Howard Dean is the very first one.

Great! blog Corbett

I do think though that this election is much more about a yearning for change.

This election is an absolute MUST for Democrats to win it or forever live in a country we would no longer recognize -- one with a Supreme Court out of control and positioned to fulfill every one of the fundamentalists dreams and more.

You are correct is writing we need to movement to surround our candidate and to have the best platform. But we also need that candidate to be strong-willed, well-liked, knowledgeable about laws and the constitution, and who is very energetic (you know, like Howard Dean).

Link to the Boston Globe's questions and answers to candidates (listed by candidate).

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/12/22/candidates_on_executive_power_a_full_spectrum/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Latest+news

But during those two terms in the White House, Mrs. Clinton did not hold a security clearance. She did not attend National Security Council meetings. She was not given a copy of the president’s daily intelligence briefing. She did not assert herself on the crises in Somalia, Haiti and Rwanda.

And during one of President Bill Clinton’s major tests on terrorism, whether to bomb Afghanistan and Sudan in 1998, Mrs. Clinton was barely speaking to her husband, let alone advising him, as the Lewinsky scandal sizzled.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/26/us/politics/26clinton.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print

Another new thread.

http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/23370

This election is an absolute MUST for Democrats to win

Then they'd better start being Democrats. 

Who am I kidding. 

Dodd Q & A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvf2l2Njndk 

The new thread took us back to the old thread and several of us were left there with no heads up.

There's no way progressives are going to rally around Hillary, since she's a war monger.

********************back to Bhutto

How is it that she stood up just at the wrong time along the motorcade route of thousands of people?  She stood up at the precise time that her assassin was right there to kill her -  how did that happen? What are the odds against that?  Something is very wrong here.  Who was in the motorcade with her?  Did they survive?  Was she advised to stand up just at the right time to die?  How long was the motorcade route?  How many people were there?

And how come the report of a sniper shot has disappeared off the news?

 David Frost/Benazier Bhutto interview 11/5/07

in which she refers to "Omar Sheik as the murderer of Osama bin Laden."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIO8B6fpFSQ - 131k

Well, I'm wiped out not just from entertaining but entertaining some people who are a bit more conservative than my tastes. Funny thing though -- they aren't as rightwing as they used to be. Ha Ha. Last night we had some retired football players here with their families. It was a mixed bag of political views -- the consensus was that if they had to they could vote for Obama but If Hillary is the Dem nominee they will all vote against her and it doesn't matter what nut is on the Republican side. sigh...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIO8B6fpFSQ

Try this link - if it doesn't work, you can go to youtube and punch in David Frost/Benazir Bhutto interview.

A little of this and a little of that…
Found this on Huffington…
“A doctor on the surgical team said a bullet in the back of her neck damaged her spinal cord before exiting from the side of her head. Another bullet pierced the back of her shoulder and came out through her chest, he said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.”
---------------------------------------------------------

Bhutto responded to cheering students and stuck her head out of the car. The bullets indicate a fairly flat if not slightly upward trajectory.
No one has said what type of weapon or caliber of the bullets. Bhutto died on the operating table so the bullets were not fragmentation but probably steel-jacketed rounds. Higher velocity but don’t make as big a hole exiting the body. A fragmentation bullet at that close range would have removed her head.
It doesn’t sound like a sniper as the killer was approaching the vehicle in the open.
As far as a sniper...head shots are the most difficult as the head sets on a multi-plane pedestal (the neck). Any small motion throws the aim off. I never cared for them and went for the center chest (the VC didn’t have flack jackets).

I lean to this being a hit by al Quada. It is their style...dramatic and lots of casualties.
This is classic 4GW against the state. Show the state has no power even though they are supported by the military and the US. bin Laden just got a lot more recruits because he showed the mighty up.
Musharraf benefits a lot by getting rid of his rival who was backed by the State Dept. Now Musharraf can do his phony investigation while taking our money and buying more weapons to fight India.
He will probably buy bin Laden a new dialysis machine.

