Americans  pay more for their health care system than people in  any other country and don't get  their money's worth.  We have to  dismantle the system that we have now with many of us paying large sums for our health insurance and getting little from it while the insurance companies and their CEO's make off like bandits. The money that we pay now to insurance companies would help fuel the system. We need to eliminate the middle man who does nothing but increase costs and hold up payments. We have to change the insurance industry from being a "money making sector" to a service industry.  In addition, we have to convince or just compel those who believe that you have to earn or deserve healthcare ( hard to understand how a two year old can pay for his healthcare) that universal healthcare is a human right. There are so many people who can in one breath claim to care about their fellow citizens and think spending billions on an unprovoked,misguided war to protect everyone from "terrorists" is vital and good but will fight and scream over spending the same money to insure the health of the nation.This money would fuel the system.  A single payer healthcare system like Medicare would work but how can this be accomplished immediately?  Young physicians with nearly a hundred thousand dollars in school debts have to pay off loans. Many hospital systems are for profit. Anyone who has ever worked in the medical field knows how much is spent for the medical supplies from for profit medical equipmnt makers,etc.  Cutting waste is easy to say but what is waste?  On one page, no candidate can clearly state how we can guarantee universal healthcare, but the fact that all of the Demncrats are all talking about it means that changes have to occur. The people who are so opposed to any change in healthcare have to realize that they are only a chronic disease or a change in employment status away from being denied insurance. All of the prevention in the world can't stop atherosclerosis as you age and if you have the wrong DNA.  No one has all of the answers. What we will need is a group of people who know about healthcare and who are committed to the belief that unviversal healthcare is the right thing to do and can be achieved.  The fact that the Republican candidates deabte only about war and not about healthcare is reflection of their own  self-interest and lack of commitment to the people of the country. 

Expand Medicare to cover everyone. Bite the bullet and raise taxes to pay for it.

The American people are ready, but except for Kucinich, and increasingly, Edwards, the politicians aren't

Oh yes, Deans are first. Howard got well along the road to universal care in Vermont.

I noticed one blogger referring to Hillary and Obama as "liberal".

Both are certified establishment Democrats, which translates to conservative.

Hillary was a "Goldwater Girl" in 1964, and has been a Republican ever since.

Expand Medicare to cover everyone. Bite the bullet and raise taxes to pay for it.

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

Slash defense spending also..................one aircraft carrier will insure the entire population of Urbana, Illinois for the next 50 years.............................

good analysis pamela

4.

Michael Ellis
Thu, 08/23/07
9:29 am


Slash defense spending also..................one aircraft carrier will insure the entire population of Urbana, Illinois for the next 50 years.............................
------------

???
Nope..., not on Govermental (ANY) agenda.
That's the entire point of fear mongering for decades....

http://www.crooksandliars.com/

American military and political officials must, at the very least, have the foresight not to promote crusade rhetoric in the midst of an already religion-tinged war. Many of our enemies in the Mideast already believe that the world is locked in a contest between Christianity and Islam. Why are our military officials validating this ludicrous claim with their own fiery religious rhetoric?

It’s time to actively strip the so-called war on terror of its religious connotations, not add to them. Because religious wars are not just ugly, they are unwinnable. And despite what Operation Straight Up and its supporters in the Pentagon may think is taking place in Iraq, the Rapture is not a viable exit strategy.

Howard Dean is first BTW.

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

Now, a guy on MSNBC said the other day that milk prices were going ape shit because of the increased cost of corn used for ethanol?  is that true......please explain, thanks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

current higher milk prices are due to last summers heat wave

ethanol by-product feed is best utilized by dairy cows so that connection is absolutely false (hogs can't eat it so higher pork maybe)

but milk futures are sharply lower in a few months as the effect of last summers heat eases so if you think the MSNBC guy is right make your fortune buying milk futures on the CME

corn prices are down a dollar a bushel from this years highs now anyway

a bigger effect on food prices is the cost of transportation from high fuel prices which would be alleviated by more ethanol production

ethanol is the cure not the disease

Freedom's Watch--the new swiftboaters.

The flooding rains in Kansas during wheat harvest are pulling up corn prices as wheat is used as a feedlot ration for beef when plentiful

the main effect of massive ethanol would be healthier beef because the final carbs in corn removed by ethanol add marbling fat into the meat

ethanol by-product =leaner beef, less pork, more milk

nothing to fear, the oil companies are doing the "high food prices" fear mongering

we here at the blog are too media savy to fall for that trick

Why are our military officials validating this ludicrous claim with their own fiery religious rhetoric?

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

Simple huron..........what good is a miltiary if there aint no one to kill?  no wars? etc................

