Howard Dean is first.

Howard is first even if does not get front paged (which it should).

This is ridiculous - excluding him on such a technicality. I'll be calling the Register and hope you will join me.

Dennis deserves to be heard!!

Simple message to the Register:

No Dennis, no watchee!

Howard may be first, but so is President Al Gore. Congrats to him on accepting his Nobel Prize. Add that to another in his long list of accomplishments.

No Dennis? Ridiculous! Not that I watch these debates (just can't stomach
them) but he should be in the debate.

Hope the weather is improving and folks have their power
back on.

As Deaniac would say - file this under upside-down W'acky W'orld.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071212/ap_o...

Give me an effing break. Gonzalez *Lawyer of the Year*.

Emails can be sent to the President and Publisher at:

publisher@dmreg.com

6.

The monthly magazine gave the awards to lawyers who made the most news, said editor and publisher Edward A. Adams.

Much like the Times person of the year award but why bother. Everyone already knows who is in the news.

The monthly magazine gave the awards to lawyers who made the most news

Miracle On 34th Street aside, lawyers make the most news by defending the rottenest people.

143.

Phil Specht
Wed, 12/12/07
1:14 pm


....
If you showing us pictures of Chairman Mao...
---------

...lol, Phil, Chairman Mao pictures CAN NOT get disassociated with "Goverment"..., enough said.

What's needed is a national rebellion to crush Iowa's priviledged status as first. Nobody likes it but them, which means they're outnumbered 49 to 1.

Why Democratic politicains are afraid of Iowa is as baffling as why they're afraid of Bush. 

disassociated with "Goverment" = disassociated from "Goverment"

Is this coming IA Des Moines dem debate on Th 12/13 another Limit Debate,  this time (the sequel) ?:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/13/AR2007071301891.html?hpid=sec-politics

How Many's a Crowd? Debate

Debate Pits Kucinich Against Edwards and Clinton

By Politics

Saturday, July 14, 2007; Page A05

Two Democratic presidential candidates, former senator John Edwards (N.C.) and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), were caught Thursday by Fox News microphones after a forum in Detroit discussing their desire to limit future joint appearances to exclude some lesser-known rivals.

Edwards says, "We should try to have a more serious and a smaller group."

Clinton agrees, saying, "We've got to cut the number" and "They're not serious." She also says that she thought their campaigns had already tried to limit the debates and "we've got to get back to it."

Fellow candidate Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (Ohio) lashed out at Edwards. "This is a serious matter, and I'm calling him on it," Kucinich said. "Whispering, trying to rig an election, then denying what's going on and making excuses. It all reflects a consistent lack of integrity."

...

Phil.....

There is a reply at 190 if you're interested.

Fellow candidate Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (Ohio) lashed out at Edwards. "This is a serious matter, and I'm calling him on it," Kucinich said. "Whispering, trying to rig an election, then denying what's going on and making excuses. It all reflects a consistent lack of integrity."

It's always sad when former conspirators have a falling out. I guess we shouldn't expect another deal this time around.

But now that I think of it, did Kucinich complain when Gravel was excluded from an earlier debate? 

DARPA's Control Freak Technology

TruthNews | December 12, 2007
Kurt Nimmo

According to Wired, the Pentagon is "about to embark on a stunningly ambitious research project designed to gather every conceivable bit of information about a person's life, index all the information and make it searchable…. What national security experts and civil libertarians want to know is, why would the Defense Department want to do such a thing?"

Once again, "security experts and civil libertarians" fail to understand the authoritarian, psychopathic mind. Our rulers do these sort of things because they are the ultimate control freaks, paranoid and suspicious of the average person — or rather what the average person may do in order to get rid of the controllers, the parasites, who are compelled to spend billions of dollars on such projects, that is to say billions fleeced off the people they want to monitor and control. As usual, the excuse is they have to protect us from the terrorists, never mind they created the terrorists, too.

(Article Continues Below)

"The embryonic LifeLog program would dump everything an individual does into a giant database: every e-mail sent or received, every picture taken, every Web page surfed, every phone call made, every TV show watched, every magazine read," Wired continues. "All of this — and more — would combine with information gleaned from a variety of sources: a GPS transmitter to keep tabs on where that person went, audio-visual sensors to capture what he or she sees or says, and biomedical monitors to keep track of the individual's health."

audrey

would have it been that much trouble for Dennis to spend a couple of thousand dollars and establish an official campaign HQ's so he wouldn't be excluded?

he gains cred with sitka for stiffing Iowa but he can't have it both ways

Dennis' exclusion from the Iowa debate is just one more example of the DLC and CM tilting the field to allow corporate Democrats an unfair advantage. Tom, I'd be fascinated  by how you choose to spin this latest excrescence.

Oh Christ!, they're scrambling the order of posts again.

