Out of Iraq NOW is first (along with Howard)

DFA, stop coming out for something and asking for money.

enough already.

NOT ALL COWARDS ARE DEMOCRATS!

http://www.buzzflash.net/story.php?id=25398

"MODERATES"

http://www.workingassetsblog.com/2007/09/moderation_extremist_refusal_t.html

Roll Call's headline today blares "House Centrists Seek a Little Moderation on Iraq." The story is about "a small band of moderate House Democrats and Republicans is hammering out a bipartisan position on the Iraq War."

This story has been written over and over and over again on every single issue. It is as if reporters have a template set up in Microsoft Word, where they just fire up the story and change the names and issues. You know how it goes. It starts out with a declaration that the Brave And Serious "Moderates" are going to "put partisanship aside" and rescue America. Typically, the plan to rescue America is at best a non-binding gesture, and more likely one that runs roughshod over what most Americans actually want - but that kind of context isn't reported in the template

As we can see so clearly here, the term "moderate" in Washington when it comes to the war means guaranteeing that whatever bill takes center stage in the war debate - well, that "none of this leads to the end of the war." It means making sure that we "depart from the polarized debate over whether and when to withdraw troops" - you know, the debate over the actual issue, the debate that the latest Gallup Poll shows almost two-thirds of America wants Congress to have - and wants Congress to conclude by passing binding timetables to end the war.

And that's what it is. When it comes to the war, the so-called "moderates" have taken on the qualities of the smiling Darth Vader-ish poster boy for extremism - Dick Cheney. Remember, it was our Vice President who told ABC News last year the Iraq War "may not be popular with the public - it doesn't matter." I guess he's a "moderate" now too.

 Just who does this group consider to be The Left?   I would say anyone who opposes them.  And is neoconservatism really being revived in the other party?   And what else explains why the Democrats are more fearful of the GOPs base than of our base.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1510

"“Don't look now, but neoconservatism is making a comeback—and not among the Republicans who have made it famous, but in the Democratic Party,” declared writer Jacob Heilbrunn in a May 28, 2006 op-ed for the Los Angeles Times. In “Neocons in the Democratic Party.”

..."Concluded Heilbrunn: “It is amusing to see that at the very moment when hawkish realists are trying to extirpate the neocon credo in the Republican Party, it's being revived in the Democratic Party that first brought it to life.”

PPI, founded in 1989 by Marshall and Al From, is a project of the Third Way Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. As the think tank for the Democratic Leadership Council, the PPI says its mission “arises from the belief that America is ill-served by an obsolete left-right debate that is out of step with the powerful forces reshaping our society and economy.”

Democratic "moderates" are just Bush lawn Jockeys

I nominate Steny Hoyer, Rahm Emanuel, and most Democratic Presidential candidates.. Go Dennis!

O yes, and Chuck Scumer and Harry Reid

66. Tom Bearse

New York Times has ended TimesSelect

============
Great. I was hoping they would. Friedman should PAY US to read his column. The only one I really missed was Paul Krugman.

John wrote "Go Dennis!"

I don't know how you can put so much stock in this willing stooge of the Democratic Party.  I mean, you must have read about Kucinich's capitulation in the Socialist Alternative, where it was reported that

"Kucinich promised rank-and-file Democrats, many disillusioned with the pro-war/pro-corporate policies of the party, he would take his message to the Convention floor. However, Kucinich broke his promise and instead threw his support behind the pro-war and corporate-backed Kerry, with absolutely no mention of Iraq in his speech.

"Rather than 'changing the direction of the Democratic Party,' Kucinich’s campaign served to funnel left-wing antiwar activists into Kerry’s campaign. Kucinich’s endorsement and campaigning for Kerry provided a radical face that obscured the right-wing, big–business, and pro-war character of the Kerry campaign. Using his left-wing credentials, Kucinich played an important role for Kerry by campaigning against activists breaking from the Democrats and supporting the insurgent antiwar and pro-worker independent campaign for president of Ralph Nader."

10. That's old news Tom.

John wrote "That's old news Tom."

How does that fact redeem his cave-in to lap dog Democrats?  No one else has gotten special treatment around here. 

You can dredge up unpopular positions from the past of any Democratic Candidate.

Kucinich is now, and has been concistently for:

• Immediate withdrawal from Iraq
• Replacing US troops with UN peacekeepers (primarily from Muslim countries)
• Downsizing our armed forces, and closing foreign bases
• Greatly shrinking the military budget
• Establishing a Department of Peace
• Universal, single-payer health care
• Fair, progressive, and adequate taxation
• A ME policy that recognizes the rights of Palestinians

None of the other candidates (except Gravel) even come close to articulating these issues which exemplify the "Democratic Wing" of the Democratic Party

As you may have already heard, this week I plan to once again introduce binding legislation that uses Congress's 'power of the purse' to safely redeploy our troops out of Iraq.  Last May, with your help, we saw a majority of Democratic senators support a similar proposal.  Unfortunately, too many of my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, continue to be recklessly timid when it comes to blocking funding for one of the biggest mistakes in the history of our country.

But after yet another week of the same old rhetoric from the White House, Republicans in Congress, and through the testimony of both General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker, my hope is that more of my colleagues will finally join the millions of Americans that agree - now is the time to safely redeploy our brave men and women in uniform out of Iraq.

Tell my colleagues to support Feingold-Reid

To be clear, my proposal blocks further funding for the war AFTER the troops have been safely redeployed.  That emphasis is an important one to make, as some Republicans, and way too many Democrats, have time and again incorrectly made the false claim that they couldn’t support my ‘power of the purse’ proposal because 'we can't cut funding for our troops.'  Any elected official or talking head who puts forth that dishonest argument when discussing my proposal, knows the truth and is simply too timid to take on misleading attacks by the White House.  The Feingold-Reid legislation sets a timetable to redeploy our troops by June 30, 2008 - at which time further funding for the war would be terminated.

While many in Congress have acknowledged that the President has the wrong strategy when it comes to Iraq, Congress has thus far failed to do anything about it.  With our military at the breaking point and our ability to go after those who attacked us on 9/11 hampered by an Iraq-centric foreign policy, the time has come for Congress to use its constitutional power - the 'power of the purse' - to end this misguided war in Iraq.  I will need your help to take another step in our fight.  Please contact your senators today and tell them to support the Feingold-Reid legislation.

Sincerely,

Russ Feingold
United States Senator
Honorary Chair, Progressive Patriots Fund

Betrayus John Warner is betraying Webb, switched his vote at the last minute. Something to do with something the Pentagon told him. I think we should swamp his office with calls NOW.!!!!!!!!!!!
!!wEBBS BILL IS DOOMED

lINDA b....

Meet the 2007 England Womens World Cup Soccer team that takes on the Colonies(USA) this Saturday......................GO 3 LIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! or Lionesses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swZ82iUiAEI&mode=related&search=

England National Team for FIFA World Cup China 2007
1 Rachel Brown (GK) - Everton
2 Alex Scott -Arsenal
3 Casey Stoney -Chelsea
4 Katie Chapman -Arsenal
5 Faye White -Arsenal
6 Mary Phillip -Arsenal
7 Karen Carney -Arsenal
8 Fara Williams -Everton
9 Eniola Aluko -Chelsea
10 Kelly Smith -Arsenal
11 Rachel Yankey -Arsenal
12 Anita Asante -Arsenal
13 Siobhan Chamberlain (GK) -Chelsea
14 Rachel Unitt -Everton
15 Sue Smith Leeds -United
16 Jill Scott -Everton
17 Jody Handley -Everton
18 Lianne Sanderson -Arsenal
19 Vicky Exley -Doncaster Rovers Belles
20 Lindsay Johnson -Everton
21 Carly Telford (GK) -Leeds United

John wrote: "You can dredge up unpopular positions from the past of any Democratic Candidate."

That's beyond obvious, but I'm trying to maintain this as an equal opportunity site for bashing Democrats.  Not because I support it, but because it's fair.  A whole assortment of lawmakers who are otherwise reasonably regarded as liberal have come in for criticism here, almost exclusively because of Iraq funding as a litmus test. 

I say this as a frequent critic of John Edwards, who has clearly turned from support for the invasion and who, I sense, would make a better than average president, regardless of any character misgivings I have for him. 

gOOD...wARNER'S LINE IS BUSY, LET's keep it that way. I wonder how long these idiots are goig to go on supporting this demented fool they call their leader

Roll Call's headline today blares "House Centrists Seek a Little Moderation on Iraq." The story is about "a small band of moderate House Democrats and Republicans is hammering out a bipartisan position on the Iraq War."

The essence of that position is: "Give Bush what he demands while trying to make it appear as if we really have no choice but to." 

Warner's line still busy. Hope I get through soon because I keep thinking of worse things to say to him.

"You can dredge up unpopular positions from the past of any Democratic Candidate."

The importance of it depends on the position. Those who voted with Bush on Iraq are damned. And they also voted with him on other odius aspects of his agenda which, while not as desperately important, nevertheless are telling of where they really stand once the rhetoric and promises are forgotten.

Sitka wrote "Those who voted with Bush on Iraq are damned."

What, no redemption theory?  What happened to the power of atonement?

What, no redemption theory?  What happened to the power of atonement?

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

Its the WAY they are atoning themselves...........sorry....uh uh............dont buy it........besides, this aint some little white lie or asking for a personal favour ina mens room.............we are talking alot of lives lost, credibility lost, and our own self doubt as a people.......................

None of those turkeys should even be running.............its cheapening democracy IMO.

