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Pera on Air!
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I was surfing the net and Atrios pointed me to DFA-List Candidate Mark Pera's first TV ad. Remember Mark Pera?
Mark Pera is the progressive in the primary. Congressman Dan Lipinski is out of touch with his district. He can't stop himself from voting with the Bush party line to prevent life-saving stem cell research or give oil companies even higher profits. He's even voted five times to keep funding Bush's war and supports keeping troops in Iraq beyond 2010.
Here's the first ad:
Keep your eyes on this race - because if we're interested in ending the war, primaries matter!
LAST THREAD
http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/22704...
Way to go Bernie!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/why-i-will-vote-no-on-m_b_70043.html
The attorney general of the United States must be a defender of our constitutional rights. Because President Bush thinks he can do whatever he wants to do in the name of fighting terrorism, we need an attorney general who can explain to the president what the Constitution of this country is all about. We need an attorney general who does not believe the president has unlimited power. We need an attorney general who will tell President Bush that he is not above the law. We need an attorney general who clearly understands the separation of powers inherent in our Constitution. Regretfully, I have concluded that Michael B Mukasey would not be that kind of attorney general. That is why I will be voting against his nomination.
And then there's Hillary............
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-hamsher/hillary-clinton-a-bundle_b_70052.html
Democrats planned to argue up until the last minute, and then much like what happened in August, the whole "war on terror" meme would receive a serious right-wing flogging and the Democrats would cave lest they be considered "soft on terror." Or at least enough of them would to get 60 votes, which should be no sweat, what with 49 Republicans plus "Slummy Joe" Lieberman plus 6 Democrats on the Intelligence Committee who already gave it a pass.
This was the brilliant strategy coming straight out of Senate offices. Opponents of retroactive immunity were told we were just going to have to "live" with this eventuality. And it was all going to go quite smoothly, according to script, until Chris Dodd threw a monkey wrench into things.
Now everyone who has been soaking up all that telecom money, who needed that "war on terror" excuse as cover for their vote, is in a bit of a bind. Jay Rockefeller was quite concerned that the poor telecoms were only doing what the government asked them to, and thus cannot be blamed for egregiously breaking the law. But as Judge Vaughn Walker wrote when he dismissed AT&T's petition for immunity in one such case:
AT&T cannot seriously contend that a reasonable entity in its position could have believed that the alleged domestic dragnet was legal.
Now Rockefeller is getting a wee bit touchy because people are noting the sharp uptick in his contributions from telecom executives over the past year and wondering what connection it might have with his deal with the White House, which calls for them to turn over a small fraction of the documents to the Intelligence Committee they are legally required to do anyway in exchange for immunity (a deal obviously made with Majority Leader Reid's blessing).
This was the brilliant strategy coming straight out of Senate offices. Opponents of retroactive immunity were told we were just going to have to "live" with this eventuality. And it was all going to go quite smoothly, according to script, until Chris Dodd threw a monkey wrench into things.
But one question few are asking -- is it a coincidence we haven't heard anything convincing from Hillary Clinton, who took in $87,130 in telecom contributions in the 2006 cycle -- more than anyone else currently in the Senate? That makes Jay Rockefeller's contributions look like abject chicken feed.
Mike McCurry and Jamie Gorelick, who both served in the previous Clinton administration, have been raking in money as telecom lobbyists (Gorelick has been providing "strategic advice" to Verizon about obtaining immunity). And Howard Wolfson -- currently a senior advisor to the Clinton campaign -- is a partner in Glover Park, who represent Verizon. No doubt they'll all have some s'plainin to do if Hillary joins Dodd in his filibuster -- as Barack Obama and Joe Biden have already said they would do.
If as Hillary Clinton says she accepts lobbyist money and yet it doesn't influence her vote, wouldn't now be a nice time to prove it? I think we're at one of those moments where the rubber meets the road on that particular claim. By making an unquivocal statement and bring attention to the matter, she could create a groundswell of public support that puts pressure on other Senate Democrats to respect the rule of law.
Then again, maybe that's the problem.
I was on my way, with my digital, to the famous Recoleta Cemetary...good grief, I can't remember how to spell....Cementerio...