I guess its sorta like all thee health care workers going to med school.................if there arent any patients, what good are they?

Freedom's Watch--the new swiftboaters.

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

they will doom any Republican candidate that gets stuck by them

Coleman has to pray they don't run in Minnesota

every time the very word Iraq appears on TV their fortunes fall

75.

Phil Specht
Thu, 08/23/07
9:03 am

I can't believe the gift Ari Fleischer and W have given the Democrats the last few days nationalizing another election around Iraq and stay the course. The brain really has left the building....

Clinton appears to be trying to sucker Obama further right so as to cut him off from progressive support and it may work since she has the conservatives sewed up.
--------

Not sure if that's a "gift" Phil, only if "eventually" (as anything else indeed..., lol).

Agree, Reps sucking Demos further right "may work" (if not already working). Hill's "surge works" and 18% support for Congress is a good indication of that.

Those both Parties can't stop but pull/push each other into the grave they so fiercely digging....for themselves.

Americans won't forget to say farewell...to both..., lol.

Let's hear it from the defenders of the Health care insurance industry and big Pharma!

my sacred river is running muddy so I have to find a new fishing hole in a farm pond in a pasture somewhere(have one in mind) have a piece of cake on me today

Hillary was a "Goldwater Girl" in 1964, and has been a Republican ever since.

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

I'm not a big fan of Hillary, but such diggs into people's past are cheap shots, negative, and counter-productive.   I wish bloggers would quit that kind of shit because it stinks.

Agree, Reps sucking Demos further right "may work" (if not already working). Hill's "surge works" and 18% support for Congress is a good indication of that.

The only way the Democrats are going to salvage anything from their disastrous first 8 months in power, is to demonstrate some focus and discipline, and cut off funding for the war. Sadly, they seem to be going in the other direction which alienates even more progressives.

They have the power of the purse, and they need to use it if they're going to accomplish what the American people want.

Pelosi and Reid need to demonstrate some real leadership and enforce party discipline.

When was the last time that dozens of Republicans deserted their party on a crucial (or any) vote?

16. Charming!

Toll Rises Above 500 in Iraq Bombings

BAGHDAD, Aug. 21 — One week after a series of truck bombs hit a poor rural area near the Syrian border, the known casualty toll has soared to more than 500 dead and 1,500 wounded, according to the Iraqi Red Crescent Society, making it the bloodiest coordinated attack since the American-led invasion in 2003....

In the area of last week’s attack, the desert villages dominated by Yazidis — a Kurdish-speaking sect whose faith combines Islamic teachings with other ancient religions — struggled to cope. Residents and officials say a constant flow of burials has filled the streets amid the stench of death arising from mounds of beige brick

Tecken Kuli Saleem, 39, said she had stayed alive for 12 hours under the rubble, but emerged without her family.

“I was pregnant in my fourth month and lost my baby in the attack,” she said. “I can’t talk much. The criminals killed my family, and I don’t know where my children are, whether they’re dead or alive. They’re missing.”....

Iraqi officials said no suspects had been arrested. Sunni extremists, who have been warring with Kurds in the northern cities of Mosul and Kirkuk, are believed to be responsible for the attack.

Yazidis may have been targets because of their proximity to Syria’s porous border; for their beliefs (they worship an angel whose name is sometimes translated as Satan in the Koran); or as retribution for an episode in April, when some Yazidis stoned a young Yazidi woman to death for marrying a Sunni.

For now, the Iraqi and international effort remains focused on helping the grieving, the wounded and the destitute. American troops have helped distribute water and other emergency supplies.

Dr. Hakki of the Red Crescent Society said at least three trucks full of aid had come from the Turkish government....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/22/world/middleeast/22iraq.html?th&emc=th

Huron John
Thu, 08/23/07
10:05 am

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

Senator Byrd, the most staunchly opposed Senator to the Iraq invasion, was a KKK grand wizard once.

HILLARY THE LIBERAL

http://www.counterpunch.org/frank07252007.html

Richard Holbrooke likes Hillary Clinton. In fact he may well be asked to serve as Secretary of State if she is to win the presidential campaign next year. Holbrooke, a Democratic adaptation of Henry Kissinger, loves her approach to foreign policy.

Richard Holbrooke likes Hillary Clinton. In fact he may well be asked to serve as Secretary of State if she is to win the presidential campaign next year. Holbrooke, a Democratic adaptation of Henry Kissinger, loves her approach to foreign policy.

"She is probably more assertive and willing to use force than her husband," says Holbrooke, a former adviser to Bill Clinton. "Hillary Clinton is a classic national-security Democrat. She is better at framing national-security issues for the current era than her husband was at a common point in his career."