IMO Americans, besides Africans as a whole, could learn from Sierra Leoneans:

http://allafrica.com/stories/200709190809.html

Sierra Leone: Lessons From S/Leone

Daily Champion (Lagos)

ANALYSIS

19 September 2007
Posted to the web 19 September 2007

Simon Ibe
Lagos

Sierra Leone has entered the history books as one more country where an opposition candidate has brushed aside the ruling party's flagbearer to win the presidency.

This followed the swearing in yesterday of 54-year-old Ernest Bai Koroma, leader of the opposition, All Peoples Congress (APC) as the new president of Sierra-Leone.

...

This, indeed, is a historic moment for not only Sierra Leone but the entire African continent because a statement has been made to reinforce the fact that incumbent parties can and even candidates, can indeed, be defeated in free and fair elections.

On the average, the Sierra Leone poll has been adjudged largely free and fair which is another major statement

...

the Sierra Leone election has shown that voters, no matter how poor or illiterate, know what they want from an election.

...

The immediate past regime was considered very corrupt and inept and Koroma came with the message of change, which caught on the people thus voted for democracy, for change, for jobs, electricity, healthcare and education and against corruption and poverty.

This is therefore a signal to Koroma and other leaders of countries in the continent that such critical issues, indeed, count in elections, even more than the so called incumbency factor.

Other countries in Africa have to accept a basic fact that ultimately the votes of the people must count. The earlier this is accepted the better for the growth of democracy on the continent.

Mike wrote "Its the WAY they are atoning themselves...........sorry....uh uh............dont buy it........"

I suppose you're right. 

attention lindab--I could have sent this as a link message, but I want everyone to know

Senator Webb did it!! I heard him say, in the process of introducing his amendment, that the reason the Bush Administration didn't plan for a withdrawal was because they have no plan to withdraw. The Senator couched it in terms of his prediction five years ago that this was the intent and went on to say that we need to have a national discussion of this matter.
He also said that he was stunned to hear from the Administration that our presence in Iraq would continue as long as we've been in Europe and South Korea.
I wasn't stunned, but I was disappointed. I'd been hoping that it would be Senator Clinton, during whose time in the White House this plan was cooked up, who would stand up and admit it was a mistake and that it should now be rejected outright. The reason I thought Senator Clinton would be the one to do it was because she'd have been more likely to have access to information that wouldn't be subject to the prohibition against discussing classified information in public.
That Senator Webb now brought it up on the floor of the Senate, where his testimony is immune from prosecution, and still couched it in terms of predictions he made before he was elected suggests that the topic is extremely sensitive.
However, I, for one, am sick and tired of the Bush Administration using classified information selectively to promote their own agenda, especially since that agenda has been hidden behind a wall of lies. I don't know if anyone's been pressured not to elaborate on the classified information leaked by the President, but it sure looks that way. Indeed, it looked that way when Senator Kerry referred to the fourteen enduring bases but once during the 2004 campaign.
It might be worth pointing out to the public that there's no problem with the rotations of the hundred thousand troops that are manning the mega bases. I've even read reports of how the engineers and technicians can trade four month tours to better adjust their civilian schedules.

Yes, what about those troops that never set foot on Iraqi soil outside "their" bases? And what about those fellows sitting at their consoles in Nevada or Colorado and dispatching drones carrying 500 lb bombs to drop on hapless Iraqis? Senator Graham went on about 670 troops re-upping. No doubt, they're the kind that sit on base, get fat on Burger King and enjoy having their laundry done by southeast Asians.

How about Senator Dodd and Senator Webb engaging in a colloquy? Be sure you give us a heads-up when it's set.

What, no redemption theory?  What happened to the power of atonement?

People can change. But when politicians change just in time for the next election, don't fall for it.

18.  Until they find a new one.  They're just waiting for someone to step up and tell them what to do.

Looks like Chris Dodd is targeting the teachers, as well as the fire fighters.

County Chairs announced by the Dodd campaign today include:

Polk County Co-Chairs
Dick Murphy of Des Moines ? Polk County School Board and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
Rose Mary Pratt of Des Moines ? Democratic Activist and Former Staff Member, Office of Governor Tom Vilsack
John Tekippe of Waukee ? President, IAFF Local 4

Linn County Co-Chairs
Rick Scofield of Marion ? President, IAFF Local 11
Jerry Vuichard of Cedar Rapids ? Business Manager, IBEW Local 1362

Scott County Chair
Jose Bucksbaum of Davenport ? Affirmative Action Chair, Scott County Democrats Central Committee
Johnson County Co-Chairs
Pat Harney of Iowa City ? Johnson County Supervisor
Eric Nurnberg of Iowa City ? President, IAFF Local 610

Black Hawk County Co-Chairs
Tom Powers of Waterloo ? President, IAFF Local 66
Dr. A. Frank Thompson of Cedar Falls ? Treasurer and Former President of the United Faculty, University of Northern Iowa

Dubuque County Chair
Helene Magee of Dubuque ? County Publicity Co-Chair, Dubuque County Democrats Central Committee
Story County Chair
Mike Bryant of Ames ? President, IAFF Local 625

Woodbury County Chair
Rob Marqusee of Sioux City ? Woodbury County Director of Rural Economic Development

Pottawattamie County Chair
Justin James of Council Bluffs ? President, IAFF Local 15

Clinton County Chair
Joel Atkinson of Clinton ? Vice President, IAFF Local 609

Cerro Gordo County Chair
Jerry Taylor of Mason City ? Activist and Member, Cerro Gordo County Democrats Central Committee

Des Moines County Co-Chairs
Diane Ehret of Burlington ? Teacher and Democratic Activist
Al Pealer of Burlington ? Veteran and Former VFW Post Commander

Dallas County Chair
Bob Skow of West Des Moines ? CEO, Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa and Former State Representative

Warren County Co-Chairs
Kevin Middleswart of Indianola ? Warren County Supervisor
Scott Voogd of Indianola ? Teacher and Democratic Activist

Lee County Chair
Bill Olmsted of Keokuk ? Keokuk City Councilman

Muscatine County Chair
Mark Butterworth of Muscatine ? Small Business Owner and Retired Teacher

Marshall County Chair
Wayne Sawtelle of Marshalltown ? Vice Chair, Marshall County Democrats Central Committee and Former Political Director, Iowa Professional Fire Fighters

Webster County Co-Chairs
Ernest Kersten of Fort Dodge ? Webster County School Board and Democratic Activist
Mary B. Wilson of Fort Dodge ? Retired Teacher and Former Member, Webster County School Board

Wapello County Chair
Marlin Hesse of Ottumwa ? Democratic Activist

Marion County Chair
David Isgrig of Pleasantville ? Superintendent, Pleasantville Schools

Chris Dodd is damned for voting with Bush on Iraq.  I'm not buying the way he's atoning for it.

13.  The problem, John, is that a President can't accomplish anything on that list by himself and Kucinich has demonstrated no ability to get others to work with him.  His organizational skills are virtually nil--even on the ground in NH.  People who have been carrying the water for him have now decided to back off and see what he can do on his own.

Maybe it's a lack of "situational awareness." 

Rather/08                   Kill your television.      Bring them home NOW>

30.  If you're paying attention, you'll have noticed that I'm looking for more.

Monica wrote "If you're paying attention, you'll have noticed that I'm looking for more."

Yes, I will have.

In comparison to having participated in the greatest blunder since the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, Kucinich's shortcomings are nothing. That goes for Obama, Richardson, and Gravel too.

They are the only four worthy of my consideration.

In comparison to having participated in the greatest blunder since the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution,

Make that: voted with bush the greatest blunder since the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Is that our Charlie at the end?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmJ9_7Cfzxo&mode=related&search= 

thank you monica for the info. just got home.

and huron, great award!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmJ9_7Cfzxo&mode=related&search=

Sitka wrote "They are the only four worthy of my consideration."

I understand although from that list, Richardson has indicated that he regrets what he described as his former support for the war.  He's the John Edwards who never was.

I understand although from that list, Richardson has indicated that he regrets what he described as his former support for the war.

Well, that's pretty daming too. Scratch him. It's just as well since he's a DLCer.

Jeezus.

Someone go the d.c. and pull all those senators out of their chairs and knock them up side of the head.

why do you think they want to spy on us? to keep us afraid.

The sob's going to keep our kids in Iraq and the putzes that follow the putz.

Off with their heads.

Monica, Yes, it was(but you knew that). :-) Thank you for the video. I did notice Charlie several times, walking in the march, the group outside the building, then speaking to the protesters.

Goooo Charlie.

The latest Super News, Miss Teen President, on current tv.

http://www.current.tv/pods/supernews/PD0...

Just watched another one of those UF videos and heard Kerry in the back-ground say that he was going to answer his question because it's an important question. But, unfortunately, "he's not going to come up and swear me in as President of the United States."  Kerry was making a joke while the kid was being assaulted in the back of the room!

How is it that all these people are so self-absorbed?

Oh, I'm sorry.  That's a rhetorical question.  I already knew that about Kerry.  After all, he's the fellow who parked his sports car in a cross-walk and then refused to answer why he felt it necessary to do that.

Reid Tries To Calm Anti-War Activists The Politico reports Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid met with "leaders of the anti-Iraq-war movement" in New York yesterday, in "his latest effort to reassure this increasingly restive group that Democrats are doing everything they can to end the war." Reid "tried to explain his limitations and pleaded with anti-war leaders to keep their energies focused on Republicans, not Democrats," though "some activists are urging that Democrats who are not aggressive enough in confronting Bush on Iraq themselves be challenged with primary opponents or third-party candidacies in 2008."

