Howard Dean is first.

 I see our Democrats are taking up the bad habits of the Republicans.  They are passing bills that are mostly secret.  

"Most of the bill is secret"..from the AP article.  It is about the intelligence bill they quietly passed Wednesday with little media attention.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1556

 Well, one good thing.  I see the lawsuit filed by a Tampa activist against the DNC was already dismissed by the courts here.   I hope any others get dismissed as quickly, like the similar one filed by Bill Nelson and Alcee Hastings today.   Did I every tell you how much I despise them?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3582995

http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/24795

Dean is ...

last thread

http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/22484...

I watched the JFK Library on CSPAN then Bill Moyers with the CUFI. The JFK library was less riveting than the ones before - maybe b/c I lived through JFK (he was my first vote) and there wasn't really any news. His ability to communicate, though, and, from the clips they ran and Norton Smith's commentary, his leadership and courage, are the polar opposite of Bush. It's like night and day -- so depressing. And then the Christians United for Israel explains a lot about how running scared people seem in Congress. It's not just AIPAC I guess -- these folks are truly terrifying.

3.

floridagal

So, gal, are you a supporter of Senator Nelson and Alcee Hastings? :)

yeah, I saw that article pop up f/t this moaning.

I can't figure out if they're going further because so many folks are laughing at them and they think this will repair some of the damage from their ridiculous behavior, or what.

repost. No one should miss a good laugh.

:)

This is abslolutely hysterical.

ENJOY.

This is SuperNews from currenttv.
"Goodbye Karl"

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

Making Sense of This Gold Drop - Mike Swanson (10/04/07)

...I expect the next leg up in the XAU and HUI to be at least a 30% move higher from its current levels. It would then likely have a correction before moving higher again. If you aren't in gold stocks or want to add on next week is going to give you an incredible opportunity that you can't pass up. I've just recounted how the XAU has corrected in the past when it has rallied like it has and started a new bull run. What comes after this rally is returns in excess over 50% in just a few months...

http://www.wallstreetwindow.com/drupal//...

Poor Helen Thomas.... I just had to edit her - uh - frustrated, but can't take it out on the Republicans - article.

Those Republicans seem to have forgotten that the American people want U.S. troops out of Iraq, especially since Bush still cannot give a credible reason for attacking Iraq after nearly five years of war.  John McCain insists we must WIN..and things are getting better “the buildup of US forces in Iraq represented the only viable option to avoid failure”.  Mitt Romney conceded that the war in Iraq has been poorly managed and may hurt Republicans again next year, but he refused to oppose the President’s course. In every speech he makes, Rudolph Giuliani talks about Iraq and makes clear that he sides with President Bush,

YES Americans want our troops out of Iraq!  But since they’ve been lied into the war – they are also being lied out of it.  It will take almost TWO YEARS to safely withdraw our 168,000 soliders and equipment.   And then don’t forget…it will take almost TWO YEARS to get all of Bush’s ( 150,000) Mercenaries, uh. Contractors out of Iraq!    NOW that the American people are finding out about the private army and just how ‘imbedded’ we have our troops…they will understand, like the Democrats – just how long it will take us get out of Bush’s MESS!  But we have to start NOW.   

To have almost  ALL the Republican supposed patriots -  backing to stay the course in Iraq added up to good news for the Democrats.   They can see the will of the people is not allowed with Republicans.  That they have consistently stopped the Democrats and the American people from ending this war. The smart Republicans are – retiring – and not running again.  

...another video. This is not funny though.

This is from a young man Kaj Larsen, who has really been doing some great work for Current tv. Maybe you'll catch some of his ME videos, including the hidden camp from Osama.

This one is on torture and him volunteering to show what Water boarding is like.

http://www.current.tv/pods/controversy/P...

night all.

I watched 5 minutes of Moyers and the CUFI mob scene and turned it off in horror and disgust.  I've taped.

The problem is that these freaks are becoming more powerful and bushco is kissing their Zionists tushies.  

If I hear one more person say that the Jews are the chosen people, I'll shriek.

Organized religion= the downfall of us all eventually.  OT brutal mentality.  Bloodlust.

So this is what it feels like to live in 1938 Germany.

This is truly the age of zealotry and ignorance.