Holbrooke is an example of just how scary a Clinton administration would be.

11.

That's why we pay them as a governmental obligation.  Any service whose success is measured in not being needed is what governments are oganized to deliver.  Paying the military to be on stand-by is just like paying the fire department or the ambulance service.

Medical services are similar.  They deal with events, incursions and invasions that we don't want.

The problem we have now is that too large of a percentage of our productive capacity is committed to hardware that's marginally effective.  Why are we fighting people in sandals with helicopter gunships and tanks?  Why are our troops riding around in noise machines that can be heard a mile away and covering their ears with headphones playing music?  It's a wonder that more of them aren't blown up.

17.

republicans are reared up to be obedient.  of course, they all vote together.  democrats vote on the basis of what they think is the right thing to do.

If there's only one law--to be obedient--then it's easy to always be right.  Even when you're doing wrong.

To be or to do.  That's the defining question.

Do you want to be right or do you want to do right?   

THE CLINTONISTAS INFLUENCE

http://www.counterpunch.org/cockburn11082006.html

Wherever they were given the opportunity, voters across the country went strongly for antiwar candidates. True, the national Democrats, led by Rahm Emanuel of the Democratic Congressional Campaign, had tried pretty successfully to keep such peaceniks off the ballot, but in a few key races the antiwar progressives romped home. The Democrats won, despite Emanuel. If the Clintonites weren't still controlling most of the campaign money, and more openly antiwar populists had been running, the Democrats today would probably be looking at a wider majority in the House and one committed solidly to getting out of Iraq.

The furthest the national Democrats have wanted to go on the war has been to attack its management. This is what Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden all endorse.

democrats vote on the basis of what they think is the right thing to do.

Democrats, by and large, vote on the basis of what they think will get them re-elected. Doing the right thing is not a strong priority for most of them!

25.  That's a bit of a slanderous attitude.  Unless you're addicted to power, holding a public office is not all that great.

Getting elected is a lot like sex--a moment of euphoria. 

It's hard to know what the right thing to do is.  People have many different interests and some of them are bound to conflict.  If you can get people to take turns, it's a little easier.

If you just follow orders, it's easiest of all.  And the people chosen to give the orders can count on the gratitude of all those followers who don't have to give the orders themselves.

How many times have you heard, "I wouldn't want to be in his shoes for anything?" 

========================== 

Yea, right Professor John, what is scarry is that you criticize some of the greatest  Democrats.  B4 Clinton got involved in Bosnia 200,000 to 300,000 civilians were ethnically cleansed. How many more had we not taken the initiative.  Shut up, you asshole.

By Richard Holbrooke

If you wonder whether the 1995 American intervention in Bosnia was the right decision, go to a really horrible place, one whose name has become synonymous with genocide and Western failure. Go to Srebrenica....

Nor has Bosnia become two separate states, as many critics of the Dayton Peace Agreement predicted. Although many (including in the Pentagon) predicted a Korea-like demilitarized zone between Serbs and Muslims, there are no barriers between the regions, and there are growing economic and political ties between ethnic groups. More than a million refugees have returned to their homes, many, like those in Srebrenica, to areas where they are in a minority....

From 1991 to 1995 the United States had been reluctant to act in Bosnia. But after Srebrenica, President Bill Clinton knew that although the American people would not like it, the United States could no longer avoid involvement there. Thus began the diplomatic and military policy that led to the Dayton accords, to peace in Bosnia and, four years later, to the liberation of the Albanian people in Kosovo from Slobodan Milosevic's oppression....

.... In a poll at the time, Clinton's decision was supported by only 36 percent of the American public, who expected heavy U.S. casualties. As it turned out, that expectation was misplaced; in the 10 years since Dayton, no -- repeat, no -- American or NATO military personnel have been killed by hostile action in Bosnia. It is a mark of the respect in which NATO -- that is, the United States -- is held.

Richard Holbrooke was the chief architect of the Dayton Peace Agreement. He writes a monthly column for The Post.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/18/AR2005071801329.html

28.

Monica Smith
Thu, 08/23/07
10:35 am


It's hard to know what the right thing to do is.
---------

Bush&Co. seems know...and that's about it.
All of the rest seems "bound to conflict"..., lol.

If people don't know "what the right thing to do is", they can never win.

15.

seashell :-)
Thu, 08/23/07
12:48 am

Mark Fiore http://markfiore.constantprogress.com/ne...
----------------------------------------------

We need Reed!

She's amazing! http://www.myspace.com/gildareed

Gilda Reed, Ph.D. Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, LA District 01: http://www.dfalink.com/campaign.php?id=2...

