The good news is --

-- Howard is first.

The bad news is --

-- another tragedy:

http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-08-03-voa38.cfm

By Phuong Tran
Dakar
03 August 2007

The head of Sierra Leone's navy has confirmed two bodies have been recovered and as many as 50 are feared dead from a boat accident near Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, on Thursday. Commander Moses Miller says the search continues for more than 150 people believed to have been on board. Phuong Tran has more from VOA's West Africa Bureau in Dakar.

...

"We were able to rescue eight by the time my boys got there, and then we also discovered two corpses," he said.  "The search is still going on."

Local journalist Kelvin Lewis says boating accidents are common between July and September during Sierra Leone's rainy season. He says August is the worst and that the boat was probably overloaded.

"Most of the people who travel with these boats are traders. They take foodstuffs like several bags of rice, onions, gallons of cooking oil," he explained.  "They are loaded. These are just like a slightly bigger version of a canoe."

...

Article about Lieberman in Salon here.

Weird. I certainly wasn't trying to displace rdorgan's firsties.

It was great hearing Howard last night. He gets it.

I haven't been here enough lately to know if there's anyone here who goes "graphics on demand" the way jc used to. (Still miss her--just today I was remembering a Lieberman graphic she did that was a lot more racy than the one O'Reilly is making all that noise about!)

Anyway, Demetrius isn't really able to keep up with blogs, but he can be contacted at graphics(at)bmgbiz.net if there are any political designs people would like to see. We've got that address posted at the top of our Cafe Press shop too. 

Thanks Renee!  that's most helpful.  I missed jc when we needed to photoshop Mz Little as a pirate for our annual Garden Party invites.  Burt did some, but he can't compare to jc for excellence.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY cHeRyL!

Sojourner discusses the farm bill
http://blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics/2...
Maybe the Senate will fix it?

[snip]
Instead, billions of dollars of price support subsidies will go to commodities such as wheat, soybeans, and cotton, resulting in one of the greatest heresies in the religion of free trade, let alone fair trade. These subsidies lead to overproduction and distort prices on the international market, making it almost impossible for poor farmers across the developing world to compete and earn their way out of poverty. Ironically, the interests of the small cotton farmer in South Carolina are much more aligned with poor farmers in Africa than with the agribusinesses and large commercial farms that keep winning the lion's share of Farm Bill benefits.

PPP likely to sweep polls in Pakistan: Survey

Islamabad, Aug. 3 (PTI): Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's party is likely to sweep the general elections scheduled to be held later this year, according to an opinion poll.

About 58 per cent people in Sindh, 33 per cent in Balochistan, 23 per cent in Punjab and 25 per cent in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) wanted to see Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in power, the poll conducted by the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) said.

The survey, carried out between June 13 and July 3, showed that self-exiled Bhutto has overtaken President Pervez Musharraf in popularity ratings.

"The survey should serve as an eye-opener to those who advocate the idea of a non-representative government for Pakistan. The majority of Pakistanis are very clear in their minds about the future set up for their country.

"They want a democratic government and a strong Parliament to represent them, and work for their welfare," Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary of PPP, said while releasing part of the results of the poll.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001...

It's almost time for Talk Like a Pirate Day again!

(I did all the photoshops of the cat and dogs.)

Renee, shall I send you the photo of Mz Little that jc always used for photoshopping?

Just heard a canned snippit of the news on AAR.

There was a 'dust up" in the House last night and the Rep. stormed out en masse? And Steney Hoyer APOLOGIZED That figures. (whatever it was about).

Right or wrong, Or I should say, "right" AND wrong, they put up a fight.

I need to go listen to Howard's speech again.

I can, at least, send you the invite so you can see what Burt did in Paint.

audrey wrote "There was a 'dust up" in the House last night and the Rep. stormed out en masse?"

Here's the Hill's report.

Repubs putting on a spectacle show, to take home to their districts. Watch on c=cpan. now.

