quest worker programs, etc. especially when layoffs and the average US workers standard of living is lower than in their father's day. It is exploiting the workers in all countries. Create a lower, lower class -- do away with the middle class completely -- and more billionaires are created (100 new ones last year alone). I don't hear Democrats leading on this issue and the real causes and impact any more than I hear Republicans. 

The only candidate of the major three I even hear talking about a mandatory LIVING wage is John Edwards and if you read my yesterday posts you know I am critical of him, but on this he leads. We have to have a mandatory living wage before we can even get into increasing the legality and numbers for immigration. We also need jail time and enforcement against corporations for exploitation.

In Arizona, the biggest portal for smuggling low wage workers over the border, the companies are rewarded. First, with slave labor and not having to pay the same employer taxes, then with the Arizona laws which deny bail to the illegal immigrants. So, lets say your boss wrongly accuses you of a crime, beats you, rapes you. Guess what? You do not have the rights of a US citizen and if you are wrongly accused of a felony you can't even get bail. Two other laws passed the ballot in the last election to restrict the rights of immigrants.

Part of this is 50% of our medical costs that taxpayers are paying are going to the poor who are often non-US citizens here so taxpayers are pissed. But they are blaming the immigrants instead of the real problem, the corporations and the Congress who creating this.

Workers wouldn't have a need to come to the US if we had not done such an effective job of destroying their economy with our trade deals.

I am happy that Kennedy and Bush lost on that bill because the bill was horrible for immigrants and horrible for US workers. This gives the Democrats time to create a real bill with real reform and money for enforcement and accoutability (has to center on corporations) and not just another plan that gives more power to corporate abuse. We would have no poverty in this country if we did away with corporate welfare and had a mandatory living wage.

Fire, I've been posting for 6 months that Lieberman wanted to go to war with Iran, because he kept throwing Iran in to all his war speeches and statements.

Reed and Granny D, thanks

globalization without a level paying field is the dead moose on the table of campaign 08, and we are fortunate that those 4 million farmers from Mexico we drove off the land are civil, contributing new members of our society (even from the shadows) instead of armed enemies as they might have a right to be

.

This fellow talking about waste says he's opposed to CAFE standards because it interferes with people's choice.

I vote we get rid of "choice." 

Rich...and you LOOK ma'velous. Nice tshirt!

Hi, Reed.

Yeah, I am just on the blog for the weekend then will be off again. Would have liked to meet you in person but couldn't make it to DemFest this year. Maybe next year.

Are you keeping up with your cinnamon? 

Now time to read Granny D's transcript ...again, thank you Reed.

71.

Charles chamberlain. 

One of the main benefits of ethanol is that it eliminates the price incentive for the global grain trade to use subsidized American production to drive farmers off the land the world over.

Arshad is going to be training at YearlyKOS.

Last year's was well organized.  A thousand people.  There will be a number of organizations training, being co-ordinated by Arshad.  Going to be in Chicago. Jim Dean and Sheri will be at TBA Conference.

as will I. and my son is gonna be there to see what is going on.

can't wait to see sheri and jim. Boo!!!!!!!!!!

95

Once again, you were right. :) 

One more time. Thank You Ned Lamont for putting an (I) behind Joementum's name.

I heard on the news the other day under NAFTA 16 million Mexican workers lost their jobs. I suspect it is even higher.

That is what we will be doing to India now too under Oman. 

I don't think those dfa ers are drinking any kool aid. from what I see on this format, there is a lot of dissent in the masses.

We have a lot of so called fights right here and if we don't agree with dfa policy, well , we let it beknown. as in why ono training down here.

Do I do it for myself. NO. neither do you.

So speak out at Deanfest. It makes this community stronger. don't ya think?

104

I don't want to be encouraging more GMO crops. I would rather we invest in hemp as a biofuel. 

91.

Rich, it was great to meet you. Our conversation regarding bloggers and how one perceives them because of their writing style and how ones view of that person changes when you meet them in person. I can definitely say meeting me fellow bloggers has only made me appreciate you all more. Safe travels.

99.

Fire, I take cinnamon tablets with my other meds. Sugars still fluctuate a bit...coincides with hops intake. Speaking of intake, need to get a bite to eat, me schedule is all messed up from staying up all night...bbl

Cheryl, if hemp was legalized for biofuel it would no doubt be as a GMO crop grown on an industrial scale too. 

The sun is shining and the hay is dry here, bbl.

77

Joan, you are getting a good turnout. We have groups with over a 100 members where only 8 show up for meetings. I admit, I am one who rarely goes to the meetings and does more via email or phone. Too much gas to waste to get across town. Our group needs to set up better and more regular note taking and voting by proxy which other groups and the state party already have in place. 

Believe me, I grew up growing corn and there are much better crops out there for a large scale fuel source.