Anyway, right down the street from my studio there was a protest against the paper compania across the river in Paraguay. The paper company is polluting the beautiful Rio Plata . ... the Plata River in Entre Rios and some of the most superb pristine beaches on the Argentine side are being destroyed. Finland loaned Uruguay the money to build the paper company. I learned so much today and took 31 photos and will post a few here. I met and talked with 2 TV reporters who were about to cover the protest and told me where to stand so that I could be on the local 5 PM news but at the last minute, the coverage was cancelled... so I almost became famous. LOL
There were dancers and drummers and trombones and flag and signs and lots of people watching and police lined up in full gear as I was running about, in and out, shooting and hoping I wouldn't get shot. Every so often, shots rang out; scared the hell outta me, but they were nothing; firecrackers I think. Anyway, I had a blast and this is what it means to feel decent again here. I can actually go out and see what happens.
The cops don't use stun guns here to my knowledge but I have to check that out again. I think maybe in extreme cases.
After all the activity today, my tummy is troubled. It just wants to hang out in bed but it can't anymore. Not as much. I'll be on meds for the next week and the doctora said it's nothing serious and very common with the foreigners.
Tomorrow or Sunday I dance!
PRICE*CHANGE% CHANGETIMENymex Crude Future91.861.401.5514:54
http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/link.php?id=44465
SINCE THE DEMS ARE EGGING DUBYA ON...........
"A high-level diplomatic source in Tehran tells Asia Times Online," reports Pepe Escobar, "that essentially Putin and the Supreme Leader [Khameini] have agreed on a plan to nullify the George W Bush administration's relentless drive towards launching a preemptive attack, perhaps a tactical nuclear strike, against Iran. An American attack on Iran will be viewed by Moscow as an attack on Russia."
This photo is accusing Finland of being a pirate (remember that Finland loaned the money to Paraguay to build the paper mill that's polluting the Rio Plata ...that jack built.
8. Now that they're saying it out loud, it's my guess the danger is over. Russia is just taking credit for it's position all along. They're the ones that supplied the missiles Iran has aimed at the bases in Iraq. On today's evening news, some Russian was quoted about the similarity to the Cuban missile crisis and, of course, some American said he didn't see any similarity at all. They also had the general in control of the Kurdish area for the Americans who said he has no responsibility for what the PKK are up to. "No Responsibility" seems to be catching.
This is the guy who takes care of the people during the day...we have 24 hour service. LOL We're talking a lot...He's too young, right? But he's separated...
The admins at DU said not to worry about all the stress during the primaries, just lower our expectations about the discourse.
Ok, fine. But someone started bringing Dean into the picture in a strange way to use as ammo against Obama. Ridiculous.
Gonna sit right down and lower my expectations.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1606
A summary of many of the good folks who understood Dean's comments and took up for him. I mean bringing 2003 into 2007 as a campaign tool is infuriating.
http://www.chrisdodd.com/fisa
This is so adorable. Signs in the street. This is a happy birthday from a guy telling his sister that in spite of all the fights, he loves her.
Contact Us · FAQ Viewing: All PostsTime to do stuff!!! Upcoming events! Get involved! by Robin Kinlin 
Published Friday, 10/26/07 @ 03:47 pm. Linked to Ocean County DFA/PDA.
Tommorrow! Oct. 27th Philly Anti -War March, marches going on in 11 cities:
In Camden, NJ, participants in a morning rally will march across the
Ben Franklin Bridge to Philadelphia, and on to Independence Mall.
The Camden event starts at 11:00am at the Walt Whitman Cultural
Center at Rutgers/Camden. You take Admiral Wilson Blvd to the last
exit in Camden before the bridge. The Whitman Center is 2nd & Cooper.On street parking should be available.2-5 PM – Big peace rally in Philly – Independence Mall. email Carol if your going carolgay747@aol.com
All the info at http://www.oct27.org
Printable version Fema sorry for 'fake' conference The US Federal Emergency Management Administration has apologised for having its employees pose as reporters at a hastily arranged news conference. No actual reporters were able to attend Fema's televised briefing on the fires in California on Tuesday because they were only been given 15 minutes notice.
Instead, press officers asked questions many described as soft and gratuitous.
37.
Linda*in*SFNM
Fri, 10/26/07
1:12 pm
Thanks Linda
5.
Huron John
Fri, 10/26/07
3:59 pm
And thank you John
And still she's in office, lying to protect her hus boss.