The monthly magazine gave the awards to lawyers who made the most news

~~~~~~~~~~~

Jeffrey Dahmer made the most news one year but Time didn't put him on the cover, but if Gonzales and his bosses all stay out of prison he is one h*ll of a lawyer

John wrote "Tom, I'd be fascinated  by how you choose to spin this latest excrescence."

I'd have to care about the debates to exert the effort, but I am previously on record in support of much smaller forums with a regular rotation of all the candidates in groups so that some facsimile of an actual debate, with arguments and counterarguments, takes place.   These reality talk shows the networks call debates are useless.

If you're "handing out" pictures of Chairman Mao is the correct line (always quote Lennon correctly!)

He would have won a Nobel Peace Prize IMO had he lived long enough.

Just sent my email to the Register. Hope our collective efforts work.

LOL..make that "carrying pictures"

Was talking to mom on the phone and typed what she was telling me.

I'm done multitasking for the year!!

Once again, "security experts and civil libertarians" fail to understand the authoritarian, psychopathic mind. Our rulers do these sort of things because they are the ultimate control freaks, paranoid and suspicious of the average person

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

Daniel I'll be on the same side of the barricades with you even if I would never vote for Ron Paul.

watch the Chris Dodd video clips that Monica front paged on Sunday

time for a DARPA wedgie,  ...    "caliphate" 

I wonder what Lincoln would think about campaign offices and the right to free speech when being a bona fide presidential candidate. I'm not going to blame it on Iowa, though. We've seen other examples of "qualifying" to be part of a DEBATE!

John Adams must be spinning in his grave.

if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao it is and of course come together is his line too

do we owe royalties if we put "come" in front of "together"?

I like the idea of two of them pairing off for an hour at a time. like in the general

Edwards and Obama are both going to be in my little rural county this week, they should make a joint appearance and have a conversation

I think Kucinich made a cold calculation to run against Iowa and appeal to the sitkas of the country.

play out the hand

To me this proves HRC is desperate, and despicable. 

Obama has been very forthright about his drug use as a youth.  Now the innuendos did he sell drugs.  HRC I predict you are on your way out.

Shaheens wife Jeanne by the way is planning on running for the Senate, guess they owe the Clintons.  Hopefully her bid will fail.  I am so tired of these old establishment politicians.  Will it never change?

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/12/12/post_235.html

When I was in grammar school we made banners for church that said "Come Together, Right Now, Over Me" (meaning the Lord)

The nuns never knew where it came from - bet they figured it out eventually.

I think Dennis Kucinich did a great dis-service to the progressives of this nation for failing to set up a campaign in Iowa against the others, and he might have done surprisingly well had he done it.

he didn't

actions have consequences

Clinton is sinking fast because of her negative attacks here rae. there is an air of flailing about from that campaign nationally.

I don't think she is actually losing caucus attendees that are pledged to her, but is playing the role of Gephardt for 2004

if someone could get momentum and push her into fourth here that would be a major statement

she is running good ads, and making good stops I have no idea why her national campaign is screwing up so badly

too bad

Come Togetheris Gore's message Right Now and the "Me" is Mother Earth 

Lennon would be proud.

PEACE ON AND WITH THE PLANET.

"you would be wrong of course, the field is a net positive."

 Oh, that is your evidence, I must be wrong.  How many thousand of gallons of diesel and unleaded gas do you estimate are used in producing 160 acres of feed corn?  You must count all of your fuel uses, plus fuel used to produce the seed you use, transportation of that to market through the retailer to you, then the transportation of the corn to elevator, its susequent transportation to the end user and its processing.  All of that fuel is burned and polutes the atmosphere to produce the corn which is turned into ethanol which also then polutes the  atmosphere when run through your car.  How is the field a net positive for the planet again??

 Science and politics are once again strange bedfellows.

Marcos Rubenstein and I are good buddies. Would it have been that hard for Dennis to furnish him an office and set up an official HQ's? Marcos is a very talented guy. It would have been a good investment.

trust me fox

I grow corn. One bushel of seed plants three acres and produces 600 bushels in return. the transportation costs of the seed are the equivalent of the electricity to run the gas pump

a corn field is an amazing biological phenomena and nothing petroleum companies do approaches it

13.  Ever since America's cities went up in flames in the sixties, there's a cadre of bureaucrats who are convinced that large concentrations of people in urban areas are bad news.  So, there has been a consistent program, assisted by such things as zoning guidelines and housing standards and density restrictions (the template for the sub-urb), to disperse the populations that for economic or ethnic reasons are suspected of being inclined to unruly behavior.

This attitude has now been transferred to the Department of Defense which anticipates that increasing world population and its concentration is going to result in urban warfare, which they now know from their experience in Iraq is difficult to conduct.  So, they've developed a pre-emptive strategy which will enable them to keep track of the residents of urban enclaves so they can anticipate where and when trouble might arise.  Of course, the instrument that's going to provide all the necessary information is the electronic communications network employing both fixed and satellite assets.  Indeed, the N.S.A. project is probably designed to help them map the networks so that they will be able to be monitored and disabled as needed in the future.

And all of this was conceived and enabled by a guy who stood at a writing desk and made notations with an ink pen. 

Marcos Rubenstein has been a tireless volunteer for the progressive cause for years here in Iowa so of course Kucinich has a campaign here through him. Dennis should and could have been on the stage with a little effort.

Hey Phil did Marcos get in touch with Dennis about opening an office?

Do you know? If so, what was Dennis' response?

Marcos Rubenstein is from South America, speaks with an accent, and sometimes wears his hair in a ponytail, so those publisher types that are pretty Waspie probably don't know what to make of him; but his IT skills could fix these blog problems with one hand tied behind his back while sleeping. DFA should hire him if Dennis won't. he is a great guy.

I put Dodd, with a little extra, up on KOS

Phil.....

What do you mean Dennis "stiffed" Iowa? Because he didn't spend the small donations he gets and drop them into the Iowa economy?

He's to be commended for having his offices in homes. Who wants it both ways. Right wing Alan Keyes hasn't even campaigned, but the Iowa DLC Dems like him pretty well. Anti-war Dems in Iowa must not hear any more from Dennis, they might even be interested in Impeaching Cheney.

Either Dennis Kucinich made a cold calculation to run against Iowa to appeal to the sitkas of this country OR the national campaign is incompetent since they have gone through this before. they are lucky to have Marcos as a volunteer, no way is he to blame for volunteering out of his home

would have it been that much trouble for Dennis to spend a couple of thousand dollars and establish an official campaign HQ's so he wouldn't be excluded?

he gains cred with sitka for stiffing Iowa but he can't have it both ways

The arrogance of Iowans in thinking they control the presidency is matched only by the pettiness by which they decide who merits their consideration. 

Either Dennis Kucinich made a cold calculation to run against Iowa to appeal to the sitkas of this country OR the national campaign is incompetent since they have gone through this before.

Kucinich has already spent his time camping out in Iowa back in 2004. You'd think savvy politicos like Iowans wouldn't need to have their hands held and kissed over a box of cheap chocolates again.

I'm hopeful by the looks of things, many have emailed the DM Register. When Susan first posted it, it took sometime for me to get an email through....hopefully that's a good sign.

Now, if the DM Register doesn't change by early tomorrow, we get to start emailing and calling their sponsors.

Tell Your Senators and Representative to Oppose
Nuclear Loan Guarantees in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill

Dear Linda,
Thanks in part to support from PSR activists around the country, massive government loan guarantees for nuclear power were removed from the House and Senate energy bills. Unfortunately, the nuclear industry and its proponents are still looking for ways to make taxpayers shoulder the significant financial risk associated with the construction of new nuclear reactors.

Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) is now trying to insert $25 billion in nuclear loan guarantees into the Omnibus Appropriations bill. We must keep up the pressure against this unnecessary and unjustified incentive for nuclear power. Despite 50 years of government support, nuclear power remains highly expensive and continues to pose significant environmental, safety and security concerns. Tell your representatives to oppose increased loan guarantees for nuclear power. Call or email your senators and representative TODAY.

http://www.psr.org/site/R?i=1aNk6Qb7fBWD...


Do you think we should call Pajama Pete's office and tell them, maybe he forgot he was told to drop this long ago?

What do you mean Dennis "stiffed" Iowa? Because he didn't spend the small donations he gets and drop them into the Iowa economy?

LOL. But all too true. Caucus years are like the holiday shopping season to Iowa.

Magic Town (1947) is a comedy film directed by William A. Wellman, starring James Stewart and Jane Wyman. It is remarkable as one of the first films about then-new science of public opinion polling. The movie was inspired by Middletown studies.

Lawrence 'Rip' Smith (played by James Stewart) and his assistants are pollsters, and Stewart believes there is a perfect community in the middle of United States that can be used for polling its citizens. He has finally found a town where the percentages of the opinions of the citizens perfectly mirror those of the American people as a whole. Stewart goes to the town and sets up undercover with the intention of using the citizens as his poling guinea pigs, but he gets involved with town inhabitants. When his plans are revealed, the town goes crazy. Their sudden unofficial power goes to their heads, and instead of giving the sensible polling answers to questions they give outlandish ones. This causes the crash of their reputation and failure of Smith's plan.

It should be remade for today and called IOWA. 

You can leave a message with Carolyn washburn at 515 284 8502.