Nooses are back, police brutality on the rise, people being threatened and silenced, zealots wanting to stone unmarried pregnant women, torture debated as tho there is an upside...etc etc.....whatta country.

Question:  The whole world knows torture doesn't work.  Why then does this regime defend it?  Is it pure sadism and nothing else?

They are demented and congress is cowed and s/o is being scared shi*less.  Fear is a great motivator for good as well as for keeping silent.

Come on, Al.  Goochee goo, Al.  We need you. 

Iraqi Judge Says Maliki’s Government Shields Officials Accused of Corruption

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (Reuters) — Widespread corruption in Iraq stretches into the government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, an Iraqi investigating judge told United States lawmakers on Thursday,...

Judge Radhi said he did not return to Iraq because of threats to his security, but he also suggested that Mr. Maliki was behind efforts to prosecute him if he went back.

In his statement, he said that 31 of his co-workers and 12 of their relatives had been killed because of their work....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/05/world/...

Well, it looks as if everyone had other activities or was just too tuckered out to post last night, so I'll leave a few notes. I'm hanging about the apartment instead of running errands because someone is supposed to be coming by between now and noon to program our remotes for the parking garage. We each have individual garages inside but this programming is for the main door that has just been installed.

I'm also putting together a couple stools from IKEA so that people can sit at the breakfast bar in the kitchen.

But I just wanted to say a couple things right now. Congrats to Linda for her Al Gore report and thanks for the Rove skit. It was indeed hilarious. I, for one, enjoy Huron John's posts, just as I enjoy seeing what everyone has to say, but I most especially enjoy his posting Helen Thomas. Someone who so consistently gets putz's goat has a lot going for her IMHO and she also has relatives who live in the ME.

********
cChal: you might want to check out the "Greater Israel" theory that is prevalent among the Israeli RW AND among certain sects of fundamentalist Christians. To accomplish that theory, Israel would indeed be considered an expansionist nation.

The majority of Jews do not espouse these views, nor do they support the theory. But a vicious, radical, and very powerful, albeit tiny, minority have caused a hugely disproportionate and harmful effect. I am just posting the wiki short version, but there are tons of other references out there.

The theory is also an underpinning of the neocon philosophy, that has driven our foreign policy since the 2000 election coup.

I have seen the RW advocates of this theory practically frothe at the mouth when discussing it and have also witnessed them verbally abuse Jews who do not espouse it as traitors. It has apparently been only a small step from this verbal abuse to assassination for the RW zealot who murdered Rabin and for the RW Israeli settler in Hebron who massacred Palestinians who were peacefully praying in a mosque.

Seeing this for myself was a real eye-opener for me. It was more than a little terrifying. Prominent Jews who do speak out against it do so at considerable risk. That so many do is why I am a sincere admirer of them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Isr...

I have no idea what they used to seed these lawns, but I have never seen anything grow so fast.

On Tuesday morning, the area was dirt. Now the grass is so tall and thick that is practically ready for mowing. Truly wondrous.

**************
Anyway, I'll post a few things and then, back to the move-in chores.

**************
The WaPo has an interesting soliloquy on the *God vote* that is definitely worth a read.

===============
Dobson Warns Republicans; Democrats Glimpse Rapture of Their Own

On Thursday's Op/Ed page of The New York Times Dr. James Dobson relayed the minutes of a meeting of “pro-Family leaders” that took place in Salt Lake City the previous Saturday. Those assembled, according to Dobson, unanimously agreed that “if neither of the two major political parties nominates an individual who pledges himself or herself to the sanctity of human life, we will join others in voting for a minor-party candidate.”

This bold declaration (aimed solely and squarely at one major political party) invites endless speculation. I will limit myself to four random observations.

[...]
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfai...

More shame for us all ... because we are being such *good Germans* about this issue ... and not forcing our leaders to be accountable.

I used to wonder why the German people did not show more outrage at what their nation was becoming under Hitler's Nazi Reich. Now I begin to understand a lot more. And I do not like it at all.

And we have no excuse. There was no internet in Hitler's time.