12.

audrey.us

I've been following the House Republican's temper tantrums for awhile. They gave a press conference on CSPAN this morning and have been writing a lot on their blogs.(they do have a lot of blogs) Some of their blogs are so hateful and bigoted, even O'Reilly might shame them. The fits they're throwing are working for them and they know it. Over the last month the CA State Senate Republicans have been fussing over the state budget being passed. Their antics worked too, our state's budget didn't pass. They all have a solid drum beat on the immigration issue and are not buying into Bush's so they can win their primary elections. Their immigration message is even going to be stronger after the primary and the one that will be heard the most on the nightly news. The Democrats aren't articulating a clear message on the issue. They're all over the place.

The Repubs (Pence) are making the point that millions will be taken out of Medicare to give to illegal alians as a result of the health care for children just passed.

They've manufactured a lollipop to take back to their districts, and are having a tantrum to publicize it.

They are now in short recess while they fix the voting machines that have gone down. They can't count the votes. Repubs have a motion to adjourn. Dems want to discuss Mi bridge disaster and then FISA.

It seems that the Rove approach to this election will be immigration, and the boogey man will be tax dollars to illegal alians.

I sure hope Dems can position themselves on that one.

WUFT FM trivia question --

Name the only German opera Enrico Caruso ever performed in (it's considered cheating to look these up) -- back in a few with the answer and btw I can only guess.

16.

Susan Rowe
Fri, 08/03/07
2:35 pm

....The Democrats aren't articulating a clear message on the issue.
-------
!!!
...ANY issue!

18. Me too -- how do you justify robbing American citizens to give to non American citizens Robin Hood style. I'm afraid I'm with the Repugs on this. If I go to Canada should they automatically put me in their N'al Health program even tho I don't go through proper channels to live there? Canada has pretty strict immigration laws btw.

It's been raining cats & dogs here and the little buggies are loving it. I just walked to the mailbox and back and got some bites. Sheesh.

17. Answer - Lohengrin (Wagner) I was guessing Meistersinger.

20.

former


The Republicans know when they have a clear message locally they can win on the same message nationally. (all politics is local) They let the local candidate articulate the message and when the national candidate shows up (and they always do) in their districts the voters already know the message. They just get to hear it again. Like they do when they go to Sunday services every week. It gives them a false sense of security and their path to salvation.

and s/b on

...on their path to salvation.

kudos to Japan:

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/203890.asp

Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 4-Aug-2007 02:44 hrs

19.

audrey.nc


I sure hope the Democrats have a good candidate lined up to run against Mike Pence in Indiana. He is very good at carrying the Republican message. He has a law degree and was a local radio personality. He presently represents the district where my home town is located. The county went Democratic in the last election. In May I was back for a visit and noticed Pence's campaign was open for business. It was full of activity. He and his recent visit to a Baghdad market with John McCain had been in the news and was being reported by all over the local papers.

23.

Susan Rowe
Fri, 08/03/07
3:02 pm


...all politics is local
-------
???
Something in that statement sounds not convincing enough to me, sorry. I think it depends on message itself.

Is "you have power" a local message?
I certainly don't think so.

Democrats should have taken a deal on immigration to get it cleared before the next election because the same bigots they gin up against immigration would work if Hillary or Obama are anywhere on the ticket.

hate and fear, fear and hate

18.

Annilow

...If I go to Canada should they automatically put me in their N'al Health...

I believe if any person needs medical attention in Canada, it's free regardless of their citizenship status.

27.

former


"You have the power" is "the" local message.

30.

Susan Rowe
Fri, 08/03/07
3:32 pm


"You have the power" is "the" local message.
---------
!!!
...as well as national!
ALL messages must be like that, if they want to win!

The problem in that case for Demos would be to IMPLEMENT all of them then. That's were one may start wonder WHY there ARE NO SUCH a messages and therefore do Demos REALLY want to change this country?

31.

former


All Politics Is Local: And Other Rules of the Game

by Tip O'Neill (Author), Gary Hymel (Author) "Real estate people will tell you these are the three most important factors in evaluating a piece of property..."
read more: http://www.amazon.com/All-Politics-Local...