GMO crops contaminated organic ones and anything done large enough on scale with a fuel crop creates a huge problem.

Oops, my first part got cut off. Try again.

No Phil, hemp would not be GMO. No need for it. It grows super fast and is very resistant, unlike corn, you need less of it and it is pest resistant. Cheaper and easier to grow and doesn’t do the environmental damage corn does.

Believe me, I grew up growing corn and there are much better crops out there for a large scale fuel source.

GMO crops contaminated organic ones and anything done large enough on scale with a fuel crop creates a huge problem.

  Plus, we need a crop that we do not subsidize in any way. That is insane policy and I say this having grown up in an agricultural community. 

(VIDEO)
http://bullnotbull.blogspot.com/2007/04/...

Growing hemp was outlawed in the United States in 1937, coincidentally (or not) just as Dupont's new product Nylon hit the nation's markets. Nylon did everything hemp could do - the only difference being that people could grow hemp anywhere for free. And they did - prior to 1937, that is.

This is one of the reasons why Hemp was such a valuable plant throughout history. It is a hardy plant and grows like a "weed," requiring very little (if any) pesticides - unlike cotton, which is one of the most pesticide intensive crops. The fibers can be spun into cloth for rope and sails that don't rot - which is why hemp was used for the rigging on old-time clipper ships. The seeds are an excellent source of protein. You can also make fine and durable paper from hemp - drafts of the US Constitution were written on hemp. George Washington was a hemp farmer.

The only problem is that you can no longer grow hemp in the United States. It is illegal. Why? Hemp - the plant that grows like a "weed" is also the plant that produces fragrant flowering "buds" which are commonly smoked as marijuana. However, there is a plant, known as "industrial hemp" which has no THC content (THC is the substance that gets you "high"). This too, however, is illegal.

The above film was made in 1942 by the US Government, extolling the virtues of hemp, and imploring American farmers to grow more of it. The USDA and Library of Congress denied the existence of such a film, until someone found a copy. And now it is on the internet for all to see! Talk about the power of the internet!

So if hemp is so great, how come it is illegal? Think about it.

Thanks for all the blog posts from demfest. Next best thing to being there.

Lest we not forget another fallen blogger: Edwin from New York, Puddle's true soulmate.

Just heard Lieberman wants to attack Iran.

Why do they keep introducing him as an "Independent Democrat?"

==========

I'm just glad they don't call him a Democrat.

111.

Fire,

I would consider 7 or 8 very good also IF the other members had to travel far, but they don't. The farthest members away live only a couple miles and our meetings are held in a nice meeting room of our local library that puts out the red carpet for us every month. One of the librarians has even changed her party (she says) from Repug to Dem. At least we know we have changed one good mind.

Steve,

I believe Monica wrote that Edwin was mentioned along with jc and Steve Gilliard (firedoglake)in their moment of silence this morning.

Phil Specht
Sun, 06/10/07
1:43 pm

___________________________________________________________________________

In Liebermans case it is not Independent...its is Insulting

115. Hi there Indy :-) Indeed, there's no forgetting Edwin - he was mentioned this morning along with jc and Steve Gilliard from firedoglake. Subway just posted over on HEP...

"Wow

What a weekend. Turns out that I played 3 sets that were warmly recieved and met many old friends for the the first time.

I really missed Pudde and I played "All for the Best" from "Godspell" for Edwin and jc."
~ ~ ~

bbl

oops - that last post by Denise is really from Thankful - as is this one...

Whatever happened to the hydrogen economy hydrogen gas and fuel cells?  That seems like the best solution.

The hydrid is not the final solution. It does very well for stop and go, but not a panacea for the highway. I have a gasoline Escort that compares in fuel economy, if not for combined power and fuel economy.

Batteries and electric cars have a tremendous problem with toxic materials, toxic odorless vapors/gases and recharging times.  I can tell you, with my MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity) condition, my worst symptoms come from fast chargers, and motor controllers and the vapors are odorless.  The symptoms can easily last a week.  It makes a badly polluting gasoline engine seem like a minor problem (since the symptoms only last a couple of hours or so.)

Electric cars may solve some problems but could become an insidious health hazard causing a whole new epidemic in certain chronic degenerative diseases.

Electric power from windmills and solar can easily be converted to hydrogen gas to be stored, or possible made into a liquid fuel.  It seems like the research should be in that direction.