In a change of strategy apparently intended to please the Democrats' anti-war base, the Washington Post reports that Reid, who had "been willing to make the troop withdrawal a 'goal' in order to attract GOP support [that] never materialized," announced yesterday he will instead "push for a firm deadline" of June 2008. Reid is quoted as saying, "It's all definite timelines." The AP reports that when asked "why Democrats won't soften the deadline," Reid "said he doesn't have confidence Republicans are willing to challenge Bush on the war." Reid is quoted as saying, "I think they've decided definitely they want this to be the Senate Republicans' war, not just Bush's. They're jealous."

The pressure on the Democratic leadership is now coming from both sides. According to The Hill, Rep. Neil Abercrombie, a Democratic moderate who has been trying to build bipartisan support for his Iraq plan, "was expecting to go to the Democratic Caucus on Tuesday to complain that liberals are threatening to support primary challenges against Democratic centrists because of their positions on Iraq." But "when he found out the issue wasn't on the agenda, he walked out." The Hill says Abercrombie's "anger highlights the rising tensions within the Democratic Caucus." Meanwhile, Roll Call reports that "a small band of moderate House Democrats and Republicans" is working on bipartisan Iraq legislation "that would avoid hard timelines for withdrawal." Reps. Mike Castle (R) and John Tanner (D) "have drafted a letter backing a series of proposals from the Iraq Study Group aimed at shifting the Iraq mission and incorporating such issues as ensuring leave for soldiers after they return home."

Keep flogging. 

Is this correct?

Is DFA on board to keep our troops in Iraq for nine more months?

Why? Why should hundreds more of our troops die? Why should thousands of more Iraqi die? Why another hundred million dollars?

How about Rachel or Jim come on here and explain why we should fund more of the same instead of sending cash to a real anti-war movement!!

oops, i did it again, that should be 'another billion dollars'

But who cares, it's all political games all the time... just keep coughing up those bucks,
... on top of the taxes we pay to the ones we've already sent to stop this war.

Åudrey, Moran's number please.  I wrote to Bowman last night.

Smith voting for Webb's amendment?  Are you kidding, Fred?  The man's a bushie.

IMO Al is the only person who CAN lift us out of the mud and corruption.  Think of the Cabinet he'd have.

Run, Al, run~~ 

Lookie what I just got in my inbox!

Thanks for your letter, I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Dr. Bob Bowman

sheez... 'another hundred billion dollars'

... borrowed from those godless, communist, forced abortionist, slave labor Chinese. Oh, but their cr@p is cheap at Wally World.

I say for Reid to pull the appropriations bill from the floor. no vote, no money. nada.

then who will pay blackwater?

the pentagon has money for the troops who are sleeping on the ground.

Yes Monica and Kerry putting out a statement later that he didn't know the young man was taserd 'til after he left is bull. He was being tased in the room Kerry was in. And a woman was screaming they were tasing him. AND YOU could hear Kerry still talking. How could he just be standing there with all this going on? And yes, how could he be joking if he was even remotely upset at the abuse by the cops as that one woman tried to elude?

42.

linda b
Wed, 09/19/07
3:32 pm

...
why do you think they want to spy on us? to keep us afraid.

The sob's going to keep our kids in Iraq and the putzes that follow the putz.
----------

!!!

seashell, the only number you need remember and you can take it with you anyhwere in the US.

1-877-331-1223 The Capitol Switchboard.

Congressman Moran's aid that answered the phone seemed in quite good spirits and said "oh YES" when I asked to convey my appreciation for stating the truth.......

32.

Good point Monica.

 Dennis kept stepping on his d*ck while boy mayor of Cleveland.

 In particular, getting single-payer health insurance will involve a lot of persuasion, cajolery, and downright hardball politics. The Insurance and drug people are spending literally hundreds of millions of dollars (ultimately of our money) lobbying bribing members of congress of both parties. Clinton's, Obama's and Edwards' "health-care plans" all leave private insurers in the drivers seat, reflecting the big bucks Big Pharma and Big Insurance have pumped into their campaigns.

Truman couldn't do it, Nixon couldn't do it (even before Watergate), and Bill&Hill botched it badly.

 A majority of people wan't what is essentially an upscaling of Medicare, but the vested interests will fight it viciously.

By The Associated Press

As of Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007, at least 3,787 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003

Since the start of U.S. military operations in Iraq, 27,936 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department's weekly tally.


The latest deaths reported by the military:

- A soldier was killed Tuesday in a vehicle accident in Ninevah province.

- Three soldiers were killed by an explosion Tuesday near their patrol northeast of Baghdad.

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20070919...

John wrote "Clinton's, Obama's and Edwards' "health-care plans" all leave private insurers in the drivers seat, reflecting the big bucks Big Pharma and Big Insurance have pumped into their campaigns."

There's at least the possibility that candidate Howard Dean was correct in his belief that an incremental approach to health care coverage reform is necessary because single payer has no prospects for success.  Just a thought, since the health care industry represents one-seventh of the American economy.

Edwards makes it clear his plan is a step in an evolution towards a system like most other civilized countries and a necessary if distasteful one to get it done, and Obama and Clinton with almost identical plans say the same thing, so my take is that as long as we have other than publicly financed elections which would have to come first, we won't have publicly financed health care.

Remember to become law any plan needs 60 votes in the Senate.

The ugly truth is we need 6-8 Senators to be bought off with concessions to their patrons. Or make this the issue and take them out in 08.

At least Edwards acknowledges it will be a tough fight taking the fight directly to the current rulers of K Street. Obama now has made that fight central to his campaign as well.

Monica Smith
Wed, 09/19/07
3:08 pm

"Kucinich has demonstrated no ability to get others to work with him."

others, hmmmm

But many of these work well against the wishes of the American people, they work well for war and congressional pay raises and billions for insurance companies, bankers, oil companies, and defense contractors.
Seems to me that these folk will never work with someone for the people and peace. Guess you are aligned with his opponents, then blame that on him.
blame the victim, hmmm

Linda b....

DFA stop coming out for something and asking for money. Enough already.
Gee Linda, you've never been hesitant about asking
for what you need. Could be DFA needs some money. I think i'll send them some.

Vote on Webb's bill coming up at 5:30. Warner was receiving a lot of calls for his switching from voting for it.

 Could be DFA needs some money. I think i'll send them some.

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

remember when we were all b*tching that DFA would never take a stand against the war? lol

now they do and guess what it costs money

I think this might be like pledge week on PBS where they keep track of which shows get the most pledges

I think I'll kick in today too audrey.

Tom wrote:

"There's at least the possibility that candidate Howard Dean was correct in his belief that an incremental approach to health care coverage reform is necessary because single payer has no prospects for success.  Just a thought, since the health care industry represents one-seventh of the American economy."

The last sentence certainly defines the problem. The sort of "increments" that the health care oligarchy would allow probably aren't worth the effort. It's a criminal, corrupt enterprise, and needs to be cut off at the knees to allow any meaningful changes.

The difference, even since 2003-4, is that a large and growing majority of Americans wants universal, government-run health care. Medicare has demonstrated conclusively that it can be done on a massive scale. It will be costly, and it will result in dislocations and rationing of services as the 47 million now outside the existing system are brought in. Ramped up enrolments in medical schools and inducements for physicians to work in underserved areas should alleviate these problems over the first decade.

The Canadian system certainly illustrates some of the challenges, but I don't know a single Canadian who wants to scrap it and go to the horrible system we have here.

In fact, I don't know a single Canadian who wants to change the system beyond shortening wait times and increasing the number of doctors.

just laid down a bunt and moved audrey to second 

double to the gap and score a run

Vote on Webb bill at 5:15, not 5:30

Arlen Specter now saying he will think about how he will vote. Maybe he"s waiting to see how many phone calls HE gets!!!!!

My single payer plan would be to outsource the management to Canada (now that loonies and dollars are at parity it would be easy) rather than roll it into Medicare.

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

swing the bat, and that tingle in your hands won't just be from carpal tunnel

John wrote "The difference, even since 2003-4, is that a large and growing majority of Americans wants universal, government-run health care."

That's a consensus view here as far as I can determine, but my comment was addressed to your conclusion that the health coverage reform proposals of many Democratic contenders for the presidential nomination were exclusively a consequence of some fealty to industry contributers, as opposed to a product of political pragmatism, the same as Gov. Dean's.  After all, I'm not aware that Dean's philosophy was born from any undue influence peddling by pharmaceutical and insurance industry benefactors of his.

Phil...

I'm on second? If only I could, I would bring it on home!!

John wrote "The Canadian system certainly illustrates some of the challenges, but I don't know a single Canadian who wants to scrap it and go to the horrible system we have here."

I know one.  It's not a statistically significantly sample, but the only other Canadian's opinion I know is yours, so that makes the poll results 50-50.

somebody swing the bat

bbl

and a HOWARDLY to all doing calling

Audrey and Phil,

take a base, I just hit the bat

Lynn in Cincinnati

60.

I was actually referring to people who agree with him and noting his apparent inability to get them to work with him, to delegate appropriate tasks.  

Try not to attack the messenger.  I am not in anybody's camp.  I have my own agenda and whoever comes closest to it, is whom I'll support.   

McCain says "Let them win"

Seashell .....
Just the regular switchboard 877-331-1223
Call Specter and Warner.

I was reading about Hillary's plan - I don't like the part where everyone is required to have health care but gets a tax break to help.

 What if you just don't have the money to pay for insurance.  My sister is in that spot.  She makes very little money but too much to be covered by Medicare.  And she has 4 kids. 

Getting a tax break for something you cannot afford does not help much.