All Politics Are Local...

by Mark Naples, Friday, Mar 24, 2006 2:15 PM ET
...WHICH IS WHY ALL NEWS is local, and why the U.S. electorate votes with its wallet.

In one sense, we live in a society that is populated with millions of individual Copernicus devotees. Ever wonder why MySpace has grown so quickly into the behemoth it has become? We like hearing ourselves talk, and having others revolve around us. A zillion new blogs created every day further supports the assertion that Americans like to think of ourselves as controlling or at least influencing others' views. Seemingly, the majority of us want to have a voice.
This kind of American individualism has long been a source of fascination--and occasional revulsion--to other cultures. In terms of how it is shaping our evolving media landscape, it is a primary driver. The role of the individual is part of the reason why the "local" idiom has become so hot--as the lens online becomes more precisely focused from the user end, local relevance has to become more precise.

We hear a ton about the growing importance of local search, but not enough attention has been paid to local media online as a whole. This has been changing somewhat recently, with the sale of Knight Ridder to McClatchy and the associated examination of what McClatchy sees as valuable within its acquired assets.

Experts tell us that McClatchy stock has long been a solid buy/hold from Wall Street because the company only invests in growth markets, and that it always tailors its local media assets on a bespoke basis toward these markets. In other words, McClatchy has long recognized that the lens of local media is not a one-way lens. How the media regards users is only as important as how users regard the media--they have to feel like it's theirs.....full article http://publications.mediapost.com/index....

The blog count is off again. 32 s/b 31 and 31 s/b 32. Why does it do that?

try this link: http://publications.mediapost.com/index....

Sorry you need to sign up to read the full article.

Susan Rowe
Fri, 08/03/07
3:43 pm

...
In one sense, we live in a society that is populated with millions of individual
--------

Yes, I agree with all of that but that's only "...one sense", how about "the other one"?

Does author is saying anything about that "other" side of society we live in?

New Post at Hannah

36.

former


I'm not sure what you mean by "the other one"? I'm talking about messages and the media. Here's a good report about the effects of a local blog on a local elections.

------

...Across the country, blog by blog and town by town, that same strategy is starting to come into focus....


For Some Bloggers, all Politics is Local
By Sam Hieb and Ed..., 02/02/2005 - 12:29pm

Maura Keaney is a local blogger who made a difference. In early 2005, she used her weblog to rally opposition to a Virginia bill that would have required women to report fetal deaths – legislation worded so broadly that it was seen as a threat to women's rights. The bill's sponsor, Delegate John Cosgrove of Chesapeake, withdrew the bill after receiving more than 500 emails prompted by the website's reporting. full reprt: http://www.personaldemocracy.com/node/32...

Here's a link to Bowen's 'conclusions'(dated today) regarding the integrity
of three manufacturers of CA voting machines...


http://electiondefensealliance.org/actio...

18.

Annilow

...If I go to Canada should they automatically put me in their N'al Health...

I believe if any person needs medical attention in Canada, it's free regardless of their citizenship status.

Wrong on both counts.We're dual citizens of the US and Canada, but are not enrolled in the Canadian Plan, because we're US residents. We pay for all medical services we obtain in Canada, and fill out an "Overseas Claim Form" to get reimbursed by our insurer.

You have to become a landed immigrant to enroll in the Canadian Health plan, and there's a 90 day waiting period before you can receive services.

Wow! Jane Harman just went after Gonzales.

40.

Huron John


Then I am corrected.

But I'm sure they don't refuse a person who needs emergency service or will put them in jail.

Hastings (D-FL)is really giving it to the House Republicans.

But I'm sure they don't refuse a person who needs emergency service or will put them in jail.

If you go into a Canadian ER, you'll eventually get attention (most are very overcrowded) just like you do in the US. If you don't have a Canadian Health Card, they'll ask for a credit card.