Matt Renner | Rice in Rare Testimony, in Rare Form
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/102607A.shtml
Matt Renner, reporting for Truthout, writes, "In combative and analytical testimony, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defended her department's work in Iraq in front of a Congressional committee that has uncovered multiple failures and potentially criminal actions taken by State Department officials and contractors."
article tools: email | print | read more David Michael Green
One thing all Americans can agree on, that's for sure: terrorism is bad news.
Yep - left, right and center - we all want protection from bad people who possess even badder weapons. (Sorry if that comes as a shock to the certifiables of the Ridiculous Right, but it's true. Even we lefties don't want to die, nor do we hate America - though if there's another Republican presidency next term, we may have to reconsider that last part.)
So, given that desire we all share for security from political violence, it sure is a good thing that ol' W is in the White House, isn't it, riding shotgun on the ship of state (forgive the mixed metaphor, but it seemed particularly appropriate considering the subject)? I mean, he talks about terrorism all the bloody time! Plus, he's tight with Jesus. That's gotta mean something, don't you think? Surely - like Con Ed - he's "On it!" when it comes to terrorism, and we can all sleep better knowing that.
article continues...Re-builders might want to seriously consider this.
About those burned-down houses in California by Dave Lindorff | Oct 26 2007 - 9:00am | permalinkarticle tools: email | print | read more Dave Lindorff
Check out the page one photo on the Thursday, Oct. 25 front page of the New York Times. It shows two rows of completely destroyed homes in San Diego, and two virtually untouched homes right in the midst of them.
The caption makes no mention of it, and indeed in news story after news story, reporters talk about the seemingly whimsical way the fire destroys some houses while bypassing others, but what the two homes in that photo that are seemingly unscathed have in common is red tile roofs.
This is not fickle fate at work; it is common sense.
When I worked as a reporter in Los Angeles back in the 1970s, it was common knowledge--and was verified every time there was a wildfire--that if your house had a tile roof, and stucco walls, it pretty much was immune to fires.
article continues...
OMG, this is so sick. Why is BW still in operation?
Tomgram: Nick Turse on Targeting Iraqis as "Big Game" by Tom Engelhardt | Oct 26 2007 - 8:50am | permalinkarticle tools: email | print | read more Tom Engelhardt
Evidently, Blackwater, the now infamous private security company whose hired guns, working for the State Department, mowed down at least 17 Iraqis in a Baghdad square recently, wants to soften its image. (I wonder why?) The New York Times' Paul von Zielbauer just reported that the company has redesigned its logo. Once, according to him, it was "a bear's paw print in a red crosshairs, under lettering that looks to have been ripped from a fifth of Jim Beam" on a "menacing" black field. Like Daniel Boone, the company was evidently selling its ability to put "big game" in the crosshairs of its gun sights in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, subtly transformed, the logo is on a white background; the bear's paw more modest looking; and the crosshairs of that sniper's rifle have simply disappeared.
article continues...
I remember Palast predicting that bushco would do away with Chavez.
Warning to Venezuelan leader
By Greg Palast
BBC Newsnight reporter 
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had advance warning from Opec of last month's failed coup attempt against him.
The call from the organisation's secretary general, Ali Rodriguez - an old friend of Mr Chavez - was crucial in saving his government and probably his life.
Rodriguez gave the vital warning to Chavez
Mr Rodriguez told President Chavez that Opec had learned that some Arab countries were agitating for a new oil embargo against the US.
They were angry at the US stance following Israel's incursions into the Palestinian territories.
Rodriguez warned Chavez that if an oil embargo were to happen, the Bush administration would not tolerate Mr Chavez in control of Venezuela's oil production.
As the world's fourth largest oil exporter, Venezuela replaced Saudi Arabia as America's chief foreign source of oil during the last embargo in the 1970s.
In an exclusive interview for BBC's Newsnight programme, Mr Chavez accused the US of involvement in the coup.
'Proof'
He said: "I have written proof of the entries and exits of two military officers from the United States into the headquarters of the coup plotters.
"I have their names, whom they met with, what they said, proof on video and on still photographs."
Speaking of Ali Rodriguez's warning, Mr Chavez told Newsnight: "That call of alert helped me."
Chavez said that he had tried to avert a coup by sending a note to President Bush, assuring him that Venezuela would never join any oil boycott.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/1985670.stm
20.
Phil,
Granny D's statement "Democracy is not something you have, democracy is something you do" just sums it all up for me...someone else spoke words like these...
