Howard is the most first! As always. . . .

12:09

Joan*in*Florida

You forgot Sununu on you list.  He will be retired.  Hagel and Domenici 

have already announced they're not coming back.

The Huckster needs to be sent packing. 

I still haven't gotten 'round to my letter to Iowa papers.

bbl 

I doubt that Huckabee and his ilk understand that the reason WE establish a government is to deal with the vagaries of nature which humans are particularly poorly equipped to deal with.  He still thinks that untamed humans are the biggest problem, now that other large wild animals have all been either exterminated or brought into zoos or isolated in their own reservations.  And he thinks that the purpose of government is to tame humans (make them obedient) with threats of hell fire or starvation and those that don't obey deserve to die an early death--the sooner the better.  Not being into science, he probably doesn't realize that it's the little things that will do us in--bacteria and viruses and amoeba--and the VERY BIG--hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, volcanoes, or an increase in temperature all around the globe.

It may be soothing to some people to be told fairy tales and have their mistakes beliefs re-affirmed.  But prudent people don't fall for that.

I sure hope that Democrats don't think he's the least offensive. Since he's been groomed in the same stable as the Bushes and the Clintons, I wouldn't want to have anything to do with him.

Ok, so here's my LTE.  A bit hoakie?

Please, Iowa caucus-goers, help select Christopher Dodd as our next President so I can stop worrying about the country and get back to doing the things I really love--making quilts and macrame lampshades and editing ten years' worth of video tapes before the mildew messes them up irretrievably.

I think Chris Dodd is the fellow to get the ship of state back on course and paddle through the swamp that is Washington, 'cause he knows where the alligators lurk. So, you lead the way and we in New Hampshire will do our best to keep up.

Thank you for making democracy work.

 

5. I like your LTE.



Driving by to say I just went to the gas station I always go to and there was a sign on the pump by the cheap stuff that said 'this contains up to 10% ethanol' and I must say I chickened out and went on to the BP station. Anyone else using ethanol? The little sticker was next to the cheap stuff, giving me the impression that if you just wanted to pay the price, you could get gas w/o ethanol. The BP gas had no such notice altho for all I know it is blended with ethanol too.


bbl

6.  I think all our gas up here has ethanol in it.  It doesn't seem to make any difference when you use regular.  Perhaps cars that need the higher octane are different.

Uh, Oh blog jumping again.  LOL

I need to shop--on the web.

bbl 

"undocumented guests seeking the American dream" need to have some regularized system to enter so they are not exploited but in anycase are deserving of basic human rights"

I agree with providing them with a path, much better border security, fines for corps who hire them and basic human rights.  I do not agree that they should be called "guests."  They are not.  I also think they need to learn English and at least be mandated to finish high school.  All citizens should be mandated to finish high school.  In fact, finishing high school used to be mandatory when I was young.  What happened?   A vibrant educated society would never let fascism in the door. 

I also looked into Canada and Australia and didn't meet the many requirements .  How come other civilized countries can put restrictions on immigration, but we're criticized if we do?  And more countries will do so as the world population increases.   

IMO, Huck is worse than putz.  Huck is truly messianic whereas  putz is a pure heartless corporatist, wearing messianic clothes and *what, me worry" persona.

We need to get the word out that Clinton is unelectable.  Many people won't know the real reasons she's a poor choice, but will buy the unelectable theme.  And we can make Dodd electable since this seems to be the concern of our astute voting public.   If they're not yet paying attention in PA, what does this say?

So we need a candidate who's both the right dem for the job AND electable.  IMO Dodd comes the closest and he'll fight for the Constitution and doesn't seem to be kissing up to AIPAC.  That could change  once in office, but we have to chance that.

Didn't find anything to buy.  Oh me, oh my.

Where is everybody?  Shopping? 

strange to promote a thread from yesterday...

That ought to bump him up a few more points with compassionate conservatives. 

How come other civilized countries can put restrictions on immigration, but we're criticized if we do?

Maybe because they don't have a giant statue in their greatest harbor which says...

Nobel laureate Gore sees hope in "people power"

:(


...not in this country.


OSLO (Reuters) - Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore said on Sunday he was optimistic that a growing "people-power" movement would push the world's leaders to take action to stop global warming.

The former U.S. vice president likened the campaign to the ban-the-bomb movement of past decades, and urged leaders at a U.N. climate conference in Bali, Indonesia, to issue a mandate for a strong treaty to curb greenhouse gases.

Gore, who shared the 2007 peace prize with the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for raising awareness and advancing climate science, will receive the prize in Oslo on Monday with the IPCC's chairman Rajendra Pachauri. The prize was announced in October.

"I have one reason for being optimistic, and that is that I see throughout my own country, the United States of America, and throughout the world the rising of the world's first people-power movement on a global basis," he said.

Gore pointed to an international grassroots nuclear-freeze movement which helped push U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to sign arms controls deals in the late 1980s, and said the climate campaign was even broader.

Gore and Pachauri will travel from Oslo to Bali where governments are meeting to try to launch negotiations towards an environmental treaty to succeed the Kyoto protocol which expires in 2012.

"It is my great hope that the meeting in Bali will result in a strong mandate empowering the world to move forward quickly to a meaningful treaty," Gore said.
....

"It is now abundantly clear that we cannot continue this process," he said.

Pachauri, seated next to Gore at Oslo's Nobel Institute under ceilings adorned with white peace doves, urged world leaders to consider tough steps to tackle global warming.

"If we were to carry out this stringent mitigation, one of the scenarios that we have assessed clearly shows that we have a window of nearly seven years," Pachauri said. "That means by 2015 we will have to see that emissions of greenhouse gases peak no later than that year and start declining thereafter."

"The time for doubting the science is over. What we need now is action," said Pachauri, an Indian who is head of a body of around 2,500 climate scientists from more than 130 nations.

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/...


Maybe he meant from other countries.

So we need a candidate who's both the right dem for the job AND electable.

"Electable" is fertilizer hot out of the bull's butt. Because the only way to know that someone is "electable" is if, and after, they're elected. Might as well choose a candidate by spinning a wheel or rolling a die.

Stick with your own principles and you'll do the best you can.

41.
Denise
Sun, 12/09/07
12:52 pm

Reply to this

Joan thanks for the streaming link!

+++

Joan -

Ditto.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/oprahwebcast

What if it really boils down to the inability to stop Global Warming all at the hands of the United States and her citizens inaction. Or worse yet, specific actions to stop progress to solve the crisis.

67.
Tom Bearse
Sun, 12/09/07
1:52 pm

Reply to this

In October, Alexander Bolton wrote in the Hill about 2004 Dean supporters in 2008.  Here are some excerpts: 

"Donors who made Howard Dean the Democratic presidential front-runner ahead of the 2004 Iowa caucuses have flocked to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), helping him raise more money than any other White House candidate this year, according to a review of fundraising records.

...

+++

Tom -

Thanks for that post.

I use a water bottle.
I use a cloth bag when I go to the Farmer's Market and to Trader Joe's.
I don't drive an SUV or a gas guzzler, though I do only get 23 mph City. Mea culpa.
I virtually live in the dark and am always turning off lights unless I really need them.
I've started to walk more for short distances but can do better.
I only buy organic when it's available and rarely eat red meat. Pretty hard for a Chicagoan raised on steaks and prime rib, but I don't miss it at all. I confess to occasional lamb chops.
I plan green meetings and insist the hotels work with me on it or they don't get my business.

Don't despair, Linda. I think many of us do things like what I do all the time. We are making a difference. Yes we can do more. But I'm proud that I don't hassle the Hummer driver that parks next to me - not too often. I do it in a nice way. He's my neighbor and doesn't speak much English. He's Japanese so I totally don't get the Hummer thing at all. But at least he parks it so it does not interfere with me parking my car.

I have no idea what he might be doing otherwise to make up for his extravagence. I say stop making them and no one can buy them!

rd, looks like they filled up the stadium.

Michelle now taking the stage. Love the musical choices for walk on music.

Michelle Obama speaking now: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/oprahwebcast

I see that Tom is repeating his offensive post of "character assassination by anecdote" of Dennis Kucinich.

 What is it about Dennis that makes you hate him so?

Oprah taking stage now - would have liked to have heard more from Michelle.

The blog is going screwey.  I was lost here for a while yesterday.

The Huckster is so yesterday.

There must be something more recent to hold againt him.

Mainly, I think all these religious nuts are just lazy. 

The fear of hell-fire is supposed to make social control easy. 

I just changed my computer clock to eastern time to see if it makes a difference as to where my posts show up.

Nope..LOL

Our cars are like the turtle's shell.  Ameicans wear their cars for protection.  That's why the car bomb is such a perfect tool for the terrorist.  After all, their object is to inflict terror.  

It should be noted that it was the CIA that taught Afghans and Iraqis. 

John wrote "What is it about Dennis that makes you hate him so?"

As those who pay closer attention can confirm, I love Kucinich and have said so on this site repeatedly.

To make sense, your question must regard the reason I am so opposed to his presidential aspirations.  The reasons are the subject of my posts regarding his candidacy, but I'll elaborate for you.  Vb said, and I agreed, that there are no pure candidates.  Surely, there hasn't been any in history that I'm aware of, but I've supported many candidates whom I believed were credible and had integrity.

In this instance, I've indicated that under the circumstances, I'll opt for the candiate who opposed an attack on Iraq from the start, and refused to take shots at Dean as either a candidate or as party chair.  The anecdotes you are so unfond of show us that Kucinich fails under the criteria.

Evolving Politics

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_w__chris_071208_politics_2c_like_biolo.htm

The problem with stretching something "too far" is that it breaks.  Duh.  Eventually it breaks and that's exactly what happened to the Democratic Party when it was stretched into a veritable clone of the Republican Party by the beltway, Democratic "Leadership" (give us a break!) Committee.  These soul selling James Carville types pushed Humpty Dumpty off the wall.  The party's over.  Man, is it over.  And the DLC killed it (with a great deal of help from the openly anti-progressive Clintons).

I don't care if they still have offices and talk their elite sucking up talk, the party's over.  Hey, James, don't you get it?  You compromised too much.  You kissed too many Republican you know what's.  Your greed ate you alive.  THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS DEAD.

How could you DLC traitors and greed heads possibly think you could get away with such blatant political/spiritual betrayal?  Jeez, are you stupid?  Or, maybe that's not it; maybe you think Americans are stupid -- especially, liberals and progressives.  Is that the deal?  Do DLC dems think American progressives and liberals are retarded?  Did you really think we would just "go along" with your immoral, irrational slaughter of what was left of the Democratic Party?

Well, it didn't work, did it?  Progressives are actually a pretty bright bunch and we think the DLC is something that belongs in an outhouse.  Get the idea?  We think you're scum.  You betrayed the liberal/progressive base of the Democratic Party infinitely; so, guess what, we're gone!  You pigs are on your own (fewer progressives would probably vote for Hillary Clinton, than pugs!). 

But how is this all going to play out?  We have a party in which the base has limitless contempt for the establishment facade.  The beltway dems are TOTALLY disconnected from what is now the single greatest political force in American politics:  progressives and liberals.

This is not opinion.  This is confirmed over and over again by political polls and the going ballistic of political activism of progressives on the net.    

Political evolution is an apt turn of phrase here, because like biological evolution, it's intrinsically beyond the reach of smug predictability, which is EXACTLY where America is right now.  Las Vegas can cook up whatever odds they want on political this or that, but the alchemy of this passionate liberal revolution from the establishment Democratic Party could go in a thousand different directions.

The 3rd Party thing seems highly improbable, plus we no longer have a 2 party system in America anyway.  We have the dem/pug ONE party system and we have millions of frustrated progressives who are trapped in a political system dreamed up by the astronomically rich to make sure they STAY astronomically rich.