Vote on.  Most Senators aren't there.

76.

I don't think the tax system should be used to implement social programs.  It should be used to collect the necessary revenue as equitably and efficiently as possible.  The system can't be efficient if it keeps been amended and adjusted to promote or discourage unrelated behavior. 

Not that you'll hear about it again...and FOX news and Tucker Carlson saying "Kerry should have SAID something".    HE DID.  The girl involved on ONE interview said that "Senator Kerry was trying to see what was going on and told the officers to STOP!!!"  ...and almost lost his cool.   That's the Kerry I know....

 While CNN has 'investigated' Hillary's donations today...no a WORD about these things.

The State Department's inspector general Howard Krongard has allegedly interfered with and blocked numerous investigations into contracting fraud in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as probes related to domestic issues, according to several whistleblowers who provided detailed accounts of the widespread malfeasance to a Democratic congressman.  http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/091907J.shtml

And uh...we're BROKE!

A few more reasons why we can't let this Administration ATTACK IRAN. (Not that our real Military leaders would LET them.  As General Abizaid just said - we can live with a Nuclear Iran.

In 2004 Iran sold China Petrochemical Corp. 51% stake in its Yadavaran oil field near the border of Iraq.  Iran also became Russia’s most important weapons customer.

Ahmadinejad is not the mad man intent on wiping Israel off the map as Israelis keep alleging. Juan Cole, a Middle East specialist at the University of Michigan, stated in New York Times of June 11th that “Ahmadinejad did not say he was going to wipe Israel off the map, because no such idiom exists in Persian. He did say he hoped its regime i.e. a Jewish-Zionist state occupying Jerusalem, would collapse”.

(Our media knows this - but we continue to hear - otherwise).

Sorry, same old same old. 56-44

for: Collins, Sununu, Snowe, Lincoln
against" Specter, Warner, and guess who, that's right Lie-berman.

As long as we're getting our 2 cents in, DFA keeps losing credibility with me because it only criticizes Republicans and never the Democrats who vote with them. 

Will DFA get into the primary process and challenge the Dems who need to be replaced with real ones? DFA and a lot of other reform orgs didn't last time and we're paying for it now. There's really no point in electing Democratic Congresses if Republicans and their Dem collaborators still call the shots.

A few quotes from Jaun Cole's tour d'horizon of the Iraqi daily bloodbath.
===================
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Rice Apologizes to al-Maliki for Blackwater Shootings
Was Abu Rishah a Fake?

McClatchy reports from Baghdad that Iraqi eyewitnesses maintain that Blackwater security guards fired at civilians without provocation on Sunday, in contrast to the company's own story about the incident.
[...]
The Iraqis are from all accounts absolutely furious about the Blackwater cowboys running around their country armed and dangerous and acting with impunity. The State Department, which employs Blackwater, is highly embarrassed and has ordered State Dept. personnel in Iraq not to circulate for the time being.

[...]
Al-Hayat also says that a US officer in Salahuddin, Col. Barry DiRosa, admitted that the US was paying the salaries (but not the weapons costs) of the tribal irregulars recruited to fight "Al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia." The paper says he admitted in a telephone interview that "Al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia" as it operated in Salahuddin Province is mainly an Iraqi organization, not primarily made up of foreign fighters.

[...]

Greg Palast argues that Sattar Abu Rishah, the leader of the Al-Anbar Salvation Council who was assassinated last week, was a 'phony sheikh' who had no real tribe behind him and is opposed by the very powerful and very real sheikh of the Dulaim tribe. He points to video reportage produced by Rick Rowley and David Enders and carried by Aljazeera English, which includes interviews with Iraqis who doubt Abu Rishah's bona fides.

[...]
My [i.e., Juan Cole] own feeling is that Palast is generally on to something but is exaggerating a bit. [JfD: if you read the comments, several bloggers have additional insights here.]

[...]
http://www.juancole.com/2007/09/rice-apo...

Sorry for the typo, Juan!

I say for Reid to pull the appropriations bill from the floor. no vote, no money. nada.

That would require moral courage. Seen any from him yet? 

3791

I have to say that I really agree with Buzzflash on this Wings of Justice award.

After all, had it not been for the Spanish authorities who literally faced down the FBI, this innocent man would still be disappeared, detained, and labelled a *terrorist* ... he, at least, sees how the Patriot Act can and is being abused.

=================
September 19, 2007
Brandon Mayfield

Represented by the prominent (and flamboyant) civil rights attorney Gerry Spence and Portland attorney Elden Rosenthal, Brandon Mayfeld, who was hastily and wrongfully arrested by the FBI in relation to the 2004 Madrid train bombings, is asking a federal judge to strike down UnConstitutional provisions of the PATRIOT Act.

Mayfield, who received $2 million of our taxpayer money from the federal government because of the FBI's bungling, wants the Busheviks to reveal what is in the surveillance documents about him that the government won't disclose. And he isn't stopping there.

In court, his attorneys are arguing "that the authority the Patriot Act grants is an assault on the U.S. Constitution's Fourth Amendment, which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures, without probable cause, determined by a judge, to believe that a crime has been committed."

Too bad we can't get a majority in Congress to stand up for the Constitution as Mayfield, an American lawyer who converted to Islam, is doing.

There is no crime in embracing a given religion in America. Diversity in faith, political thinking, and ideology is what is at the fundamental core of our nation's principles -- and the basis of our Constitution.

Mayfield's ongoing courage reminds us of the Ben Franklin quotation: "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

As during America's revolutionary period, it is the citizens of our nation who will be the salvation of freedom, liberty, and democracy.

Brandon Mayfield is one of them -- and deserves this week's BuzzFlash Wings of Justice Award.

* * *

http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/22259...

Hey, Linda in SF: did you see this one?

==================
Senate Ethics Committee Intensifies Probe of Domenici
By Jason Leopold and Matt Renner
t r u t h o u t | Report
Wednesday 19 September 2007

The US Senate Select Committee on Ethics has stepped up its probe of Pete Domenici, the Republican senator from New Mexico, who allegedly pressured David Iglesias, the former US attorney in that state, to return an indictment against a local Democratic official who was the target of a corruption investigation prior to the 2006 midterm elections.

Over the past couple of weeks, the Ethics Committee has been interviewing witnesses - including staffers from the US attorney's office in New Mexico - who were privy to a phone call Domenici made to Iglesias last November in which he asked the former federal prosecutor about the timing of an indictment against Manny Aragon, a prominent former New Mexico state senator and the subject of a federal corruption probe, according to the senior staffers. Congressional ethics rules prohibit lawmakers from contacting federal agency officials during ongoing probes.

Iglesias is one of at least eight US attorneys who were fired last December. He believes his termination was due in part to his staunch refusal to allow investigations he had undertaken to be politicized in order to swing the November 2006 midterm elections toward Republicans.

According to some senior staffers working for lawmakers who sit on the Ethics Committee, the six-month preliminary investigation into Domenici has turned up enough evidence to open a formal, public investigation into the New Mexico senator, having determined that Domenici acted inappropriately and that he may have violated Senate Ethics rules when he called Iglesias to ask whether Aragon would be indicted before the state's voters went to the polls last year.
[...]
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/091907...

More about Blackwater ...

===========
Checkbook Imperialism: The Blackwater Fiasco
Posted on Sep 18, 2007
By Robert Scheer

Please, please, I tell myself, leave Orwell out of it. Find some other, fresher way to explain why “Operation Iraqi Freedom” is dependent upon killer mercenaries. Or why the “democratically elected government” of “liberated” Iraq does not explicitly have the legal power to expel Blackwater USA from its land or hold any of the 50,000 private contractor troops that the U.S. government has brought to Iraq accountable for their deadly actions.

Were there even the faintest trace of Iraqi independence rising from the ashes of this failed American imperialist venture, Blackwater would have to fold its tents and go, if only in the interest of keeping up appearances. After all, the Iraqi Interior Ministry claimed that the Blackwater thugs guarding a U.S. State Department convoy through the streets of Baghdad fired “randomly at citizens” in a crowded square on Sunday, killing 11 people and wounding 13 others. So the Iraqi government has ordered Blackwater to leave the country after what a government spokesman called a “flagrant assault ... on Iraqi citizens.”

But who told those Iraqi officials that they have the power to control anything regarding the 182,000 privately contracted personnel working for the U.S. in Iraq? Don’t they know about Order 17, which former American proconsul Paul Bremer put in place to grant contractors, including his own Blackwater bodyguards, immunity from Iraqi prosecution? Nothing has changed since the supposed transfer of power from the Coalition Provisional Authority, which Bremer once headed, to the Iraqi government holed up in the Green Zone and guarded by Blackwater and other “private” soldiers.

They are “private” in the same fictional sense that our uniformed military is a “volunteer” force, since both are lured by the dollars offered by the same paymaster, the U.S. government. Contractors earn substantially more, despite $20,000 to $150,000 signing bonuses and an all-time-high average annual cost of $100,000 per person for the uniformed military. All of this was designed by the neocon hawks in the Pentagon to pursue their dreams of empire while avoiding a conscripted army, which would have millions howling in the street by now in protest.
[...]
http://www.truthdig.com/report/print/200...

Dick Armee is on TV saying the Democratic base is, "too impatient and they're going to get Democrats into trouble."

I always love getting political advice form Republicans. I know they have my best interests at heart.

Will DFA get into the primary process and challenge the Dems who need to be replaced with real ones?

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

Where were you when we put it on the line with Ned Lamont?

Thanks Lynn.  Who is on deck to pick up the lumber and move Lynn around.?

26.

