Dean is first!

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.

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#32
3/30/2007
3:32 EST


Thank you,

The blog for America's blog Threaders.

3.  10:38PM PST

Calling all IT Doctors!

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

PLEASE HELP!

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

YOU HAVE THE POWER!

Please Contribute

http://actblue.com/page/bfarepair

#5
Thu, 12/13/07
9:30 am EST

Testing, testing, 1,2,3

Is this thing on?

118.

Tom Bearse
Wed, 12/12/07
11:26 pm


...Professor Lessig at Stanford Law,...just a bunch of dross to former.
----------

I really don't know Mr. Lessig but it's transparent to me that his level of respect for American people as well as for American democracy IS at very low level.

132.
Sitka
Thu, 12/13/07
3:14 am

Reply to this

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.

Im quite certain any 10 year old Chinese, Korean or Indian kid could fix this blog clock if given the chance.....................

116.
mary vb
Wed, 12/12/07
11:21 pm

Reply to this

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.

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

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 (new Aussie PM Kevin Rudd spoke earlier), 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.   

So we should give DFA MORE money for not maintaing the blog in a satisfactory manner?  That's like giving the Busg Administration more money for Iraq to fix what they messed up!

Yeah, that's a bit over the top, but if DFA wants a blog, they should maintain it.  Apparently, they don't care...but I don't think they have since the campaign. 

141.
Phil Specht
Thu, 12/13/07
6:51 am

Reply to this

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.

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.

...

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.

...

Im quite certain any 10 year old Chinese, Korean or Indian kid could fix this blog clock if given the chance.....................

+++

Mike -

... or Sierra Leonean kid could ...