So, arguably the single most important political/social question now in America is what will the powerful liberals & progressives do, since the Carville/Clinton clowns have killed the establishment, elite-worshipping Democratic Party deader than dead?

What comes next?  You tell me.

THE WAR/OCCUPATION CONTINUES

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_ron_jaco_071209_the_conspiracy_conti.htm

The men and women calling themselves Democrats and sitting in Congress are the biggest bunch of liars this country has ever seen. Given today's political situation, what with Bush and Cheney running the White House, that's a pretty big claim to make. Unfortunately for those who believed those men and women might actually stop the war in Iraq and begin getting the US military out of there, this is the only conclusion one can make.

I mean, we're not talking about halting funding for the war and occupation and bringing the troops home starting tomorrow here, even though that is what we should be talking about. No, we're talking about a bill that essentially suggests to Mr. Bush that he take $50 billion more for the war and start thinking about bringing some of the troops home as soon as possible with the idea that a good number of them are no longer in Iraq by December 2008. That's not a hell of a lot to ask for. Yet, the Democrats are backing off from this lily-livered legislation and planning on giving the White House another $50 billion with no strings attached, not even the silly string of the aforementioned withdrawal suggestion. To top it off, the Democrats are telling the press that it's the Republican's fault that they refuse to stand their ground.

We've tried maybe a dozen times" to bring troops home, said Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "And when we do try and we don't succeed, we still provide funding for the troops." In other words, they still provide monies for the war.  If the Democrats truly wanted to end the war, they would stand up to the challenges of the war supporters across the aisle and in the White House. Instead, they hedge their bets, blame their opponents for their failures, and vote for more war. All of which makes it harder for those of us who truly oppose the war and occupation to vote for any of them.

Monica, thanks for the posting again of the "Gang of 8."  Even the word gang indicates something shady, shoddy, elite and dangerous.

Rockefellar is CHA.  They all are.  If the truth came out about how guilty they are, they'd be thrown out of office, which should be done. And the people covering up the missing tapes are also CTA.  

Welcome to the new att'y general who thinks we don't need a special non-partisan investigation into the missing tapes.  And dems voted for this putz clone.

This is worse than watergate, much worse IMO. At least Nixon had a shred of decency left and resigned - or maybe not decency - maybe someone threatened him bigtime.

As disappointed as I am with the dems, the repugs are beyond the pale, corrupt to the core and filled with hatred of the dems, hence the filibusters and totally disregard of the American people.  But then, that pretty much describes many dems too.

...Former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee advocated isolating AIDS patients, amongst other fascist and clearly homophobic responses,...

There are several Democratic voters in my region of California who use this same rhetoric. They now support Mrs. Clinton but will end up voting for Huckabee if he's the Republican's nominee.

Oh Jeez, we have to read the blog from the bottom up.

HQ, could you at least give us a reason? 

So now what?  This is unbelievable.  We have a corporate loving, war mongering, drunk with power, Jesus freak. domestic program Ron Paul in the White House.  Are we going to hear "We don't have the votes" again?  What they should then do is add more billions, and write a pay go into the bill.  Fer god's sake, stop this maniac.

Pelosi is handcuffed with guilt, fear and corruption. 

FOCUS | White House Threatens Budget Veto
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/120907Y.shtml
Andrew Taylor, from The Associated Press, reports: "The White House on Saturday threatened to veto a massive spending bill being assembled by congressional Democrats, saying it's unacceptable to add billions of dollars to domestic programs."
 

Gore knows or suspects that global warming is not on the list of priorities...not high at least.  It's never mentioned in the debates.

So....Mr. Al Gore, you reall need to come to the aid of your country..........NOW. 

Not only is the blog effed up, but this front story is from yesterday or the day before.

Is is HQ or is it the NSA messing with us? 

So, arguably the single most important political/social question now in America is what will the powerful liberals & progressives do, since the Carville/Clinton clowns have killed the establishment, elite-worshipping Democratic Party deader than dead?

What comes next?  You tell me.

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

The Republicans have a sizable group backing Huckabee, maybe the largest for the Iowa caucus, and way too many share his world view.

It does have to be tempting to pick up all the millions of reasonable people who have become disgusted at what that party has become, and make a play to the center.

The problem: the center has been pulled to the right leaving tens of millions with no party whatsoever their champion.

an Edwards/Obama ticket would solve both problems

What comes next? 

John Edwards

funny what you can find on a random search

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_n4_v14/ai_20212849/pg_2 

New paper trail details what Lippo cash bought - evidence in Lippo Group influence buying allegations 

Another document indicates that Grobmyer involved himself in nuclear-proliferation issues involving Russia and Iran. The Commerce Department produced a copy of an April 30, 1994, fax that Grobmyer sent National Security Council Staff Director Nancy Soderberg reporting on the work of his U.S. Fuel and Security Team. According to a July article in Time magazine, Grobmyer's project was a "curious plan to buy enriched uranium from Russia and the United States, lease it to utilities worldwide, collect the spent radioactive rods and store them on a tiny volcanic island in steel casks made in, of course, Arkansas."

Whew, what a great rally !

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/oprahwebcast

an Obama/Edwards ticket

Tom

Under your criteria, you have no candidate. All but Dodd has taken a shot at Dean. If he has, I haven't seen it. So, that leaves you with no candidate, because Dodd doesn't meet your second criteria of not having supported the war.

If there were someone you could support, would it be someone you liked, but who's message was weak, or someone you maybe didn't like but who's message was a dream come true?

The wonderful bills Dennis has in committee don't contain billions in payoff to the corp. so he won't be able to get them passed as a Congressman, but as Pres. in charge of the majority Party, it could be done.

Dennis is the only candidate calling for impeachment, that says it all, because that's where we have to start.

On now PBS

Great opera moments at the Met. 

thanks Monica, I had forgotten about Sununu.

As for the many retiring, we still need to find Progressives to fill their seats.

Also, Smith in OR needs to go.  Put him on the list.

Outstand Big O rally in South Carolina. The crowd was really fired up, there was some great music, and everything moved along smoothly.

Obama was ringed by SS as he worked his way through the energetic crowd afterward.

Reportedly, there were some 35,000 people who were counted by how many pamphlets they handed out. The cameras for the webcast were not panoranic and so the size of the crowd on a computer screen was missed.

4,500 viewers were watching the webcast, along with me of course. There was an ongoing count onscreen.

Very busy day, NH then SC for the O's.

39.

an Obama/Edwards ticket  

rd,

How about an Obama/Feingold ticket. Either would be great.

48.

All but Dodd has taken a shot at Dean. If he has,

Oh??? I haven't heard of or seen Obama, Edwards, Richardson, or Biden taking any Dean shots.

House, Senate Negotiators Propose Ban on Waterboarding by CIA

By James Rowley

Dec. 6 (Bloomberg) -- CIA agents would be banned from simulating drowning, or waterboarding, in questioning suspected terrorists under legislation agreed to by House and Senate negotiators, lawmakers said.

The legislation would require all spy agencies to follow the Army Field Manual's interrogation standards, which ban waterboarding and other harsh techniques, members of the Senate Intelligence Committee said in separate statements.

Waterboarding became politically controversial following news reports that the CIA had used the technique three times to interrogate suspected al-Qaeda operatives after the Sept. 11 attacks. It hasn't been used since 2003, according to reports.

``The national debate over torture will end if this amendment to place the CIA under the Army Field Manual becomes law,'' California Senator Dianne Feinstein, a sponsor of the provision, said in a statement. ``All U.S. government interrogations, military and civilian, would be conducted under the same rules.''

If passed by Congress, the ban might prompt a veto by President George W. Bush, who has argued that intelligence agents need flexibility in questioning suspected terrorists. The Bush administration has denied that agents ever tortured prisoners to extract information.

Presidential spokeswoman Dana Perino said today such a provision ``is something the president has opposed in the past and that we would have a veto threat on.'' ...full article: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=2...

Joan, be patient - the quotes will be supplied no matter how old they are. At this point, I'm sure Howard has forgiven them, if he even ever held a grudge.

49.

You are right Denise. Lists of everything abound somewhere on the INet.

I was actually referring to any of them taking a shot at Dean during their campaigns.

So any outdated stuff can be --- well, stuffed.

i think a good look at the legislative process under carter is in order. its history, look it up.

Joan.....

If you say you haven't heard, then you haven't.

These incidents have been posted here so many times. In the case of Biden, I have just seen him join in the "fun" when others have initiated the slurs, maybe some would consider that not as bad.

audrey wrote "Under your criteria, you have no candidate."

I have two under that criteria.

Placido Domingo now singing arias from Puccini's "Tosca" and "Turandot."  O my.  And it's lightly snowing.  Is there a more perfect day?

Denise, if you're still here and can find this post, what do I need on my mac to do streaming video?  I have quicktime and real player..is that enuf?

mprov...heck, I wouldn't mind going back several decades to when Carter saw to our energy problem and pollution and had installed all those Solar Screens.

Before the payola Presidencies of Corporations placing their puppet in the White House (starting with Reagan) and then the dumming down of America.

...who will we end on?

s/b solar PANELs.

Hi seashell!

I also have windows media player for Mac downloaded, but most of the time, I just go to the link and the video starts on its own.

Can you play anything at the You Tube website? Just pick something at random and if you get an error message, let me know what it says.

The CIA is known to be complicit in drug running so what Anni posted about the poppy fields is likely....drugs ÅND oil AND power.  And what about water?  There'll be loads of money to be made in the coming water wars.

There appears to be no end to the depths these criminals will sink.

There is no longer any question in my mind.  This is planned and damn well planned..even to the point of nuke war.  Putzco loves the game of "blink." 

seashell, our mountains are COVERED with snow, but we only had a sprinkling at 7K feet here.

During campaign or not, is Howard going to hold that against the nominee when it comes time to vote? One can only guess.

Denise, I can play everything on youtube fine.  And thank you.   But I can't figure out how to stream AAR live.  I don't see a clickie at the website.

Denise, do you have a link for the windows media thingie?  I'll download it to cover my bases.  Sometimes I can't open things from PC's and don't know if it's a Bill Gates thing or my mac.

Seashell it's playing for me on my MacBook Pro using Windows Media Player

Tom....

I wasn't including Gravel in the mix. You have another?

The reason I say that putz would take us into nuke war is becuz for his type of alcoholic mental illness, he'll push the envelope no matter what. He simply doesn't care about anything or anyone and especially about the consequences of his actions.

A true dry drunk.

Someone please get this criminal into AA. 

Denise,  I guess I need that media player.  There are a number of websites.  Is it free?  Which link should I use?

Denise, do I download .bin or .hqx?  These choices baffle me.

Hold on seashell let me do some looking. I would think the Windows website is your best bet.

Seashell look here

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/otherproduc...

The problem: the center has been pulled to the right leaving tens of millions with no party whatsoever their champion.

Look at the record (if you dare). John Edwards is one who helped do it. 

Let's try and replace all of these with Progressive Democrats.

• 2.3.1 Mark Pryor of Arkansas
• 2.3.4 Mary Landrieu of Louisiana
• 2.3.6 Carl Levin of Michigan
• 2.3.7 Max Baucus of Montana
• 2.3.10 Tim Johnson of South Dakota
• 2.3.11 Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia

I guess this blog can now be called centrist as all of the recent posts go to the middle - ha.

Well 30,000 people coming out in the middle of the holiday season is quite nice. I'm sure many came to see Oprah. Nowhere near 80,000 but at least they shot for it. Will be nice to see if he gets a bounce to close the gap between him and HRC. Last I heard he was only behind 3 points.

Denise, I tried downloading the hqx file and it didn't work.  I don't know enuf about this stuff to do this.  I get things saying there's no application, plus there was no download time and I can't quit all apps the way it says. 

It's a mess.