"Democracy is not something you believe in or a place to hang your hat, but it's something you do. You participate. If you stop doing it, democracy crumbles"...Abbie Hoffman.
A little about Hoffman...from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbie_Hoffm...
His death was officially ruled a suicide, but many who knew him believed that the overdose had been accidental.[12] As reported by The New York Times, "Among the more vocal doubters at the service today was Mr. Dellinger, who said, 'I don't believe for one moment the suicide thing.' He said he had been in fairly frequent touch with Mr. Hoffman, who had 'numerous plans for the future.'"
After being found not guilty, Hoffman prepared for a cameo appearance in Oliver Stone's anti-Vietnam War movie, Born on the Fourth of July. He essentially played himself in the movie, waving a flag on the ramparts of an administration building during a campus protest that was being teargassed and crushed by state troopers.
The movie was released on December 20, 1989, more than eight months after Hoffman's suicide on April 12, 1989. At the time of his death, Hoffman was at the height of a renewed public visibility, one of the few '60s radicals who still commanded the attention of all kinds of mass media. He regularly lectured audiences about the CIA's covert activities, including assassinations disguised as suicides. His Playboy article (October, 1988) outlining the connections that constitute the "October Surprise" brought that alleged conspiracy to the attention of a wide-ranging American readership for the first time.
I think Granny D is safe though...lol
OK, so Putin claims an attack on Iran would be tantamount to an attack on Russia? Does anyone think that bushco cares? This is cowboymacholandia, one uppmanship. I think the madness won't stop them . IMO it just eggs them on, since they now feel invincible, able to control all 3 branches of gov't. With Congress not stopping them, I'm beginning to think the serious mental illness is contagious.
I'm happy to see that the population explosion is finally being addressed.
UN issues 'final wake-up call' on population and environment
By James Kanter Published: October 25, 2007 document.writeln('
E-Mail Article 
PARIS: The human population is living far beyond its means and inflicting damage on the environment that could pass points of no return, according to a major report issued Thursday by the United Nations.
Climate change, the rate of extinction of species and the challenge of feeding a growing population are among the threats putting humanity at risk, the UN Environment Program said in its fourth Global Environmental Outlook since 1997.
"The human population is now so large that the amount of resources needed to sustain it exceeds what is available at current consumption patterns," Achim Steiner, the executive director of the program, said in a telephone interview. Efficient use of resources and reducing waste now are "among the greatest challenges at the beginning of 21st century," he said.
The program described its report, which is prepared by 388 experts and scientists, as the broadest and deepest of those that the UN issues on the environment and called it "the final wake-up call to the international community."
Over the past two decades the world population has increased by almost 34 percent to 6.7 billion from 5 billion; similarly, the financial wealth of the planet has soared by about a third. But the land available to each person on earth had shrunk by 2005 to 2.02 hectares, or 5 acres, from 7.91 hectares in 1900 and was projected to drop to 1.63 hectares for each person by 2050, the report said.
if ((!document.images && navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Mozilla/2.') >= 0)|| navigator.userAgent.indexOf("WebTV") >= 0){ document.write('
The result of that population growth combined with unsustainable consumption has resulted in an increasingly stressed planet where natural disasters and environmental degradation endanger millions of humans, as well as plant and animal species, the report said.
Steiner said that demand for resources was close to 22 hectares per person, a figure that would have to be cut to between 15 and 16 hectares per person to stay within existing, sustainable limits.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/25/europe/environ.php?WT.mc_id=newsalert
Oh dear, some spam got in, but at least I didn't break the blog. Whew!
HI Reed.
An accidental overdose? With the kind of work he was doing, he may have been *expendable.*
Are people in pillowland already?
Thu Oct-25-07 11:12 PMOriginal message CBS News Poll - Gore emerges as a serious contender
Edited on Thu Oct-25-07 11:19 PM by IndyOp My interpretation of a new CBS News Poll is that there is no significant difference in support for Gore versus Clinton among Democratic primary voters. I think my interpretation is fair even though CBS has given their poll results a different spin... CBS News Poll - 456 interviews were conducted with Democratic primary voters. The margin of error for this subgroup is plus or minus 5 percentage points.