Why did the author of this only mention the front runners when describing healthcare plans other that Dennis's single-payer plan?  Are bloggers becoming resigned to the concept that only Edwards, Obama and Clinton are viable winners?  As a Dodd supporter I am angry that his plan with appropriate links was not included.  If there is to be a healthy debate on the issue of health care all voices on the Democratic side must be heard.

And for the record I am impressed with Dodd's plan but not enamored with it.  I do support the universal, single-payer idea.

Also, John while I do not like either Obama or Clinton at this time (and will never vote for a Clinton presidency for various reasons) it is fairly accurate to call both of them liberals.  Corportae leaning for sure, but they are ceratinly not conservatives, either traditional or of the neo- type.  Liberals have pretty much always had a healthy support of corporations as a way of stimulating the economy and benefitting society on the whole.

Once I was young and impulsive
I wore every conceivable pin
Even went to the socialist meetings
Learned all the old union hymns
But I've grown older and wiser
And that's why I'm turning you in
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

Phil Ochs, "Love Me, I'm a Liberal"

Many Eligible for Child Health Plan Have No Idea

...Late last week, the Bush administration published new standards intended to prevent states from expanding eligibility for the program to cover children from middle-class families. But a more fundamental debate over the program has been raging in Washington for months: how to find and enroll the 1.7 million low-income children who are already eligible but have not signed up. ..

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/22/health/policy/22insure.html?th&emc=th

Chris Dodd's Plan

* Ensures all Americans will have quality, affordable health coverage during Chris Dodd's first term.

* The Dodd plan will create a health insurance marketplace called Universal HealthMart that is based on, and parallel to, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP).

* Individuals and businesses will contribute to Universal HealthMart based on their ability to pay.

* Premiums will be affordable based on leveraged negotiating power, spreading risk, reduced administrative costs, and incentives for technology and preventive care.

* Coverage will be portable -- insurance purchased in Universal HealthMart will follow individuals.

Not as good as Kucinich's single payer Medicare, but not too bad.

Edwards is in the best shape to win Iowa which is why other candidates are ready to change party rules to keep that from happening.

Everybody with a preferred candidate sees the same conspiracy against him by Hillary -- as if she doesn't plan on winning Iowa herself.

If there's anything people on this blog should know it's how ephemeral summertime polls are, especially in IA where people fancy themselves as shepherds of the nation's destiny. On caucus night Hillary's well financed and trained machine will descend on the caucus places and herd those who worship the false idols of power and "electability" into her corner. To lure in the even less sophisticated, they'll show up with pizza.

Caucusing so sucks. 

Paz Peace
Thu, 08/23/07
11:06 am

Reply to this
 Liberals have pretty much always had a healthy support of corporations as a way of stimulating the economy and benefitting society on the whole.

========

Corporations are not intrinsically bad, but have become so under a system that tells them they can make their own rules, like telling football players they don't need a referree.  It will turn the game into a brawl.

The contempt for the moderates ("liberals" in the 60s-70s) was a foolish mistake of activist Leftism that drove moderate voters into the arms of "sensible" Reagan Republicanism, which turned out to be a trojan horse for the Neocons.  Let's not make the same mistake today.

You understand that all postings and communications you make through the Service are your sole responsibility. This means that you, and not DFA, are entirely responsible for all content you post. You agree to not use the Service to:

1. upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any Content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortuous, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, invasive of another's privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable;

Michigan has caucuses Sitka, and they are the ones currently jumping the calendar.

Chris Dodd's Plan
....Not as good as Kucinich's single payer Medicare, but not too bad.

=========

there's a delicate balance between what is "ideal" and what is politically feasible to gain the concensus of a divided country.

Dodd and Edwards have very similar health care proposals, Obama's is similar but not universal.

Democrats, by and large, vote on the basis of what they think will get them re-elected. Doing the right thing is not a strong priority for most of them!

25. That's a bit of a slanderous attitude.  Unless you're addicted to power, holding a public office is not all that great.

Slander is "a false spoken statement about someone which damages their reputation."

Libel is "a piece of writing which contains bad and false things about a person."

1. John's statement was written and would therefor be libelous.
2. It was not false. 

Phil Specht
Thu, 08/23/07
11:22 am

Reply to this

===========

nothing can be more obscene than the way John slanders Democrats.  IMO he's either a troll or a nutcake egomaniac.

Michigan has caucuses Sitka, and they are the ones currently jumping the calendar

Caucusing still sucks, but I say go for it. Anything which reduces the false influence of IA is good.

Iowa has exactly the influence sheeple allow it to have; the rules allow fair representation in the selection of the nominating convention delegates in all fifty states and Iowans only elect 61 of the 4000 delegates  

nothing can be more obscene than the way John slanders Democrats.