the better half of the representation in the US Senate for CT residents

~~~~~~~~~~

talk about a low bar; that is damning with faint praise lol

Kevin

send your daughter to Burlington, she could fix the clock

I need to pay more attention. Kevin from Clayton County has a high school age daughter that runs our web site.

all the Iowa hoopla and it is going to end in a three way tie

that should make Oregon happy since they may well be the vote that determines the nomination

Phil -

"Know thy history"

Chris Dodd became U.S. Senator in CT in the 1980 election.  Joe Lieberman didn't become senator until 1989.

So who was the other senator in CT during the 1980's ?

(  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell_P._Weicker%2C_Jr. ... Lowell Weicker was said to be considering a rematch against Senator Joe Lieberman in the 2006 election cycle. He objects to Lieberman's support for the Iraq War and noted in a New York Times article published on December 6, 2005, "If he's out there scot-free and nobody will [run against Senator Lieberman], I'd have to give serious thought to doing it myself, and I don't want to do it."

The Lieberman campaign released an ad which borrows from one aired during the 1988 Senate race, which depicted Weicker as a hibernating bear ignoring his Senate duties except at election time. In the 2006 ad, Weicker reappears as a wounded bear while Lamont is depicted as a bear cub sent and directed by Weicker.

On June 18, 2006, Weicker held a fundraiser for Lamont and described himself as an "anti-war activist.")

Dodd was even better than Weicker, thus the better half during these past 26 years.

all the Iowa hoopla and it is going to end in a three way tie

+++

Phil -

In all due respect, that's your opinion.  My opinion differs.

Obama isn't the best Senator from Illinois but that is a very high bar.

rdorgan

If Hillary and Obama keep up the bickering they will end in third and fourth.

Susan Rowe - You are a hoot. I just donated to the *cause*.

speaking of Oregon:

http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2007/11/or_head_to_heads.html?xid=rss-rcp

SurveyUSA is out with general election matchups in Oregon. Once again, the fact Hillary Clinton loses to McCain, is in a dead heat with Giuliani, and can muster only 50% against one potential GOP opponent in a blue state like Oregon has to be setting off warning sirens among Democratic voters:

Clinton 45 - McCain 48
Clinton 46 - Giuliani 45
Clinton 48 - Romney 44
Clinton 50 - Huckabee 40

Meanwhile, Obama is over 50% and handily defeats everyone but McCain:

Obama 45 - McCain 45
Obama 51 - Giuliani 40
Obama 52 - Romney 37
Obama 54 - Huckabee 33

This is not the first poll we've seen suggesting that Democratic fears about there being a ceiling of support for Hillary Clinton that would make the general election a nail biter

...

23.

Hillary is bickering and attacking (Obama isn't, he's just not letting himself be swift-boated).  Obama's rising poll numbers in IA, NH and SC reflect this.

* rdorgan
Thu, 12/13/07
9:47 am

Given that in the most recent national CNN head to heads, Edwards does better than Hillary or Obama, leaving him out of this poll in Oregon is patently unfair and another example of the MSM (or someone) trying to narrow a campaign which has yet to have a vote cast. 

Meanwhile, locally, the LCDC continues to push the "we're moderate, not like those crazy left wing Democrats" meme.  It cost them my membership.  I decided not to rejoin this time around. 

Robert Wexler, congressman from Fl said to a crowd in his district, that the way to get health care for our children is to IMpeach Cheney. He called for impeachment of Cheney and removal from office. He said more of his colleagues are calling for investigation to begin. He is a member of the committee which is holding HR333 Dennis Kucinich Impeach Cheney bill.

Wexler said too that another thing impeachment will do is to make us more POPULAR IN THE WORLD.

By the way....

Has anyone else noticed the stories out this morning about how the Democrats are about to give Bush another $70B for Iraq without any strings attached?

We elected them why? 

OK I'm in too. $1000 bat for this thread?

Are you insane, Susan?

Read FEC reports thoroughly before "reacting," please.

For once....

http://tinyurl.com/ol24e

Beginning Cash: $1,100,741
Latest Cash On Hand: $781,095
Debts Owed By: $0

Through: 10/31/2007

Edwards/Obama would beat McCain/Huckabee but not every Democratic combination would.

and again all of my posts have the implied IMHO

mainefem

This is a better cause than an ad in the Des Moines Register

there's a tie alright in IA, between Hillary and Edwards:

http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/iowa_poll_121307.htm

Strategic Vision

Poll results - IA

Below are the results of a three-day poll in the state of Iowa. Results are based on telephone interviews with 600 likely Republican cacus goers and 600 likely Democratic cacus goers, aged 18+, and conducted December 8-10, 2007. The margin of sampling error is ±4.5 percentage points.

...