Also, I don't and can't get IE on my computer and don't know why.  It's a fab computer.

Maybe what I have is enuf.  Can you link me to AAR and the place I'm supposed to click?  Can't find it.

Sea, the beauty of a Mac is that it's painless. Not sure why you're having so many problems. I'm using Safari to listen to air america radio, not IE, though I do have that installed as well.

I believe you just go to their website and click on Listen Live

www.airamerica.com

You shouldn't be having to make all of those choices. Maybe you need to take a trip to the Apple store. Also, my friend paid $99 for a lesson a week for a year at the Mac store. Might be a good investment for you if you're having a hard time with some of the features.

Sorry it's AirAmerica.com

Google is your friend, sea

OK, I may have figured this out.  I had to do some silly registering and than I saw Sam Seder saying he'd vote for Hillary.  Is this today's show, Denise?  If so,  I can get in with real player.

Yikes, I'm so challenged, but man can I dance. 

Yes it's Seder on Sunday - today's show.

Yes, Denise, I did google and yes, I need lessons at the mac store, and yes, I was able to do this all along and just complicated it for myself.  And thank you for encouraging me to keep at this.

Still, why would Seder back Hillary?  I don't think I want to hear any more, since my PBS is calming my soul with opera.  :-)

Google is my friend.  HQX  and BIN files are not.  Gads, was that a complicated explanation of the difference and I still don't  understand.

Jan. lessons coming up! 

You could have bypassed the registering by reading the small print in the bottom right of that screen but no harm done. At least you can hear it - hooray!!

OK I'm outta here for a bit. Glad I could help.

I think I'm going to take a ride to the coast to see if I can spot any surfers at Mavericks with the binoculars. Supposed to be some incredible waves out there.

China concerned over US 'protectionism'

Protection from their toxic products. 

007

O and O in '07

Iowa yesterday --

South Carolina this afternoon --

New Hampshire tonight

Pelosi

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Pelosi_did_not_object_to_waterboarding_1209.html

Two senior Republicans and Democrats in Congress -- including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- were briefing on the CIA's program to use waterboarding on terror suspects in September 2002 and did not object, according to Sunday's Washington Post.

In the long-ranging article, which seemingly takes the lawmakers and the Bush Administration to task by discussing the practice's emergence in Nazi Germany and other totalitarian states, a Pelosi aide said the Speaker remembered discussion of "enhanced" interrogation techniques and "acknowledged that Pelosi did not raise objections at the time."

Only Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) -- then the second-ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee who would supplant Pelosi in 2003 -- formally objected. Harman, who was set to lead the House Intelligence Committee when the Democrats retook the chamber in 2006, was pushed aside by Pelosi when she took over as Speaker, in what was seen as an element of personal rivalry.

Aren't you proud of our speaker?

O + O

Verizon Wireless Center in Manchester, NH

start time 7:30 pm EST

GORE POORLY RECEIVED IN LONDON

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/12/09/report_gore_poorly_received_in_london/2540/

Al Gore earned just more than $200,000 for a poorly received half-hour speech before a restless crowd in London, it was reported Sunday.

The Nobel laureate and former U.S. vice president spoke at a Fortune Forum fundraiser to draw attention to global warming, the Daily Mail reported Sunday. Attendees, who donated between $2,000 and $100,000 to the event, included celebrity activists Bob Geldof, Darryl Hannah and Jerry Hall.

Gore earned the ire of journalists by refusing to speak to them and he declined to mingle much with the glittery crowd that paid to hear him, the British newspaper reported.

"Many guests looked tired and began to talk among themselves during his speech. Heads began to twitch with tiredness," one attendee told the Mail.

A spokesman for Gore disputed the account, saying he was well received and dedicates part of his fees to the fight against global warming.

This is unbelievable! I just read on the Huffington Post that Hillary is claiming that she tried to become a Marine and they rejected her. According to her they said she was too old, couldn't see well enough and was a women. I find this quite dubious...maybe they'll take her now.

Has anyone (Phil in particular) heard any rumors about Gore making any endorsements prior to the Iowa causas. Seems it was just about now in 2003 that he endorsed Howard. Might make a huge difference in that close race.

MERDE

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_mark_sas_071209_on_my_word_of_honor.htm

It is remarkable how this very word is applicable to the events and interpretations of what happened here, in the US through the Y2007. It was as if we here were drowning in Merde, waterboarded by Merde and eating the Merde pies. Some of us even learned to love the taste.

The year started with the Dems majority in Congress and our hopes revived. Then we were all drowned in Merde by madam Pelosi herself and her mantra about Impeachment off the table. Not that I trusted her ears very much anyway. But hope dies hard. Still, when I saw the LADY WITH EARS telling me and us all that we could go screw ourselves I felt like I felt in the 1980s in Russia when under the enlightened leadership of the Spotty Gorby they burned the grape vineries in the apotheosis of the campaign against drinking. Not that vodka suffered even a bit.

 When we exhale for moment we see out beloved Candidates. All Dems look like they are children of Hillary (except for Kucinich and Gravel, those are OK) and all GOP folks look like that KFC Colonel. That is except for McCain who looks like he lost himself in the hallways of power.

CIA TAPE DESTRUCTION

http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/linkframe.php?linkid=47156

The CIA tape destruction presents another test for the Rule of Law in America. It’s a test for Congressional oversight, and it’s a test for the Department of Justice. Michael Mukasey will have to decide whether he considers himself to be the nation’s principal law enforcement officer, or a loyal retainer of George W. Bush. He’s only a few days on the job and the path has clearly divided.

audrey wrote "I wasn't including Gravel in the mix. You have another?"

Then Obama's the only candidate who meets the criteria.

95.

Tom -

Agreed.

N E Patriots 24

Pittsburg Steelers 13

=====

Patriots 13-0 for the season so far

Congrats Tom..................Detroit beats Carolina.................... 4-2 I turned it off

Mike wrote "Congrats Tom..................Detroit beats Carolina.................... 4-2 I turned it off."

Thanks.  You missed a goal.  5-2 final.  

Obama and Oprah live now in Manchester, New Hampshire:

http://mfile.akamai.com/12441/live/reflector:39570.asx

Tom,

That is sooo amazing. It's Obama? The one who kicked all the DFAers who donated or worked for him in the pants on his way to power? The one who lied about keeping his obligation to the voters? That was the one who said the Dem Party wasn't religious enough. You mean the one who says he was against the war, and ran right into the arms of Joe Lieberman, the other anti war Dem. That coudn't be the one.

audrey wrote "That is sooo amazing. It's Obama?"

Yes, that's who, among all the candidates, never supported an Iraq invasion and never took shots at Dean when he was either a candidate or the party chair.

Well, It's your choice. He talks a lot about uniting us. Hope he does better than the "uniter". Don't be too surprsed if he picks a Rep. for VP., could even be Joe.

Obama talking now:

http://mfile.akamai.com/12441/live/reflector:39570.asx

Tom -

Just curious, do you ever recall being kicked in the pants by Barack ? 

For myself, I don't ever recall being kicked.

Any other DFAers remember being kicked by Obama ?

40 Huron John,  The Democratic party is Dead!  What comes next?

 Progressives have to put Principle before Party.  Progressives would not be in this position if they had not put party "electability' before Principle!  Putting Principle First, Progressives can help America become Progressive  by Voting for:

Ron Paul for President and Greens for Congress.

The American People know that hey have been betrayed by both the Democrats and the Republicans.  Both Parties could fall in 2008. 

Progressives have to get over their elitism, that common sense Americans can't lead.  Progressives should think what is best for America, not which party is best.  Ron Paul's Message is resonating with the American People, Black and White, Rich and Poor, Young and Old, Conservative and Liberal! 

Freedom, Prosperity and Peace !

That's progressive!

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//071209/ids_photos_ts/r1666272815.jpg/

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (L) speaks as his wife Michelle Obama (R) and talk show host Oprah Winfrey (C) watch during a campaign rally at William Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, December 9, 2007.REUTERS/Chris Keane (UNITED STATES)

XX:09

I don't know, 'bout the only thing I saw today was mayor Guilianni with Mr (millionaire/wants to secure his cash-flow through taxing commoners) Russert about his scandalous affair and how  the taxpayers of New York City pay for the posies of those in power who generate hate - like Rudolph...

Well, Timmy just let Rudolph pitch his world-view.  No hate the bitch Hillary interview, nope.  Just a real nice, free, and positive (under the circumstances) interview/advertisement.

DES MOINES, Iowa - Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign on Sunday requested the resignation of a second Iowa volunteer coordinator who forwarded a hoax e-mail saying Barack Obama is a Muslim possibly intent on destroying the United States.

[...]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071210/ap_po/clinton_obama_religion

 > Well, that is working the positive.  Iowan will appreciate her move here.  Good move.  I'm positive Barack will think so.

Any other DFAers remember being kicked by Obama ?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ya

9:31

Hey, this is cool:)

Oprah's gone, but Kevin and Tim are on the way.

 Democrat John Edwards announced Sunday that actors Kevin Bacon and Tim Robbins will join him on Iowa's frigid campaign trail.

Edwards' announcement came as media mogul Oprah Winfrey stumped here for Barack ObamaHillary Rodham Clinton's famous husband, former President Clinton, planned to return. The three candidates are in a tight race in the state that opens the presidential nominating season with its precinct caucuses on Jan. 3. during the weekend, and as

Just last week, Edwards was joined on the stump by actresses Jean Smart, who plays the first lady on the popular FOX series "24," and Madeleine Stowe, who has appeared in such films as "The Last of the Mohicans" and "Twelve Monkeys." Last month, performers Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne campaigned in Iowa for Edwards.

The problem: the center has been pulled to the right leaving tens of millions with no party whatsoever their champion.

Yep. And Edwards helped it along. 

GORE POORLY RECEIVED IN LONDON

http://www.upi.

Unification Press International?
Rev. Moon Adds United Press International To His Media Empire

(Some messengers need to be shot.) 

113. Sitka, Yes, surprised that the DailyMail's rag would be picked up and land here, but alas, the smear has to come as he is about to receive his Nobel Prize.


As the original story was trying to make it seem like it was a poor speach...they didn't know which theme to go with...if it was poor, why were they upset they didn't get questions and photos, and then there was the bark of all the money Gore receives for these speaches.

Do you think they will highlight the $750,000.00 Mr. Gore receives tomorrow, along with all presentation, speaches, movie profits and his earnings with the new VC are all donated to the Alliance for Climate Protection. Nahhh, I think they might overlook that too. :)

115. cC, cool. Some good actors and activists there....and Madeline Stowe! Nice to have support.

114. Oh and I forgot, the stories out AFTER the event...over a week ago, were much different than the Dailymail's "one source that claimed many"...the new "some say", account.

Lol...a kick in the pants shouldn't really affect someone's memory of the event...unless?
'

I tell you. By the time I'm done with this house, I might be able to build one myself. Tiling, insulating, plaster, drywall. Hubby wants to hire me out.


Well, all be well.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/group/ObamaHQ/

Like many of Barack's supporters, Oprah Winfrey is new to politics. While she has used the power of her stardom in the service of manycauses, she's avoided the political arena because of her cynicism about politicians' ability to deliver on their promises.  But that cynicism ended when she met Barack Obama.

...

Well, off for the night.

I hope you all had a great day.

Is anyone watching 1968 on the History Channel?  It's been 39 years and in some ways it seems like yesterday. I just totally lost it while watching the segment on the death of RFK. Tom Brokaw did a great job with this.

LindaSFNM, yes, I've always LOVED Tim Robbins:)

And if you get too cold this winter, just find a cheap flight and come out here for as long as you like

In 1968 I was a kid living in a small town in southern MO. 1968 didn't reach places like that until 1971. 