==============
Torture, Continued
By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com
Thursday, October 4, 2007; 1:42 PM

How the United States became associated with torture is not just a matter of historical interest. And that's all the more clear today, with the publication of a major New York Times story describing the Bush administration's ongoing circumvention of national and international prohibitions against barbaric interrogation practices.

In other words: It continues.

Finding out what our government has been doing in our name, and openly debating our interrogation policies, should have been high on the national agenda since the disclosure of the shockingly inhumane treatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib. Few other issues speak so clearly to how we see ourselves as a people -- and how others see us.

But the White House's non-denial denials, disingenuous euphemisms and oppressive secrecy have repeatedly stifled any genuine discourse. Bush shuts down discussion by declaring that "we don't torture" -- yet he won't even say how he defines the term.

Facts are the most crucial and largely missing element in this debate. Today, we have a few more.

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

Good morning, everybody

Well, being left without choices is exactly where Republicans want to be.  I'm sure most consider the plethora of Republicans wanting to be President a real nuissance.  What can they be thinking?  They're acting just like Democrats.  LOL 

Well, Bill ... it will be a very hard sell, I'm afraid. Thanks to putz, we are truly hated. A non-American friend who returned from Vienna last evening said that she had one taxi driver there who literally sent chills down her spine by describing graphically how all of us American should be killed in our own country. And she did not get the idea that it was simpky a very sick joke.

He was not of immigrant origin, but a completely Teutonic type.

OK, one taxi driver does not represent the majority of the population, but to hear such sentiments expressed so overtly is indeed chilling.

====================
Bill Clinton: Hillary wants me to restore image of US
Hear highlights of the interview
Oliver Burkeman
Friday October 5, 2007
Guardian

If Hillary Clinton wins the US presidency, Bill Clinton will be given the job of repairing America's damaged international reputation, the former president tells the Guardian in an interview today.

Mr Clinton, 61, reveals that his wife has said she would ask him to "go out and immediately restore America's standing, go out and tell people America was open for business and cooperation again" after eight years marked by unilateralist policies that have "enrage[d] the world".

For the first time in his political life, Mr Clinton says, "ordinary US voters in the heartlands are concerned about who would be most likely to restore America's standing in the world" in the wake of the Iraq war, lack of action on climate change and other policies.

"The average American knows instinctively that we have almost no problems in the world that we can solve all by ourselves," he says. "And that, I think, is helping her candidacy, because people believe - I think rightly - that if she were elected she would quickly move to restore our standing in the world, and tell people there may be a few occasions when we have to do something on our own, but our strong preference is going to be to be cooperative."

The collective effect of American unilateralism has been "to enrage the world at the very moment when we had more support than we've had in recent memory, because of 9/11", Mr Clinton says.

The former president was visiting London this week to host a fundraising dinner for his wife's campaign, and to promote his new book, Giving, which urges people to give time and money to good causes regardless of their age or wealth.

[...]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,33088...

Well, *simpky* s/b not be that, of course.

*********
Hi, Monica ... joining me in your wee morning hours, I see.

Nice to see you back safe and sound.

*********
Well, just what we need ... a new life species ... perhaps these will be our supplanters when we have literally destroyed ourselves.

==========
I am creating artificial life, declares US gene pioneer
· Scientist has made synthetic chromosome
· Breakthrough could combat global warming

Ed Pilkington in New York The Guardian Saturday October 6 2007
Craig Venter, the controversial DNA researcher involved in the race to decipher the human genetic code, has built a synthetic chromosome out of laboratory chemicals and is poised to announce the creation of the first new artificial life form on Earth.

The announcement, which is expected within weeks and could come as early as Monday at the annual meeting of his scientific institute in San Diego, California, will herald a giant leap forward in the development of designer genomes. It is certain to provoke heated debate about the ethics of creating new species and could unlock the door to new energy sources and techniques to combat global warming.
[...]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/o...

Well, IMO, Cécilia is certainly the more sympathetic figure of the two ... and she is probably sick of Sarko's sucking up to putz.

Can't blame her myself.

=============
Media spotlight on Sarkozy's wife as separation rumours fly
Angelique Chrisafis in Paris
Saturday October 6, 2007
Guardian

There was renewed speculation in France yesterday over the relationship between President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Cécilia. But the Elysée palace refused to comment on rumours that the president and his wife might announce their separation.
The president's spokesman, David Martinon, told a press briefing: "I don't comment on newsroom rumours, and certainly not that one." Asked whether Ms Sarkozy would go with her husband to Moscow next week, he said: "I don't know."