5. If the 2008 Democratic presidential caucus were held today between, Joeseph Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson, for whom would you vote? (Democrats Only; Names Rotated)
Barack Obama 33%
Hillary Clinton 25%
John Edwards 24%
Joseph Biden 4%
Bill Richardson 4%
Chris Dodd 1%
Dennis Kucinich 1%
Undecided 8%

...

I think Clinton's consultants have decided that if she can't win she would be ahead to take Obama down with her.

any time either of them uses the word "experience" Dodd and Biden go up

rdorgan

my brother is a Obama precinct captain and they are doing mock caucus training this week. None of the recruits have ever caucused before. It is a big question mark whether or not they will show. I'm for the more the merrier which is why I welcomed Kerry's Vietnam Vets that had never caucused before. Obama's massage has a novel appeal to non-activists (not unlike many of Howard's supporters) so the proof will be in turnout. Low turnout and Edwards wins.

message/massage

no I'm not sending a negative subliminal signal.

bbl

Phil -

I hope that tonight's dem debate in Des Moines is as amiable as the repub one yesterday.  I wish I could watch it (online, I don't get any cable channels) but I'm working my second job tonight. 

I'll check in here and elsewhere tomorrow to see viewer's reactions to it.

Off to write some letters to NH residents

Also, to write some thank you letters to IA precinct captains for Obama, thanking them for all the hard work they are doing, that I'm not capable of doing (one of these days, I plan to visit Iowa for the first time).

Edwards poll numbers have been rock solid here. If you are a betting man, you like those odds in a caucus state.

29.

mainefem
Thu, 12/13/07
10:01 am


Yes I know. I want this blog repaired. These funds are only to go towards that effort. This blog is for us. DFA HQ has other expenses. I will give more if necessary. Have you seen the cost of Healthcare Insurance these days?

Monica, great video your son posted. I sent it to Countdown. :)

*rd " No one here has done more to highlight the tremendous and critical work that Al has accomplished, and will acoomplish, than you." ...thank you...I think, if that was means as a compliment. LOL :)

...seriously, pretty cheap on my end, don't you think? Mr. Gore does all the work and all I do is get to share what he has done and is doing.

He truly is becoming the world's Leader. Thank goodness he belongs to us. One of the few bright lights shining for us...as he carves out that new path in those rough tall fields of tall grass.

The Senate failed to pass the Energy Bill by one vote.

I WANT NAMES.....????????

i just made my fist mistake of the day. I tuned in to the Senate. Harry Reid was just finishing up his capitulation regarding the supplemental approp. Then Mitch takes the mic and begins praise for that is the way the Congress should work, in a bi-partisan way. (that's code for "the Republican Way").

Then Reid comes back to the mic and said how heavy his heart was that Domenici would be spending his last days in the Senate this time next year. Isn't Dom. under some kind of indictment or investigation?

What a gang we're paying for !

38. Phil...considering, true, his consistency, he really should go up fro there.

...just keep those attack dogs muzzled, if you have any say so. And tell them Sirota has not been doing his campaign ANY FAVORS.

Edwards/Obama would beat McCain/Huckabee but not every Democratic combination would.

Saying "would beat," seems disingenuous.  We're talking about a poll 11 months before the election, not an inside scoop from above.

35. 

typo, today's dem debate starts 12 noon EST (1pm CST) but I'll still not be able to see it online,etc. because I'll be on my way home from my first job, trying to get home before the coming storm heading through CT and MA today:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071212/NEWS09/71212029

...

Democratic candidates for president will take the stage at 1 p.m. Thursday in the Des Moines Register's second presidential debate.

...

The Democratic debate can be seen at Iowa Public Television, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News Channel, C-SPAN 3. The debate will be rebroadcast at 7 p.m. on Iowa Public Television.

It can be seen live via web cast at DesMoinesRegister.com.

It can be heard on XM Radio POTUS Channel 150, C-SPAN Radio and Fox News Radio.

Edwards is still where he was four years ago. Since he and Kucinich seem to have fallen out, who will he conspire with to sneak into second place this time?

Rich K. is spot-on, Phil.

This so-called "blog" has sucked for over 4 yrs. (and counting).

People became sick and tired of "waiting," and scattered elsewhere. Too little...too late.

Go check the Technorati ratings, also.

SoapBlox, WordPress, and/or Scoop are free, BTW.

And *yes*, I do read FEC reports on a regular basis (it takes a few seconds to Google; and a few minutes to peruse the quarterlies).

I know where monies are being frittered away on D.C. Beltway insider "consultants," (absolutely no need for 'em), direct mailers, and top-heavy salaries.

I never reward incompetence.

Monica, great video your son posted. I sent it to Countdown. :)