And if you get too cold this winter, just find a cheap flight and come out here for as long as you like

Is anyone watching 1968 on the History Channel?

In 1968 I was a kid living in a small town in southern MO. 1968 didn't reach places like that until 1971.

(I had just been editing an email to a friend.)

Like many of Barack's supporters, Oprah Winfrey is new to politics. While she has used the power of her stardom in the service of manycauses, she's avoided the political arena because of her cynicism about politicians' ability to deliver on their promises.  But that cynicism ended when she met Barack Obama.

Sometimes, some of our amateur propagandists on this blog make me want to heave. 

What promises has Obama delivered on to dispel Oprah's cynicism? The fact is, he ain't done chit.

Michael Mukasey will have to decide whether he considers himself to be the nation’s principal law enforcement officer, or a loyal retainer of George W. Bush.

He made that decision when he accepted Bush's offer to become AG.

In '68 I saw RFK speak of things that never were and ask, "Why not?" from the back of a train in Columbus, NE. A few days later, that train, bearing his body rolled slowly back through town. Learned that politics is a full-contact-no pads game. Tricky Dick's election aroused the worst of and the worst in us and set the stage for the current lunacy and treachery in the halls of power. God, the music was soo fine through it all!

In '68 I saw RFK speak of things that never were and ask, "Why not?"

RFK skipped the early primaries that year and announced his candidacy on March 16.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/rfkonmlkdeath.html