Senator Webb did it!! I heard him say, in the process of introducing his amendment, that the reason the Bush Administration didn't plan for a withdrawal was because they have no plan to withdraw.

Yess!! I had never heard anyone say this before and wondered who would be the first (at least for me to hear).

One could see this for several years yet not a word from any Dem in position to point it out. The neocons do not plan on ten years, they plan on a permanent residence in Iraq. And they plan on living the good life while there living on the embassy grounds, complete with golf course and the largest swimming pool in Iraq. All on our tax dollars.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Republicans do not support the troops.

I would hope to hear this from the Dem in the Senate after the Nay vote on Webb's amendment. Maybe those running against the Repugs in 2008 will be smart enough to point out this defect in their opponents.

 I don't think the tax system should be used to implement social programs. 

Excuse me!  That should be the Tax system's primary purpose.

Education, welfare, health care--all are supported by taxes at state, local and federal levels.

 Currently, the tax system is being corrupted and gutted to make the rich richer, and keep us po folks in our place.

Really good news: it's not just that Paul Krugman has once again been unleashed by not being subject to NYTimes Select, he has also created a new blog: *The Conscience of a Liberal*

The start is so far a heartening one, with some excellent comments.

=====================
September 18, 2007, 11:45 pm
Introducing This Blog

“I was born in 1953. Like the rest of my generation, I took the America I grew up in for granted – in fact, like many in my generation I railed against the very real injustices of our society, marched against the bombing of Cambodia, went door to door for liberal candidates. It’s only in retrospect that the political and economic environment of my youth stands revealed as a paradise lost, an exceptional episode in our nation’s history.”

That’s the opening paragraph of my new book, The Conscience of a Liberal. It’s a book about what has happened to the America I grew up in and why, a story that I argue revolves around the politics and economics of inequality.

I’ve given this New York Times blog the same name, because the politics and economics of inequality will, I expect, be central to many of the blog posts – although I also expect to be posting on a lot of other issues, from health care to high-speed Internet access, from productivity to poll analysis. Many of the posts will be supplements to my regular columns; I’ll be using this space to present the kind of information I can’t provide on the printed page – especially charts and tables, which are crucial to the way I think about most of the issues I write about.

In fact, let me start this blog off with a chart that’s central to how I think about the big picture, the underlying story of what’s really going on in this country. The chart shows the share of the richest 10 percent of the American population in total income – an indicator that closely tracks many other measures of economic inequality – over the past 90 years, as estimated by the economists Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez. I’ve added labels indicating four key periods.
[...]
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09...

Thompson, Just another brain-challenged Repug candidate: 

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

The Everglades?

Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson met with Florida Gov. Charlie Crist in Tallahassee this morning and said he wouldn’t rule out drilling for oil in the Everglades.

“Gosh, no one has told me there is any major reserves in the Everglades,” the former Tennessee senator said when asked about the issue. “Maybe that’s one of the things I have to learn while I’m down here.”

He continued, saying "I'm not going to start out by taking this, that or the other off the table in terms of our overall energy situation."

Jeb Bush caused controversy in the state when he wanted to lower the buffer-zone for drilling to 125 miles from the state, so we'll see how drilling in the Everglades goes over in the Sunshine state.

For those who are interested, the chart described by Krugman in his blog introduction was actually taken from this article on income inequality in the US (h/t to one of the commenters who posted later).

http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~saez/pikettyqje.pdf

Hmm, not sure why the full url didn't come through: I'll try again. Otherwise, you'll have to copy & paste.

http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~saez/pikettyqje.pdf

Where were you when we put it on the line with Ned Lamont?

Don't FRED-out on me there, Phil. 

I couldn't get onto this blog for a long time. When I came back after a long abscence I found the format had changed and I could access it again. I helped Lamont through MyDD.

That was good for DFA to help Lamont. But we haven't seen much about holding Democrats accountable since then. There's more need of it than ever.

   Senator Webb was elected with DFA help and a sacrifice bunt by Nebraska Democrats. Nebraska Dems drew a worried Putz to our state on election eve, instead of VA, so he could salvage a mini neocon's congressional race from Nebraska's next US  Senator,  Scott Kleeb.

DFA will continue to get my money because of all the cool organizing things, and the Night Schools.  This whole deal is about 67 Senate seats, and achieving that takes great precinct work in all 50 states.    Off now to DFA-sponsored mock caucus to train facilitators and trainers for our state's first ever February Democratic Caucuses. 

oh, yeah.......Schwing!!!!! 

21.Sitka

The importance of it depends on the position. Those who voted with Bush on Iraq are damned.

=============
There's probably not a politician on Captitol Hill who would agree with that statement. This is politics, Sitka, not religion.

36. Sitka

Make that: voted with bush the greatest blunder since the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
=============

No comparison. Gulf of Tonkin was a lie, similar to WMDs, but Gulf of Tonkin had no 9/11 one year before.

46. Sitka

Reid "tried to explain his limitations and pleaded with anti-war leaders to keep their energies focused on Republicans, not Democrats,"

===============
Yea, Sitka, just try saying some of the things you say (about Republics) on a Republican blog. You'd be blocked in five minutes. But they would love some of the things you say about Democrats...

DCDem collaborators don't agree with me? I guess that makes it.......mutual. I'd be worried if they did.

But why would Republicans agree with me for criticizing Democrats for collaborating with them? It just doesn't make sense.

And some blogs kick people off for calling others vulgar names and telling them to do obscene things. But not good ole DFA! We're free to speak!

There will always be those who dream up new excuses for Democrats who help Bush with his agenda. Are they really Democrats? Who knows for sure? But not all "Democrats" who help Bush are in Congress.

58. Tom Bearse


There's at least the possibility that candidate Howard Dean was correct in his belief that an incremental approach to health care coverage reform is necessary because single payer has no prospects for success. Just a thought, since the health care industry represents one-seventh of the American economy

==============
What we need is a government coverage plan with incremental premiums and co-pays, based on income, where the higher end users of the plan (everyone is eligible) would be paying the full premiums with the government plan competing with private insurers.

In others wards, for them the government would be competition for the private health plans, compelling them to be better.

The Senate on Wednesday voted against legislation that would have given Guantanamo detainees and other terrorism suspects the right to challenge their detentions in federal court.

The 56-43 vote fell four shy of the 60 votes needed to cut off debate on the bill, co-sponsored by Democrat Patrick Leahy, of Vermont, and Pennsylvania Republican Arlen Specter.

The defeat was a blow to human rights groups that say a current ban on habeas corpus petitions could lead to the indefinite detention of individuals wrongfully suspected of terrorism.

President Bush and conservative Republicans have said the ban, which was enacted last year, was necessary to stem the tide of legal challenges that were flooding civilian courts.

Six Republican senators were among those who favored expanding detainees' rights. Leahy said he would try again to repeal the ban, although he said he was not sure when he would get another chance.

"The truth is that casting aside the time-honored protection of habeas corpus makes us more vulnerable as a nation because it leads us away from our core American values," Leahy said. "It calls into question our historic role as a defender of human rights around the world."

In 2006, Congress passed and President Bush signed into law the Military Commissions Act, which established a military-run tribunal system for prosecuting enemy combatants. The provision bars habeas corpus petitions, which means that only detainees selected for trial are able to confront charges against them. That leaves most military detainees in custody without a chance to plead their case.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who was one of the architects of the ban, said the system includes checks and balances to determine whether a person is being held unlawfully.

In June, the Supreme Court agreed to consider whether the ban is constitutional, although no date for arguments has been set.

Specter, the lone Republican to co-sponsor the bill, has said he anticipates the court will rule the ban unconstitutional.

Habeas corpus "is a constitutional right that has existed since the Magna Carta in 1215," Specter said.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14531579

that s/b restoring Habeas Corpus.

106. Sitka

But why would Republicans agree with me for criticizing Democrats for collaborating with them? It just doesn't make sense.

============
Because imitation is the highest form of flattery. They'd be flattered.

Now that we have an active moderator, there is no need to use vulgar language to stop abusive people from making abusive innuendoes of a personal nature.

From what I've seen over the past few days from a certain blogger with a history of problems and who is sliding back into old form, our moderator is no longer active.

Heads Up

Jack Cafferty coming up at top of the hour, west coast, discussing his new book...something about going in the crapper. 

Set your VCR so you don't miss Keithie. 

76. Lynn Worpenberg

I was reading about Hillary's plan
What if you just don't have the money to pay for insurance. My sister is in that spot. She makes very little money but too much to be covered by Medicare.

====================
That's only half of it. Cumulatively speaking, a bigger problem is not getting covered for your medical bills. At least the government program will make sure you are covered.

71. Tom Bearse

John wrote "The Canadian system certainly illustrates some of the challenges, but I don't know a single Canadian who wants to scrap it and go to the horrible system we have here."

==================
who said it has to be either/or? what ever happened to good ole American ingenuity and creative solutions?

A woman on AAR was saying that it's much harder to get into Clinton's speeches....that people are being arrest for carrying a small anti-war sign and some are forbidden to even go back to that city for one year! 

This is the man who wants to court martial bush/cheney.  He responds personally.  We have to stop this BH fascsm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6Ls6sifFJo

Lt Col Bob Bowman

Contact info for Bob Bowman

Dr. Bob Bowman
321-752-5456
drbob@bowman2008.com

Last night Jay Leno said "It was the first time anybody was ever electrified by a Kerry speech."

But seriously folks, Kerry's passivity was really shown in this case. He should have been more forceful in standing up for the dissident - before he got tasered.