I also left a message for Howard at the DNC. He is careful not to be partial, so he needs to see to it that all are treated equally. I asked that he call the Des Moines Reg.

Thanks sitka for making my point. Those hostile to Iowa can play the enemy of my enemy role with Kucinich If you are in the majority Kucinich will gain by being excluded.

Ike Turner, dies at age 76.

HEy......I'm on bottom again..........will it last......hmmmmmmmmm

It is now 6:18 here.

I think Dennis Kucinich did a great dis-service to the progressives of this nation for failing to set up a campaign in Iowa against the others, and he might have done surprisingly well had he done it.

Blame the victim-- I thought you were better than that Phil.

If Iowa Democrats can't include Kucinich in the debate, the whole Iowa caucus thing becomes a total, undemocratic farce.

I'd like us to call attention to the negation of capital philosophy that's implied in providing subsidies to industry, such as the nuclear energy folk.  Let government take care of disasters and disutilities and let the private sector deal with utilities.  Capitalist enterprise is now sufficiently mature that it should be funding its own development and expansion.

RATZI THE NAZI PARROTING REPUBLICAN TALKING POINTS

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=501316&in_page_id=1811&ito=1490

Pope Benedict XVI has launched a surprise attack on climate change prophets of doom, warning them that any solutions to global warming must be based on firm evidence and not on dubious ideology.

The leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics suggested that fears over man-made emissions melting the ice caps and causing a wave of unprecedented disasters were nothing more than scare-mongering.

The 80-year-old Pope said the world needed to care for the environment but not to the point where the welfare of animals and plants was given a greater priority than that of mankind.

Hear it now, from the Omniscient Pompous Ignorant Ass Himself!!!

We all need to hear what Dennis has to say for two reasons.
1 - He is the most honest.
2 - He will anchor the far left and set a boundry that no other candidate will cross. This allows Dennis to set the left and Hillary to set the Democratic right. All debate will be within those boundries.

This is a very good article about why I dislike Hillary.
http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/4802

A sample snip
"In the fall of 2002, Senator Clinton sought to discredit those questioning Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Vice-President Dick Cheney, and others who were making hyperbolic statements about Iraq’s supposed military prowess by insisting that Iraq’s possession of such weapons “are not in doubt” and was “undisputed.” Similarly, Clinton insisted that Secretary of State Colin Powell’s February 2005 speech at the UN was “compelling” although UN officials and arms control experts roundly denounced its false claims that Iraq had reconstituted these proscribed weapons, weapons programs, and delivery systems. In addition, although top strategic analysts correctly informed her that there were no links between Saddam Hussein’s secular nationalist regime and the radical Islamist al-Qaeda, Senator Clinton insisted that Saddam “has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members.”

The last two paragraphs of the article are the key.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/viewPhoto?uname=LindainSFNM&aid=5143233918134180049&iid=5143233943903983842 

Thanks sitka for making my point. Those hostile to Iowa can play the enemy of my enemy role with Kucinich If you are in the majority Kucinich will gain by being excluded. 

Thanks for making my point, Phil. When it comes to their caucus, Iowans are full of themselves and petty in their decisions.

But you confuse me with a Kucinich supporter who is playing some kind of a game to help him. I leave that kind of stuff to some who support the other candidates, such as Edwards.

If Iowa Democrats can't include Kucinich in the debate, the whole Iowa caucus thing becomes a total, undemocratic farce.

I just hope that by 2012 the rest of the Democratic Party says, "Enough of this Iowa nonsense." 

Dog, Kucinich is not only the most honest, but the most courageous presidential candidate, and I don't buy your placing him in the "far left".

He and Mike Gravel are the only members of the "Democratic Wing" running for president, though you wouldn't think it by the scorn that is heaped on him by BFAers who should Know better.

Impeaching Cheney is the right thing to do, but the DLC-dominated congressional Dems have sidelined that effort, and the "front-runners" for the nomination are giving that effort zero support.

So Iowa will kick off the DLC campaign to put a Bush-Lite" Democrat in the White House.

Minus any support from me and a ton of other progressives.

I think inviting a spectrum of candidates from the ends of the Dem prospective is necessary to allow people to mentally anchor where Dems as a party stand on issues.
I used to enjoy hearing Jessie Jackson. Not for his jingles but because he anchored the left. Jessie and Dennis tell us what the possibilities are. The differences between the left anchors to each candidates position tell us how much each candidate is selling out voters.
Hillary wins the sell-out contest.

Does anyone remember if Kucinich spoke out against Gravel being excluded?

Blame the victim-- I thought you were better than that Phil.

When it comes to apologizing for the indefensible, he can be the maestro of mitigation. 

61.  I expect she was just trying to reclaim some credibility for Bill whose reluctance to move against Iraq she took for cowardice or inattention.  I get the sense that Bill was somewhat intimidated by Hillary.  Her cold calculation held firm, no matter how much he goofed off.  I'm reminded of an acquaintance who managed to acquire sons by three different women (one brought two adopted sons with her) and who insisted that they all learn to play musical instruments and hone their talents.  The last child, his own flesh and blood actually was a sort of prodigy and filled his father with pride.  But, in the end, all of the boys rebelled and "wasted" their talent.  They didn't want what their father wanted for and of them.  I don't think Bill really wanted to be President.

59,
I put Dennis on the far left of the other candidates; not to be confused with the looney left that is often used to describe him.
Dennis is actually the middle for progressives while the others are near to far right sell-outs.

Yes, I'm sorry that Obama seems to be forgetting Jesse Jackson and Carol Moseley Braun.  The latter really had a more substantive career than Obama has had so far.

The out-of-sequence responses is really awful.
I am taking the rest of the night off.

I don't buy your placing him in the "far left". He and Mike Gravel are the only members of the "Democratic Wing"

It just shows how skewed to the right the political spectrum has become that one Democrat who opposed abortion, and another who wants a national sales tax and brags about creating the Alaska pipeline, can be called "far left." 

John wrote "If Iowa Democrats can't include Kucinich in the debate, the whole Iowa caucus thing becomes a total, undemocratic farce."

I believe the decision belongs to the newspaper, not Democrats in Iowa.  Why shouldn't it be their decision who to include and your decision whether to pay any attention to it?

Dennis on abortion
http://www.kucinichonline.com/pdfs/Kucin...
...
The fact is that most Americans, including myself, are uncomfortable with abortions and feel there are too many of them. At the same time, the vast majority of Americans
recognize that there are circumstances in which a woman and her doctor should be allowed to make this most difficult decision without government intervention.
To return to the days when woman could self-abort without penalty, but to imprison doctors who would help them, seems senseless, especially recognizing that a new abortion law
would likely become known as "The Abortions for the Rich-Only Bill."
I have a plan to reduce abortions by encouraging family planning, including abstinance training, combined with a full economic and health care plan that would clearly alleviate
the number of abortions.
Voters have a choice: Choose Republican rhetoric that will
never allow the issue to come to a vote or a real plan to reduce the number of abortions with a program of economic justice. Factually, all the Republican rhetoric and phony
issues surrounding abortion have never directly addressed the legality of abortion and have had no or negilible impact on the number of abortions.

Keith is scheduled to be a guest with Moyers on Friday night.
should be interesting.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121207...

If the Register had decided to narrow it down o Hillary and Edwards, would that be their right, and yours not to watch? There is a responsibility here to all Americans when they opted to put on the debate. They can't use the electoral process just to further their own exposure.

audrey wrote "If the Register had decided to narrow it down to Hillary and Edwards, would that be their right, and yours not to watch?"

Of course, and the entertainment value would skyrocket in comparison to the dreary spectacles we've been forced to endure until now.  Throw in Kucinich and I think that would be one sweet debate. 

i don't know if Dennis spoke out about Gravel. If he had, we wouldn't have heard about it. If he didn't, he should have, and so should we have.

I believe the decision belongs to the newspaper, not Democrats in Iowa.  Why shouldn't it be their decision who to include and your decision whether to pay any attention to it?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Linda*in*SFNM
Wed, 12/12/07
5:39 pm

it took sometime for me to get an email through....hopefully that's a good sign.

Now, if the DM Register doesn't change by early tomorrow, we get to start emailing and calling their sponsors.

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

So that's where it's heading.

BTW, The Des Moise Register let Alan Keyes into today's GOP debate on the ground that he spent a few bucks to rent a campaign office!

i don't know if Dennis spoke out about Gravel. If he had, we wouldn't have heard about it. If he didn't, he should have, and so should we have.

To the credit of our bloggers, the outrage then was equal to what it is now (actually greater since nobody tried to defend his exclusion.)

This debate is being hosted by the Des Moines Register. The Des Moines Register is the same newspaper that DFA is planning to buy Ad space.

What is your opinion on this matter?

First of all, I think it's outrageous that Kucinich will not be in the debate.  Second,  no more DFA money from me if they run ads in the Register, unless it's to protest the dissing of Dennis.  If the Register were truly interested in a progressive candidate who can win, it would be giving Dodd lots of space.

What do you all think of CBS not considering Dodd a serious candidate?

It's the Iowa caucus corruption that has not considered Dodd or Richardson seriously.  The voters will vote the way the media tells them to. 

 The Register has a more valid reason for excluding Kucinich than CBS has for excluding Dodd.

Piffle!.  People run businesses all the time out of their homes.  CBS is run by CMWs.  Neither the Register nor CBS has a piddly leg to hop on IMO.  

As I've said, the fix is in.   Clinton/Obama....and won't the dems be surprised when they lose.  

more Chris Bowers on Obama:

There has been a great deal of discussion online about the Obama campaign releasing a "Fact check" oppo document on Paul Krugman. Ezra Klein sums up part of why it is disturbing that an attack like this is coming from a leading Democratic Presidential candidate:

It's not only the actual attacks that are weak (most of them rely on misinterpreting one comment, then misinterpreting the next, then pretending there's a contradiction), but, seriously, it's Paul Krugman. Arguably the most progressive voice in American media. When I argued that the campaign should take the gloves off, I really didn't expect their target, in this document and in the health care fight more generally, would be progressivism.

Chris Bowers on Obama fini:

It is certainly disturbing that Obama is attacking a leading progressive voice in a media system where progressive opinion journalists are few are far between. What is even more disturbing is that this is not the first time the Obama campaign has considered doing this.  Back during the Donnie McClurkin fiasco, it has been confirmed to me from multiple sources that the Obama campaign was preparing opposition research papers of this sort against some one of the progressive bloggers who were speaking ill of him at the time (Update: I have edited the previous sentence for the sake of clarity and accuracy.  I know two separate things, and conflating them is a bit of speculation on my part. First, I know that about a year ago, someone was conducting oppo research on most major progressive bloggers, but I don't know who. After I heard about oppo being prepared against one blogger a couple months ago, I speculated that meant the earlier oppo was conducted by the Obama campaign as well. That is purely speculation on my part. Take it for what it is worth).  When I heard about that, Obama temporarily dropped to last place in my personal choices on Democratic candidates. This is a campaign that appears willing to go negative against a wide range of progressive media figures should those figures step out of line and criticize Obama campaign decisions. Given that, I became personally worried that an Obama nomination would, at some point in the future, result in a public smear campaign, possibly directed by the a new White House communications department, against me and / or many of my friends and colleagues.

Actually, it's worse. Couple it with the quote of Obama's above the PR that says: "I want to campaign the same way I govern, which is to respond directly and forcefully with the truth -Barack Obama". It is plainly and simply an effort to call Paul Krugman a liar.

But it's also a telling quote of the way that Obama would govern as President-- by attacking those who are most outspoken in the being progressive.

That sounds about right. During an Obama presidency, progressive media figures could face regular attacks from a Democratic White House. It is a fear that I still hold, and which keeps me from getting excited about Obama's improving position in the campaign.

It isn't just about attacking progressive media figures, either. In my experience, Obama's blogosphere outreach has been far, far worse than that from the Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, and Richardson campaigns, which have all been excellent in this area. Even the Biden campaign has been slightly better in this area. Overall, the willingness to attack progressive media figures, the poor blogosphere outreach, the willingness to triangulate against left-wing strawmen, and incessant, beltway-pundit friendly talk about the need to "fix" Social Security, combine to paint a pretty stark picture of the Obama campaign's relationship with progressive media and new progressive institutions. That is to say, he doesn't like those new institutions, and is instead making friends with the more established media infrastructure.

^more from Chris Bowers^ 

and here is the link to yet more of Chris Bowers on Obama:

Kucinich favors two person debates.  Here's his letter to Sen. Clinton, and I wholly endorse its contents:

"Dear Senator,

"Now that it has become abundantly clear to the American people that some of our colleagues prefer to shut off debate about the crucial issues facing the next president of the United States,  I respectfully challenge you to a formal public debate.

"My proposal is that we engage in a direct one-on-one debate on the most critical issues facing the American people: the war in Iraq; healthcare, trade and the environment.

"Rather than a mere forum restricted to 60 second answers that must avoid any critique of the history and positions of other participants, I am challenging you to a debate in the classical style.  With America's constitutional democracy shaping and defining the essence of our government, the American people deserve no less.

"If you are truly seeking debates where there are fewer participants and where there is more meaningful and serious discourse, this is a great opportunity for us to join together in and an open discussion on behalf of the American people.

"Thank you,

"Sincerely Yours,

"Dennis J. Kucinich"

8:16

Seashell.....

How does CBS not consider Dodd a serious candidate? How do they manifest that? Is it just an opinion expressed or have they done something? The Media needs to be whacked in the knees. Please some details.

This court is located in the city of Fresno.

----- Original Message -----
From: Environmental Defense
To: Susan Rowe
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 3:15 PM
Subject: Breaking News - Huge Victory for Cars and Global Warming

*** Breaking News *** Breaking News *** Breaking News***

Dear Susan,

Victory in our efforts to fight global warming!
I just received some terrific news and I wanted to share it with you right away.

A federal judge in California today rebuked the auto industry's attempt to block California and 16 other states from setting tough new limits on global warming pollution from automobiles, calling these efforts "the very definition of folly."

Environmental Defense was a defendant-intervener in the case. We worked closely with California state officials and several other environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, Blue Water Network, Global Exchange, and Rainforest Action Network.

In the ruling, Federal District Court Judge Anthony Ishii rejected the auto industry's claim that federal fuel economy standards preempted the authority of California and other states to limit global warming pollution from automobiles.

This ruling comes three months to the day after a similar ruling by a federal judge in Vermont, and just eight months after the historic Supreme Court decision in early April that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has an obligation to regulate carbon dioxide under the Clean Air Act.

These are huge victories. Today's ruling shifts the focus to the EPA where a decision on whether to grant California's waiver request to tighten auto emission standards has been pending for two years.

I have just issued a press statement calling on EPA Administrator Steve Johnson to immediately grant California's request to move ahead with this program. All similar California air pollution requests have been approved. Not one has been turned down in EPA history.

In his ruling, Judge Ishii alluded to the importance of EPA granting the waiver. He wrote:


Given the level of impairment of human health and welfare that current climate science indicates may occur if human-generated greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated, it would be the very definition of folly if EPA were precluded from action.

Environmental Defense played a big role in these historic court rulings. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to our General Counsel Jim Tripp and our Regional Director of our Climate and Air Program Jim Marston, who worked so hard on this case.

And, as always, I owe you my heartfelt thanks for all your support. You make our work possible and I can't thank you enough. Together, we are making progress.

As we look ahead to the new year and the need for a national, economy-wide cap on global warming pollution, please join me in celebrating today's terrific news.

Thanks for being part of our work,

Fred Krupp
President, Environmental Defense

The attacks on Obama are coming fast and furious (looks like opponents are getting desparate and want to see Obama's surge in the polls to stop):

http://www.nyobserver.com/2007/shaheen-brings-obamas-drug-use-didnt-care-much-about-gores

Some context might be helpful as Bill Shaheen, a prominent New Hampshire Democrat and the husband of former Governor (and 2008 Senate candidate) Jeanne Shaheen, does the Clinton campaign's bidding in an effort to raise doubts about Barack Obama's character.

Shaheen, a Hillary supporter who often accompanies the candidate on her trips to New Hampshire, is pointedly raising the issue of Obama's admissions of past drug use, according to the Washington Post:

"The Republicans are not going to give up without a fight ... and one of the things they're certainly going to jump on is his drug use," said Shaheen, the husband of former N.H. governor Jeanne Shaheen, who is planning to run for the Senate next year. Billy Shaheen contrasted Obama's openness about his past drug use -- which Obama mentioned again at a recent campaign appearance in New Hampshire -- with the approach taken by George W. Bush in 1999 and 2000, when he ruled out questions about his behavior when he was "young and irresponsible."

Shaheen said Obama's candor on the subject would "open the door" to further questions. "It'll be, 'When was the last time? Did you ever give drugs to anyone? Did you sell them to anyone?'" Shaheen said. "There are so many openings for Republican dirty tricks. It's hard to overcome."

What's interesting is that the Shaheens -- both Bill and Jeanne -- were critical players in Al Gore's 2000 campaign, helping to orchestrate the narrow New Hampshire win that essentially handed Gore the nomination over Bill Bradley. And Gore -- just like Obama -- had admitted to a past history of drug use, something he first fessed up to when he ran for President in 1988. The Shaheens had no qualms about supporting Gore despite this, and while there are many reasons why Al Gore's candidacy failed against George W. Bush, his past drug use was hardly a factor. So why does Shaheen suddenly think it's a big deal? Could it have anything to do with the latest New Hampshire polls, which show Hillary's lead vanishing?

ummm - I'd say if the 'fellow' running it out of his HOME - declares it on his income tax as an 'office' -- it's LEGAL.  Our IRS says so. - so that would probably be - our GOVERNMENT.

Thanks for the link, cChalfonte.  I went to research further and thought I'd just add to your posts by following a link in Bowers' article to an earlier article by Matt Stoler article, also at Open Left.  It's lengthy, so I'll just provide some excerpts, and you can choose to read the rest or not:

"Today, Obama is throwing down the gauntlet on a internet freedom, telecom lobbyists, and on opening up government in general to the public. It's some genuinely radical stuff and it includes the use of blogs, wikis, and openness in government hearings.  Significantly, Larry Lessig has endorsed Obama's platform.

"Specifically, Obama wants the public to be able to comment on the White House Web site for five days before legislation is signed.