It's amusing to see FRED accuse another of obscenity. I can't say John hasn't done it as well at some point, but speaking his opinions of corrupt politicians certainly isn't obscene. And as I pointed out above, it isn't slander if it's written and true.

Iowa has exactly the influence sheeple allow it to have

Sheeple led by sheeple is bad indeed. 

Iowans only elect 61 of the 4000 delegates.

All the less reason for them to be keepers of the kingdom's keys.

If the nominee will be decided in six weeks shouldn't the calendar start in March.

what if the big states all moved their primaries back

Dodd and Edwards have very similar health care proposals, Obama's is similar but not universal.

What all Democratic health insurance proposals have in common is a lack of will on the part of DCDems to ever enact them. 4 Democratic presidents with Democratic Congresses have failed to enact the promise of universal coverage that has been in the party's platform since 1948.

So pardon me if I'll only believe it when I see it. 

what if the big states all moved their primaries back

A lot more people would get to have a meaningful say.

I blog at Universal Health.  This is a resource for health policy, healthcare quality and patient safety, patient advocacy and professional nursing issues.  I would greatly appreciate progressives reading, commenting, participating, linking and growing progressive health blog readership.  The blog is open to group blogging.  There is also a web ring for Progressive Healthcare Bloggers, and I hope that you will read, join, display the banner and promote progressives who are writing about and advocating for health care for all of us. 

We need all progressives to learn more about healthcare so you can help us help you!  Thanks! 

So pardon me if I'll only believe it when I see it

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

Primary challenges are in order. To be fair though a very good expansion of childrens health coverage faces a veto, and if you can't cover children it is hard to imagine going further without a Democratic President and 60+ Democrats in the Senate.

Annie Kreider
Thu, 08/23/07
11:53 am

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

Thank you so much for sharing that site. I always like to bookmark sites with rich links and there is a wealth of information a click or two away.

if you can't cover children it is hard to imagine going further without a Democratic President and 60+ Democrats in the Senate.

The GOP didn't filibuster Clinton's plan in 1994. They didn't even have to since DCDems failed to get it to the floor. 

I would give them a little credit for trying if they had ever even forced Repubs to go on record by making them to filibuster or veto health insurance for every American.

Dean relates in his book how he and some other governors went to DC to ask Dem Congressional leaders for their help in enacting state health insurance coverage, since the federal government couldn't get it done. They were turned down cold, according to Dean, because health insurance is their issue to exploit and they don't want governors taking it from them. 

Dean doesn't say this, but by not enacting health insurance DCDems also keep alive their ability to promise it in every election. 

Just a reminder that August 28 is the day of the "iraq summer" vigils.

I am going to one in Virginia Beach.

where is your vigil going to be?

I will be with the group headed by Andres who visited our blog a while ago.

http://www.noiraqescalation.org/iraq_summer?id=0016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 08/09/2007

Norfolk, VA – The Virginia ‘Iraq Summer’ Campaign questioned Rep. Thelma Drake’s cursory, ‘upbeat’ assessment of the President’s Iraq war ‘surge’ plan following her brief, heavily protected 6-day visit to the Middle East this week in the face of the reality that 680 more U.S. soldiers have been killed and over 5,000 more have been wounded in Iraq since President Bush announced his ‘surge’ plan in January.  ‘Iraq Summer’ noted similar claims that ‘we’re making good progress’ from the Bush administration virtually every week since ‘major combat operations’ were declared over on May 1, 2003, as well as the administration’s July 12th report to Congress revealing that of the eighteen ‘benchmarks’ for success in Iraq that the President outlined in January – zero have been met.

Click Here if “We’re making progress” in Iraq Seems Strangely Familiar

“With the war in Iraq well into its 5th year, how many times has the President and his allies in Congress told the American people ‘we’re making progress' and pleaded for more time,” said Andres Moreno, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and field organizer for the Virginia “Iraq Summer” Campaign.  “It’s ridiculous that Congresswoman Drake would return from a heavily protected, dog and pony public relations offensive on behalf of the Bush administration and expect her constituents to believe that the violent civil war in Iraq has suddenly been turned around.  The numbers tell a different story: since President Bush announced his ‘surge’ plan in January, 680 more U.S. soldiers have been killed and over 5,000 have been wounded in Iraq – there’s been 331 multiple fatality bombings.  Is this what you call progress, Rep. Drake?  With more than 70 percent of the American public calling for the withdrawal of nearly all U.S. troops from Iraq, Thelma Drake is one of the few left still pleading to give the President’s costly, irresponsible and failed Iraq polices another chance.”
 