If you're truly indigent, I'm sure you'll receive treatment, but somebody will be expected to pick up the tab.

We're seasonal residents of Canada (~4-5 months per year) and have a Canadian address. That's where they send the bill.

 I had a condition requiring emergency treatment while in Canada a couple of months ago. What I did was hotfoot it across the border and check into the ER at Port Huron Hospital. While I was there, they did X-rays, a CT scan, and a colonoscopy, all within 24 hours, as well as repeated blood work. I couldn't have received that kind of treatment in Canada, as there are fairly long waits for most procedures.

Hey, another 300 point loss for the stock market...........wheres that guy with the fancy graphs?

In our lifetimes we will see a calamity similar to the great depression....................

44.

Huron John

I hope you're feeling better.

Hopefully one day Healthcare services will not be based on profit.

 <http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/CounterterrorismFactSheet.pdf> .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

as a day early birthday present  for Obama I re-link the speech that caused all the concern in Pakistan and cheering in Washington

Obama’s comprehensive strategy to fight global terrorism has five parts:

• Get out of Iraq in order to take the fight to the terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  
• Develop the capabilities and partnerships we need to capture or kill terrorists around the world and deny them the world’s most deadly weapons.
• Dry up support for terror and extremism worldwide.  
• Make clear that the days of compromising our values are over.
• Secure our homeland by setting clear priorities and a taking a risk-based approach to homeland security.  

more:

This Administration also puts forward a false choice between the liberties we cherish and the security we demand. I will provide our intelligence and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to track and take out the terrorists without undermining our Constitution and our freedom.
That means no more illegal wire-tapping of American citizens. No more national security letters to spy on citizens who are not suspected of a crime. No more tracking citizens who do nothing more than protest a misguided war. No more ignoring the law when it is inconvenient. That is not who we are. And it is not what is necessary to defeat the terrorists. The FISA court works. The separation of powers works. Our Constitution works. We will again set an example for the world that the law is not subject to the whims of stubborn rulers, and that justice is not arbitrary.
This Administration acts like violating civil liberties is the way to enhance our security. It is not. There are no short-cuts to protecting America, and that is why the fifth part of my strategy is doing the hard and patient work to secure a more resilient homeland.  
Too often this Administration’s approach to homeland security has been to scatter money around and avoid hard choices, or to scare Americans without telling them what to be scared of, or what to do. A Department set up to make Americans feel safer didn’t even show up when bodies drifted through the streets in New Orleans. That’s not acceptable.
~~~~~~~~

Join our campaign for change and hope...
www.barackobama.com

Hey, another 300 point loss for the stock market...........wheres that guy with the fancy graphs?

In our lifetimes we will see a calamity similar to the great depression....................

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Iowa went through one in the Reagan years as farmland dropped in price from $4000 per acre to $800 and corn that sold a decade earlier for over $3 a bushel went as low as $.93 on my farm

don't wish for a depression, the Reagan one wasn't much fun, out on the farm

consider what a similar loss in house prices would do to your personal finances

of course those real $1 you put into your early mortgage payments are now worth only $.50 so their are many ways to lose wealth without too big a drop in the market

those that have held cash have already been robbed

there/their sheesh

one more trip to feed cows and then back to the fair

bbl

Phil you raise cows?  What kind?

Anybody else notice that Bush looks VERY tired, almost 'sick' and is talking even worse than normal?  And Cheney --- seemed to be having trouble - walking...

Let the Republicans yell....they look like little spoiled kids having a tantrum.   The American people are OUTyelling the uncaring, corporate owned, money grabbing, elitest Republicans, with the help of the Democrats.   Way to go! : ) 

Bush has threatened to veto the bill - he doesn't CARE about our troops and that they're totally maxed.    

Bush has threatened to veto the bill - he doesn't CARE about sick children, either. :

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/02/news/children.php

Susan Rowe...

yes, we need to find a good candidate to put up against Pence. While we're at it, can we please add that Heather person, what's her name to the list. She is really annoying.

A new thread bekons.