"Several well-known local figures are expected to announce their support for Obama's plan, including two former FCC chairmen under President Clinton: Stanford University legal expert Larry Lessig and John Roos, chief executive of Palo Alto law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.

"Roos, one of Obama's top fundraisers, said Silicon Valley start-ups will be encouraged by Obama's call this month for a clean technology venture capital fund backed by a whopping $50 billion in federal money over five years.

"In the plan, Obama also calls for more aggressive government support of broadband access. Specifically, he says subsidies for phone carriers should be given only to those offering both regular phone service and Internet broadband to rural areas. To date, carriers offering merely phone service have been able to claim subsidies from the so-called Universal Service Fund, giving them little incentive to roll out out broadband.

"Obama also calls for reviewing the decision by the Federal Communications Commission to open the wireless spectrum for competition. He thinks the FCC may not have gone far enough with its recent ruling, according to campaign managers who asked not to be named. He wants to conduct a multiyear review but is leaning toward pushing for the opening of some spectrum on the 700 MHz band so third parties can lease it on a wholesale basis.

"This is to ensure that the winners of a pending auction for the spectrum - expected to be large phone carriers like Verizon - don't just sit on the spectrum and not use it. Some fear they may do that to block others from competing with them.

"Obama's proposals are supported by Google, which is expected to bid on the wireless spectrum.

"The candidate also is in favor of network neutrality, a policy that would prevent Internet service providers from charging companies like Google extra to ensure the speedy transfer of data over the Internet."

" . . . .

"In the face of this set of challenges, Obama has thrown down a big gauntlet, policy-wise.  He is pushing to break up the wireless gatekeepers, net neutrality will be a strong priority in his administration, and open government will allow citizens to generate new sources of political power.  I don't trust Obama's politics and I find his post-partisan rhetoric problematic, but I believe in organizing, and I believe that if he is willing to put the government on an open level playing field for all citizens while protecting our ability to access it, good things will happen.  That's more than I can say about Clinton.  It is tough to figure out where these candidates really do disagree, but on open networks, it seems like this is a clear line of demarcation.

"I am now leaning towards Obama in my choice for President, with a second choice of Edwards, who has had an excellent set of policies out there on media and internet policies."

I certainly feel now that I understand your concern.

We're just a small group in here with varied interests - out in the silent majority world the Democrats are still doing good.

CBS News/New York Times Poll. Dec. 5-9, 2007

In general, is your opinion of the Democratic Party favorable or not favorable?”

Favorable 48%:  Unfavorable  44%:  Unsure 8%

Comared and contrasted to:

Test
Time: 5:37 PST
Count s/b near: #96

Test
Time: 5:39 PST
Count s/b near: #97

Clinton's "firewall" in New Hampshire, should she lose to Obama in Iowa ?:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections08/story/0,,2226551,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

· Rival ahead for first time in New Hampshire
· Campaign team planning to step up attacks on rival

Ewen MacAskill in Washington
Thursday December 13, 2007
The Guardian

The latest ratings, part of a trend that has seen him narrow the gap over the last month, has rattled the Clinton team.

In a sign of its unease, Bill Shaheen, a co-chairman of her campaign, yesterday raised Obama's drug-taking as a teenager, even though he had admitted to it in his autobiography.

...

A Rasmussen poll yesterday put Obama on 31% to Clinton's 28%. Two weeks ago, Clinton had a 7% lead.

...

The poll put John Edwards on 16%. Edwards has concentrated on Iowa in the hope that a win there can help him close the gap in New Hampshire.

...

At a rather ‘sensitive time’ in Iraq – this could be a concern.  The ‘Generals’ go home to rest – and the troops stay for a fourth or fifth tour  IN the middle of a war ? – is that not ‘cutting and running?

U.S. military command in Iraq shifts

94.

Tom Bearse
Wed, 12/12/07
9:08 pm

...some excerpts...:

"Today, Obama is throwing down the gauntlet on a internet freedom, telecom lobbyists, and on opening up government in general to the public. It's some genuinely radical stuff and it includes the use of blogs, wikis, and openness in government hearings. Significantly, Larry Lessig has endorsed Obama's platform.

"Specifically, Obama wants the public to be able to comment on the White House Web site for five days before legislation is signed...."
-----------

Wow! Double, triple, Wow!

To let public to comment (!) on White House (!!) Web Site for five (!!!) days before (!!!!) legislation is signed (not after..., lol).

American people got to be trained well to see THAT as "genuinely radical stuff".

Audrey, I read that on the blog but it's so out of order that I don't know who, what, when or even where.

I just wrote to the Register. 

----- Original Message -----
From: Phil Angelides, Standing Up for California
To: Susan Rowe
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 1:37 PM
Subject: Will you join me?

Susan,

Join me and the Apollo Alliance and help us make a green industrial revolution in America!

I have some exciting news about the future that I would like to share with you!

Together, we have worked to make our voices heard on several of the most critical issues facing our state. From the war in Iraq to environmental protection to making healthcare affordable and accessible for everyone, we have weighed in and had a real impact.

Today, I would like to invite you to join me as I embark on a new opportunity to stand up for California and for all Americans.

Several months ago, the Apollo Alliance – a coalition of business, labor, environmental and community leaders working to catalyze a green industrial revolution in America – invited me to join them as their Chairman and I accepted!

Joining me on the new Apollo Board of Directors are leaders that reflect the diversity and the strength of the Apollo Alliance coalition – among them, United Steelworkers International President Leo Gerard, Robert Redford, Silicon Valley pioneer Regis McKenna, Pennsylvania Secretary of Environment Katie McGinty, Green for All President Van Jones, NRDC Chair Frances Bineke, and Sierra Club President Carl Pope.

Will you join us? http://ga3.org/ourfuture2/signup.html

Click here to join me and the Apollo Alliance in a new fight to stand up for California and for all Americans.

Inspired by the Apollo Project of the 1960s that landed a man on the moon within a decade, Apollo is committed to transforming America's economy to a clean energy future – making our nation more secure, freeing us from our dependence on oil, and combating global warming.

Apollo is well known for its leadership at the state and local level. Working with their ten state and four city coalitions, Apollo has helped gain approval for:

Renewable energy standards in Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Hawaii, and Wisconsin;
Appliance efficiency standards in Washington, Oregon and Vermont;
Building retrofit programs in New York City, Los Angeles, and Colorado;
Climate change legislation in California and Vermont;
New clean energy funds and/or tax credits in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Wisconsin and New York City; and
Green collar job training programs in Oakland, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Apollo is now stepping up its efforts to shape the national energy debate in Congress. We are committed to building a clean energy economy that will put millions of Americans to work in new green collar jobs and create a new generation of opportunities for people across America.

We'd like you to join us – click here to join me and the Apollo Alliance. http://ga3.org/ourfuture2/signup.html

Thank you very much for your support. I am looking forward to devoting my energies to my new role at the Apollo Alliance. I hope that we can continue to work together to stand up for people across America.

Sincerely,

Phil Angelides
Standing Up For California

Kucinich favors two person debates.

It's disingenuous to say that he "favors two person debates" in light of his first sentence.....

"Now that it has become abundantly clear to the American people that some of our colleagues prefer to shut off debate about the crucial issues facing the next president of the United States,  I respectfully challenge you to a formal public debate."

In a statement included in the Kucinich release, the Register said it "was our determination that a person working out of his home did not meet our criteria for a campaign office and full-time paid staff in Iowa." The person they are referring to is Kucinich Iowa Field Director and State Coordinator Marcos Rubinstein, "who coordinates campaign activities from his home office in Dubuque, bolstered by a dozen-or-so other senior campaign staff who have traveled the state over the past several months," according to the Kucinich campaign.

Interestingly, the Register is including Alan Keyes in it's Republican debate today, despite the fact that he has little support and has been left out of most debates thus far.

The Kucinich campaign calls the exclusion "arbitrary and unreasonable."

"The Iowa caucuses have been portrayed as having national implications, and if the Register has decided to use hair-splitting technicalities to exclude the leading voice of the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party, then the entire process is suspect," it said in the release.

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

The DMR has put BOTH feet in the manure. 

In the plan, Obama also calls for more aggressive government support of broadband access. Specifically, he says subsidies for phone carriers should be given only to those offering both regular phone service and Internet broadband to rural areas.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*That* I would like to see. . . . Tired of being a norphen, lol!

9:35

OSLO, Dec. 10



For KT Tunstall, the Scottish folk-rock sensation, it was the eyebrows. "He has great eyebrows -- expressive, arched, well groomed," she said. "And he's really tall. You've got to love a tall man."



Nobel Peace Prize Concert Oslo Spektrum Oslo, Norway Pictured L-R Melissa Etheridge, Al Gore , Kevin Spacey and KT Tunstall, backstage at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert (Sandy Young - Sandy Young - For The Washington Post)


For Uma Thurman, whose credentials on the subject of sexy are impeccable, there was no question that "the man's adorable." "Of course he's sexy," she said. "He seems to be flourishing and following his calling. It's just the most enviable thing in the world, like watching a beautiful racehorse run."

Al Gore, sexy man. The thinking girl's thoroughbred.

It has definitely been this guy's year. "It's only taken me 30 years," Gore joked, backstage at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, where a roomful of actors and singers waited their turn to make small talk with the man who, on this cold Scandinavian night, was clearly The Man.

 ...