“It's time for Congresswoman Drake to start representing her constituents and vote for a firm timetable for getting U.S. troops out of harm’s way.  Rep. Drake, why should our fighting men and women continue making incredible sacrifices refereeing this violent civil war when the Iraqis would rather go on vacation for a month than sit down and resolve their differences?  The time for second or third or fourth chances is over – it’s time for Thelma Drake to vote to bring our troops home safely, responsibly, and now.”

“Iraq Summer” is a nationwide, 10-week long campaign with nearly 100 organizers in 15 states and 40 congressional districts to turn up the heat on Republican members of Congress, including Senator Warner, Reps. Frank Wolf and Tom Davis, who have opposed setting a timeline to bring a safe and responsible end to the war in Iraq.  The effort will culminate with a national “Take a Stand” day on August 28th, when Members of Congress will have the opportunity to explain their stance on the war to their constituents in a town hall setting.

CDA, AAEI, and Iraq Summer is a coalition including a wide range of political and nonprofit organizations that are working against our current policy in Iraq.  Coalition organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRC have not endorsed or sponsored this statement or the advertisement referred to therein, and no funds provided were used in producing or distributing this statement or the advertisement.

sorry the utube link on the blog is not working.

Delusional or Brainwashed?: Thelma Drake Spends 6 Days in Iraq, Pronounces It Good

Webb called going to Iraq the "pony ride" and some politicians seem to enjoy it a lot. 

webb called it a "horse and pony show" and that has stuck to a lot of conversations.

thelma is a wack job.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/07/12/were-making-progress/

HEY GUYS WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

I paid about $150 for a $67 passport renewal this morning. $67 for the renewal, $60 for the expediting, about $30 for express mail back and forth. This is supposed to get me my passport in three weeks. We shall see. (I forgot -- $16 for the picture).

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/pro...

what if the big states all moved their primaries back

A lot more people would get to have a meaningful say, if they move them forward, that is.

there's a delicate balance between what is "ideal" and what is politically feasible to gain the concensus of a divided country.

With DCDems, "nothing" is what's been feasible since the 60's. 

JUst a program note for those who like Keith Olbermann. He is going to be on live Sunday at 6pm(central) on NBC. Just before the big Sunday night football game. He is going to do his show "Countdown". They are giving him this time because his show has increased in ratings by 88% since a year ago. Now averages over 700,000 viewers per show. Top rated show for MSNBC. I understand he will be doing some sports for NBC,also, periodically.  

They are giving him this time because his show has increased in ratings by 88% since a year ago. Now averages over 700,000 viewers per show.

You'd think CNN would smell the money and realize that truth sells better than fiction.

65.

thanks jao, Do youknow if  the Sunday night thing for Keith going to be on a regular basis?

I just wish Keith would be on his own regular show every night instead of these silly temps they "replace" him with. Always difficult to replace someone but some do it much better than others.

I just wish Keith would be on his own regular show every night instead of these silly temps they "replace" him with.

His new deal with NBC seems to include a lot more days off. Good for him. 

I've noticed that Olbermann gets MSNBC's liberal women anchors to fill in for him. Good for him again.

DEMOCRATS PLAY TO LOSE

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/082307B.shtml

 Many national Democrats saw last year's election as a political turning point. They cheered the voters' repudiation of a Republican one-party state; they hailed Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's ouster the next day; and they were sure that resurgent GOP "realists" would help wind down the Iraq War.

Then, the Democratic leaders stumbled and crumbled in the face of a president determined to escalate the war in Iraq, expand his "war on terror" surveillance powers, and ratchet up pressure for a possible new war with Iran.

    The hard fact that the national Democrats missed was that the political dynamics of Washington had not changed very much. Plus, their wishful thinking in November 2006 and their irresolute actions throughout 2007 alienated millions of Americans who had hoped a Democratic majority in Congress might make a difference.

    Today, the U.S. capital is in the midst of a bizarre replay of 2002 when Democrats tried to assuage Bush by acceding to his demands and major mainstream news outlets joined with the powerful right-wing media in a lock-step march toward war.

    For instance, the Washington Post's neoconservative editorial-page editors are beating the drums for war with Iran, much as they did five years ago when they bought into Bush's bogus WMD claims in the prelude to war with Iraq.

On the political front, the leading Democratic presidential candidates have all staked out anti-Iraq War positions, but some - along with a growing list of congressional Democrats - have begun to equivocate in the face of the new pro-war propaganda.

    For instance, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, who voted to give Bush war authorization in 2002, is inserting new rhetoric into her speeches praising U.S. military progress under Bush's "surge" strategy.