115.seashell :-)

===========
I don't think you would ever find that at a Bidens gathering. Neither would anyone get tasered. He's got too much fire in his belly to let something like that happen, and he doesn't try to be a rock star...

95.  You mistake my meaning.  There's a difference between implement and pay for.  What I am against is using taxes to promote or inhibit some other behavior, like giving tax credits for oil drilling.

It be Talk Lyke a Pirrate Dae, mates! 

Wud ye do a scalywag a wee faver an'  keep da candles burrrnin' brright fer Norrrdy, mates! ♥
Send herr a prroperr pirrate's blessin' this fine dae!

I'd be most fearfully grateful, don't ye know.

http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=NORDY 

The Biden campaign in NH is looking for volunteers to help rally for Joe in Hanover, NH before the debate next Wednesday. If you can help, contact nickcollins@joebiden.com or call (603) 988-6301. Anyone who volunteers will get to meet Joe at a post-debate party afterward.

http://blog.joebiden.com/?p=1087

Çafferty's doing a GREAT job, while what's her name on Keithie is doing OJ as nauseam.  Cafferty's all news, opinions of the people...Whoopi and Hagel coming up.

"It's Getting Ugly Out There"  name of Jack's book. 

Tax the movement of money. The glove of government on the invisible hand.

Don't let the truth get twisted. Your $15 contribution gives DFA the resources to get our message out and end this war:

https://contribute.democracyforamerica.com/fundwithdrawal

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

time for someone to step up and move Steve around

112.

Heads Up

Jack Cafferty coming up at top of the hour, west coast, discussing his new book...something about going in the crapper. 

Cafferty is doing much more than plugging his book on CNN time. He is beginning what will be the norm for CNN -- attacking every single Dem while casually talking about the repugnant Repugs who do not support the troops. The Dems can't stop the war, the Dems should cut off the funds, the Dems should do blah, blah, blah. They all know the  Repugs are to blame.

Chris Matthews commented how much heat the R's are taking from their own party now. Someone on the show said the ones who are running for reelection next year will take a dove turn about June -- but not until we have 800-900 more troops dying in Iraq. I think they have already overplayed their hands.