Here's a diary about the Iowa field offices and where respective candidates have offices. I went through results from 2004 and noticed wherever Edwards did well Dean did poorly which leads me to believe they may have been more conservative areas. Who knows but I wonder.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/1...

thanks, denis...you others could have said there's a new thread...

phil, truce...

thanks, denise...correction...

YW mprov but I really enjoyed all of the creativity back there.

its hard to write poems with only 10 syllables...sort of weird haiku...

I've noticed the blog gets quiet this time of night. I'm still on CA time.

Trying to get the David Frost video to play all the way through but the Internet connection is not the best here.

That tiger incident is all over the news here. How awful - and the wall was not high enough. The zoo are in deep you know what.

We have a zoo here called Brookfield Zoo which is an incredible place, as far as zoos go. They have always tried to creat a natural habitat for the animals. I haven't been there in years, though. There are 2 zoos, actually, and both are excellent - again, as far as zoos go. I have mixed feelings about them.

f'ing tiger, go figure...hey honey, wanna go to the zoo????

Arrgghhh...I hate not having my DSL but it builds character I guess...ha ha

10:41 PT

What is it with David Frost?  Bhutto drops a bombshell about Omar Sheik killing OBL, and Frost lets that slide by.  I would have been all over that!

I'm sending the vid link to Keithie.

Enjoy yourselves;  my sense is that things will get much worse. 

Follow the money, follow the power.  It usually, if not always leads back to the BH. 

Denise, her OBL comment is about half way thru.  My socks are blown off and on the other side of the room.

With Al Gore out of the race, I propose that in the Iowa caucus supporters of Barack Obama, John Edwards and Dennis Kucinich fire the shot that will be heard around the world and vote for Iowa delegates committed to change the world.

In each local caucus, the caucus-goers can unite behind the leader in that locality with a shared delegate slate that would include supporters of Edwards, Obama and Kucinich.

The headline out of the caucus would be: "Iowa fires the cannon for change," and my hope is that at some point, Obama and Edwards could come together in a formal alliance or ticket with either one at the top.

Bhutto's assassination is the latest in a series of political upheavals in Pakistan. What do you think the future holds for the the nuclear-armed state?  Go to Blog 

So you want to manipulate an election -- and the entire nominating process?

Here are a few pointers.........

I ended up in Iowa City home of the University of Iowa at the Democratic caucus. I was happy with my decision because I am mostly interested in the youth vote this election. I think they will be pivotal no matter who the candidate ends up being.

I was an observer in precinct three. Precinct three is made up mostly of college students and there are roughly 1,200 registered Democrats. Their caucus was held in the Iowa Memorial Union. I knew something odd was happening as I entered a room designed to hold around 60 people and it was obvious by the long line down the hall that there were more than 60 people. Each candidate needs at least 15 percent of the supporters in the room to receive a delegate. The caucus mathematician declared the number to be 240 even though, by the end of the voting, the tally actually ended up being 249 and they are supposed to round up to 250. It should be noted that the mathematician caucused with the Kucinich supporters....

Like I mentioned above in order to qualify for round two a candidate needs 15 percent of the supporters in the room. According to the incorrect 240 number in order for a candidate to qualify for the second round they needed at least 36 supporters. If the math was done right they actually would have needed 38 supporters. Anyway, the first tally went like this:

Howard Dean = 84

John Kerry = 65

John Edwards = 40

Dennis Kucinich = 37

Wesley Clark = 15

Al Sharpton = 5

Uncommitted = 3

My messages to Keith keep coming back like this even tho I send them to countdown.

countdown@nbcuni.com

Is that the new Keith addy ? 

This is really weird.  I have the right address but it keeps coming back.  Has anyone gotten thru and if so, will you please post the addy? 

I've been sending them to countdown@msnbc 

Apparently no one can get thru to Keith.  And so it begins with Countdown.........read this and weep.  It's the same message I get.  OK, now what?  Is anyone else here getting thru?