In a country where politicians' private lives were once off limits, media speculation about Ms Sarkozy's role abounded this week after she declined to accompany her husband to Bulgaria. She was to accept the country's highest medal of honour after she negotiated with Muammar Gadafy to secure the release of Bulgarian nurses imprisoned in Libya.

"Where has Cécilia gone?" asked Le Parisien of the first lady, who has appeared beside her husband only fitfully since his election victory in May. Her spokeswoman, Carina Alfonso Martin, said the Sarkozys had decided together that she would stay at home because her diplomatic foray in Libya had prompted so much controversy in France. She added: "It is not always easy. Either way, if she does something or if she doesn't do something, she is criticised."

[...]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,33090...

You've gotta love this one ... even though it's not really political.

============
Japanese civil servants 'shirked duties to edit Wikipedia'
Justin McCurry in Tokyo
Friday October 5, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

The widespread addiction to manga among Japan's salarymen has landed several civil servants in trouble after they were caught editing Wikipedia's Japanese-language site, often altering entries on comic books and other subjects that bore no relation to their work.

Six bureaucrats working for the agriculture ministry have been verbally reprimanded after a cyber-investigation by their bosses revealed that, rather than attending to beef quotas and rice prices, they were making hundreds of tweaks to entries on manga comics.

The favourite target was a page devoted to Gundam, a long-running, hugely popular animated series about robots. One of the six wayward bureaucrats had made 260 changes to the Gundam site alone. Since 2003 the six had made a total of 408 entries during office hours.

Gundam may occupy the every waking thought of millions of schoolboys "and their fathers" but the ministry made clear that the gun-toting "and occasionally malfunctioning robots" were not part of its remit.

"The agriculture ministry is not in charge of robots," spokesman Tsutomu Shimomura told the Associated Press.

[...]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,33089...

Here's to the only one of the whole family who is a true human being, IMHO, and she's a woman. It figures.

If ever the true extent of the perfidy of her father and his other heirs is made known, there will likely have to be some re-editing of the US history books.

================
Oil Heiress Enters Women's Hall of Fame
Saturday October 6, 2007 10:01 AM
By BEN DOBBIN
Associated Press Writer

SENECA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) - For most of her adult life, Swanee Hunt has given away half of her annual income, a commitment she started in 1981 when she earned $70,000,

The daughter of the late Texas oil magnate H.L. Hunt grew much wealthier as her stake in Hunt Oil Co. skyrocketed, and so did the charitable foundation she launched 26 years ago to help poor and powerless people around the globe. So far, her donations exceed $120 million.

On Sunday, Hunt was scheduled to be enshrined in the National Women's Hall of Fame along with Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art dean of engineering Dr. Eleanor Baum, Minnesota environmental advocate Winona LaDuke and University of Rochester astronomer Dr. Judith Pipher. Julia Child, who died in August 2004, is among five women being honored posthumously.

[...]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story...

Very good question about putz's first failed war ... and putz still wants to begin a third one. Too many of the DC Dems have gone alone like the sheeple they are.

================
Why? Six years on from the invasion of Afghanistan
As another British soldier is killed in Afghanistan, Patrick Cockburn asks what is the point of the mission
Published: 06 October 2007

Six years after a war was launched to overthrow the Taliban, British solders are still being killed in bloody skirmishing in a conflict in which no final victory is possible. Tomorrow is the sixth anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan by the US, Britain and allies, an operation codenamed Enduring Freedom. But six years on, Britain is once again, as in Iraq, the most junior of partners, spending the lives of its soldiers with little real influence over the war.

The outcome of the conflict in Afghanistan will be decided in Washington and Islamabad. There is no chance of defeating the Taliban so long as they can retreat, retrain and recoup in the mountain fastnesses of Pakistan.

Yesterday, we learned of the death of another British soldier. Although his identity has not been released, it is believed that the dead man acted as a mentor to Prince William. Two others were injured when their vehicle was caught by an explosion west of Kandahar, bringing the number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan to 82 since 2001.