*rd " No one here has done more to highlight the tremendous and critical work that Al has accomplished, and will acoomplish, than you." ...thank you...I think, if that was means as a compliment.

+++

Linda -

Yes, it was means as a compliment from me to you (ie. I sometimes get to artsy with my words, instead of cutting to the chase and just plain saying "thank you").

49. 8:44

i just made my fist mistake of the day. I tuned in to the Senate. Harry Reid was just finishing up his capitulation regarding the supplemental approp. Then Mitch takes the mic and begins praise for that is the way the Congress should work, in a bi-partisan way. (that's code for "the Republican Way").

This silly game that DCDems play of pretending to stand firm for a few weeks and then rolling over makes me have more contempt for them than if they just got it over with immediately. 

Al Gore's oratory electrifies Bali summit

Thursday, 13 December , 2007, 20:05

Bali: In a speech likely to go down in history as an oratorical milestone in the fight against global warming, Al Gore, former US vice-president and co-winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, electrified the December 3-14 UN conference on climate change on its penultimate evening on Thursday.

Clearly speaking from his heart, Gore exhorted the nearly 11,000 delegates from 187 countries gathered here for the summit to bypass the US government delegation that is threatening to derail the entire Bali roadmap to start global negotiations that will help fight global warming.

Pointing out that climate change was already here, that it was no longer a matter that would affect future generations but was affecting the present one, Gore quoted the famous lines from the Nazi era: "First they came for the Jews and I did not do anything; then they came for the gypsies and I did not do anything; then they came for the neighbours and I did not do anything; when they came for me there was nobody to do anything for me."
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14...

Bali Speech, by Al Gore
rtsp://webcast.un.org/ondemand/conferences/unfccc/2007/hl/unfccc-071213pm-algore-orig.rm

video

Charles (see note from HQ added to the top),

When you wanted us to stop putting pictures next to our names, that took you less than an hour to "fix".

It (the clock) wasn't broken before.  Why would it be broken now? 

But let's take it a step further, okay, from the technical to the functional...

What is the function of blog for america in DFA's future?  It had a clear function during the Doc's campaign, but since then has seemed to exist mainly because it wasn't worth the effort (and bad press) to remove it.

As someone who's been here a long, long time, I'd be happy to participate in a discussion, in person or by telecon, whose goal would be to revitalize BFA by giving it a real functional role connected to DFA's strategic goals.  This could be leadership in the progressive movement, or as a resource for candidates and staffs running for office, or fill in the blank.

Making the clock work really doesn't do anything.  But the clock should be fixed. 

http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/link.php?id=47412

Sounds sweet, doesn't it? Former President of Peru, Alberto Fujimori was sentenced to six years in prison for abusing his powers. In a democracy, it can be done.

IT CAN BE DONE, BUT NOT BY THE CURRENT MOB OF DEMOCRATIC COWARDS

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS

http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/diarypage.php?did=5178

Swept away. In a mudslide of congressional fear and with moral purpose and election promises caving in around their grasping little ears, Congress has just punted a $1 trillion budget.

And to whom have they given up the ball downfield? To an FDR, a Truman or a Kennedy? No--to a lame duck president who holds the lowest approval rating in modern history.

Merry Christmas.

If a roasted Christmas duck was no more lame than Bush, it would fly off the platter and migrate for the winter in Mexico.

The entire machinery of government in America is so broken that its primary responsibility has become leaking money and caving in to the politics of fear and greed.

Bush will fly down for his next-to-last presidential Christmas in Texas, knowing that all he need do is point a popgun at the head of Congress and they all fall down.

Soft on terrorism--pop! Failing to support our troops--pop. Giving aid and comfort to our enemies--pop.

Fidgeting to leave on holiday, they'll spit up $1 trillion, carved exactly as he likes it. The white-meat of war funding on this side of the platter, dark-meat of cut-back programs over there--next to the rich dressing of profiteering and privatization.

Halliburton and Boeing served first, Blackwater ladling the gravy. The two Mikes, Chertoff and Mukasey, bringing more champagne up from the cellar.

35.  I think the Dodd blog is going to stream the debate.  It's at 2:00 PM.

BTW. We are going to be winners or losers in this election, depending on which candidates are selected.