What happened to Keith's website?  It's not been updated for many months.

what the hell is going on?  And why is he gone so much? 

To MSNBC with pitchforks!  &^%$#

viewerservices@msnbc.com

OK, Gang, let's use our fingers as pitchforks.  I just wrote. 

We can't let "them" shut him up and shut us out.

We are falling faster and faster, aren't we?  Notice how he's doing repeats of past programs?  Is he on vacation, or being phased out?

I'm so pissed I wrote again.

And now I need to meditate.

Sleep well.

Good morning, everybody

Have you been thinking on what to call the miscreants?

I'm turning "boss" over in my brain.

It's better than "bully" because it doesn't imply a victim.

Bossy Bush or Mr. Bosssy 

Well, Sea, the media's enthusiasm for their public tends to be short-lived.  I think they liked making lists they could use to tout their viewership or readership and then sell to mass-marketing enterprises, but now the bloom has worn off the rose and all these communications are a nuissance.  Who cares what the public thinks?  I thought the trend had run its course when I read about consultants "organizing" the grassroots lobby.  Talk about herding cats.

So, did we every agree on what Progressives are aiming for?  I still vote for equality.  I was reminded by Bossy's attitude towards the "earmarks" about how it came to be that there was a need for the federal government to provide funding for local programs.  It was mainly because local communities, once they were ordered to provide services on an egalitarian basis simply opted out of providing services at all.  Many of us were aware that municipal swimming pools were closed when they were ordered to admit blacks.  What wasn't immediately apparent, because it took longer to implement, was that street car and bus lines were first sold off to the private sector and then went into default.  Ditto for the community hospitals and clinics.  You wouldn't think people would deprive their own children and elderly of community services just so they wouldn't have to share them with blacks.  But there it is.

I don't know about other cities in the south, but in Gainesville, the level of service in black neighborhoods was definitely deficient.  And what was truly ironic there was that the city didn't get incorporated until after the civil war and when it was about a third of the elected officials were black and it was under their direction that the public schools, the paving of streets, & the building of an electric plant was undertaken.  In other words, the city was organized as a city while blacks were being elected and were in charge of things and then, about thirty years later, the Klan took over, intimidating the voters and setting the scene for segregation.  

The history books always refer to that period as unsettled and corrupted by the carpet-baggers, but that's a fiction designed to denigrate the achievements of southern blacks.  When you come right down to it, what happened towards the end of the nineteenth century was more vile than their enslavement.  African Americans had tasted freedom, used their skills to thrive and then it was taken away from them.

The African American community in Gainesville was sending its children off to college at Harvard.  Then the whites persuaded what became the University of Florida to move in with a promise of free water and barred blacks from attending.

And now Obama sends out a flier spouting pablum about how good schools are the product of parental attitudes!  The fellow doesn't have a clue!

seashell 

Olberman is part of the football coverage and they must be scrambling to set up for the Sat. simulcast, plus the writers strike and everyone is in re-runs.

whoever writes ten syllable jingos for a living is safe from me

Found this picture in an LA Times story about Barack's education plan. 

I have to pick up my precinct package and find a meeting room for the platform committee to meet, so my son and I will catch Bill Richardson. Bill Clinton is nearby too, but I doubt he will be taking questions, and I want to hear Richardson address events in Pakistan, plus Biden on Sat. I'll report 

The reason our children aren't getting educated is because they're not sufficiently subservient.  Only the obedient deserve to be taught.  

I'll give you an example.  I have a fourteen year old grandson who likes to wear a leather vest to school.  This garment has become yet another reason for some of his classmates to bully, make fun of, or exclude him from study groups.  So, he gets called into the Vice Principal's office who asks him if maybe he's bringing this behavior on himself.  