 Other Democrats, who spent part of their August recess taking guided tours of Iraq, also have come back hailing military progress.

    Sen. Carl Levin, D-Michigan, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, not only cited supposed battlefield gains but offered Bush a ready alternative if he wants to guarantee war funding through 2008. Levin recommended the ouster of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, an idea that Bush didn't discourage when asked about it.

Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-California, expressed a readiness to be more flexible on troop withdrawal timelines after being shown the supposed progress in Anbar province and other areas of Iraq.

    "We should sit down with Republicans, see what would be acceptable to them to end the war and present it to the president, start negotiating from the beginning," McNerney said in an interview. [Washington Post, Aug. 22, 2007.

If national Democrats think that their feckless behavior on war in the Middle East and their timidity in defending the Constitution represent the pathway to victory in 2008, they may find themselves in for a very rude awakening.

nothing can be more obscene than the way John slanders Democrats.

It's amusing to see FRED accuse another of obscenity. I can't say John hasn't done it as well at some point, but speaking his opinions of corrupt politicians certainly isn't obscene. And as I pointed out above, it isn't slander if it's written and true

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

I know you are not one of my fans, Sitka, and like John you tend to be more critical of Democratic Party Statespeople, however the "obscenity" of John Huron, to which I refer, is describes the extreme to which he goes (and occassionally you go, as well) with that criticism.

At which point, these statements of his (and occassionally yours) crosses a line, and becomes "trashing" or "demonizing" our altruistic Democratic leaders, rather than contributing constructive, well-intended criticism of them that would be politically feasible in the real world. 

To me such statements are obscene in the context of this blog, much more obscene IMO than  the vernacular word for the end of a digestive system, or the excrement that comes out of it - to which I compare John and his statements (and sometimes you and yours.)

So amuse yourself, but lay off our party - putting a label on yourself (liberal, progressive, Left Wing,etc.) doesn't give you or anyone else a license to trash our party members to that extent.

It's so fantastic that Bush Republicans are spending $15 million talking about Iraq on television sets in battleground states and districts all over the country. The last thing endangered Republicans need is Bush "pressuring" them with millions of dollars on the very issue that could very well cost them their seats.

VoteVets plans to air versions of this ad in ten states and congressional districts in the coming weeks.

Race tracker wiki: ME-Sen

• Permalink ::
• Discuss (16 comments)

want to lose your lunch???

for Fred    User Conduct

You understand that all postings and communications you make through the Service are your sole responsibility. This means that you, and not DFA, are entirely responsible for all content you post. You agree to not use the Service to:

1. upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any Content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortuous, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, invasive of another's privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable;

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

Phil, the above bolded words are what I think of Huron John's statements.  It is about time you mention that.  You allow him to come here and say things that would be considered "ruthless trolling" if John identified himself as a Republican and/or Neocon.  His attacks being perceived from the Left are even more damaging to our party and morale than if perceived from the Rght.

So amuse yourself, but lay off our party - putting a label on yourself (liberal, progressive, Left Wing,etc.) doesn't give you or anyone else a license to trash our party members to that extent.

I certainly won't lay off Democrats or the Democratic Party, so long as they continue to give Bush what he wants, and enable his trashing of the constitution.

The way they gave in to Pentagon brainwashing on the recent dog-and-pony tours of Iraq sickens me and should sicken anyone who loves freedom and democracy.

 And Fred, you have no right to tell me or anyone else to lay off "your party".

When "your party" grows a spine and does the right thing regarding Iraq, the constitution, health care, and a myriad of other issues, they may regain some of the respect and support they have lost owing to their cowardly, feckless behavior.

I know you are not one of my fans, Sitka

FRED has any fans at all? Will they please step forward and be counted?

To me such statements are obscene in the context of this blog, much more obscene IMO than  the vernacular word for the end of a digestive system, or the excrement that comes out of it - to which I compare John and his statements (and sometimes you and yours.)

So when you tell people to eat excrement it's OK, but when others state political opinions shared by many or most on this blog it's obscene?

So amuse yourself, but lay off our party 

I would never belong to a party that has FRED as a member. But I'm guessing that more here consider themselves to be independent than Democrat.

putting a label on yourself (liberal, progressive, Left Wing,etc.) doesn't give you or anyone else a license to trash our party members to that extent.

Those are labels FRED tosses around. As for license, BFA determines what can be said on this blog, not FRED.

I know you are not one of my fans, Sitka

FRED has any fans at all? Will they please step forward and be counted?

===========

You win the popularity contest - in the context of clowning - whoever supports your extreme statement are just as bad, and are out-of-place here.  You and a few others don't know the limits of criticism and when it becomes ruthless disregard for common respect of good people.