The designation of Bill Shaheen as a state chairman by the Clinton campaign was a mistake, IMHO.  I have seen and spoken to Bill Shaheen a number of times and, though he's reputed to be a big-wig in the state and responsible for his wife's election as Governor, I was not impressed.  The first time I heard him speak, he found it necessary to denigrate his wife with a joking put-down of himself.  Men do that a lot, but it's not a pleasant spectacle ("my wife is great because she put me in my place" doesn't have the ring of sincerity to it).  The second time he left an impression with me was at a Clinton pre-event "breakfast" at which Clinton was moved to finish her speech with the assertion that she would ask for our votes because "Billy would be angry with her," if she didn't.  Now, while asking for votes is certainly a good thing to do, that she felt it necessary to share the spot-light with Billy in that way, was not a good omen, IMHO.

It's my sense that Bill Shaheen harbors some resentment that the women are enjoying a success that eludes him.  In Carol Shea-Porter's case, he signed on as a co-chair with Jim Craig sort of in the last minute (you'll remember that our primary for those offices is in Spetember, leaving less than two months between the primary and the November election), getting on the band-wagon, so to speak.  He may well have been prompted in his snake-like attack on Obama in retaliation for Carol throwing her support to Obama.

Carol, BTW, made the right choice, for her.  I would have done the same in her shoes.

Obama has some bad personality traits.  Blaming other people for mistakes is not an attractive trait.  It's a bad habit which he needs to overcome quickly.  There's an attitude of "somebody messed up--whose ass do I kick?" that he needs to get rid of real quick.  It's one of the things which leads me to conclude that he's not quite ready for prime time. 

There are rumblings in the state that Billy may have sunk Jeanne's chance for the Senate with this ploy.  Which is fine with me.  We have a perfectly acceptable alternative in Jay Buckey. 

Low turnout and Edwards wins.

Reason one to despise the Iowa caucuses: It's all about precinct captains, manipulation of voters, deal making, and low turnout.

The fact that Iowanas are a bunch of spoiled political brats who must have their hands held while being told how special and wonderful they are and demand that time and money be lavished upon them is secondary.

CODE PINK TO TAKE AIM AT DEMOCRATS IN 2008

(About time someone did)

http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071212/NATION/112120072/1001

Leaders of the antiwar group Code Pink, frustrated by the ineffectiveness of Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill, yesterday said they are mobilizing a campaign for regime change within the party in the 2008 elections.

The mostly female group — famous for disrupting congressional hearings and its demonstrators clad in pink T-shirts and tiaras — has applied for a new tax status that permits political work for its campaigns against Democrats as well as Republicans, Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin said.

"We felt betrayed by the very people we helped to put into office," Ms. Benjamin told editors and reporters at The Washington Times. "We have a particular break with the leadership of the Democratic Party."

The group also plans to take an active role in the presidential race, likely backing Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois or former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, both Democrats.

Code Pink activists have voiced dissatisfaction with Democratic front-runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and targeted her with demonstrations

61. 9:20

Leaders of the antiwar group Code Pink, frustrated by the ineffectiveness of Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill, yesterday said they are mobilizing a campaign for regime change within the party in the 2008 elections.

YES! But what took them so long to figure it out? At any rate, they're the kind of people who do what they say they will and will be a great help to the reform cause.

HILLARY ON IRAQ

http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/4802

Public opinion polls have consistently shown that the majority of Americans – and even a larger majority of Democrats – believe that Iraq is the most important issue of the day, that it was wrong for the United States to have invaded that country, and the United States should completely withdraw its forces in short order. Despite this, the clear front-runner for the Democratic Party nomination for president is Senator Hillary Clinton, a strident backer of the invasion who only recently and opportunistically began to criticize the war and call for a partial withdrawal of American forces.

Senator Clinton has never apologized for her vote to authorize the invasion. She insists that her eagerness for the United States to invade Iraq had nothing to do with its vast petroleum reserves. Like President Bush, she claims that she did not lie about her false accusations about Iraq’s weapons programs. She says she was misled by faulty intelligence, though she has refused to make public this intelligence that she claims demonstrated that Iraq had somehow reconstituted its WMD.