When former Vice President Al Gore, who has not entered the race, is added as a choice for the Democratic nomination, he emerges as a serious contender. Gore garners support of 32 percent of Democratic primary voters, while Clinton gets 37 percent, Obama 16 percent, and Edwards 7 percent.
Given that the MOE is 5% and Gore and Clinton differ by only 5%, then this poll does not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in support for Gore v. Clinton.
IMO, if he declared his candidacy, his numbers would rise drawing voters from Clinton, Obama, and Edwards. Why? If he declares now or early next year, then his views on all issues - climate crisis, war, health care, etcetera - would get exposure and he would attract more voters. Right now most people aren't aware of his views. Also, if he declared his candidacy and announced up front that Obama or Edwards would be his VP - his ratings would rise dramatically.http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2138993
Hi Sea...
It's amazing how many patriots of democracy have become deceased from "accidental" or questionable circumstances...but don't question it or you're a conspiracy nut.
How be the dancin'? Me wife and I lit up the dance floor while on vacation this summer, we've still got it...just don't use it as often...lol
No one home I guess...later
When the issues are polled, the base of the Party is the true mainstream. We need to squelch this DLC talk that we are far left.
The base of the party outnumbers DLCers at least 1000 to 1. Yet they have access to the media, so it's their message that comes across as mainstream, when in fact it is extreme to the corporate agenda.
Now Rockefeller is getting a wee bit touchy because people are noting the sharp uptick in his contributions from telecom executives over the past year and wondering what connection it might have with his deal with the White House, which calls for them to turn over a small fraction of the documents to the Intelligence Committee they are legally required to do anyway in exchange for immunity (a deal obviously made with Majority Leader Reid's blessing).
It puzzles me that someone as filthy rich as Jay Rockefellar (or just about every senator for that matter) feels he needs to sell his office when he could buy it himself with just one trust fund dividend payment.
Ha!! We built it but they didn't come.
200 to 300 Diplomats will be notified that they are needed to work at the new embassy in Iraq due to a lack of volunteers. They will be paid extra for their trouble if they do, and disciplined if they don't. 200 are already working there. You wouldn't think so many people were needed for what's left of the country.
Hi Audrey and Sitka.
Did I overdo it on the photos? Were they interesting enuf? Should I just try and get some photos dancing?
Reed, I've been sick and haven't been dancing but doctors here make house calls cheaply and discuss good literature etc.
I'm getting better and will dance this weekend. If all goes well, I stay. If not, I'll fly home and get totally well there.
Yes, Audrey, we need an impeachment of cheney straw poll altho we've signed those in the past and Pelosi...well, Pelosi is close to a bush clone.
Is cheney still in Portland planning a "who could have imagined" attack?
More people are realizing that cheney/bush are insane in a very real and clinical way...perhaps even suicidal. I agree completely with this opinion that they must be stopped NOW. We can't wait another year and I don't understand the sheer stubborness and/or stupidity of Congress thinking that we have all the time in the world. I'm thinking again that there won't be any elections. Look what Putin is doing to stay in power, which will give putzie/cheney ideas I'm sure. The longer it takes congress to do something, the more likely an "attack" will occur, and elections suspended. Keith should call them "worst persons in the world."
"......This was a blunder of monumental proportions to our national security and the stability of the region. Now that the Bush Administration is going into its last year, it would seem that they would be more willing to salvage some legacy. This would be true for any rational administration. But, as I have learned painfully in the last few years, the "prudent man rule" and the "rational adversary" theory are becoming less reliable. I have coined a term for this: "insanity is trump." You can throw away the rule book for the Bush Administration because he and Cheney have lost their minds. We are dealing with desperate wounded irrational people in those two. And that is cause for great alarm to those in the Democratic leadership that believe that they can ride out the storm until January 20, 2009. They cannot and human survival is in jeopardy if they do.
Bush once flubbed on a an old saying. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." That is exactly the way I feel about the Democrats and those who voted with Bush on the recent Iran condemnation in the Senate. Any prudent Democrat should now know that this President is unbalanced and is dangerous to US and himself. That is why the Democrats have to stop playing politics with Bush. He is irrational and cannot be moved. The idea of winning the 2008 Presidential election by riding this out is not reasonable given this irrational adversary. They have to move now to de-fund the war in Iraq no matter what the perceived political cost. I personally believe that de-funding the war would actually strengthen the Democrats politically. That was what the 2006 voters wanted. It is time for the Dems to stop being naive and understand that "insanity is trump."