To make matter worse, "Keithie" is still off somewhere while his silly immature replacement, Allison Stewart, makes a mess of the show. I can see the ratings now in a death leap. You'd think they could locate someone who could fill the job better than a gal who would be much better at hosting a kiddie show.

~~~~~~

Keep up the good work Fred.

bbl

Just got off the phone with Granny D, Gravel's campaign asked me to call her...yep...I'm her escort again to the presidential debate at Dartmouth college next week. I know I'll be in the green room but hopefully can get in the spin room again after the debate. I'll bring a video camera just in case for me show and if I get anything good I'll post it on youtube.
Gotta run, the woman I caretake for needs her woodbox filled, nights have been chilly lately.

Keithie is recovering from an emergency appendectomy.

Caffery is not saying good things about either party.  He is not trashing just the dems, but he is lighting a fire under everyone.  I like him.  He's angry and doesn't want to take it anymore, and certainly not happy with Pelosi, but who is?

125. Reed, what a good person you are.

AND of course they should let you in the Spin Room....you're going to be the County Chair!

124. Joan* In*Florida

...Someone on the show said the ones [Republicans] who are running for reelection next year will take a dove turn about June...

============
THANKS JOAN, MURTHA SAID AS MUCH YESTERDAY

Murtha: GOPers to abandon Bush on Iraq after primaries

By Mike Soraghan

September 18, 2007
...Republicans will start abandoning President Bush’s Iraq policies early next year, once the GOP has settled on its presidential contender, House Appropriations Defense subcommittee Chairman John Murtha (D-Pa.) said Monday.

“As soon as the primaries are over, you’ll see Republicans start jumping ship,” Murtha said in remarks at the National Press Club. “More Republicans are telling me privately they agree with my position.”...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/murt...

i just got back from a meeting in san francisco about:

http://www.cadem.org/site/c.jrLZK2PyHmF/...

there were about 40 or so organizers, party delegates, club leaders, etc., in attendance. to show the importance of this issue both our state chair art torres and howard came to speak to the group. if this actually gets on the ballot and passes, howard doesn't think we can win the presidency next year. there'd be too many electrical votes to make up for.

i've begun to educate myself on this issue to grasp the details and would be happy to relate such here if there's interest.

howard was looking good, lost some weight, a little greyer, but essentially the same old howard.

Rupugs jumping ship?  Too little too late.  Out out da** Gordon Smith.

So...Jack has 20 years w/o a drink.  I knew I liked him for more than his program.  He's sees what's going on, talks about it, and mentioned that CNN won't  let him do more than one such show a year.  Let's write and change that....The man's a catalyst.

Compare his clarity of vision with the untreated drunk, bush.

Linda in SFN is speechless, I see.  LOL

I wrote a nice note to Jack and suggested he do a program on drug and alcoholism on the Hill.  It explains many of the terrible problems going on... fear, stubborness, ego etc

http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=NORDY

129.

the rethugs keep grinding on and we keep falling for the crap they feed us on tv.

march on d.c. wall to wall people.

We have ended TimesSelect. All of our Op-Ed and news columns are now available free of charge. Additionally, The New York Times Archive is available free back to 1987.

 These two were excellent!

One beneficial consequence of the terrible war in Iraq would be if the pretense of the “special relationship” between the U.S. and Britain were dropped for good.

no one's interested that i saw howard dean today?

 Our Imaginary Friend By GEOFFREY WHEATCROFT

[...] 

...Senator John McCain visited England last year. “The special relationship between our two countries will endure throughout the 21st century,” he said. “I say that with total confidence because it’s lasted for 200 years.”

It has what? The senator’s “200 years” would take us back to the early years of the 19th century, or let’s say to 1812. What was special about the relationship that year was that the two countries were at war. Some of us take modest patriotic pride recalling the day that our brave lads burned the White House. And when he sings “The Star-Spangled Banner,” can Senator McCain have forgotten that it was a British rocket’s red glare?

{...]

135. that is the point. they're framing it as "fair" and "reform." howard says its not reform, its fraud.

i saw howard dean today?

WHAT?

A sighting?! 

Tell, tell us all you will or can.  Speak, muse!

i'm not tooting feinstein's horne, but:

National Issues

Senator Feinstein Calls for Abolishing the Electoral College

By California Senator Dianne Feinstein
August 30, 2007
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today announced that she will introduce a resolution to abolish the Electoral College and provide for the direct popular vote of the President. Senator Feinstein's announcement comes against the backdrop of a bid in California to qualify a ballot initiative that would skew the outcome of Presidential elections.

"This proposed California initiative is very dangerous – it is an attempt to tinker with state law in order to influence the outcome of national Presidential elections," Senator Feinstein said.

"There is no question that our system of electing a President is outmoded, but this initiative is not the way to do it. I believe that the Electoral College must be abolished, and that the President be elected through direct popular election."

http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?op...

also:

http://rules.senate.gov/newsroom/PR07/05...

139. reference 129.

STOP the Republican "Steal the State" Plot   

<

That is troublin' s#!t, mprov

here's an education from the dark side. interesting that they even got the colors wrong:

http://electoralreformcalifornia.com/

Carla Marinucci: Democrats fight Electoral College measure

Two leading 2008 Democratic presidential candidates -- backed by the chairman of the Democratic National Committee -- Wednesday lambasted the proposed "Presidential Election Reform Act" as a new GOP effort to "steal" the 2008 presidential election by hijacking electoral college votes in California.

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton called on California voters to reject the effort -- crafted by Republican operatives -- that would change the Democratic-leaning state's "winner take all" electoral college presidential election system. Currently, all states except two -- Nebraska and Maine, with a combined nine electoral votes -- have the same winner-take-all system as California.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfga...

Yes,mprov, keep us posted on the attempted stealing of CA votes.

It will be in the repubs interest to NOT abolish the electoral college.  Bush will veto any attempt and where are the 60 votes?

This is very serious. 

Carla Marinucci: Iraq - a tale of two speeches

Five years ago this month, Al Gore appeared before the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco and -- even as the Bush administration publicly argued the dangers of Saddam Hussein in a march toward war in Iraq -- became one of the first major public figures to warn that such action would be a fool's mission.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfga...

i've begun to educate myself on this issue to grasp the details and would be happy to relate such here if there's interest.

howard was looking good, lost some weight, a little greyer, but essentially the same old howard

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

I'll listen to a tale like that, more details please.

mprov...I heard about this earlier. This is because California has referendum voting, yes? How does the process work? Is there a vote to get it on the ballot first and then another yea/nay? I'm for referendum voting and am putting my trust in the people...more so in the people like you to educate the people with the truth. Fingers crossed on the east coast.

 I think they have already overplayed their hands.

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

Joan

The votes this week doom Republican chances next fall. Bush is using the Senators one last time nationalizing another election around stay the course.

They could have made it the Democrats war (for better or worse) but now it is all theirs.

RIGHTS-US: Republicans Block Habeas for Gitmo Detainees
By Jim Lobe

WASHINGTON, Sep 19 (IPS) - Despite the support of a solid majority of the U.S. Senate, a measure designed to restore the right of foreign terrorist suspects to challenge their detention in federal court was blocked here Wednesday on a procedural manoeuvre.

The measure, an amendment to the 2008 defense authorisation bill, would have restored habeas corpus rights for non-citizens in U.S. custody, including the some 340 prisoners still held at the naval detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, many of whom have been there for more than five years.

Fifty-six senators, including six Republicans, voted for the measure, four short of the 60 needed to cut off a threatened filibuster against it. Forty-three senators, all Republicans, opposed it. Of the 51 Democrats, only Sen. Joseph Lieberman, a strong supporter of the President George W. Bush's "global war on terror" who calls himself an Independent Democrat, voted against cutting off debate.

Reaction from human rights groups that had strongly supported the measure was mixed.

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=3...

148...what issue?

Pitt at his finest:

    I May Have Gone Insane
    By William Rivers Pitt
    t r u t h o u t | Columnist

    Wednesday 19 September 2007

We dance round in a ring and suppose,
But the Secret sits in the middle and knows.

- Robert Frost, "The Secret Sits"

    It is a legitimately demented phenomenon, all the more so because it all started with a joke. Not even a funny joke, either, but a sad and threadbare thing I told only to myself, and no one else. When the clustered elements of our collective national burden erupted in masterfully synchronized bedlam, as they so often seem to, I had that joke to tell myself, and it may not have helped much, but it was there.

    Every time another cacophony of freshly minted lunacy was unleashed - lunacy regarding Iraq, the NSA domestic surveillance program, White House defiance of subpoenas, timorously flaccid performances by the Congressional majority, or merely when enduring the repeated "nukyalur"-ized butchery of public political rhetoric was required by my employers, all of which emphatically pegged the needle on my Pandemoni-O-Meter - I had that joke to tell myself.

    The joke is spherically terrible, i.e. bad in every possible direction in three dimensions and across 360 rounded degrees. It isn't even a joke, really, which may be why it went so abruptly and bewilderingly sideways on me months ago. The joke, to be embarrassingly honest, is more like some half-bright mantra than anything else. As I came to discover, however, it managed to settle my mind when the needle was in the red. Perhaps the thing is best described as my self-generated Zen koan; though it did not actually stop my mind in proper koan fashion, it kept me from putting my head through the wall, and that made it valuable indeed.

    The joke: people say Bush and his people want to raze the core nature of the country itself by wrecking the Constitution, and they're correct. People say Bush and his people are enriching their friends beyond dreams of avarice at our actual expense, by way of war-inflated oil prices; war-captured Iraqi oil infrastructure; the orgiastic plunder of Treasury money through calamitously unsound tax cuts for Bush's pals; and through an Iraq war profiteering scam so unutterably corrupt that it bends the very light. That, and more besides, is what people say, and they're correct.

    But all that, along with everything else the Bush crew has done, just isn't enough for them. What Bush and his people really seek, at bottom, is to destroy the basic definition and literal existence of reality itself. They want to destroy reality, rebuild it according to their own blueprint, so the sum and substance of this new reality will accept as axiomatic the idea that lying, stealing and wholesale carnage are badges of integrity and moral clarity. In other words, our comprehensively understood reality today would be replaced by whatever madcap anti-reality currently exists within the walls of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

more

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/091907R.shtml 

 Alan Greenspan and His Bubbles
    By Dean Baker
    t r u t h o u t | Perspective

[...]

....more than $50,000 for every homeowner in the country.

    Since the bubble was unevenly spread across the country, the impact will be much worse in some areas. A 15 percent nationwide decline in house prices almost certainly means declines on the order of 30 percent in the most affected markets. People who paid $600,000 for a home last year will find it's worth $400,000 next year.

    And, house prices are not coming back. The meaning of a bubble is that the bubble prices don't make sense. The Nasdaq may have regained some ground from its 2002 lows, but it's not going back to its bubble peak of 5000 any time soon. Once home prices stop falling from their bubble peaks, they can be expected to rise in step with inflation, just as they did for the hundred years prior to the bubble.

[...]

This raises the obvious question, if Greenspan saw this train wreck coming, why didn't he do anything to stop it while he was chairman of the Fed? Greenspan's position seems to be there was nothing the Fed could have done to contain the housing bubble or the stock bubble before it.

[...]

148=149:

the ballot initiative process in my state has been hi-jacked for various stupid reasons for at least 3 decades now. prop 13 was a good beginning example.

a group of concerned citizens may place a proposition before the voters by collecting a required number of signatures for the proposition and then getting the proposition certified by the secretary of state. the current signature number is some 435,000.

there is a glitch in the state constitution where the proposition has to be an actionable statement and can not be a "mere" resolution. also, the proposition has to be something that the state legislature would not consider as a part of their normal functioning.

*the repugs hire out of state petition collection services.

*the dem party gives a fee to local clubs, etc., for collecting signatures and for GOTV.

*the proposition is being financed by the same people who brought us the "swift boat."

BBC:Last Updated: Thursday, 20 September 2007, 00:44 GMT 01:44 UK   Printable version US troops' Iraq leave bid blocked Senate Republicans have blocked a bid by Democrats to give US troops in Iraq more home leave

WASHINGTON, Sep 19 (IPS) - Despite the support of a solid majority of the U.S. Senate, a measure designed to ... was blocked here Wednesday on a procedural manoeuvre.

>

It is almost like we're living in the 1850s with the "keen minds of the south"  We should have kill every last treasonous confederate bastard at the Civil Wars end by G@D I tell you all!!!

I liked the way the BBC framed the vote in the Senate. The Democrats support for the troops was obstructed by the Republicans who would rather support continuing the failed course of a President who is using up the military for his own political gain.

more about Howard, mprov

please

Senate Ethics Committee Intensifies Probe of Domenici
    By Jason Leopold and Matt Renner
    t r u t h o u t | Report

[...]

But it's unclear if the Ethics Committee will end up launching a formal probe. A sticking point, Ethics Committee staffers say, is the long-standing "ethics truce" between Democrats and Republicans that dates back to the mid-1990s where lawmakers from both political parties agreed not to file ethics complaints against each other.

[...]

The House Ethics Committee, meanwhile, is continuing to pursue its preliminary investigation into similar claims that Rep. Heather Wilson (R-New Mexico), by making similar phone calls to Iglesias last year inquiring about a sealed indictment against Aragon, may have violated House ethics rules. ...