Senator Clinton has never criticized the Bush administration for its flagrant violation of the UN Charter or its responsibility for the deaths of the tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians. She has limited her criticism to the way the administration handled the invasion, implying that, as president, she would do invasions better. Indeed, she insisted that while not regretting her vote to authorize the invasion, she did regret “the way the president used the authority.”

As her record indicates, Senator Clinton’s position on Iraq differs very little from that of President Bush. For her to receive the nomination for president would in effect be an endorsement by the Democratic Party of the Iraq war.

If the Democrats select another war supporter as their nominee in 2008, the result may well be the same as 2004. Large numbers of people will refuse to vote for the Democratic nominee as part of a principled stance against voting for someone who authorized and subsequently supported the Iraq war. And Republicans will highlight the Democratic nominee’s shifting positions on Iraq as evidence that their opponent is simply an opportunistic politician rather than the kind of decisive leader the country needs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZcY6TGfAxE

61. Hallelujah! Good for Code Pink. Sitka -- you've been saying it for a long time. Gotta clean house in the Dem Party first and reward the few good Dems out there.

63. 11:26

If the Democrats select another war supporter as their nominee in 2008, the result may well be the same as 2004. Large numbers of people will refuse to vote for the Democratic nominee as part of a principled stance against voting for someone who authorized and subsequently supported the Iraq war.

I just hope the Greens put someone on my ballot this time so I'll have a real choice. 

62. I agree with this post as well, Huron. Especially no to Hillary - she can't/won't say her Iraq War vote was a mistake. That alone disqualifies her from being the nominee IMO.

--------
Gotta run.

66. 11:31

Good for Code Pink.

Unlike the "fighting Democrats" of the 2004 campaign, Code Pink will take the fight to DCDems.

And DCDems thought it was bad when CP went after Reeps like Condi Rice with blood on their hands? Watch out Harry and Nancy, life is about to get a lot tougher for you. 

DFA had salaried employees, whose roles and responsibilites indeed include "fixing the blog," Susan.

...for four yrs. they've been paid to do NOTHING but stonewall; and should've been FIRED years ago.

(Although, Blue State Digital has made out like a bandit--can't imagine *why*).

{{{snark}}}

It's downright embarrassing (not to mention--pathetic) to look at it on an occasional basis.

Rewarding incompetence w/more $$$ is more than foolish (not counting the D.C. Beltway "consultants" who've profited).

PACs do NOT need "consultants."

Ever.

Grab an ActBlue account; and vet your own candidates (including *their* FEC reports, too).

Your heart is in the right place, Susan; however, it's an exercise in futility; and rewards (as well as encourages) ongoing incompetence and arrogance.

99%+ of the "regulars" already split (years ago) to real blogs, BTW.

Charles Chamberlain's note above is NOT relevant.

These funds for the needed repairs were made in "good faith". And the long over due needed repairs are intended to be a Christmas present to all of us in the blog for America's community.

Happy High Holidays Everybody!


Take care,

Susan Rowe

Bali

Al Gore: "I speak to you as a person, a father, a grandfather. I speak to you as someone who for 40 years has tried to understand this crisis and for 30 years, to communicate it-to communicate about it, clearly. I also speak to you as an American. As a citizen of the United States. I'm not an official of the United States and I'm not bound by the diplomatic niceties. (laughter) SO, I am going to speak an Inconvenient Truth. My own country, the United States, is principly responsible for obstructing progress here, in Bali (cheers and applause)-we ALL KNOW THAT. But, my country is not the only one that can take steps to insure we move forward from Bali with progress and hop (applause)."

If the Democrats select another war supporter as their nominee in 2008, the result may well be the same as 2004. Large numbers of people will refuse to vote for the Democratic nominee as part of a principled stance against voting for someone who authorized and subsequently supported the Iraq war.

___________________________________________________________________________

These are great words..........of course, except for DK......they are ALL war supporters because they were the ones who went along with Bush.........I dont buy their stories either.

Thank you so much mary vb and Phil Specht for your generous contributions toward this effort to repair our community's blog space.


With love,

Susan Rowe

Al Gore: "We are seeing the early stages of he first Global PEOPLE Power movement. There will be a mass movement world wide."

Democrats Yield On Spending Impasse