The drip-drip of British losses underlines how little has been achieved in the past six years, and how quickly any gains can be lost. Most of southern Afghanistan was safer in the spring of 2002 than it is now and at no moment during the years that have elapsed is there any evidence from the speeches of successive British ministers that they have much idea what we are doing there and what we hope to achieve.

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

Ah well, we are doing a great job of bringing up youngsters in the ME with few options other than to become terrorists.

Thanks again to putzCo and their neocon supporters of whatever political persuasion.

=================
Exam failure: the price Gaza's children are paying for international blockade
By Donald Macintyre in Gaza City
Published: 06 October 2007

Unfailingly polite, and spotless in their uniforms of blue and white striped smocks, the teenage pupils from the UN Relief and Works Agency Girls' Preparatory A school in Al Deraj were initially shy about talking about why they had wound up in a remedial class.

"We can't concentrate," said Kholoud Shehada, 15. "We have other things on our minds." What exactly? Kholoud paused before saying hesitantly: "My father is unemployed."

Gradually emboldened the girls began to speak up. They would like new clothes for next week's Eid al Fitr, one of the two great religious festivals in the Muslim calendar, and a time of giving and celebration; but they know it is unlikely. "There are many things we are lacking," said Raja Abu Asser, 16. "Our parents are unemployed. It is difficult for them even to get the basic stationery we need. Living conditions are difficult. We love our school but we would like a happy Eid." And there are other problems at home, some at least a result of a Gaza unemployment rate which a World Bank official suggested in July could reach an unprecedented 44 per cent. "Some of the girls' parents are fighting with each other," said Sojoud Nattat, 15.

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

The last for now: since I didn't see that anyone posted the Top Ten for this week and since I know that I, at least, need something a bit lighter, here's the latest Top Ten from DU's EarlG.

Long may he write!

==================
The Top 10 Conservative Idiots, No. 308
October 1, 2007
Phony Outrage Edition

Rush Limbaugh and The Petraeus Cheerleading Squad (1) displayed some remarkable hypocrisy last week - not that anyone really noticed, of course. Meanwhile, George W. Bush (4,5,9) needs some help PRO-NOUN-SING FO-RIN words, Rudy Giuliani (6) comes up with a new reason to mention 9/11, and John McCain (10) panders to the idiot base. Enjoy, and don't forget the key!
[...]
http://www.democraticunderground.com/dis...

Not to be missed:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/4/131328/172 

19.

Bill's opening a real can of worms here.  The people's of the globe surely know that one of the things we can certainly, and should, do on our own is remove a criminal chief executive and Hillary obviously doesn't support that.  And then, of course, our standing in the world had already begun to slide into the gutter as a result of the one million or more children that died prematurely in Iraq because of the U.S. embargo, no fly zone and periodic bombings.

Hillary's going to have the problem that Gore avoided by distancing himself from Bill.  The Republican "blame-bill" strategy may not be entirely fair, but it contains a very large grain of truth.  But, better to get it out of the way now rather than later.

Somebody needs to remember that Kerry was virtually precluded from being honest about the origins of the Iraq invasion and occupation because the Pentagon's plans were indeed developed during the Clinton administration.  Even Blackwater got started then.  And then there was the privatization supervised by the Energy Department. 

all the babies came during the day yesterday, hooray

I think I might skip Jill Biden and the Governor and head back over to the World Dairy Expo.

I did some pricing of cloning Tuesday at the Cyagra booth, and can establish the cell line of any of you blog babies for about $1000, and then insert the germ plasm into empty egg shells and make 40 copies for about $10,000, resulting in 6-8 copies for additional cost of $500 per surrogate mother

any of you want to be born again? it is a proven technology, there are clones in the barns in Madison

Since Congress passed a law prohibiting selling the milk from cloned cows it would be tough to repay the investment, so the clones would live the good life as pets.

http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/22489#comment-1126315

24.  The point of the mission in Afghanistan was the same as in Iraq--establish a western military presence on the Asian sub-continent.  It just turned out that the terraine in Afghanistan is not suitable to our modern implements of war.  Mountains block radar transmissions and satellite down-loads and there's not enough level ground for jets to take off.  Which is why Blackwater is flying small planes in and out.