"No single individual has done more to create a greater understanding of the perils we face than Albert Gore," Spacey said, to rapturous applause from the 6,000-plus people gathered in the Spektrum in central Oslo. Once known for having a staggering knowledge of policy but the stage presence of a fire hydrant, Gore has clearly become far more at ease in the limelight over the year in which his film, "An Inconvenient Truth," won an Academy Award and his career earned him a Nobel.

...

Performers at the concert were invited by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, although Gore was allowed to choose one, and he picked Etheridge. But most of the others interviewed said Gore was a key reason they came. Gore had also asked Tommy Lee Jones, his former roommate at Harvard, to co-host with Thurman. When Jones had to back out for personal reasons, Gore picked up the phone and called Spacey, a longtime friend.

Interviewed before the concert, Spacey said he believed Gore's persistence on climate change after his 2000 defeat shows that "you cannot spend your time and your energy worrying about whether what you are concerned about is popular.

"You have to just keep your head high, march on and beat the drum until someone starts to hear the music," he said. "Fortunately people are starting to hear the music."

Etheridge said she first met Gore in 1994 at the White House, where one wall of his office was dominated by a large photo of Earth taken from space. She said it was clear that the environment was his passion, but that "people were telling him, shhh, please don't talk about global warming."

 Thurman said she didn't want to think about how the world might be different if Gore had defeated Bush in 2000. "It's too painful to think about. Like pulling bandages from unhealed wounds," she said.

 During the concert, the audience watched a videotaped interview Spacey conducted with Rajendra Pachauri, head of the IPCC.

"Surely there are skeptics still out there," Spacey said.

"Well, there will always be some skeptics," Pachauri said. "As you know, there is still in existence something called the Flat Earth Society. There are people -- a very limited number, thank God -- who believe the Earth is flat."

"Yes, I believe many of them live in Washington, D.C.," Spacey said.

 Backstage after the concert, Gore approached Lennox, another Academy Award-winning performer. "I just love your work," Gore said, holding out his arms to Lennox, who hugged him emotionally and said, "Congratulations on everything you've done."

A few minutes later, Lennox, in a fiery interview, called the Bush administration "absolutely disgusting" and said she lamented that Gore was not elected president in 2000.

Tunstall, 32, jumped up and down when Gore approached her, and hugged him close. "I've got all your songs," the Nobel laureate told her. "I play them all the time." Tunstall later said she had never met Gore before, but "he speaks from the heart."

"I trust him, and there are so few people I believe in public life these days," she said.

Gore worked the room slowly, spending time with each artist. He made small talk with Thurman and her two young children. He spoke to Juanes briefly in Spanish and told him his performance had been "fantastico."

"He's a politician, but he has a lot of charisma," Juanes said, saying that it was his first meeting with Gore, and he found him "exactly the same as in the movie."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/11/AR2007121102491.html

Seashell...

Thanks, I hadn't heard anything about Dodd and CBS.
There was an oft repeated conversation on Chris Mathews tonight about how they like to build a candidate up in order to tear them down, keeps their job interesting. Such arrogance, they need to be taken down.

108.

Hillary AWOL on Farm Bill Reform by Pamela Drew

The Senate begins voting on the Farm Bill this afternoon. The current subsidies are nothing but corporate welfare with over 50% going to the 22 Congressional Districts whose members sit on the Agriculture Committee. ...full article: http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_...

five fingers, five candidates

the media moguls count on their fingers and five is the limit

sorry they never graduated to two hands

rdorgan, all of the candidates get some criticism here.  I posted the article about Obama because I thought it noteworthy.  My guy, Edwards catches plenty of flak here.  Free speech and all.

This blog's clock and comment count are broken. When you post a comment please place a number at the top of your post along with the time and date of your post.

[see examples]

#32
3/30/2007
3:32 EST


Thank you,

The blog for America's blog Threaders.

Dennis has not had an official campaign in Iowa, would it have hurt him to open an office

Obama has one in nearly every county

Kucinich invited the rejection, that said, he should be on stage because he is above others in National polls, but he really doesn't have much to complain about since he by-passed Iowa.

Sitka wrote "It's disingenuous to say that he 'favors two person debates' in light of his first sentence....."

I thought that based on his own words, it was reasonable to assume he would prefer a format involving fewer people. more engaged in the discussion.  You may disagree.  I suppose the police line ups now in favor aren't all bad.

former wrote "American people got to be trained well to see THAT as 'genuinely radical stuff'. "

Not you, though.

puddle wrote "*That* I would like to see. . . . Tired of being a norphen, lol!"

You and Professor Lessig at Stanford Law, but it's just a bunch of dross to former. 

Blog etiquette = one or two paragraphs and a link.

I would be thrilled to have broadband access in all rural areas. It seems so wrong that it does not exist for just about everyone, like phone and electricity.

I feel for those with dial up, especially when front posts have embedded videos, or more than a couple of pictures.

Those pics have to be stored online somewhere in order to be posted - why not just link to them with a brief description, so folks can access only if they want to?

I think the dial up folks would really appreciate it. I have superfast broadband and it slows me down as well, but nowhere near those with dial up.

Again, simple etiquette.

Phil....

If Kucinich were taking in corporate money, bundled to his satisfaction, he could have an office in every county.
Nobody owns him. You can't justify the actions of the DMR. An office in every county with a corporate name on the door is not what we're about.

Dennis has not had an official campaign in Iowa, would it have hurt him to open an office

More of that Iowa snobbery we've just about all come to loathe. 

Obama has one in nearly every county

So, by the above reasoning, he should get the most time in the debate? 

Kucinich invited the rejection, that said, he should be on stage because he is above others in National polls, but he really doesn't have much to complain about since he by-passed Iowa.

Iowans don't like it when candidates don't kiss up to them sufficiently and spend too little money in their state. 

Enjoy your privilidged status while it lasts, Iowans, because it won't be for much longer. Everybody else is sick and tired of your shallow, selfish, attitude and your manipulative system based on low turnout.

Sitka wrote "It's disingenuous to say that he 'favors two person debates' in light of his first sentence....."

I thought that based on his own words....

I should have said it's inaccurate to say that. 

they need to be taken down.

The best way to take the corporate media down -- or at least turn them in a different direction --  is to not watch, read, or buy the garbage, but only the good stuff.

Writing letters to networks or programs to complain about content only tells them you watched, which is what their sponsers care about. 

What makes Countdown so great is not just it's content, but that people are watching it over the GOP trash that dominated the media for so long. And now  Dan Abrahms comes on afterwards with even more expose of the truth -- which I expect is a direct result of Olbermann's success.

Ignore the bad. Reward the good. 

122. 9:31PM 

When you post a comment please place a number at the top of your post along with the time and date of your post.

[see examples]

#32
3/30/2007
3:32 EST

That's a good idea. But it would save time to leave out the date, which is at the top of the thread. 

The blogs: Just went around the blogosphere a little bit. Edwards' blog doesn't have too many comments considering it's three weeks before primaries start. Obama's is pretty much buzzing. McCain's is fairly busy with about four posters. I remember Howard's blog having hundreds and hundreds of posts per thread. Maybe there isn't a ton of passion out there this time around.

123. 11:33PM

I forgot to convert to EST. 

Please recommend this post. Thank you.

http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/23262...

126. 9:25PM PST


Calling all IT Doctors!

The bfa has a fever. The blog must be repaired!

PLEASE HELP!

http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/23262...

I was talking with a friend tonight who is very upset that she'll never cast a vote either since OR is so late.  She did not have good things to say about NH or IA.

This all needs to change if it still can in the future.

1AM  

128. 10:00PM PST

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqiABp2sHIc 

129. 1:40AM

One last thing about Iowa (for tonight at least). These people dis a candidate for not spending ENOUGH time and money in their state when most of us will never even see them in ours. Priviledge does indeed breed arrogance, entitlement, and contempt.

130. 1:53

I remember Howard's blog having hundreds and hundreds of posts per thread.

They were some real characters here back then. Well, there still are, but not nearly as many. The woman who was going to run a marathon in the nude wearing only Dean pasties sticks out in my mind. I egged her on, but there were some fuddyduddies who jumped all over her for it -- said it would reflect badly on Dean. They probably ran her off. Sigh.

75. *** cChalfonte***

I wouldn't pay much attention to Chris Bowers. Last I heard (from him no less) he smokes and blogs in his pajamas from his bedroom at his mother's house until he's drunk with exhaustion. He used to write all kinds of half crazy rants over at MyDD. This one about Obama sounds in that form.

132. 2:50AM

Boo on not having Kucinich!

Driving by to post last post from Prague. Yesterday WALKED to astronomical clock and Old Town Square which was beautiful beautiful old church Our Lady of Tyn I think. Then WALKED to Wenceslas Square which is wide blvd of shops very capitalistic and I did not tarry except for the Christmas market, my first. Somehow I made it back to the hotel and had tea and rested my feet. Returned to the fray for one last stroll across the Charles Bridge where view is without greater - compare to SF and HK overlooking the harbor. Paid too much for dinner but it was delish - mixed grill - pork, ham, beef and some kind of cake which I fear was spiked (alcohol cooked out I hope) with whipped cream. In my little FL town we have Wendy's, McDonald's and a BBQ place so eating real food is a big pleasure. I went to bed early, washed my thermal sox and undies. Here I am waiting for taxi to take me to Holesevice sp Station for train to Dresden - only there for about 24 hours then on to final destination of this trip which if I make it I will try to blog.

Farewell for now fellow Americans!! Have a great day.