[...]

 "She asked me, 'what can you tell me about sealed indictments?'" Iglesias said. "The second she said any question about sealed indictments, red flags went up in my head, We specifically cannot talk about indictments until they are made public in general. It's like calling up a [nuclear] scientist ... to talk about those secret codes. The launch codes."

    Iglesias said he was "evasive" and "nonresponsive" to Wilson's questions.

mprov, does Howard have a wide stance, big feet, or big hands?

A case to out the media for the whores that they are:

Absolutely incredible….

Dan Rather finally decided to sue CBS/Viacom and its leaders, Moonves, Redstone, and Heyward, for ruining his career and reputation over his accurate reporting on President Bush’s Texas Air National Guard service. As many of us remember, Rather was ‘swift-boated‘ by interests close to the Bush Administration (a tactic used in the same campaign cycle to wrongly discredit Kerry for his active military service).

In his lawsuit, Rather conservatively asks for $20Million compensatory damages (money lost as a result of his termination) and $50Million punitive damages (a penalty/punishment for them for their wrongdoing), alleging among other things: fraud, prevention of access to other career pursuits, and the damage to his career and reputation.

The lawsuit is pretty cut and dry, and although it doesn’t say, I am sure that Dan Rather will be able to produce plenty of witnesses and documentation because of his lengthy journalistic experience. Every investigation of the Bush/Texas Air National Guard story has proven that the story was entirely accurate, including the documents and the witness' credibility. There has been no credible evidence to the contrary.

In addition, when you read the complaint, which I strongly recommend you do, you will be able to associate what you remember about the string of events to what was happening behind the scenes…it is a bird’s eye view into the construction of a conspiracy (although the complaint does not mention a ‘conspiracy to commit fraud’). If this case goes to court, the truth about Bush, the swift-boating tactics, and using the press to curry political favor will be revealed without question. On the other side…I highly doubt that CBS will let this get that far, and they would go as far as doubling Rather’s monetary request to keep it out of court. I can tell you that if I was on that jury, Viacom would be filing for bankruptcy very soon, and Dan Rather would be a billionaire!

It is a shame that our 1st Amendment freedom of the press guarantees along with expression, have been hijacked during this Presidential Administration. The only thing that Rather did wrong was to trust the authority he had worked for for 40 years without question…for this, I say-- tsk tsk tsk.

Good can come of this...major media will be exposed for the whores that they are!

Don't let the truth get twisted. Your $15 contribution gives DFA the resources to get our message out and end this war:

https://contribute.democracyforamerica.com/fundwithdrawal

  Media Matters for America

contrary poll
CNN's Gloria Borger claimed that Sen. Hillary Clinton "has a bit of a credibility problem when it comes to health care because ... she had the debacle in 1993." But polling shows that, if Clinton were to be elected president, most voters believe her past experience during the Clinton administration would help her in reforming health care.

Dan Rather finally decided to sue CBS/Viacom and its leaders, Moonves, Redstone, and Heyward, for ruining his career and reputation over his accurate reporting on President Bush’s Texas Air National Guard service

<

I hope so.  It would be the biggest scoop of his career.

BTW  am I alone in *thinking* it possible that Kieth Olbermann was poisoned by ???

                                                          GOP WILL PAY DEARLY IN 08 !

                                                    By Jeff Morris-Saugerties, NY-  DeJaVu57  

        It's hard to find any kind of silver lining in this ongoing disastrous Fiasco in Iraq, but here goes. How about a long lasting death of the GOP itself? One that spans, lets say, two or three Presidential elections? Not that even this wet dream come true could ever make this all even remotely worth the cost. The cost of 3700+ wasted American service members lives. The cost of another 29,000+ wounded, many with life changing injuries. The cost of 500,000+ innocent Iraqi deaths. The cost of America's reputation and image around the world. No, never be even close to worth it.

    Ultimately the U.S. will face the harsh realities in Iraq, and cut her losses. Dumbya seems to be just trying to run out the clock and pass the mess off to the next President at this point. The next President most likely being a Democrat. His denial of reality and "Surge" strategy are designed to buy him the necessary time to pull it off. May all of his Republican accomplices and enablers pay dearly in Nov 08 for their continued partisan support.

      To any outgoing Republican today, I would say "Good Riddance." Almost all of you have been nothing more than rubber stamps of approval for whatever this White House wanted. Blind loyalty to your party, over loyalty to your country, almost every time. Cheerleaders for one of the worst, most incompetent, criminal, corrupt, politicizing everything, Presidential administrations ever.

 Supporters of defying the Geneva Conventions, of an unnecessary war, of spying on fellow Americans without warrants, supporting torture, Guantanamo Bay, the suspension of Habeas Corpus, the Patriot Act.....The list is so long after six and a half years. As the enablers of the past six and a half years of Presidential law breaking, Constitution shredding, Executive branch abuses of power, Privacy, Civil, and Constitutional rights violations..... you need to be remembered correctly. I hope history records your party in this time period accurately too, just as it does this White House.

  Some years back you allowed your party to be hijacked by a minority of neo-con extremists. The one time more moderate (majority of Republicans) have had no say on anything since then. Yet even the more moderate Republicans were always blindly loyal with their votes too. You kind of dug your own graves, didn't you? It already has once, and will continue to cost your party dearly at the polls now. Which is exactly what they deserve by continually ignoring the will of two thirds of the American people. Ignoring them on what they still consider to be the most important issue today. Ending the war in Iraq. A long lasting death of the GOP at the polls would at least be one positive thing to come out of this War Crime in Iraq.

ok, howard was there for about a 1/2 an hour or so. he talked up our stance. took questions. gave solid answers. etc. a large part of the meeting was about strategy, in other words: what's said in the room stays in the room for, at least, now. he was doing what we all expect him to do. play the game on a morally/ethnically acceptable level.

a while back on this blog, people were discussing what they'd do if given the chance to have howard's attention. i said something like: i'd like to end up in a room working with him on a good project. i got that today.

 clip/paste/repost

The special relationship between [Britain and the United States]

 ...when he sings “The Star-Spangled Banner,” can Senator McCain have forgotten that it was a British rocket’s red glare?

Three thousand supporters from all different backgrounds came together to show just how strong our on-the-ground operation has become here in Iowa.

Earlier this week, I sent an email to the rest of the country explaining how important Iowa is to our campaign's success and asking them to give us a hand from afar.

Today, I'm asking you for one thing: recruit four new people to join our campaign.

Two Iowans who answer this call over the next five days will be selected to represent Iowa and join Barack at one of our biggest and most historic rallies to date in New York City next Thursday.

We're determined to bring new people into the political process -- from your neighbors looking for something to believe in again to youth and students who will play a major role in the Iowa caucuses.

Click here to submit four new supporters online or to download a "4 More" supporter card to bring to your local field office:

http://iowa.barackobama.com/4more

160. howard stands like most men. sort of regular. he looks directly at you when he's talking, like he means it to you. he was wearing a beige cotton suit (i thought maybe from jaque penney), tie(?) who knows. direct. accountable. actionable. a leader.

ethic not ethnic.

clip/paste/sans link

Even if President Bush is “the cockiest guy” around, as the former Mexican President Vicente Fox writes in a new memoir critical of W.’s “grade-school-level” Spanish and his grade-school-level Iraq policy

sea, yeah, I am speechless. This closing has me mumbling to myself and freaking out.

Brain isn't firing on all cylinders.(I know, nothing new there)


___________

On another note. Can someone explain the logic of this divisive act? Is this supposed to make him all warm and fuzzy and beg or something?


"Iran's leader banned from ground zero
Iran's controversial President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been denied permission to visit the site of the destroyed World Trade Center, a police spokesman said Wednesday. The U.S. considers Iran a state sponsor of terror. Ahmadinejad's predecessor at the time of the attacks condemned them". full story

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/19/ahmadin...

a while back on this blog, people were discussing what they'd do if given the chance to have howard's attention. i said something like: i'd like to end up in a room working with him on a good project. i got that today.

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

right HOWARDLY of you mprov

http://www.democracyforamerica.com/fundwithdrawal

"Iran's leader banned from ground zero

>

Good move - I can only hope a Democrat would make the same decision.

sorry if this is long:

Dear Supporter,

Recent testimony in Congress regarding the situation in Iraq has served to narrow the range of the dialogue of possible solutions. That is why I was eager to Co-Chair the Congressional Progressive Caucus hearing on Iraq and listen to testimony from one of the nation’s leading experts on Iraq and the Middle East, Dr. William Polk.

I would like to share with you my statements at the hearing: “Thank you, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey. I’d like to welcome Dr. Polk to this Town Hall on Iraq this morning.

“We truly appreciate your time and effort to join us here today to talk about the issues discussed in your new book, Violent Politics: A History of Insurgency, Terrorism, and Guerrilla War, from the American Revolution to Iraq.

“Your presentation is very timely as the occupation of Iraq approaches its fifth year and this administration continues to deny the reality that the situation on the ground will not improve until the occupation ends and US troops come home.

“But the fact is, all the talk about military progress in Iraq—especially in the wake of the president’s address last week—only serves as a distraction—a smokescreen—from the basic, fundamental fact that there is no military solution to the situation in Iraq.

“Our troops are trapped in a civil war and occupation, a situation where there can be no victory. Our continued presence there is not only breaking our military, it is undermining our national security and efforts to fight international terrorism.

“Despite the Bush administration’s efforts to frame it as a issue of ‘victory’ and ‘defeat,’ the fact remains that the redeployment of US troops from Iraq is a precondition to restoring our national security, our efforts to fight international terrorism, and putting us on a path toward a foreign policy that provides real solution for global peace and security.

“Redeployment is a precondition for engaging Iraq’s neighbors and the international community in a regional stability plan. We have a moral obligation to help rebuild Iraq, but neither Iraq’s neighbors nor the international community will truly engage in a regional stability plan as long as they believe that the US intends to maintain an indefinite occupation.

“Redeployment is a precondition for any successful effort to combat global terrorism. The U.S. occupation of Iraq has become a rallying point for the insurgents in Iraq and greatly aids in their recruiting and fundraising.

“That’s why I believe that your testimony today comes at a critical juncture in the debate before us in Congress on how to end our occupation of Iraq and bring peace and stability to Iraq.

“It’s in understanding the nature of such insurgencies as the one our brave men and women are facing daily that will allow Congress to see that the only solution to the situation in Iraq is what my colleagues Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey and Congresswoman Maxine Waters call fully funded redeployment.

“Specifically, we believe that Congress should only provide the money necessary to fully fund the safe, timely and responsible redeployment of troops and contractors from Iraq.

“I look forward to hearing from you your well considered opinion on the nature of the insurgency in Iraq, how our presence there fuels the very insurgency our courageous troops are seeking to defeat, and how the perception that we are going remain in Iraq indefinitely provides a powerful recruiting tool and fundraising opportunity.

“Thank you again for being with us here today.”

As always, I thank you so very much for your interest and support. Together we can work to make this nation and the world a safer and healthier place for all.

Warmest Regards,

Barbara Lee

Member of Congress

President Bush used to describe former Mexican president Vicente Fox as his friend. Was the feeling mutual? Here's how the businessman turned politico describes Bush in Revolution of Hope: "the cockiest guy I have ever met in my life."

[...] 

"While he expresses a kinship with W, he breaks with the prez on the war and slams the GOP's immigration platform," Paul Bedard writes. "He blames Bush's stubbornness on Iraq for bad international relations, calls his Spanish 'grade-school level,' and admits he didn't think Bush would ever become president."

172.Linda*in*SFNM

On another note. Can someone explain the logic of this divisive act? Is this supposed to make him all warm and fuzzy and beg or something?

============
I can understand why they would not want him to visit, and that is their prerogative, but the language should have been polite and diplomatic. The right wing fascists love it, I'm sure.

I cannot understand what good it does to puor on the huffy puffy arrogance and bogus innuendoes of terrorism, especially the day after Blackwell kills an Iraqi family and a child for crawling in traffic instead of coming to a full stop, then kills 20 more to cover it up. That is open State sponsored terrorism

Ahmadinejad is not the enemy. The enemy is us.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, told reporters Wednesday that the United States would not support Iran's attempt to use the site for a "photo op."

"Iran can demonstrate its seriousness about concern with regard to terrorism by taking concrete actions," such as dropping support for Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and suspending their uranium enrichment program, Khalilzad said.

There us finally a NEW THREAD!!

175. Imn2Paine
=================
Iran is ruled by a Shiite Muslim government hostile to the fundamentalist Sunni al Qaeda.

Ahmadinejad's predecessor at the time of the September 11 attacks, Mohammed Khatami, condemned them, and Tehran cooperated with the U.S.-led campaign to topple al Qaeda's Taliban allies in Afghanistan that followed.

Several presidential candidates also condemned the requested visit. Hillary Clinton, the New York senator and Democratic front-runner, called the request "unacceptable."

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

Then you must love Clinton. Iran's biggest "crime" might be helping the Hezbollah kick the fascist Revisionist Zionists out of Lebanon - a place they had no business going into in the first place.

Ahmadinejad is not the enemy

>

He is the enemy;  and so are all chanters of "death to America"

The enemy is us.
> sometimes we are our own worst enemy.