1968

~~~~~~~~~~ 

Martin Luther King dedicated his life to love and to justice between fellow human beings. He died in the cause of that effort. In this difficult day, in this difficult time for the United States, it's perhaps well to ask what kind of a nation we are and what direction we want to move in. For those of you who are black -- considering the evidence evidently is that there were white people who were responsible -- you can be filled with bitterness, and with hatred, and a desire for revenge.

We can move in that direction as a country, in greater polarization -- black people amongst blacks, and white amongst whites, filled with hatred toward one another. Or we can make an effort, as Martin Luther King did, to understand, and to comprehend, and replace that violence, that stain of bloodshed that has spread across our land, with an effort to understand, compassion, and love.

( ... )

My favorite poem, my -- my favorite poet was Aeschylus. And he once wrote:

Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget
falls drop by drop upon the heart,
until, in our own despair,
against our will,
comes wisdom
through the awful grace of God.

What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love, and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black.

Amen, Phil.

Bushs New Dentist Faces Tough Confirmation Hearing

Clinton, Giuliani Slipping In Polls (humor)

Cia Claims They ‘taped Over’ Interrogations With ‘taxicab Confessions’

God Backs Huckabee; Devil Still Undecided

Phil, Thank you for the inspirational words and poetry from Bobby. It's difficult to imagine anyone today having that kind of elequence. For some reason I supported McCarthy in 1968; but I have no greater hero than Bobby.

Good morning, everybody

Well. actually.  Who knows what time it is?

We went to a viewing of "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib" last evening.  

The audience of well-meaning souls was shocked.  

There are a lot of people who still have no idea what's up. 

OK.  Almost forgot.  What are conservative values?

How about?

dominance

subservience

obedience

exclusion

separation

segregation

isolation

resignation 

Republicans are having such a hard time because no one is telling them who to vote for, but when they get the message they will do their duty and vote. Papa Bush lending Romney a podium was a signal. But I don't think even the fall into line Party takes orders from Bush anymore, although they do in the Senate.

Hi kids -- I'm driving by to say I made it to (drum roll) beautiful downtown Prague Czech Republic. I am exhausted and need a nap. JudyforDean I just saw how close Nurmburg is. If you are in Prague too -- post and I'll tell you where I'm staying. I can't check in yet so I did a walk across the Charles Bridge which is incredibly picturesque. Prague received no damage during WW II so it has a lot of beautiful old buildings. I need my coat but it's packed -- I'm strolling in my Land's End down vest. I'm taking a lot of pix and will post on my blog when I return. Everyone is very friendly and most speak a little English in the tourist areas, but not widespread like Switzerland. I'll post again since we have free Internet here. bbl

Like many of Barack's supporters, Oprah Winfrey is new to politics. While she has used the power of her stardom in the service of manycauses, she's avoided the political arena because of her cynicism about politicians' ability to deliver on their promises.  But that cynicism ended when she met Barack Obama.

Sometimes, some of our amateur propagandists on this blog make me want to heave. 

What promises has Obama delivered on to dispel Oprah's cynicism? The fact is, he ain't done chit.

+++

Sitka -

You ask a question to Oprah and then you answer it for her.

Zounds.

138.

Annilow -

Prague really sounds interesting.

Look forward to the pics.

written in a mssage from Garry Shay on Monday, December 10, 2007 12:09 AM

They are seeking "clarifications" to then argue after the "clarifications" are made that the law was not clear and thus what they did was not a war crime.

No clarification is needed; only prosecution.

---

Op-eds on legal news by law professors and JURIST special guests...

Clarifying' the Geneva Conventions: A Ploy to Limit US Culpability


JURIST Guest Columnist Benjamin Davis of the University of Toledo College of Law says official US calls for "clarifying" the Geneva Conventions are part of a ploy to limit their application and enable prisoners to be treated outside the law without inviting culpability for war crimes and torture...

---

State Department Legal Adviser John Bellinger III has called for "clarification" of Geneva Conventions in the margins of the 30th international conference of the International Committee of the Red Cross/Red Crescent in Geneva (see this report on JURIST).

Bellinger said,
[The Conventions] do not apply to every situation. They in fact apply to conflicts between states. So therefore the Geneva Conventions do not give you the answers about who can be held in a conflict with a non-state actor. They do not tell you how long you can hold someone in a conflict with a non-state actor. They do not tell you what countries to return people to. In a normal conflict where one is fighting one or maybe two countries, at the end of the conflict you return the combatants to those countries. In fighting al-Qaida we've found that we have detained individuals from more than two dozen countries around the world. The Geneva Conventions do not provide answers to those questions so they don't provide sufficient guidance to countries as to what law to apply.
I want to emphasize the consistent and relentless effort of those speaking for the United States Government to keep trying to convince all of us domestically and internationally that the Geneva Conventions do not apply to this armed conflict. It started soon after 9/11 and was enshrined very early on in the February 7, 2002 Presidential Military Order. Bellinger is one more of a long line of persons working overtime to argue for holes and seek our acquiescence in this view.

The reason for these arguments is not one of principle but it is rather one of decisions made to be able to treat persons outside of law. The law is used to protect the persons who conspired to act outside of law who do not want to face any consequences for the decisions taken. As long as these persons are able to keep us guessing and arguing about the applicability of Geneva Conventions they can keep us from looking at their intended acts that are grave breaches and war crimes. We should not be duped by this ploy.

Bellinger went on to say, ...

...It is clear to me that the lever of the issue of when to return people is trying to be used to encourage a review of several aspects of the Geneva Conventions. The reason for this effort is that if one can convince the world to create a new protocol to deal with things one argues were not covered in the prior Conventions or Protocols, then one is able to vindicate the United States Government’s position since early on in the "War on Terror" that the Geneva Conventions and Protocols did not apply to the conflict. Through this maneuver, any prosecution for those leadership persons of the United States for grave breaches and war crimes for existing Geneva law violations before international criminal tribunals would then be undermined on the basis of the principle of legality. ...full article: http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/forumy/2007/1...

Ron Paul 2008
1,329 Meetup Groups

Mike Huckabee for President 2008
224 Meetup Groups

Dennis Kucinich
97 Meetup Groups

Barack Obama
63 Meetup Groups

John Edwards / One America
50 Meetup Groups

Draft Al Gore
49 Meetup Groups

Hillary Clinton
43 Meetup Groups

John Kerry
34 Meetup Groups

Duncan Hunter for President 2008
19 Meetup Groups

Fred Thompson for President
11 Meetup Groups

Mike Gravel for President 2008
9 Meetup Groups

Mitt Romney for President 2008
7 Meetup Groups

John McCain
6 Meetup Groups

Wesley Clark
5 Meetup Groups

George W. Bush
4 Meetup Groups who winning the meet ups ron paul!!

Kurt Nimmo
TruthNews
December 9, 2007

“A gunman walked into a training center dormitory for young Christian missionaries early Sunday and opened fire, killing two of the center’s staff members and wounding two others,” reports the Guardian. “The shooting happened at about 12:30 a.m. at the Youth With a Mission center, police spokeswoman Susan Medina said. About 45 people were evacuated from the dormitory in this Denver suburb.”

At this time, there are few details, as the gunman escaped without a trace. However, his target has a few rather odd associations.

According to Nat Mayown Person and Robert Parsons, Youth With a Mission (YWAM) is a CIA front group involved in “espionage missionary work,” particularly in developing nations.

According to Rick Ross, YWAM was founded

…by a California Assemblies of God minister, Loren Cunningham, in 1961. The organization reportedly has claimed (1982) more than 1,500 long-term and 10,000 short-term missionaries. Youth with a Mission (YWAM), with numerous bases internationally, Discipleship Training Schools throughout the United States and outside America, is one of the largest evangelistic missionary organizations in the world. Certainly, millions of dollars flow through its accounts yearly. YWAM does have substantial influence within the Evangelical Christian community.

Before it was bankrupted by the Church of Scientology, the Cult Awareness Network stated “that Ywam has many elements of a destructive cult,” specifically “the authoritarian control by the elders” over members.

“YWAM is vehemently anti-Catholic and pro-‘Reconstructionist’ — that is, founder Loren Cunningham believes in replacing democracy with a fundamentalist Protestant theocracy,” writes Jospeh Cannon.

Although the Person and Parsons do not bother to provide additional information on their accusation, it is interesting to note that filmmaker David Loren Cunningham, son of Loren Cunningham, YWAM founder, was allowed to film at CIA headquarters in Langley for his feature ABC series, “The Path to 9/11,” basically a slick propaganda piece starring Harvey Keitel, Patricia Heaton, and Donnie Whalberg, and based on the official whitewash commission fairy tale. “Is Bush and the CIA behind the controversial ABC News documentary ‘The Path to 9/11,’ which blames Clinton for the 9/11 attack? It looks like it might be,” writes Marc Perkel Rantz.

The movie’s director Davin L. Cunningham is an evangelical nutcase and the son of the guy who started the Christian cult Youth with a Mission. The movie producers had unusual access to CIA headquarters to make this film. There seems to be a lot of people on the web connecting the dots but it looks like this is a CIA propaganda film that was produced by the Bush administration to change the outcome of the upcoming congressional elections. Besides, who came up with the $40 million bucks to produce this lie? We may never know for sure but it’s probably us taxpayers through one of those black budgets that funds projects like this and CIA torture camps.

As it turns out, Cunningham the Younger is connected to the neocon network, specifically David Horowitz, the former Marxist with connections to documented CIA asset Richard Mellon Scaife. “Early on, Cunningham had recruited a young Iranian-American screenwriter named Cyrus Nowrasteh to write the script” for his 9/11 fantasy project. “Not only is Nowrasteh an outspoken conservative, he is also a fervent member of the emerging network of right-wing people burrowing into the film industry with ulterior sectarian political and religious agendas, like Cunningham,” writes Max Blumenthal. Replace “conservative” and “right-wing” with “neocon” and you will have a more accurate idea of the mechanics.

And, as Cannon notes, YWAM is connected to Agape Airlines. “Agape operates at the world-infamous Venice airport, where Mohammed Atta trained… A pilot named Mark Mikarts flies for Agape. The same pilot was Atta’s flight instructor.”

Once again, we are presented with a series of supposed coincidences surrounding yet another apparent “lone gunman” mass murder scenario. Of course, at this time, the shooting outside of Denver appears to be a random act of violence, or possibly an act of revenge on the part of a former YWAM member.

Jill P. Capuzzo
The New York Times
December 9, 2007

The New Jersey Public Health Council is expected to vote tomorrow on a rule that would require flu vaccines for any child entering day care or preschool. If it is approved, New Jersey would become the first state in the country to impose that mandate.

The flu vaccine is one of four that the council will consider. There is a vaccine that would be given to children entering day care or preschool to protect against pneumonia, and two others that would be given to those entering sixth grade: one to guard against meningococcal disease, a fast-killing strain of meningitis, and the other an additional booster of a three-part shot already administered at a younger age against tetanus, pertussis and diphtheria.

PATHETIC DEMOCRATS.........

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-andrews/house-dems-war-cry-surre_b_75973.html

As the House was about to wrap up for the week, House Minority Leader Roy Blunt took to the floor to ask his Democratic counterpart if the Democrats would agree to more money for Bush's failed war in Iraq WITHOUT troop withdrawal language. The Majority Leader's response: "I anticipate at some point in time that would be the case."

At some point in time it could also be the case that the there will be as many or more troops on the ground when this Congress leaves office, than when it took office. At some point in time, voters might start to wonder why we had an election in 2006 at all. And, at some point in time, Democrats across America might start demanding accountability of those who call themselves Democratic representatives in Congress.

If Democrats in Congress are unwilling to join the fight on Capitol Hill on the Bush war in Iraq, at some point in time Democrats might become unwilling to join the fight in Congressional Districts across the country.

The Majority Leader's declaration of surrender comes just weeks after handing the administration the largest defense budget in American history. It comes one day after a front page story in The New York Times illustrated the consequences of the Bush failure in Iraq. It turns out that in areas north of Baghdad, like the city of Mosul where Secretary Gates recently paid a visit, violence has not decreased at all, notwithstanding all the happy talk filling up most of the media about the military progress being made in Iraq. In fact, the violence in Mosul is now spiking upward.

There is no debate on Capitol Hill. Majority Leader Hoyer has announced that the Democratic majority in Congress has surrendered before a debate has even joined. In the battle over the military occupation of Iraq, House Democrats have apparently decided that the only way to avoid losing is to not show up.

Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse in Congress, they just did.

I posted about a minute ago (141) and it got dropped in front of 5 others.

Let's have a round of applause for the blog techies!

BTW, it's now 8:32

It was a coincidence, no doubt. Not only did Bush visit Omaha prior to the massacre, but so did the Ministry of Homeland Security.

“We learned today that shortly before the shooting a Homeland Security employee visited the West Roads Mall to talk with officials about the mall’s security,” reports Charles Gibson for ABC News (see video). “Airports and sports arenas have tightened security considerably since 9/11, but malls have been reluctant to do

La Amistad

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4318857a12.html

Reuters | Monday, 10 December 2007

A replica of a 19th century slave ship, which became a symbol of the anti-slavery movement after kidnapped Africans rose up on board against their captors, arrived on Sunday in Sierra Leone.

Cheering Sierra Leoneans lined the docks to see the 39m schooner, topped with three billowing sails and the Sierra Leonean, US and Canadian flags, make its first stop in Africa since it set sail in June from New Haven, Connecticut.

The Amistad's voyage commemorates Britain's abolition of the transatlantic slave trade 200 years ago this year.

The ship has already stopped in Britain and Portugal on a voyage expected to last 14 months, retracing the routes of the slave trade between Europe, Africa and the Americas.

"Our people were torn from their culture to become slaves. It's the first time a schooner has come in instead of going out," said Mohamed Bangura, a British-based Sierra Leonean on the dock in the capital Freetown.

The original La Amistad, was seized at sea by 53 kidnapped Africans led by Sengbe Pieh, who became a national hero, who rose up against their captors.

They eventually won a long court case in the United States, which ruled that free men, if captured, must be returned to their homelands. The 35 who survived returned to Africa in 1841.