See, the whole system is structured to enforce subservience.  Why do we have bullying in schools?  Because the adults put up with it, if they don't actually encourage it.  Now they're setting up "military academies" in the Chicago public schools.  They're a rationale for regimentation and the children who sign on will be rewarded with an academic curriculum.  In other words, education has to be "earned" or "deserved" by being subservient.  Don't get me wrong.  I would not counsel a child to be obstreperous.  But, there's a difference between being cowed and being independent. 

sitka picked as his example the most progressive precinct in Iowa out of 2100 and Kucinich was barely viable and he was campaigning much more there four years ago

yes he would help progressive causes by being part of a team, rather than it  being about him

he succeeded

without him being in the race would all of the candidates being on record with a universal health care or an exit strategy?

thank you Dennis whatever the outcome

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

experience

everytime it comes up Dodd and Biden rise in support, I still don't understand why Hillary brings it up all the time,neither of those men are out of the race

Biden is the only one who will gain because of events in Pakistan, my guess is there might have been a shuffling at that race for fourth spot

Monica

I hire some of the kids that don't fit into the regimen of our current schools, and find them self-reliant problem solvers aware of their surroundings, thus good employees, but I organize my day filling in behind employees after they find their own groove.(they all have one)

home schooled kids have problems with following protocols in my experience

society has a mix of the "teach to the test "rote disciplined kids, the drop outs and the home schooled kids

I wouldn't bet that those that are taught to the test are better educated in Life 101

bbl

Moms raise a child or two, maybe three or four. A teacher wipes 30 noses, stops food fights, lets everyone go to the bathroom and get water, keeps everyone safe for eight hours, and still sometimes manages to teach them their ABC's. A little subservience (I would call it cooperation) is generally necessary.

On the other hand, my experience with home schooled kids (in comm coll) is that they have a less jaded attitude toward school.

Annilow, my point is that I have experieced differences, and public school kids have been taught to follow orders, so with them thats the way I give them a days work, as a to do list, those that question authority might get more done if I ask them"what do you need help with today?", public schools do a good job of what they do. all of the kids end up in the workforce. My mother was a school teacher and I went to public schools so I got it 24/7 growing up and I turned out OK lol 

27.
* rdorgan
Thu, 12/27/07

Reply to this

The CM pundits are saying today's tragedies in Pakistan will boost poll numbers for Guiliani, McCain and Clinton -- the so-called national security, experience candidates.

This is all highly suspicious one week before the Iowa caucus------------

You do realize that not everything that happens in the world is intended to influence your own little sphere.  To even imply complicity without a single ounce of proof other than your ability to type the words is irresponsible.  But that never stops anyone here.  Heck, if it snows on causus night (in Iowa, in the middle of the winter) someone on here will claim Bush planned it like he planned Hurricane Katrina and the Pentagon on 9-11-01.  It takes all kinds, but this is clearly on the end of the fringe.  Your polar opposites on the right are the likes of Timothy McVay.

+++

Oh Fox, where to begin with responding to you ?

Oh yeah, you comparing me (us here) to be the left's polar opposite of the right's extremist killer like Timothy McVay.  Boy that's reaching on your part.  I bet you really jerked your knee in making that statement.  Hope you didn't hurt yourself.

Ok, here' s the prime time, sanitized, editorialized statement of mine (to protect the eyes of people like you from seeing things outside "your own little [neoconservative] sphere") leaving off the last bit:

The CM pundits are saying today's tragedies in Pakistan will boost poll numbers for Guiliani, McCain and Clinton -- the so-called national security, experience candidates.

What's Hillary's experience in dealing with Pakistan ?

Well, she knew Benazir Bhutto (met her once) and she voted to authorize the invasion of Iraq (never apologized for it) -- the same war/invasion that took America's eyes off of the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Experienced ?

Phil, it's my sense that Dodd and Biden are working in tandem, the real social progressives/fiscal conservatives standing up to the social conservative/fiscally irresponsible crowd.  Remember "rope-a-dope"? 

*rdorgan, What i'm afraid of is that the consultants who have hired on to the Obama and Clinton effort are basically authoritarians and the level of their "service" is determined by how willing the candidate is to be directed.  If the candidate is resistant, they simply undermine the campaign, take as much money as they can and run away.