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

Sitka or Phil doens't determine that either.  While I expect Phil admonishing, and reading the riot act, if something is shit, I'll call it shit - if it someone proves to be an asshole, I'll call them that.

  I don't use these words lightly, but use them when deservedly and reservedly, IMO - that's for what I pay my DFA contribution, the right of free and appropriate speech,  in defense of our party on this blog - and against those who come here trashing it without limits.

whoever supports your extreme statement are just as bad, and are out-of-place here.

It must bug FRED that BFA doesn't act on his worthless opinions about who belongs here. 

But then, if they did, FRED would be the only blogger left here. Has it ever occured to him to start one of his own where he can be lord paramount and control its content, or be its sole contributor?

New Thread ;-)

if something is shit, I'll call it shit - if it someone proves to be an asshole, I'll call them that.

BFA obviously doesn't consider such speech to be obscene since they've allowed it so many times. Nor do they consider criticism of rotten Democrats to be so, apparently.

Lol.... Gov. Schweitzer evidently has a flair for enjoying some of the amusing aspects of politics. He said one of the bumper stickers he likes is "Viva, Tancredo".

He also cited a comment by Joe Biden when he cut swomeone off and said wait a minute here, nobody could compare me to Dennis Kucinich!

Well, Joe got that one right. lol

I would never belong to a party that has FRED as a member. But I'm guessing that more here consider themselves to be independent than Democrat

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

Your "guessing" is another exercise in ego-centric consciousness.  Next time DFA calls you for a contribution, ask them if BFA is an non-partisan or Democrat

Maybe it is the pernicious intent of you and others to hijack this blog into being a de facto non-Democratic Party blog?

FRED should take some valium. He's always less creepy and authoritarian after he does.

Paz Peace, what about these candidates positions on other things, besides being Corporatist? What about being pro War, pro Corporations and anti Environment? Does that earn them Repub lite status, because these policies are not that of Democrats and surely aren't liberal.

nothing can be more obscene than the way John slanders Democrats.  IMO he's either a troll or a nutcake egomaniac.________________________________________________________

Fred,

Huron is not alone.........many of us are discusted with the majority of democrats.............why do you thik the new congress gets such low approval ratings..................

FRED should take some valium.

==========

Try sticking some up your ass

BFA obviously doesn't consider such speech to be obscene since they've allowed it so many times

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

I don't think it is that common.  Usually when it is provoked or justified, I believe it is tolerated.  If it were used consisitently in vain, I think they would protest.

nothing can be more obscene than the way John slanders Democrats.  IMO he's either a troll or a nutcake egomaniac.________________________________________________________

Fred,

Huron is not alone.........many of us ....

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

"Many of us" are a handful of vocal, abusive hotheads, who can talk but don't care to imagine walking in the shoes of those they severely criticize

"Many of Us" are  long on criticism, but short on constructive suggestions. 

these few "Many of Us" do not represent the consensus of the thousands of registered BFA bloggers, and certainly don't represent the mainstream Democratic party - they are a handful of malcontents that have allusions of grandeur about changing the course of history and could not win a dog show, if they entered.

why do you thik the new congress gets such low approval ratings..................

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

Those approval ratings are perrenial, and your using them to trash our party is evidence of your ignorance and reckless contempt for Our Party.

Looks to me like everyone's been chased away of SOMEBODY FORGOT TO SAY THERE WAS A NEW THREAD.  Which is it?

In fact, Edwards does explain how he will pay for his plan, by rolling back the Bush tax cuts to wealthy families and the savings that will result from various efficencies.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/23/edwards-keeps-trying-out-change-theme/

HR 676 , the single payer plan that Conyers introduced 4 years ago and that Kucinich has endorsed as his plan for health care, unfortunetly has not gathered enough support to make it viable. The Edwards plan is the only viable plan, form the presidential candidates, for universal coverage, with built in mechanisms that could evolve into a single payer, universal health care plan.

Canada's health plan evolved from one province to the next. We need to start evolving as soon as possible. The "insured" of today will soon become the noninsured of tomorrow. Insurance companies will insure you if you are healthy, do not need any real healthcare, and promise to not get a chronic illness. If you do get a chronic illness, you have to die fast. Americans can do better. Unfortunately, we have been misled by groups like the AMA to believe that universal healthcare is not good since it drives out innovation and choice. We all need to make sure that the candidate that we select knows what he/she is talking about. Hillary's plan to correct the problems by increasing preventive medicine and making sure doctors stay current on new technology is empty talk.  Maybe if insurance companies were not corporations, Hillary could see that they were the problem. She has DLC eyes.