John Kamara, the only Sierra Leonean to make the journey on board the replica craft, heard the story of the Amistad from his grandmother as a small boy.

"This means a lot to me and my people. I'm so proud," said Kamara, 34, wearing a bandana in the green, white and blue of Sierra Leone's flag.

The former British colony's hilly ocean-side capital is named after freed slaves who resettled there in 1787,

...

annilow,

 I'm looking forward to your photos and reports from Prague.  It's certainly on my list of places to visit.  It is also the home of another of the memories of 1968, when a people held down for so long stood up and fought for freedom.  Although the "Prague Spring" was short, it was an example which stood as a model for the fall of the Iron Curtain years later.

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//071209/ids_photos_wl/r3768714899.jpg/

A replica of La Amistad slaveship comes in to dock in Freetown, Sierra Leone, December 9, 2007, where a group of 19th-century slaves who revolted against their captors were eventually returned home.REUTERS/ Katrina Manson (SIERRA LEONE)

and now, for some news relevant to the Happy Christmas season:

http://www.thetwins.com/Newsroom/249555.aspx

http://keepsantafat.com/dnn/

http://keepsantafat.com/dnn/SignthePetition/tabid/54/Default.aspx

They can try slimming down Santa, but they can’t slim down our voices.

If you believe Santa belongs on a sleigh instead of a stairmaster, sign the petition. Your support will do more than Keep Santa Fat. For every signature, DVA Advertising and Public Relations will donate a pound of food to America’s Second Harvest to help feed the hungry in our communities. And DVA will keep donating until we reach 50,000 pounds of food. Help feed the cause on behalf of the North Pole’s finest.

Companies or individuals interested in matching DVA's petition-based donation please contact us at info@keepsantafat.com.

http://www.hollywood.com/news/Smith_to_Follow_Winfrey_in_Obama_Campaign/5012220

You ask a question to Oprah and then you answer it for her.

She wasn't here. I noticed you couldn't answer it. 

Let's have a hearty boo for you who criticize those who don't serve to your satisfaction.

Clinton Rolls A Sizable Pork Barrel

http://www.latimes.com/la-na-earmarks10dec10,0,5492017.story?coll=la-home-center

Congratulations Al Gore on you Nobel Peace Prize
http://blogforamerica.com/view/23237

Tension In Hillaryland Grows as Plan Goes Awry

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=washingtonstory&sid=anRcoLyfN0VM

Let's have a hearty boo for you who criticize those who don't serve to your satisfaction.

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

sitka,

You are only half right in this one.....there is nothing wrong with constructive cirticism......and looking at the dilemma our country faces, the ignoramus" elected and nominated , fopr whatever cock a  maney reasons......i think its hi time the Democrats AND republicans for that matter quit patting themselves on the back(or backsides if thats ones thing) and too a bloody good long look in the mirror..........

Maybe Hurons standards are a bit higher than others........

You are only half right in this one.....there is nothing wrong with constructive cirticism.....

Did you read the post I was responding to? 

Personal slurs and sarcasm about the people who work at BFA is not constructive criticism. 

I'm going to have the pleasure of introducing John Edwards at his next event here. Just for all you good souls I will include a mention that he got the war vote wrong before he recognized his mistake and apologized. That fact should be noted. I like someone big enough to own up to a mistake. the current occupant isn't

fix the clock

130.
Phil Specht i was there when he made thats speech in the heart of a black part of indy we were the the only white people there, god they dont make men like him anymore.  ~~~~~~~~~

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

Paul Wellstone was one. But we don't have him either.

John Edwards is trying.

John Edwards is trying.

More likely lying. 

Phil....

Paul Wellstone was one, but we don't have him anymore either.


Howard Dean is one, and thankfully, we still have him.

Sitka
Mon, 12/10/07
12:05 pm
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

OK, slurs is one thing and Ill grant ya that, now sarcasm........well, just think of it this way, maybe if the media, politicians and people in general had tossed some sarcasm the way of Bush in 2000 and 2004..the  gink may not have been in the WH.........seriously, but yet some will still defend him you know........

Hillary Clinton Lands Earmarks For Campaign Contributions

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/10/hillary-clinton-lands-ear_n_76048.html

Michael, we seem to be talking about apples and oranges. You're talking about criticising politicians and I'm talking about insulting the good people who bring us this blog.

As I said earlier in response to Huron, griping about the blog is one thing, but insulting the people who work on it is another.

154.

rae hart
Mon, 12/10/07
10:46 am




Clinton Rolls A Sizable Pork Barrel

http://www.latimes.com/la-na-earmarks10d...

_____________________________________________________

I asked Obama a question about pork-barrel spending. Did he feel pressure to deliver federal money for home-state interests? “Pork is in the eye of the beholder,” he said. “The recipients don’t tend to think it’s pork, especially if it’s a great public-works project.” He said he felt “pretty good” about projects he had sought in last year’s transportation bill and “unashamed” about getting them in. House Speaker Dennis Hastert had praised Obama for his efforts in helping win Illinois its $6.2 billion in the massive, earmarklarded 2005 transportation bill. (Illinois’s most extravagant project funded by the bill was the Prairie Parkway, a controversial regional highway that would run through Hastert’s district and, in fact, has significantly increased the value of real estate he owns along the proposed route.)

ref:
http://www.harpers.org/BarackObamaInc.ht...

If you are in my area today.

Gov. Mark Warner will be at a rally for Democratic candidate, Phil Forgit, running in the 1st District CONGRESSIONAL special election tomorrow. Dec. 11.

At Forgit HQ at the corner of Hiden Blvd and Warwick blvd, Newport News.

Come on down.

Just for all you good souls I will include a mention that he got the war vote wrong before he recognized his mistake and apologized. That fact should be noted. I like someone big enough to own up to a mistake.

Edwards blows with the prevailing wind. 

Second Clinton Worker Resigns Over Email

http://www.kcci.com/politics/14809702/detail.html?rss=des&psp=news

Slanderous emails, planted people at debates, planted questioneers.  Sheesh.

170.

linda b -

Good luck with Phil Forgit.  Hope he wins:

http://www.raisingkaine.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=11713

Following on his email in support of Robin Weirauch in OH-05, Barack Obama's campaign has sent a similar email for Phil Forgit in VA-01. (UPDATE: see the text of this email in Shawn's diary) It includes information on the race, a phonebanking tool, and a link to information on Forgit campaign events.

A little reward to Obama for stepping up for a fine Virginian -- a link to the Barack Obama campaign page and to an article about Tim Kaine's endorsement of the Senator.  

Oh, and here's where to check out Phil Forgit as well.

I like John Edwards.  It took courage for him to say he was wrong.  But the bottom line for me is I will not vote for anyone who voted for the Iraq war.  What brought me to Howard Dean was his stance on the Iraq War.  When John Kerry became the candidate we were supposed to fall in line.  Not me I wrote in Howard Dean.

I like Kucinich and Gravel but don't think they can win unfortuneately.  Therefore among other reasons I'm supporting Barack.  He has voted for things I disagree on, but he was against the Iraq war.  Also I truly believe he is the best feminist candidate.

HOLLYWOOD - Hollywood actor Will Smith will follow Oprah Winfrey's lead and join the campaign trail for presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Thank goodness for celebrities! Without them we wouldn't know who to vote for. 

In seeing the new Sierra Leonean president (Ernest Koroma, representing change) sworn in on this past Nov 15 (my wife and I visited there for a month), IMO this a precursor to our own 01/20/09 when the new American president is sworn in. I have Hope that Barack Obama will be the one sworn in on 01/20/09.

I like John Edwards.  It took courage for him to say he was wrong.

It doesn't take courage to change your position to one that's currently polling higher. 

Sitka wrote "Thank goodness for celebrities! Without them we wouldn't know who to vote for."

The same could probably said about books.  Some people may not make selections based on what is being promoted  by Oprah's Book Club, but it's hard to deny that there are others who do.

I doubt that the campaign had you in mind when it brought Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith on board.  In fact, that was probably true when Rob Reiner and Marty Sheen joined Dean in Iowa when he was campaigning.

I have set up all the precincts. Some person called me the other nite and said "well there are only 4 precincts in the 1st from Newport News. I said, no, more like 15. He said "and you are doing all that, you don't even live in the 1st district". I said someone has to do it.

I get so tired of many who don't know what is going on and just blather. and complain.

how bout u.

Sitka
Mon, 12/10/07
12:53 pm

Spreading lies and innuendo again. Not surprising. Edwards made his clear admission to a mistake and changed his stance in Fall of 2005, when polls still were not in his "favor". He has been consistent since. Many made mistakes in 2002; Edwards recognizes it as one and has corrected it.

I like Kucinich and Gravel but don't think they can win unfortuneately. 

The only reason they can't win is that too many who believe in what they say won't vote for them -- a self defeating prophesy.

"Electable" is the establishment's ultimate trump card over those who want change.

Of significance to any voter in the more or less worthless Michigan Democratic primary is this voter guide information:

"Supporters of Joe Biden, John Edwards, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson are urged to vote 'uncommitted' instead of writing in their candidates’ names because write-in votes for those candidates will not be counted."

Studies show that Iowa caucus goers will have 20 times the influence of voters stuck with the later candidate selection processes to which they're relegated.  With this awful power, I beseech them not to fuck it up royally as has been their recent habit.

Edwards on NAFTA....this didn't get good coverage which is dominated by Oprah. Politics is reduced to celebrity endorsements.

Derry, NH – Today, on the fourteenth anniversary of NAFTA, Senator John Edwards delivered remarks condemning NAFTA and other failed trade policies that put the interests of multinational corporations ahead of the needs of working families. At a town hall meeting in Derry, New Hampshire, Edwards said that growing up in North Carolina, he saw the effects of unfair trade and failed economic policies when the mill where he and his father worked shut down. And as president, Edwards said he will give America a trade policy that puts the interests of American workers and communities at its core.

Read the rest: http://johnedwards.com/news/press-releases/20071208-nafta/

180.

linda b -

I like your posts, especially the ones along the lines of  "I said someone has to do it."  If you were in the Army, I'd say you have a real "can do" attitude (an example to the rest of us).

Forgot the link.

I doubt that the campaign had you in mind when it brought Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith on board. 

Obama's campaign doesn't seem to have me in mind in many, if any, regards. 

In fact, that was probably true when Rob Reiner and Marty Sheen joined Dean in Iowa when he was campaigning

I wasn't impressed with or influenced by them either. In fact, Sheen was a bit of a loose canon. I don't think endorsements of any kind help candidates with voters. It's an inside game that politicians play to gain influence, and celebrities play to gain publicity and ego points.

I get so tired of many who don't know what is going on and just blather. and complain.

Many who are active don't seem to know what's going on judging by those they're active for.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Senator John Edwards released the following statement supporting the talks in Bali intended to create the framework for a new global climate change treaty:

"Global warming is an emergency that requires immediate action from the world community. I applaud international leaders who are starting work in Bali to create a roadmap for a new binding global climate change treaty and urge them to hit the ground running with the knowledge that when George Bush leaves office, America's next president will be there with them.

Read the rest at: http://johnedwards.com/news/press-releases/20071207-global-warming/

Read Edwards' entire detailed plan on global warming and energy transformation at http://johnedwards.com/issues/energy/:

Sitka
Mon, 12/10/07
1:12 pm

What have you done lately? Other than sit on a blog and criticize others, that is. How about a benefit gig, Sitka? Tell us what you're doing other than trying to undermine and demean others.

12:30.

Now I know why Sitka isn't concerned about the blog clock. He is 42 minutes AHEAD which always gives him the last word!

The local TV just said "at least 500 people turned out for Opera" last evening.

Of course, it started snowing and ice was predicted.  So, a lot of people probably stayed home.

There was a time when I watched Oprah and Dr. Phil.  They gave my mom something to attend to other than herself.  It was my impression that about this time of year, Oprah goes into her "my favorite things" routine, which usually includes some really comfy PJ's.  I don't know how big the Verizon Arena is inside, but the last time we were in Manchester, it was hosting the circus and there were people outside protesting the treatment of the elephants.

Since we're on the Seacoast, it had only snowed a quarter inch by the time we came out of the Abu Ghraib documentary.  The ghosts in the title, The Ghost of Abu Ghraib" refer to the ghosts of the people supposedly killed by Saddam Hussein and burried there.  The troops were spooked by what they were told had happened there--more so than what they ended up doing to the Iraqi people themselves.

Oh, btw, the reason we don't see any more photos or videos is because the military put out "amnesty boxes" into which the troops were instructed to deposit their pictures and no questions would be asked.  Because the pictures were really detrimental.  The pictures turned the whole region against the Americans. 

Edwards on NAFTA....this didn't get good coverage which is dominated by Oprah. Politics is reduced to celebrity endorsements.

+++

Indy Steve -

In all due respects, rae hart (an Obama supporter) went out on a limb for Edwards in 165, which was proceeded to be sawed off by Sitka in 180, which you criticized Sitka for in 170.

In last night's blog thread, cChalfonte indicated that Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon are endorsing Edwards for president.  Linda*in*SFNM effectively did a shout out for cChalfonte for posting that.

Now, you Indy Steve come along with this. 

Just what is up with you ?  Are you trying to have your cake and eat it to ?  Can't you just talk up about Edwards, without also criticizing Obama (and, by extension, Oprah) ?:

Sitka wrote "I wasn't impressed with or influenced by them either. . . . I don't think endorsements of any kind help candidates with voters."

I'm relatively certain you could count the number of people who are and who post on this site on one hand, if there are any.  That's not evidence that endorsements do not help candidates.  I'm convinced of the opposite but to believe it, you have to recognize that there are many voters who don't spend their time that often debating politics in coffeeshops and bars or online.

Studies show that Iowa caucus goers will have 20 times the influence of voters stuck with the later candidate selection processes to which they're relegated.

* rdorgan
Mon, 12/10/07
12:24 pm

If you woudln't react in such a knee-jerk way, my criticism was about the MSM "coverage" of the Obama-Oprah events. Not a criticism of either obama or oprah. Jump on someone else.

192.

Now, you're criticizing linda b for endorsing Phil Forgit ?

Zounds.