 ~~~Enjoy your privilidged status while it lasts, Iowans, because it won't be for much longer. Everybody else is sick and tired of your shallow, selfish, attitude and your manipulative system based on low turnout.

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

If sitka is right and this is the majority view Kucinich has helped himself greatly and will sweep the rest of the country.

which must be his play since he has done this before and can't be naive about it

but you can't have it both ways

my feeling is most of the country is happy to let one state absorb all of the ads and mailings so they don't have to be bothered this early

the candidates are on record now, Kucinich has his ideas in play, and supporters who find appeal in a non-campaining candidate will caucus for him

Good morning, everybody

Our son sent a video link for a guy who lifts big slabs of stone for a hobby.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRRDzFROMx0 

Monica

win or lose I have gained great appreciation for Senator Dodd, this is a strong field, his staff replied to me that they appreciate your work on the BFA Post.

Campaign notebook 

December 13, 2007

Barack Obama continues his hard-edged, negative campaign - against his own staff.


The Obama campaign's response to reports Tuesday that he had stated in a decade-old questionnaire his unequivocal opposition to the existence of guns - a different position than he states today - was to blame it on a wayward employee.

"That was a questionnaire filled out in his first state Senate campaign back in 1996 not by Senator Obama but by somebody on his staff that didn't get it cleared," US Representative Adam Smith of Washington, an Obama supporter, said on MSNBC on Tuesday evening.

Passing blame down to anonymous staff ranks has become something of a tic for Obama.

In May, Obama pointed the finger at unidentified campaign schedulers when he had to address a New Hampshire firefighters union by telephone, instead of meeting with them in person.

"I have to tell you, I wish I was there," Obama told the gathering. "My staff had already scheduled some things and they couldn't wiggle out if it. They heard from me a little bit because I wasn't happy I couldn't be there personally."

And after media attention turned to the "Hillary Clinton (D-Punjab)" headline on a June research memo Obama's campaign produced about Clinton's ties to the Indian-American community, Obama called the "unnecessarily caustic" document a "dumb mistake on our campaign's part and I made it clear to my staff in no uncertain terms that it was a mistake."

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

You will perhaps recall my report that when he stepped out on the platform in the UNH gym way back in January, the first thing he said was "wonder how much that cost?"

Which suggested to me that he's not in charge of his campaign.

136.  Yes, Phil, I know they appreciate my work.  When I leave pungent messages on his blog, they remove them.  I consider that a positive.  It means they pay attention.  I find it a quick way to communicate and wouldn't leave some of my posts up either.  LOL

I think what we're about at this point is leaving lots of tracks so if and when he takes off the major media will find their work already done for them. 

There were a number of people who commented on KOS yesterday that it is too bad he's running as a Democrat since he'd have lots more appeal for Republicans.  That we want Republicans to vote for a President for everyone, hasn't really registered yet. 

I going to miss the Dodd house party traveling to Madison to pick up my son at the airport. I regret not having the chance to thank him in person for his speech on the Senate floot in defense of the Constitution.

the bickering between Obama and Hillary is raising all of the other candidates chances, but they can't seem to help themselves and keep at it

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version

"Difficulties with the Iranian client are resolved and we have agreement on the timetable for construction," said the head of Russia's state contractor.