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_sdrobny_071026_insanity_is_trump_3a_b.htm
westies should catch Bill Moyers tonight
31.
Reed in VT
Fri, 10/26/07
9:21 pm
20.
Phil,
Granny D's statement "Democracy is not something you have, democracy is something you do" just sums it all up for me...someone else spoke words like these...
"Democracy is not something you believe in or a place to hang your hat, but it's something you do. You participate. If you stop doing it, democracy crumbles"...Abbie Hoffman.
--------
...lol, yeah..., I would probably call it a LIFESTYLE.
mprov-interesting about mmgood and ibert - thanks for sharing. Did you know Barry M wrote Like a Good Neighbor State Farm is There?
Seashell - pix are fun, Daniel is fine if he is 21 or over lol. Glad you are on the mend.
The Ford library was very interesting. My opinion of him is higher. Oh to have some good midwestern common sense around these days. There was a quote from him being interviewed I think in 91 saying Clinton was OK but unfocused but Hillary was very focused and hardworking. Said what an awful night it was to be in the White House the night Saigon fell - to be President when we were defeated. There was a coat on display in the library from a native Alaskan made of wolf pelts.
Moyers was riveting - a Republican Harvard Law prof and a lawyer who served on the Church commitee named Fritz. When Moyers asked them if Bush was truthful when he said we don't torture, both said no.
Think I've become a pumpkin. Nitie borg.
Putin is giving courage to others: The Dutch Shell corporation is thinking seriously of bucking the US and helping develop Iranian oil and gas production. Kuwait refuses to le the U.S. use their country as a base to attack Iran. ETC.
Note: Bush says the Iran government was actively arming and helping the Taliban in southern Afghanistan. In fact, the Taliban are extremist Sunnis who hate, and have killed large numbers of Shiites. Shiite Iran is unlikely to support them
AND MORE LIES
When the U.S. military command accused the Iranian Quds Force last January of providing the armour-piercing EFPs that were killing U.S. troops, it knew that Iraqi machine shops had been producing their own EFPs for years, a review of the historical record of evidence shows. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39810Did Pelosi really call us "irrelevant?"
Pelosi is the last person who should be calling anyone irrelevant these days. Lame Duck/24% approval rating Bushboy is the one who should be irrelevant, but Pelosi and Reid have somehow trumped him on it.
Adm. William J. Fallon head of the Central Command has said in so many words – War with Iran is CRAZY! No way! I like this guy. Same guy who called Petraeus "an ass-kissing little chick-sh --. : )
So why are so many DCDems lining up to follow Vice-prez Rasputin and his hand puppet Czar George II into another war for the same bogus reasons, this time with Iran?
Not in our media....
The Largest War Protest in Human History – the Iraq WarBetween January 3 and April 12, 2003, 36 million people took part in almost 3,000 protests against the Iraq War…On February 15, 2003.. in a worldwide anti-war protest …of between six and ten million people in more than 800 cities, the largest such protest in human history according to the Guinness Book of World Records. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_invasion_of_Iraq200 to 300 Diplomats will be notified that they are needed to work at the new embassy in Iraq due to a lack of volunteers. They will be paid extra for their trouble if they do, and disciplined if they don't.
It isn't really volunteering then, is it?
COUNTDOWN! 5.....Turkey described as unsatisfactory a series of proposals offered by a high-level Iraqi (and U.S.) delegation in Ankara. 4..... Turkey has massed up to 100,000 troops on the border. 3..... Turkish war planes and helicopter gunships attacked Kurdish guerrillas in eastern Anatolia on Wednesday, making at least one raid into Iraq. 2..... Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek confirmed Turkish air strikes inside Iraq… http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL1354608620071026
McCain marks 40th anniversary of crash By NAFEESA SYEED, Associated Press Writer
Fri Oct 26, 5:53 PM ET
SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Republican John McCain reminisced with war buddies on Friday, 40 years after he was shot down over Vietnam, and made the anniversary part of his presidential campaign. McCain appeared with Col. Bud Day, a fellow Vietnam prisoner of war, and told reporters he was highlighting his military experience because of his pride in his service.
-----
Its too bad that the pilot's bombing missions only served to strenghten North Vietnam's resolve to carry on the war and ultimately defeat the greatest military power the world had ever seen...air power has its limitations.
