Weakness, lack of principles and shortsightedness based on the “real facts on the ground” might soon threaten very “inevitability” of 2008 Demos victory..., lol.

In contrast, principled Ron Paul’s stances on many issues only gains him attention and popularity from Americans each next day. Just little bit more of those “successes in Iraq” and Ron Paul’s victory might start taking shape!

------------------------
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/us/pol...


November 25, 2007
As Democrats See Iraq Gains, a Shift in Tone
By PATRICK HEALY

.........
Advisers to Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama say that the candidates have watched security conditions improve after the troop escalation in Iraq and concluded that it would be folly not to acknowledge those gains. At the same time, they are arguing that American casualties are still too high, that a quick withdrawal is the only way to end the war and that the so-called surge in additional troops has not paid off in political progress in Iraq.

But the changing situation suggests for the first time that the politics of the war could shift in the general election next year, particularly if the gains continue. While the Democratic candidates are continuing to assail the war — a popular position with many of the party’s primary voters — they run the risk that Republicans will use those critiques to attack the party’s nominee in the general election as defeatist and lacking faith in the American military.

If security continues to improve, President Bush could become less of a drag on his party, too, and Republicans may have an easier time zeroing in on other issues, such as how the Democrats have proposed raising taxes in difficult economic times.

“The politics of Iraq are going to change dramatically in the general election, assuming Iraq continues to show some hopefulness,” said Michael E. O’Hanlon, a senior foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Institution who is a supporter of Mrs. Clinton’s and a proponent of the military buildup. “If Iraq looks at least partly salvageable, it will be important to explain as a candidate how you would salvage it — how you would get our troops out and not lose the war. The Democrats need to be very careful with what they say and not hem themselves in.”

At the same time, there is no assurance that the ebbing of violence is more than a respite or represents a real trend that could lead to lasting political stability or coax those who have fled the capital to return to their homes. Past military successes have faded with new rounds of car bombings and kidnappings.
............

The Deans, DFA and the DFA grassroots and netroots are first!

U.S. Scales Back Political Goals for Iraqi Unity

By STEVEN LEE MYERS and ALISSA J. RUBIN
Published: November 25, 2007

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 — With American military successes outpacing political gains in Iraq, the Bush administration has lowered its expectation of quickly achieving major steps toward unifying the country, including passage of a long-stymied plan to share oil revenues and holding regional elections.

Instead, administration officials say they are focusing their immediate efforts on several more limited but achievable goals in the hope of convincing Iraqis, foreign governments and Americans that progress is being made toward the political breakthroughs that the military campaign of the past 10 months was supposed to promote.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/washin...

The Best Case Against a Hillary  Candidacy I've Heard Yet. I Say She Needs to Run and Govern as the First Eleanor Roosvelt Presidency Instead of Triangulating.

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-loeb/hillary-and-the-politics-_b_73957.html

Sunlight - JS Bach - the best of the best. Seashell, I did some CD's b/c they are allegedly FDIC insured. Of course if OPEC goes to Euros all bets are off. Obama -- I like Obama, but I agree he's a little too slick -- I asked him a question or tried to on the website and they basically said they don't have time for my silly little questions, but ever since I get emails pimping contributions. I still like him tho. I like Dodd too tho. My discovery tonight was Die Walkure (as in The Valkyries as in Wagner's Ring Cycle). Watching opera is a little like reading a textbook - I do it more for edification than enjoyment. But this is a GOOD opera. I mean it has a great plot. Brunhilde is cool as all get out. I heard a rumor Pape is doing Wotan in the whole Ring in Berlin in 2010 so I'm saving up.

There is a sense of some commonality in seems to be so diametrically different but equally confused positions of both major Parties on domestic/international policies.

The Demos stands for the Governmental rules and regulations into otherwise chaotic and socially Darwinist economy. However their support for the same ideas of rules and regulations (including by military force) in the International affairs seems not so bold.

From Reps prospective the economy should stay disorganized, unregulated and “free” from any Governmental intrusions. However on International arena they are trying to regulate, negotiate and mess up on any possible way (including by military force) with world economy to bend it accordingly.