And after media attention turned to the "Hillary Clinton (D-Punjab)" headline on a June research memo Obama's campaign produced about Clinton's ties to the Indian-American community, Obama called the "unnecessarily caustic" document a "dumb mistake on our campaign's part and I made it clear to my staff in no uncertain terms that it was a mistake."

I wouldn't call that unnecessarily caustic .  I'd call that offensive to the Indian community all around the globe.  Why is his campaign even putting out such memos? 

Yes, it seems that the Clinton people are producing similar Dreck and the media are finally admitting where this kind of stuff comes from, but retaliating in kind is not attractive.

I, for one, find the forced collegiality on the floor of the Senate offensive and consider all those "thank my good friend" comments a big waste of time.  On the other hand, simple courtesy would be nice.

Of course, I don't have to be nice.  LOL 

140.  The problem is that both candidates have hired campaign consultants and pollsters who are playing the game their way.  All these people are interested in is in raking in as much money as possible.

BTW, if people are really serious about campaign finance reform, they should take note that both Edwards and Dodd have agreed to accept the federal dollars.  If the people speak, then the media are just going to have to get used to the fact that the campaign gravey train won't be as long and start earning income in some other way.  Ewards has spent almost nothing on TV ads in new hampshire.

Obama has a bunch of Gebhardt people.  That was not a wise decision either. 

140

I can't believe that you just said the bickering between Obama and Hillary.  You know as well as I that Obama has not bickered.  I know you are for Edwards, but don't start making things up trying to make him look good.  You know as well as I Edwards was bickering for quite a while until it didn't fit in with his plans.  I don't remember ever hearing one peep out of you about his negativity.  I'm really disappointed in you Phil.

I have to drag myself to the barn with a sore back  from chipping ice (not really ice but very very heavy snow) no power outage here as it didn't stick to the lines. many in Iowa are still without power though

I spend my time recovering here at the blog so I'll be back, but I have to finish my calling list for Edwards to invite people to his event.

Annilow

thanks for the reports

Monica,

You don't know anything at all about Obama's people.  IMHO they are doing a hell of a job.

141.  That whole Iran thing was another example of failed business practices.  Bush/Cheney are going with the old "gunboat" playbook, trying to intimidate the customers.  They should know better than to try that with the descendants of the Persian traders.

But, of course, they're cowboys.  They know how cowboys work in that part of the world.  LOL  

Herders know you can't treat people like sheep or goats, for that matter. 

What is this a mutual admiration society between Monica and Phil?

Obama has a bunch of Gebhardt people.  That was not a wise decision either. 

Lol Monica who is the frontrunner now?  Dodd?

Here is an article about Obama from some highly intelligent and ethical people who actually know him, who worked with him.  Seems Obama is highly esteemed by them.  Looks like Obama's character is ok to me.

Of course I'm sure someone here will find something derogatory to say about it.

Howard Dean said the other day that the Republican candidates look like guys out of the 'fifties.  True enough.  But our candidates are being sold like the cars of the fifties and sixties--on the basis of hood ornaments, fins and radiator grills.  Oh, and horsepower that's absolutely useless.

Please Contributehttp://www.actblue.com/page/bfarepair

Thank  you Monica for your contribution.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/NATION/112130047

By Donald Lambro and Ralph Z. Hallow
December 13, 2007

Sen. Barack Obama has expanded his lead over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the run-up to South Carolina's Jan. 26 Democratic presidential primary, drawing increased black voter support after Oprah Winfrey's campaign appearances there, a new survey shows.

An InsiderAdvantage poll of 480 likely Democratic voters conducted Dec. 8-9, during and after the TV talk-show star's whirlwind two-day visit, shows Mr. Obama of Illinois leading the New York senator 28 percent to 22 percent. Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards trailed in third place with 14 percent.

...

"The blog for America's Repair Fund"

>

Good movement, but I ain'a payin' a dime. 

Timestamp folly indicator - 07:44

 but the last posted was 8:20

failure.

Monica

win or lose I have gained great appreciation for Senator Dodd, this is a strong field, his staff replied to me that they appreciate your work on the BFA Post.

+++

I second that about Sen Dodd and the work that Monica and others have done for him.

In fact, I've always respected Sen. Chris Dodd, especially when I was still a resident in CT from birth until I left (the state for good) for college. He, even back then, was definitely the better half of the representation in the US Senate for CT residents.

Out of here.  Work calls.

http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk0MDAmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcyMzI3NzUmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2

Obama's surge is real
Wednesday, December 12, 2007

By RICHARD COHEN
THE WASHINGTON POST

DES MOINES, Iowa --

...

At the moment, the prudent would call the Iowa race a dead heat -- Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards all plus-or-minus within the statistical margin of error. But that is not quite the case. It is Obama who is gaining in the latest polls, Clinton is slipping, and Edwards, who has durable strength here, is merely treading water. Somewhat the same process is under way in New Hampshire, where again Obama is coming on strong.

...

Congratulations Al Gore on your Nobel Peace Prize  by Linda*in*SFNM Promoted Tuesday, 12/11/07 @ 05:30 pm.+++Linda -As you know Al will be speaking today in Bali, essentially taking on the Bush administration's stubborn, pig-headedness of a "leader(?) of the free world".  Al IMO is the real leader here, the leader of the world who is trying to do what no other world body, no other leader or NGO activist (here in the US or anywhere in the world) has been able to do -- get Bush to change his mind.I can see by all the pics of Al that you pasted into that blog entry of two days again, was a lot of work on your part.  No one here has done more to highlight the tremendous and critical work that Al has accomplished, and will acoomplish, than you. 

131. 2:26

75. *** cChalfonte***

I wouldn't pay much attention to Chris Bowers. Last I heard (from him no less) he smokes and blogs in his pajamas from his bedroom at his mother's house until he's drunk with exhaustion. He used to write all kinds of half crazy rants over at MyDD. This one about Obama sounds in that form.

+++

Sitka -

Thanks for that comment.

The blogs: Just went around the blogosphere a little bit. Edwards' blog doesn't have too many comments considering it's three weeks before primaries start. Obama's is pretty much buzzing.

...

+++

mary vb -

Interesting.  Thanks for sharing that.

Was reading earlier about how the Hillary supporter Shaheen is slamming Obama for his drug use as a kid. He is "concderned" about the Repubs using this point in the general election.

If Repubs cared about drug use, they would never jhave supported Arnold the Gropenator.

Kevin Rudd, the new Aussie prime minister, speaking earlier against the them PM John Howard, in an attempt to censure Howard for John's attack on Obama:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e7bhsziwJ4

Monica, This link is for you son.

http://www.theairportshow.com/

165. maybe?

you s/b your

Our lovely "progressive professionals" continue fighting "hard" to "represent" American people.

American "democracy" in action..., lol!
---------------

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/12/b...

Budget deal would probably give Bush victory on war funding


Story Highlights

Budget deal would give President Bush $70 billion in additional war funding.

Provision calling for a troop withdrawal from Iraq by end of 2008 dropped.

Legislation would be passed by end of the year.

Amount less than $200 billion requested by the president.

Monica, Here is another one.

http://www.amazon.com/Lets-Build-Airport...

more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazca_lines...

new thread

Monica, cool video. I sent the link to countdown LOL

*rd, thank you.

What do you expect from the facsist's in the Pentagon and from the "unitary executive" branch of the government?  Former AJ Ascroft, wanted Total Information Awareness (TIA). GWB has said tjhat it would be easier for him if this government was a dictatorship.  Big brother of 1984 and the Brave New World is here.  Get up, Stand up, don't give up the fight.  Get out of the blogosphere and organize!

If you are so upset with Kucinich, why don't give some money and volunteer to work for him?  He had to make a strategic decision with the money and staff that he had.  He tried to get by with  what he had and was stretched to thin.  It is up to us to win it for him.  Don't just blog, organize!