Florida Democrats crossed the line at their convention this week-end. They have a button saying Screw Dean.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1608
Picture included. That is beyond decency.
From way upthread ... HJ
" ... An American attack on Iran will be viewed by Moscow as an attack on Russia."
Monica has called this one right all along. The BIG power struggle is among Russia, the US, and China ... in the minds of putzCO ... and that's the way they're playing it. This will be their excuse.
*************
floridagal: FL DID cross the line. It's too bad that they couldn't have been so vocal when the 2000 and 2004 elections were stolen. Apparently attacking Rethugs is verboten, but crucifying a Democrat is fine.
So, what can we do about it? Is there anyone we can write to ... not that they'll pay much attention?
**************
Audrey: I am a great letter writer. Nancy has heard from me ... and will keep hearing from me ... but she has so far not paid any attention.
You'd think a former Balto gal would have a little respect for a current Marylander. Even though I am not residing there full-time, MD is my voting residence. But no.
Of course, if putzCo wanted the stronger hand in dealing with China, they would not have ensured that China is basically bankrolling our global economy.
If China pulls the plug, there will be a VERY big sucking sound and the only place that the USD will be any good is within the US.
That will essentially mean that, apart from putz, prick & friends who have mucho amounts stashed away in foreign accounts in different currencies, most Americans will literally be forced to remain within the confines of the US, never to see the outside world, which is fast leaving us behind in many ways.
How fragile our system really is, when the persons in charge have no respect whatsoever for the Constitution, nor for their fellow citizens who do not happen to be billionaires or even millionaires.
In just 6+ short years ...
Must leave now ... bbl
Bon Jour, mes amis
For some reason, the brain sometimes tunes itself to French. This morning I think it's in amusement in response to some email. First i got a follow up from the FOX cameraman who went by the house in VA, even though I told him it wouldn't be suitable and sent me the following:
I stopped in and looked the house over- the back door is still unlocked. You're absolutely right- it needs quite a lot of work. The floors really need to be stripped/sanded and restained and sealed, every room needs painting, some walls need resurfacing, kitchen cabinets doors would ultimately have to be replaced. Anyway- very labor intensive! You may very well be on the right track with a church/volunteer group prepping the place for a needy family.
I would be interested only if the cost of all materials I purchased for the rehab of the place could be deducted from the monthly rent. And the rent would have to be reduced to $1000 per month. A security deposit is pretty much unnecessary with the place in its current condition. I have no idea why the place appeals to me other than the sheer challenge of making it livable. The basement may actually be a health hazard at the moment!
Let me know how things progress- I might still be interested.
*******************
To which I responded:
You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Savage, but someone else got there before
you and took it "as is." They're moving down from Vermont, so may be less
daunted by somewhat primitive conditions that they plan to correct. :)
BTW, similar houses in the neighborhood are being acquired as tear downs
for half a million so they can be replaced with McMansions. Properly
invested, that amount would return far in excess of the annual rent we are
asking. But, that's not what we choose to do. We would not want to see a
McMansion on that site, although there's certainly room for an addition
with a garage on the west side. Perhaps you recognized the potential.
Regards.
M/H
************************************************************
The second letter was a response from Stuart Taylor, who writes for the National Journal and had a piece about how there should be consensus on FISA, but political considerations were interfering (last week's story), to the following from me--
Dear Mr. Taylor:
First of all, there is no reason why the behavior of our agents of
government should depend on the nationality of the persons with whom they
interact. The Constitution sets limits on behalf of "persons" not
citizens or non-citizens. So, the U.S. government shouldn't be spying on
foreigners either.
But, the electronic surveillance program isn't about persons anyway. It's
about mapping cyberspace so the wars of the future can be fought there, by
taking out other nations' industrial, commercial, financial and military
communications systems. Just consult the new director of the cyber
warfare program for the Air Force, Dr. Lani Kass. Cyber space is so much
more accessible than outer space.
"Cyberspace is something on which, as a technologically advanced nation,
the United States is hugely dependent. You use your ATM card, you use your
cell phone and you go to an Internet cafe. If somebody is pregnant, they
go have a sonogram. If they are sick, they have an X-ray or an MRI. All
those things are in cyberspace. Our life has become totally bounded,
dependent on cyberspace. Therefore, the importance of that domain is not
only for how we fight, but also for our way of life.