Both Parties however say nothing about major engine of that economy – which IS American people.

Those Parties, both, consciously HIDING from American people the fact that the economy they are trying to regulate and/or whose “freedom from any regulation” they are trying to defend, that economy BELONGS to ONLY THOSE who CREATED it. It BELONGS to American people, not to the Government.

Edwards offers heating oil plan By HOLLY RAMER, Associated Press Writer
39 minutes ago

...."American families are facing skyrocketing home heating oil and gasoline prices, while big oil companies earn massive profits," Edwards said in remarks prepared for delivery Sunday afternoon in Rochester. "We need to stand up to the oil companies, increase the use of renewable energy and create affordable choices for regular families."

----

And still the MINORITY Republicans are content to throw BILLIONS of dollars down the toilet in Iraq while MILLIONS of American children lack needed healthcare coverage. All of this is happening despite the pitiful lack of political reconciliation by Iraq's corrupt regime. It appears Republicans still see no need to hold them accountable as Americans continue to come back in Body Bags.

Oh! What I came by to say --- please don tinfoil hats before reading. This is about The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard. I've watched every episode, and the last I thought was a cliffhanger and it ended up being the last episode. Their blurb says it was supposed to be up in the air like that, that the whole series is. BUT, I have a theory. The top aide to Mrs. Pritchard is the 40 something having the affair with the 20 something speech writer and they get pregnant and she terminates the pregnancy one lunch hour. The aftermath of this event is handled very thoughtfully and intelligently and realistically, I thought. However, I think it was probably entirely too sympathetic to the idea of abortion and to the woman who had one, although I thought it was very realistic. Anyway, I'll put money on the 'powers that be' -- let's call it the American Taliban, pulled the plug on old Mrs. Pritchard -- maybe threatened to withhold major funding or something.

Does anyone remember Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman? This was a really beautifully done show and I never missed it on Saturday at 7 I think, just when impressionable young folks might be watching. But that show, while a frontier show, put forth very liberal ideas -- women wearing the pants (Dr. Quinn, the editor of the paper, the woman who ran the restaurant) and Dr. Quinn married eye candy (trophy husband) Sully. AND interracial marriage was put forth in the implied romance between the newspaper editor and the Indian chief. It was cancelled in the middle of it's height of popularity when it was consistently winning its time slot -- a victim of the American Taliban?

Okay -- one soapbox being vacated -- now available for use :~)

I sure have been what my mother would have called 'on my soapbox' tonight. Five day weekend spent alone makes you kinda chatty :~)

my soapbox is chained to my left ankle and i drag it everywhere with me.

Annilow
Sat, 11/24/07
10:01 pm


I remember that TV show. My Mother liked it. There was a poll question about Dr. Quinn. It had something to do with the public's trust. Does anybody remember?

I loved Dr. Quinn.  I'm surprised "Boston Legal" is still on, since it blasts all the things that the neo-cons hold dear.  It's my favorite show, altho "Ugly Betty" is a trip of a different sort and very enjoyable.

Building a Sustainable Future

Remember how much Howard Dean spoke out against NCLB?  

2003 Howard Dean on NCLB... "every school in America by 2013 will be a failing school."

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1662

Congress has a lot of fixing to do.

SEN. DODD: 

. This was—the issue that was raised by John Warner to General Petraeus before the Senate Armed Services Committee a few weeks ago, is America safer?  That’s the issue the American president has to answer.  Are we keeping our country safe and secure?  And I believe that our continued military presence in Iraq does not keep us safe and secure.  I think we’re far more vulnerable, I think we’re far more isolated today than in any time in recent history, and that we need to change direction on this policy

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

not blather

7.  Though this thread is done.

What our agents of government have forgotten is that the government is the American people and that they are merely agents.  You know, like the steward in the Bible who behaved in an unjust manner and failed to manage his master's property properly. 

The link in the main post doesn't work.  So much for Richardson's plan.