Congressional Democrats appear to have blinked in their spending showdown with the White House. As the Washington Post reports this morning, House Democratic leaders "yesterday agreed to meet President Bush's bottom-line spending limit on a sprawling, half-trillion-dollar domestic spending bill, dropping their demands for as much as $22 billion in additional spending but vowing to shift funds from the president's priorities to theirs." Roll Call says Democrats are "bowing to the threat of...Bush's veto pen" and "appeared poised to accept a $70 billion package of spending for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with no strings attached." The Hill calls it a Democratic "capitulation," saying it is "the latest instance of Bush prevailing on a major policy showdown." The AP reports Democrats are "prepared...for major concessions on Iraq war funding, children's health insurance, tax policies, general spending and energy. ... The pain is deepest in the House."

The pain? The pain? Fear of pain is why they capitulate. Or is it collaboration based on corruption? Which is more noble?

I think we need a Blog Repair Fund.

More doodoo for Hillary.......

Shaheen falls on sword for Clinton, Obama drug apology issued

A top advisor to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign apologized late Wednesday night for saying Republicans will seize on rival Barack Obama's admission of drug use if the Illinois senator wins the Democratic nomination.

"I deeply regret the comments I made today and they were not authorized by the campaign in any way," Bill Shaheen, the New Hampshire chairman of Clinton's campaign, said in a statement.

And now the other shoe ........ 

Clinton apologizes to Obama

Clinton New Hampshire spokeswoman Kathleen Strand says Clinton has apologized to Obama personally for Bill Shaheen's comments that Obama's past drug use could be used against him by Republicans in a general election:

"Sen. Clinton personally apologized to Sen. Obama this morning, and reiterated that this was not anything that came from the campaign or that we condone."

Thank YOU again Monica Smith for your VERY generous contribution!

Huron John --- Your ‘piece’ from Washington Post – Merry Christmas from Congressional Democrats:

Thank you..

We have another one for IMPEACHMENT !!!

oN AAR, a few minutes ago, Barbara Boxer said she favored Impeachment. Don't know how formally she meant it, but maybe she could be coaxed into signing on to HR333.

Things are looking up....thank you Dennis. They don't want you to be heard, but somehow you give courage to others who would be too afraid to speak out.

Could Bloomberg enter in the middle?

Aides close to the New York City mayor have indicated repeatedly that Bloomberg is most likely to toss his hat into the ring if both parties nominate candidates from the extreme ideological wings of their parties. 

There is little doubt that Huckabee would fit that description on the Republican side. It may be a bit more murky for Democrats, but there is ample evidence that Obama is a more liberal alternative to Clinton. 

Even as Clinton may personify a bleeding-heart liberal for some voters, the two senators’ voting records suggest something very different. An analysis of 2006 roll call votes in the U.S. Senate conducted by the National Journal in March 2007 found Obama to be the most liberal Democratic senator currently running for president — far more so than Clinton, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd or Delaware Sen. Joe Biden....

As speculation about a Bloomberg run grows, analysts seem to think an independent candidacy by the mayor could have potential. A Dec. 7 article in the New York Sun indicates experts believe a billion-dollar Bloomberg campaign could put as many as 23 states in play and has the potential to deliver as many as 312 of the nation’s 538 electoral votes (and thus the presidency) to Bloomberg in 2008. 

An independent Bloomberg candidacy could add to the chaos of the tumultuous 2008 election cycle. At the moment, things seem to be moving in this direction.

60.

Obama has some bad personality traits.  Blaming other people for mistakes is not an attractive trait.  It's a bad habit which he needs to overcome quickly.  There's an attitude of "somebody messed up--whose ass do I kick?" that he needs to get rid of real quick.  It's one of the things which leads me to conclude that he's not quite ready for prime time. 

Monica,

While I still have a small sliver of hope for Dodd in Iowa and NH, I have to strongly disagree with you about Obama.

Those which are "bad personality traits" to you are excellent traits to me. Somebody DID mess up, and we DO need to kick ass and we need to call a spade a spade. 

While some continue to say the Democrats don't have a spine, I see Obama as having some of that spine and the courage to say what needs to be said when it needs to be said.

Yes, he is very ready for prime time and the country may just be very ready for him.

I forgot for a moment...Boxer can't sign on to HR 333, that is a House Res. Maybe we can get her to recruit. We'll put her in charge of the "removal from office" part.

TEST
Count s/b 81.
Time s/b 9:34 AM PST