“Cross-domain dominance means being able to deliver effects in all domains
at the same time, at the speed of sound and at the speed of light. We
cannot afford to allow an enemy to achieve cross-domain dominance before
us. This is the nature of the transformational mission the chief and the
secretary gave us. Enemies who cannot match us on land, at sea, in the
air, or in space, are exploiting the fact that in cyberspace you have a
very low entry cost."
http://www.iwar.org.uk/homesec/resources/counterterrorism/testimony1Kass.pdf
Mr. Taylor responded:
Dear M. Smith:
Your first paragraph is interesting but contradicted by 200 years of Supreme Court caselaw interpreting the Constitution and by the views of all Democratic and Republican elected and appointed officials in the history of the United States, with perhaps small number of exceptions unknown to me.
As to the rest of your email, I certainly hope that our government and military get ahead of the dangerous nations of the world in this area. Otherwise, you may find yourselves among those adversely affected by our vulnerability.
Sincerely, Stuart Taylor
To which I responded:
Dear Mr. Taylor:
Perhaps you should interview Justice Kennedy on the rule of law.
It must be very difficult to live in a world in which you perceive
yourself to be surrounded by enemies. All of us die, but, if properly
tended and successfully passed on from generation to generation, our
society will live on. At present, the prognosis for U.S. society is not
good because the values embedded in the Constitution are being trashed.
It's been a while since someone brought up case law to me. Much case law
was overturned by the civil rights decisions of the sixties. The
revolution is not yet complete.
Cheers.
M/H
Why is the blog upside down?
Anyway, I thought the email exchanges an interesting window into how some people think.
Mr. Savage obviously thinks some people are stupid. But, he's not alone. There have been others who thought they recognized a sucker. It's one of the risks one takes when one ask a fair price or less than the market would bear.
Did you know that if a house you're selling isn't moving at the asking price, you should raise it? Works every time. There's some sort of psychological quirk that leads people to prefer something that costs more than it's worth to something that costs less. And then there's the impetus to buy before the price goes even higher.
The people who got sucked into the sub-prime bubble were victims of that psychology. The people who facilitated the sales and loans were aware. They didn't warn people. But, in all fairness, I'm not sure it would have done much good. Not only are people not receptive to being advised for their own good, but the agenda was set at the top by an administration that touted "home ownership." You'll remember my repeating over and over that this "ownership" wasn't going to take people anywhere (they would want to be).
You know, if the people who need to lord it over someone can't focus on some observable characteristic of a group to denigrate, they can always resort to the categories "smart" and "suckers." The latter are all those people they can take advantage of to prove themselves right.
It's upside down in both Opera and Firefox. By that I mean that the greeting has moved from the side to the bottom.
Do I dare to see if the wrap function is fixed in Opera? No.
BTW, the spouse got a solicitation to hold a Sicho houseparty and agreed. I didn't get that solicitation. Good idea to target someone other than the organizers.
29.
(bloggie kept crashing me last night, and yes, it's goofy in IE also)
We didn't kill OBL this summer for a few reasons:
1.) Reprisal factor. A huge upsurge in troop deaths and, if we didn't manage to recover his body, no way to prove his death since the WH has lied so much no one believes them anymore.
2.) Bad timing. He needs to go during the '08 campaign, and will. Bush legacy plus GOP election, two birds (well, three if you count OBL).
3.) Incompetence and/or lack of spine from those down the command chain.
4.) Dick Cheney refuses to go hunting in Afghanistan.
-- volney
It may not be entirely fair, but Mr. Taylor makes a living trying to influence social policy. So, new diary on KOS
I have actually been mulling doing a diary about the questions I posed to John Edwards and the mealy-mouthed letter I got in response. Since there's a limit of one diary a day on KOS, there's another day of reprieve. And I may change my mind.
But, I am not in the mood to play nice.
You forgot that he's much more valuable alive than dead, volney. :)
Before I go off to amuse myself, just want to point out that if we need proof that electronics are unreliable, this blog is it.
Of course, my favorite is still the automatic car windows that lower themselves by themselves in the rain and then refuse to go up until the humidity goes down.
My second favorite are the "stealth bombers" that have to be kept in air conditioned hangars to protect their skin from getting wet.
WATER--We don't know enough about it. Now, there's a bumper sticker!
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/27/51652/265
New thread too
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