BTW *rdorgan.  There was a lady from Amnesty International at the video presentation last night with packets of letters to be sent on behalf of some 14 cases around the world.  I happened to get one for Darfur and as soon as I grab a bite to eat, I'll transcrive it for the blog so people can send off letters in support of a peace keeping force.

bbl 

rdorgan, what did you think of Edwards' statement on global warming and on NAFTA?

Why did you choose to focus on my intro statement and try to maintain it slandered Obama when it clearly was targeting the MSM "coverage" of celebrity politics rather than issues.

That's not evidence that endorsements do not help candidates.

That's why my first three words were, "I don't think....." 

Conversely, there is no evidence that endorsements help. And you have to realize that every politician and celebrity is disliked by some whose visceral reaction against may be a more motivating influence that the positive reaction of others.

Indy Steve -

Yeah, I'll "jump" alright --

off this blog.   

Sitka
Mon, 12/10/07
1:20 pm
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In January 2004 I watched, in amazement and horror, on CSPAN just what goes on at the Iowa caucus'..........I said to my wife then.........this country is in DEEP crap the way they nominate candidates........the whole system isnt even funny anymore........

Monica -

Thanks for that AI plug re: Darfur.  I'm a member of AI.

(and good luck with Dodd, I always liked him as the better half of  US Senators representing the state of CT when I was growing up there until I left the state for college, and didn't return)

ciao (off to recharge batteries, got a bit drained being here this morning)

Thanks, Lindab. Hoping your hard work pays off...and Forgit wins tomorrow. He's certainly got a winnner with you on his side! And getting lots of good coverage, and support.

.this country is in DEEP crap the way they nominate candidates........the whole system isnt even funny anymore........

From beginning to end, the purpose of the electoral system is to disenfranchise the opinions of as many as possible. The fewer whose votes matter (as in the primary system) or are counted (as with the electoral college which actually throws away minority votes), the easier it is to game the result.

166.

Linda*in*SFNM


Thanks Linda.

just wanted to see where i'll land...

* rdorgan
Mon, 12/10/07
12:30 pm

Um, first you might admit you were wrong. My criticism was of the MSM coverage, not Obama. Kudos to him for getting Oprah's endorsement (doesn't mean much to me).

How about an acknowledgement. You're jumping on an ally.

hmmm...16 posts up-thread...

The photo I pasted didn't stick. It was an aerial view of a corn field with "IOWA SUCKS" cut into it. 

177.

* rdorgan
Mon, 12/10/07
12:24 pm


In last night's blog thread, cChalfonte indicated that Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon are endorsing Edwards for president. Linda*in*SFNM effectively did a shout out for cChalfonte for posting that.

_____________________

NO,



"120.

*** cChalfonte***
Sun, 12/09/07
10:19 pm

Hey, this is cool:)

Oprah's gone, but Kevin and Tim are on the way.

Democrat John Edwards announced Sunday that actors Kevin Bacon and Tim Robbins will join him on Iowa's frigid campaign trail.


--------

MY RESPONSE:

115.

Linda*in*SFNM
Sun, 12/09/07
10:01 pm


115. cC, cool. Some good actors and activists there....and Madeline Stowe! Nice to have support. "

But it's nice to be noticed.


ciao.

Sitka wrote "Conversely, there is no evidence that endorsements help."

Maybe, maybe not.  There's evidence that an endorsement can help pull 30,000 people into a football stadium on a Sunday afternoon.  To see if fans buy a celebrity's candidate as well as her books, you'd have to poll them after they cast their votes, and then believe whatever it is they tell pollsters.

I've decided not to vote for Edwards in spite of the feelings of Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins and Madeline Stowe.  I'm still waiting to see who Moby endorses.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/group/ObamaHQ/

Today, Al Gore delivered his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, admonishing world leaders to rapdily address the growing climate crisis:

[T]he earth has a fever. And the fever is rising. The experts have told us it is not a passing affliction that will heal by itself. We asked for a second opinion. And a third. And a fourth. And the consistent conclusion, restated with increasing alarm, is that something basic is wrong.

We are what is wrong, and we must make it right.

Here's what Barack had to say when it was announced that Gore won the Peace Prize:

By having the courage to challenge the skeptics in Washington and lead in the climate crisis facing our planet, Al Gore has advanced the cause of peace and richly deserves the Nobel Prize he's receiving today.  His voice and his vision have awakened the conscience of America to the urgency of this threat

...

Sitka
Mon, 12/10/07
1:31 pm
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Agreed..which puts people like myself in a qaundry.........again.  Wasnt the electoral college founded to prevent the "common man" from deciding elections in this country?

Tom Bearse
Mon, 12/10/07
1:39 pm
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dick.......I think.

I have set up all the precincts. Some person called me the other nite and said "well there are only 4 precincts in the 1st from Newport News. I said, no, more like 15. He said "and you are doing all that, you don't even live in the 1st district". I said someone has to do it.

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

another HOWARDLY effort

linda b is showing the way

Mike wrote "Dick.......I think.":

Hmmm, you may be right.  It was Kerry last time.

I get so tired of many who don't know what is going on and just blather. and complain.

Many who are active don't seem to know what's going on judging by those they're active for.

and from what I can see on this blog all you do is b...tch and complain, like those I am talking about. we used to have someone on this blog who did this repeatedly. you trying to replace him?

Oh well, that's just politics anyway.  Here's a punk playlist Moby put together 11/29 that will stir your pot:

noise annoys, the buzzcocks
anarchy in the u.k., the sex pistols
new york, the sex pistols
sub-mission, the sex pistols
the ballad of johnny burma, mission of burma
career opportunities, the clash
right brigade, bad brains
garageland, the clash
new rose, the damned
the unheard music, x
holidays in the sun, the sex pistols
nausea, x
sugarlight, x
banned in d.c., bad brains
smart patrol/mr. dna, devo
clash city rockers, the clash
academy fight song, mission of burma
trash, the new york dolls
god save the queen, the sex pistols
emi, the sex pistols
sex and dying in high society, x
i fought the law, the clash
universal corner, x
pretty vacant, the sex pistols
oh! bondage, up yours!, x-ray spex
liar, the sex pistols
seventeen, the sex pistols
she's like heroin to me, the gun club
jet boy, the new york dolls
fun world, mission of burma
ready, steady, go, generation x
jail guitar doors, the clash
soul kitchen, x
what's my name, the clash
sonic reducer, the dead boys
sex beat, the gun club
hate & war, the clash
big take over, bad brains
no feelings, the sex pistols
death valley '69, sonic youth
janie jones, the clash
police & thieves, the clash
i'm so bored with the u.s.a., the clash
mirage, siouxsie and the banshees
the world's a mess, it's in my kiss, x
los angeles, x
london's burning, the clash
bodies, the sex pistols
i don't know what to do with my life, the buzzcocks
complete control, the clash
why can't i touch it?, the buzzcocks
banned in d.c., bad brains
orgasm addict, the buzzcocks
your phone's off the hook, but you're not, x
white riot, the clash
johnny hit and run pauline, x
what do i get?, the buzzcocks
cowboys in africa, bush tetras
remote control, the clash
big takeover, bad brains
clockout, devo
problems, the sex pistols
(white man) in hammersmith palais, the clash
why she's a girl from the chain store, the buzzcocks
we're desperate, x
carcass, siouxsie and the banshees
the once over twice, x
adult books, x

Phil Specht
Mon, 12/10/07
1:46 pm

Phil.

When is your meeting with Edwards or his staff? Can you get him/them to blog here by any chance. Just pop in for a hello? Or give us a live report.

Tom Bearse
Mon, 12/10/07
1:46 pm
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Like I cried about yesterday, we did not ge tthe hockey game.  Too bad as towards the end it was closer than the final score........if you saw it, the Hurricanes hopefully will make the playoffs, Cam Ward is on his way to becoming a stellar goalie.........the Red Wings speak for themselves, they IMO are the best but that can be used by other teams as a marker.......

To be honest though, the 'Canes played less than 24 hours in Montreal where they spanked Montreal 5-1.......it wasnt a very good road trip 2-3 but something to build upon.........

Either way, both teams most likely wont see each again anytime soon.........wish I had seen it though.

201.

Sitka
Mon, 12/10/07
1:25 pm


That's not evidence that endorsements do not help candidates.

That's why my first three words were, "I don't think....."
----------

Btw, about "endorsements".

I generally hardly understand the supposed importance of endorsements and even see it as kind of contradiction to the culture which proclaims flourishing of individuality as one of the infinite "moral values".

Or maybe "own individuality", "own decision making", "own opinion formation" should not get expanded beyond celebrity endorsee's suggestions?
Seems as quite “individual�,…lol, treatment of one the most highly graded “moral value�.

Mike wrote "To be honest though, the 'Canes played less than 24 hours in Montreal where they spanked Montreal 5-1.......it wasnt a very good road trip 2-3 but something to build upon........."

That's a great excuse.  If I were Carolina, I would use it.

and from what I can see on this blog all you do is b...tch and complain, like those I am talking about.

I got it the first time, linda. And you obviously got my response. I've been in too many drawn out arguments with activist snobs who think only they have a right to criticize to fall for it again.

Have a nice day. 

Tom

 Edwards isn't on the Michigan primary ballot. he pulled his name off in deference to the DNC Chair and the Rules Committee. Dodd might have not withdrew by the dealine though so you have a quality candidate to vote for.

Wasnt the electoral college founded to prevent the "common man" from deciding elections in this country?

Which it amazing that so many common people support it when it throws their votes out half the time. 

XX:17

Tom

 Edwards isn't on the Michigan primary ballot.

I think Tom was just pointing out that writing in any of those not participating in MI will not count. Only voting "uncommitted" will. 

Maybe, maybe not.  There's evidence that an endorsement can help pull 30,000 people into a football stadium on a Sunday afternoon.

I remember thousands cheering madly for Dean right up to caucus day. 

200.

Tom Bearse
Mon, 12/10/07
1:00 pm

Sitka wrote "Thank goodness for celebrities! Without them we wouldn't know who to vote for."

The same could probably said about books. Some people may not make selections based on what is being promoted by Oprah's Book Club, but it's hard to deny that there are others who do.

I doubt that the campaign had you in mind when it brought Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith on board. In fact, that was probably true when Rob Reiner and Marty Sheen joined Dean in Iowa when he was campaigning.
-----------------

Without been too cynic, don’t forget that promotion of ANY goods/services (as well as ANYthing and EVERYthing else, including candidates) in this economy ARE profit oriented.

Therefore it is un-distinguishable candidate’s promotion as “advanced lobbying� or as “sincere wholehearted support�.

its 10:27 am pst

Sitka
Mon, 12/10/07
1:58 pm

That's right....just post your hit and run. Very admirable.

Criticizing activists for working in their communities for change makes a lot of sense. When's your next benefit gig, Sitka? You've got talents which could help out.

BLOG clock is getting worse, not better. Now it favors some and not others.

Is this a conspiracy to sabotage the blog or pure incompetence. Why donate to an org that IGNORES its own problems?

Sitka wrote "I remember thousands cheering madly for Dean right up to caucus day."

Yes, about 10,000 at the campaign's zenith.  

That's right....just post your hit and run. Very admirable.

You must admire yourself a lot. 

Phil Specht
Mon, 12/10/07
1:46 pm

Phil.

When is your meeting with Edwards or his staff? Can you get him/them to blog here by any chance. Just pop in for a hello? Or give us a live report.

When's your next benefit gig, Sitka?

I played one last week for a little girl with medical bills, Indy. I don't know when the next will be.

Hit and run indeed. 

DFA Ad: https://contribute.democracyforamerica.c...

Spreading lies and innuendo again. Not surprising. Edwards made his clear admission to a mistake and changed his stance in Fall of 2005, when polls still were not in his "favor".

Edwards changed his tune about Iraq on November 13, 2005. Here's what was happening then..... 

189

Thanks for your post Linda.

I have to say I don't see anything wrong with funding a transportation bill.  As for Hastert's praise, well I don't think much of Hastert, but perhaps if Obama does become President and he reaches out to these people, maybe something will get done in Washington.  Just MHO.

I guess the blog is messed up, haven't been able to post, then when I do, my post goes upward.

Wanted to say Congratulations to Al Gore.  He certainly deserves all the accolades he is receiving.

Also wanted to say I got an email from DFA saying we needed to get behind one candidate.  Lol.  I don't think that is going to happen very soon. We are all pretty much divided.

Mistery. threat shows 268 comments, but I only see 241. ohhhhh, I have goose bumps just waiting to see what happens when I hit enter.

....will this disappear?......will only others be able to see my words...........ewwwwww.

Well, I hit enter, but I don't see anything......do you??????????

Al Gore's speech: http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/23240...

OH...this is too funny....it now says 271 comments, but I only see 241.

......do-do-do-do-do-do.

"It tells people that they are valuable and that life is worth living, even if their progenitors treat them like shit and try to do them in."

I disagree, Moncia.  My religion taught that we are born sinful.  I think most xtian religions teach the same and that's why Jesus had to be invented as a savior.  This whole doctrine of original sin has led to wars, oppression, aggression, greed, dominance until finally we have ended up with the putz.

The *outside* god will always lead to religious wars whether we like to call them that or not.  What's going on now in the ME is a crusade, headed up by the US and Israel.

****************************

What do you spose has happened at HQ?  Tired of the name calling?  Can't blame them.  When people judge and call me names, I have a tendency to *not be there.*  Judgmental people remind me of the judgmental and critical god I grew up with.  No thank you.

I posted a little while ago, I don't know where post went.

Congratulations Al Gore, you deserve all the accolades you are receiving.

Wait till these guys are on our own streets *protecting* us.  It is appalling what Pelosi and Reid are letting happen right in front of us.

Gang Rape Cover-Up by US, Halliburton/KBR
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121007A.shtml
Brian Ross, Maddy Sauer and Justin Rood, reporting for ABC News, write, "A Houston, Texas woman says she was gang-raped by Halliburton/KBR coworkers in Baghdad, and the company and the US government are covering up the incident."

Has anyone with an *in* called HQ?

Better yet, have the people who complained and said less than nice things to HQ about HQ apologized?  If they're smart, better yet, wise, they will.  JMO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG_EOPN3bN8

Please call the Capitol switchboard toll-free to contact your Senator

1-800-828-0498

Congratulations Al Gore

http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/23237...

A Huckabee Win (extremist) + Clinton Win (high negatives) =

A New Party (Bloomberg / Hagel Ticket) =

A Win for America! 

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version

Western Digital says the decision to block sharing of music and audio files is an anti-piracy effort.

The ban operates regardless of whether the files are copy-protected, or a user's own home-produced content.

Digital activists say it is the latest step in a so-called war on copyright theft that is damaging consumer rights.

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

maybe thias  explains the problem

Something is seriously wrong with the blog's program today. Part of my last post posted here: 241. Sitka.