Obama has some bad personality traits.  Blaming other people for mistakes is not an attractive trait.

A statement like this needs something to back it up. 

It looks like it may be getting better.

If they have a spine they will shut the government down rather than capitulate.

It's fooled us before.

:41

In urging delegates to take immediate action to cut down on emissions of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, Gore laid the blame for the lack of action so far squarely on the current U.S. administration.

"My own country, the United States, is principally responsible for obstructing progress here in Bali," said Gore, who won this year's Nobel Peace Prize for helping alert the world to the danger of climate change.

He asked delegates Thursday not to get angry, but to work toward a world which will soon have a new American president.

"Over the next two years, the United States is going to be somewhere it is not now," said Gore, who flew to the Bali meeting after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway on Monday.

"One year and 40 days from today, there will be a new inauguration in the United States," he said, speaking in a conference hall and by video to delegates throughout the conference site.

"I must tell you candidly that I cannot promise that the person who is elected will have the position I expect they will have, but I can tell you I believe it is quite likely."

Gore told the delegates, from almost 190 nations, they have two choices here.

"You can feel anger and frustration and direct it at the United States of America, or you can make a second choice. You can decide to move forward and do all of the difficult work that needs to be done." 

I'll be really ticked if BFA can fix this in an hour or two, but at least we have their attention.

Even if you don't want to give the blog much, stop by Actblue and give them a tip. They are a valuable resource.

I spoke too soon.

If Obama is too far left for Bloomberg he is one of those right wingers himself. Edwards would clean up in a three way race that split the republicans into righties and far far righties

74.

audrey.nc
Thu, 12/13/07
12:20 pm


Yes, Our wonderful Senator can sign on to the House bill but she can not vote for it in the House. She will vote on it's sister bill in the Senate. Which nornally means she will be one of the co-authors of the Senate's bill or perhaps a co-author of an amendment to a Judiciary bill.

 95.

kick me down or kick me up on the newbie, Howard is still first

NEW THREAD

NEW THREAD !

NEW THREAD

Susan....

But, isn't it different for Impeachment?

I didn't think there would be a comparable "bill" in the Senate. That would be where the decision to Impeach and the punishment would take place. Where the House would hold the investigative hearings. Complicated.

NEW THREAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NEW THREAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Records matter.....

National Journal Ratings 2006  -- Liberal

• Kucinich, Dennis, D-Ohio-10

• Obama, Barack, D-Ill. 86
  
  
  

• Dodd, Christopher, D-Conn. 84
  

• Biden, Joseph, D-Del. 77.5
  
• Clinton, Hillary Rodham, D-N.Y. 70.2
  

NEW THREAD

NEW THREAD

98.  WARNING:   Any articles from the Washington Post are DIRECT talking points from the Far Right, the Whitehouse and - Karl Rove.  ...vulgar, tainted, spun and spoon fed....

Edwards, on the other hand, had a moderate voting record during the first four years following his election to the Senate in 1998. The results positioned Edwards comfortably apart from Senate liberals, but not so far to the right that he locked arms with centrist Republicans. His consistent moderation placed Edwards among the center-right of Senate Democrats. But once Edwards decided to run for president and abandoned his bid for a second Senate term, his record moved dramatically to the left in 2003.

Why am I not surprised? 

NEW THREAD

NEW THREAD

NEW THREAD

NEW THREAD

I will NOT contribute money to FIX THE BLOG, when a basic on any online org should be to have a well-functioning site and blog. That is a BASIS for continued donations.

Fixing the blog clock is NOT rocket science. Just DO IT and then show you care about supporting community. Then I'll contribute. But not a moment before.....

Sitka
Thu, 12/13/07
2:00 pm

Part of a Senator's job is to REPRESENT his/her constituents. In case you hadn't noticed, NC is not the most progressive of the 50 states. Once Edwards decided he would not run again to represent NC, he was free to take his OWN positions, and define what/where he wanted to focus. Of course, he ran as VP to Kerry so was not in a position to take independent stands in that capacity. But afterward, he did.

He focused on poverty institute, apologized for his vote on Iraq and showed that he meant it by changing his position. You smear of him for votes as a Rep. of a fairly conservative southern state should be put in context.

DFA HQ,

This baby is past due. We're packed, the family and the doctor have been called. It's time to get into the auto machine and drive us to the hospital. I hope it's not too far away.

Please repair this blog before Christmas.