_ FiReFoX!
Sun, 06/10/07
1:00 pm

Cheryl, does Patty Weiss have any intentions of running against her again?  I just came across the email receipt from my contribution to her campaign last year.  Maybe its a sign ; ) 

Good blog by Christy Smith on Edwards re: poverty

http://firedoglake.com/

~~~~~~~

BTW, women can celebrate today the win of Rags to  Riches at the Belmont yesterday. She is the first philly to win it since 1905!

Listening to Powell on MTP on the msnbc website - lots of what he say I don't like, but he is against Gitmo, thinks we should bring the prisoners in the courtroom, and trust our justice system.

He says Obama has sought him out twice for advice on foreign policy. 

Evasive on the gay military issue.  Says it is an act of Congressional law,  not military policy

He says he will support the "best person" for president of either party for President.

Now listening to the guys, Gerth and Van Natta, who wrote a book on Hillary, "Her Way."  They said Hillary would not talk to them, and put out the word, to everyone she knew, not to talk to them.

She had an opportunity to vote for an amendment by  Sen. Levin, for diplomatic alternatives to the war, and she did not vote for it, and did not even want to discuss it.

Say that the most important information in the book is how she acts in the politcal arena.

Found there are two Hillarys....

Secret side of office, she had people on her payroll that she did not disclose, a violation of Senate rules, only did so after the book brought it out.

Responded to accusations of it is a negative book - "We put a halogen light on her dark corners... we are not talking about a dead President, but one running for President"  To provide informations to let readers decide. 

Say the mainstream press does not cover her sufficiently

124

No, I don't think so. Patty and her husband are looking at moving to Phoenix. There are a lot of good progressives here would would make good candidates but the machine always takes them down.

Patty now works for a progressive think tank, Western Progress as their Communications Director. I think it is a new group. Not sure how progressive everyone in the group though but better than most in the West.

There is actually a Republican here who votes like a Democrat and if he got in the race, I would vote for him. A lot more progressive than my Congresswoman. Plus, he supported us on trying to stop Diebold. 

must be the nice weather - blog is really dead

Thanks to Monica and Reed for the pictures.  And for the reports of course.  Gee I wish I could have been there, but I'm so glad for all those who did.

We just heard from Dennis Kucinich over the phone from California.  It was a little funny to have him start with an assertion that he doesn't want to rely on the media and then have him intermediated by the phone.

Good Lord! Put a stake through his rotten heart.

Lieberputz on "Face the Nation":

"I think we've got to be prepared to take aggressive military action against the Iranians to stop them from killing Americans in Iraq," Lieberman said. "And to me, that would include a strike over the border into Iran, where we have good evidence that they have a base at which they are training these people coming back into Iraq to kill our soldiers."

The senator from Israel. I hope the Connecticut Democrats can mount a recall next year. We need Ned Lamont in the Senate, not this hate-spewing piece of crap.

131. Another cheap shot at Kucinich, who is the only Democrat worth a damn.

Hillary in Detroit yesterday, lying ;like a rug. She's going to institute "UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE" whatever that means to someone owned by big pharma and the health insurance industry.

 Once again, Kucinich is for single payer. Cheap shot anyone?

I was thinking that perhaps there was a new thread.  Have moved to a conference room where a program on voting in New Hampshire was just ending.  Now, there's a showing of the movie "Hacking the Vote"

Meant to have a beer at the bar, but the were closing for cleaning prior to the dinner hour.

It's a little chilly in this conference room, but the internet connection is really good. 

Well, if people do not call Hillary on her bull and let her get away with it then they get what they get. She has been lying about the war, gays in the military-- you name it. And none of the other candidates are calling her on it.

Great photo of Monica blogging to us. 

The senator from Israel. ...

===========

What an insult to Israel - more like the Senator from the far-right wing of the Kahanite-inspired Zionists in Israel and those who think the Palestinian people don't have a right to exist.

133

Cheap shot at Kucinich? Fox News Kucinich?

Sorry, I like many of his positions but when I met him in person he was a total @ss.Has a reputation of treating staff like crap. No one that I know of who worked on his campaign in 04 is supporting him now, but I encourage everyone to support whomever they want.  

Jim Hightower woohee!

http://www.jimhightower.com/node/6139

Poor George W. Except for his cohort, "Buckshot" Cheney, no one really likes his Iraq policy – not the generals, not the troops dying for it, not the people of Iraq, not his fellow Republicans, and certainly not the American public.

But wait – there is one group that is ecstatic about what he's doing there: al Qaeda! Yes, Osama bin Laden's network of terrorists. Remember him? He's responsible for the 9/11 attack on the U.S., and Bush himself promised in 2001 to "smoke him out." But then George, Buckshot, and Rummy decided to forget him and divert our military to Iraq, so bin Laden is still on the loose.

To get congress and the public to accept their nonsensical detour, the Bushites claimed that al Qaeda had a presence in Iraq. That turns out to have been another of their little fibs, but guess what? Thanks to Bush's invasion and occupation of this Muslim nation, al Qaeda now has a great big pressence there. They've been able to recruit thousands of mostly-young men to go to Iraq and fight the Bushites' imperialist ambitions. In fact, Iraq has now become al Qaeda's top recruiting ground! Indeed, al Qaeda now exports war-tested veterans from Iraq to train anti-American forces in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Thanks, George!

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