Well I hope no one posted irreplaceable gems between 240 and 274, I couldn't even get on.

we have an ice storm forecast tonight so I may lose power

I called Hdqtrs. left message:

Hello, this is the blog. lol Everybody OK? Communicate....Thank you.

If no response by morning, we could send the Huskies with a bottle of brandy.

ATTENTION  !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coming up on Blitzer....Al Gore puts out a strong hint about getting back into politics.

WOOOOOOOTTTTTT! 

Meanwhile, the CIA tapes is are dominating the news.  Here we go with those missing "18" minutes.

OMG, are we finally seeing light at the end?  

Gore/?  

Gore/Dodd?   Oh I'm so excited 

Phil & Susan...I too came on....first it stopped at 263...refreshed and it showed 241...but 263 comments...then it showed 268 comments...then 270....but only showed up to 241.

So, I actually was able to post, but not see my comments appear....I watched the numbers jump to 273, but still only saw to 241. It was pretty funny.

bbl

I wish this blog were fixed...makes it so hard to follow the discussion. Not that I've had the time to follow it much lately...had to get all me household chores done after a night of salting/sanding/plowing snow. Me wife will be back for one day this Wed., then back to care for her dad who has been on the better side of bad the past few days. They don't come any stronger, more compassionate or more knowledgeable than she...he's in good hands.

Here's a link for Linda in SFNM...as well as others who care where our elected ones stand on climate change...
http://www.cfr.org/publication/14765/

Now to cook me some dinner...what was that pizza delivery number?...LOL

We have huge snow flakes falling after a day of rain and below freezing. Something tells me the roads are going to be a bit treacherous.

http://blog.algore.com/2007/12/nobel_prize_acceptance_speech.html

thank you SEA! I have CNN on in time to catch the story. I hardly ever have it on any more...sept for important coverage like this. :)


......THE SNOW IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS....HUGE SNOWFLAKES FALLING and adding up quicklly on this one.

...anyone in to skiing, you may want to look out our way.

OK, why is Huckabee surging in  IA?  It's what Kerry did and I'm damn suspicious.  This man is a fruitcake.  Someone please have this conversation with him.

IF ADAM AND EVE WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE AND THEY HAD TWO SONS, EVE MUST HAVE GONE FORTH AND POPULATED THE EARTH BUY FUC*ING HER OWN SONS!!!!

So Incest is ok, is that it Mr. Huckabee?

Whenever we run into crackpots who claim Adam and Eve were the first people, please use this logic.  I did once and the guy claimed that Adam and Eve had daughters too.  He didn't quite get it when I used the same incest logic on him.

Please, Al, please!   My hopes are up again. 

Who the HECK is this Gloria? eeruugghhh.
they're ever wrong, huh? (sic)....What were their claims that he would endorse someone if he didn't enter the race himself?

...oops, they didn't mean that.



.........DID YOU HEAR THE CHEARING FOR MR. Gore to RUN?

"But if I did get back in (to politics) it would be as President, not in any other position".


YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

The 8 year saga of the putz regime puts the Greek writers of tragedy AND comedy to shame.

Jane Harmon wants congress to investigate the missing tapes.  Yeah, right.  CYA congress.

 Biden wants an independent investigation.  I'll go with Biden and may he prevail.

Seashell.....

Don't you think Gore/Dean is the one?
Howard will be unemployed soon.

Phil, it's posted here too: http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/23240...

Of course I'd love a Gore/Dean ticket.  Howard didn't promise not to run for VP.

But........will the CMWs dis the ticket becuz of Dean?  

Nevermind.

Run Gore/Dean, Run! 

Reed, hugs to you and your wife. Best to you.

The fundies are smelling blood with Huckabee.  I think that's where his money must be coming from.  This is a pretty good indication of how the crazed fundies are taking over.

OK, dems, if Huck wins the nomination, you'd better start talking everywhere about how incest is a repug value.  Seriously.  In fact, start talking now...

Good grief, what has happened to our country? 

test xx:05

Incest - Keeping it all in the family.

Incest - The family that f*cks together, stays together.

Incest -  It saves money on dinner dates.

OK, black humor over for now. 

Phil and Susan...I also have a snippet and link in my post.

......WELL, LOL, I think we have it covered, between us.

Howard's term will be up, I think Feb 09. Without being specific, he pretty much indicated there would be no "4 more years". That pretty much leaves him free to do anything.
The convention could be interesting if there's no clear choice. amd there may not be.

 I just wrote to Keith about the Adam/Eve scenario.

 Sitka, I still don't know why IA was selected to be first.  Who's brainchild was that?  What repug disguised as a dem?

Am I the only one posting?

Gore: Leaders ignore 'climate crisis' at world's peril
Citing Winston Churchill and Robert Frost, Henrik Ibsen and Mahatma Gandhi, Gore proclaimed today that the Earth has a "fever'' and said "our world is spinning out of kilter.'' Yet too many political leaders are choosing to ignore "the planetary emergency'' of global warming, said Gore, citing the tonnage of pollution spewed anew into the atmosphere each day.

And it is primarily some of the biggest polluters -- the United States and China -- that are ignoring the implications of unchecked pollution, Gore said.

It has been 15 years since Gore carried this message to an Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and 10 years since he made the case in Kyoto. Now, as he heads to another international climate conference in Bali this week, the Nobel Prize winner is calling on world leaders to ratify a new treaty that caps emissions by the beginning of 2010.

"Now comes the threat of climate crisis -- a threat that is real, rising, imminent, and universa,'' Gore said in accepting his prize. "Once again, it is the 11th hour. The penalties for ignoring this challenge are immense and growing, and at some near point would be unsustainable and unrecoverable. For now we still have the power to choose our fate, and the remaining question is only this: Have we the will to act vigorously and in time, or will we remain imprisoned by a dangerous illusion?'

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politi...

NO, seashell....our comments have been being posted above yours. including my responses. LOL

Thank you Linda (and others who I didn't thank earlier) for your well wishes. It's me wife who's doing/bearing the hardest stuff.

Sea is so far out in front, she can't see the posts behind her...lol

This blog has to be fixed!

seashell :-)
Mon, 12/10/07
7:50 pm
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sooooooooooooo, can Huckabee bring us all together?

312. Mike - Only if you're a Christian. And if you're a woman - you must *graciously submit to your husband*. Let's just turn back the clock some more. LOL

Should we start a special donation fund to get the blog fixed? I sent $50 last week. I just think it's funny how these blog conversations are going. Responses come before questions. What a hoot.

Gore urges US, China to join efforts to save feverish planet

22 hours ago

OSLO (AFP) — Former US vice president Al Gore said humanity was "waging war" on the Earth and urged the United States and China to join the fight against global warming, as he accepted his Nobel Peace Prize here Monday.

"Both countries should stop using the other's behaviour as an excuse for stalemate and instead develop an agenda for mutual survival in a shared global environment," Gore said at a lavish ceremony in the Oslo city hall.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hb_p...

De-Facto One Child Policy Urged in Australia

AAP | December 10, 2007
Tamara McLean

COUPLES who have more than two children should be charged a lifelong tax to offset their extra offspring's carbon dioxide emissions, a medical expert says.

The report in an Australian medical journal called for parents to be charged $5000 a head for every child after their second, and an annual tax of up to $800.

And couples who were sterilised would be eligible for carbon credits under the controversial proposal.

(Article Continues Below)

Perth specialist Professor Barry Walters was heavily critical of the $4000 baby bonus, saying that paying new parents extra for every baby fuelled more children, more emissions and "greenhouse-unfriendly behaviour".

Instead, it should be replaced with a "baby levy" in the form of a carbon tax in line with the "polluter pays" principle, he wrote in the latest Medical Journal of Australia.

"Every family choosing to have more than a defined number of children should be charged a carbon tax that would fund the planting of enough trees to offset the carbon cost generated by a new human being," said Prof Walters, an obstetrician at King Edward Memorial Hospital.

Sustainable Population Australia suggested a maximum of two, he said.

By the same reasoning, contraceptives like diaphragms and condoms, as well as sterilisation procedures, should attract carbon credits, the specialist said.

Sitka has singled me out from the many bloggers who are complaining about BFA Technical support.Hey, Sticks and stones.....................

Synchronizing the server clock with NIST's Atomic Clock is child's play. But these geniuses can't seem to figure it out.

It's now 7:40 PM

As Congress Caves On Iraq War Funding, '08 Dems Go Silent

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/10/as-congress-caves-on-iraq_n_76101.html

Days after congressional Democrats signaled their intention to reverse course and provide President Bush with tens of billions in new Iraq war spending, none of the leading Democratic presidential candidates have weighed in.

On Monday, the progressive activist group MoveOn launched a new push for candidates to oppose any funding for the war that does not include a timeline for withdrawing troops.

Congressional leaders are set to consider a proposal as early as today that would end the current budget impasse by sending the White House an omnibus spending bill with unrestricted war funds - a move lambasted by war critics as capitulation.

In a release Monday, MoveOn called on the Democratic candidates and congressional leaders to block or filibuster the spending proposal, saying it was time for the candidates to "stand firm."

"Americans elected a Democratic Congress in 2006 to end the war in Iraq. A blank check for billions in war funding moves us in the wrong direction," said Nita Chaudhary, MoveOn's campaign director for Iraq. The Democrats "should hold the line they've drawn: no war funding without a timeline to end the war."

Since reports of the war-funding plan emerged late Thrusday night, none of the Democratic presidential candidates have issued public statements about the matter..

Spokesmembers for Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards and Bill Richardson did not immediately return telephone messages seeking comment.

DID ANYONE CHECK WITH KUCINICH, OR GRAVEL?

Seashell...."vote Buddhist, vote for Love"

Now THAT'S a bumper sticker I'd slap on me vehicle!

rdorgan, are you upset that I posted the Tim Robbins/Kevin Bacon endorsement of Edwards?

If so, I really don't understand why.  Any clarification would be appreciated.

and I decided to support Edwards lonngg before any celeb endorsements, btw;) 

HQ must be thinking.....

The Thinker

http://www.wkrn.com/nashville/news/al-go...

video

Screw it!

G'night all!

321.....will be 322 shortyly....sunlight

....ROFLMAO....priceless.

I hope they're OK at HQ.

I know they're working on up grading the website but that shouldn't have anything to do with promoting posts to the front page of the blog.

May be we should light a candle.

you can have this new thread

http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/23241...

Thanks mprov.

test xx:08

Gore/Dean

Nobody else, except maybe Dodd.

Keith is hysterical talking about Rudi's "Mistress Protection Program."  ROFL 

At a town hall meeting in Derry, New Hampshire, Edwards said that growing up in North Carolina, he saw the effects of unfair trade and failed economic policies when the mill where he and his father worked shut down. And as president, Edwards said he will give America a trade policy that puts the interests of American workers and communities at its core. Read the rest: http://johnedwards.com/news/press-releases/2007120

Edwards - Yes

Official Title of Legislation:

HR 4444: To authorize extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the People's Republic of China, and to establish a framework for relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China.

Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill to extend permanent normal trade relations to China.
 

Sitka, I still don't know why IA was selected to be first.  Who's brainchild was that?  What repug disguised as a dem?

Since 1972, the Iowa caucus has been the first major electoral event of the nominating process for President of the United States. It has served as an early indication of which candidates for President of the United States might win the nomination of their political party at that party's national convention.

The Iowa caucus is commonly recognized as the first step in the United StatesDemocrats and the Republicans. It came to national attention in 1972, with a series of articles in the New York Times on how non-primary states would choose their delegates for the national conventions. Democratic operative Norma S. Matthews, state co-chair of the George McGovern campaign, helped engineer the early January start for Iowa. McGovern finished second to Edmund Muskie in the first early Hawkeye state caucus, but the momentum was palpable for an ultimate Democratic nomination in 1972 for McGovern in Miami. Four years later, the Iowa Republican Party scheduled its party caucuses on the same date as the Democrats.

So it's only been first for a generation and can't even claim tradition as an excuse for it.

Sitka has singled me out from the many bloggers who are complaining about BFA Technical support.

No I haven't. You aren't the first to insult to good people who work the blog and you're not the first I've called on it. 

So, Sitka, since you didn't specify, I'll assume you're referring to the antagonism of the human male towards off-spring.

Saying all males are antagonistic toward their offspring is like saying all women love and want to protect theirs....

Congressional leaders are set to consider a proposal as early as today that would end the current budget impasse by sending the White House an omnibus spending bill with unrestricted war funds - a move lambasted by war critics as capitulation.

But....Sam Ross told us that DCDems had handed Bush a major defeat and had him on the run!

I'll never be able to take him at his word again. 

test xx:15

Hey Sitka...... shhhh - we're not supposed to let the Republicans know our secret plans. : )  ON the run would be an underestimate.... you can hear the sounds of shredding machines going 24 hours a day at the Whitehouse.   Major Republicans resigning as fast as they can.    And you know who 'lost' the emails and the hard=drives?... The Whitehouse called in the Geek Squad.   No kidding.  I guess we'll subpeona the Geeks.    And...you can trust me more than you can trust BUSH.  TRUST me and read the fine print below.

On the $522 billion omnibus spending ….

After weeks of negotiations, the House takes up tomorrow a single governmentwide spending bill…  estimated $522 billion measure reflects $10.6 billion in cuts from earlier ….even as new emergency funds are added for the State Department and to ease a budget strain on the Army, given the continued impasse over funding for the Iraq war.  (that's CONTINUED IMPASSE)

The Pentagon would get an additional $31 billion for the war in Afghanistan and for the purchase of "force protection" equipment, such as body armor, for all troops in the field. Behind the numbers is a concerted effort to add as much as $17 billion to Army operations accounts, thereby assuring adequate funding into April, (APRIL)  when a fuller debate can be held on the future U.S. role in Iraq

Democrats at work:  Before the recess, Congress hopes to enact a landmark agreement to raise auto fuel-economy standards, and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is pressing for legislation to help address the home-mortgage crisis

NHuman Republicans blocking:  But a child-health-insurance initiative is expected to fall narrowly short for lack of Republican support and the BUSH (who could care less about the children) VETO.

 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119725077328018914.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

New front thread

NEW THREAD