Dodd is clearly in charge of his campaign.  There may be a manager, but if there is, I haven't met the person.  Dodd is extremely frugal, but he's organized housing for out-of-state volunteers.  

Barack, on the other hand, is telling volunteers that if they haven't arranged housing, they shouldn't come to Iowa.  And, what I don't like to see is that in the fliers they're sending, the pictures of Obama have been "doctored" to make him look lighter skinned than he is and his hair look light brown. 

new song called

"You're So Lame":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMC4KhJMrbI

54.  sorry, that strikes me as a waste of talent, time and effort.  

55.

that's your opinion, not mine

53.

that too is your opinion, and that too is not mine (except the part "Dodd is clearly in charge of his campaign.  There may be a manager, but if there is, I haven't met the person.  Dodd is extremely frugal," - I agree with that, having had Dodd as my U.S. Senator in CT for a long time, when I lived there, I admire Chris greatly)

Well now, there's a hint---

Moms raise a child or two, maybe three or four.

Sometimes.  Mine didn't raise even one but palmed me off to relatives and boarding schools.

A teacher wipes 30 noses,

Children who don't know how to wipe their own noses aren't old enough to be in school.  And, if they're sick, they should be kept at home. 

stops food fights,

In the classroom?  The classroom is no place for food.  Eating and drinking should be consigned to the schoolyard or the cafeteria.

lets everyone go to the bathroom

By the time children get to school, they should be able to schedule bathroom breaks between classes or during recess (yes, I know, recess is no more, but that's a problem of administration)

and get water,

Same as for bathroom schedule.  Of course, schools used to have water fountains before integration.  Now they have soft-drink machines that require money.

keeps everyone safe for eight hours,

When bullies are permitted to have free reign of the play-ground and class-room, the children are not safe. 

and still sometimes manages to teach them their ABC's.

Most effective learning is a matter of repetition and rote and lots of recitation. Of course, that means the teacher actually has to listen--a skill most teachers seem to lack.

A little subservience (I would call it cooperation) is generally necessary. 

The main difference between subservience and cooperation is that the former involves submission to a person, while the latter involves submission to a task.  Problems arise when the latter is dependent on the former and there's no evidence that the authority claimed by the teacher is deserved.  When the message is "I will teach you, when you behave," there's very little incentive since what "teach" means is unknown.  Indeed, from the perspective of the student, learning is something one does on one's own.

I suspect that one of the reasons nuns were such effective educators was because they did it for "the honor and glory of God" and weren't aware of having to serve an earthly master, administrator, or school board.  So, they disseminated what information and knowledge they possessed without giving much thought to whether it was appreciated or valued and their students picked up what they needed, along with the realization that knowledge is valuable in and of itself, regardless of whether it's useful in making a living.

I'm only familiar with American public schools from what my children and the children for whom I was a guardian endured.  For none of them was it a positive experience, other than to convince them that learning was something they would have to do on their own.

American public schools are geared toward turning out good uniform citizens and workers and failing.  Immigrants with virtually no formal education aren't being hired because Americans won't take the jobs; Americans don't know how to do the work. 

Bumper sticker alert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Annoy a Liberal........................."Work Hard, Be Sucessful...................Be Happy."

..............................lol

It would be noteworthy to compare the NH primary wasteful lit mailings, vs. the  S.C. campaign lit, Monica.

Do you have a shredder?

I bought one this fall, and I keep it hoppin'.  Great gadget, for $40.00  (I can't use the stuff as kindling in a wood fire). 

Betcha in S.C. they make Obama look "Black enough."  Shades of Michael Jackson, and such (pun intended).

Regardless, those young caucus-goers in IA need to actually show up  in massive numbers (and I'm bettin' they won't). 

56.  True.  I don't see any value in calling other people names or making oneself feel good by putting others down.  It's even possible that one reason we are saddled with Bossy Bush is because a lot of people took satisfaction in considering themselves smarter than he appeared to be.  The problem with Bossy Bush is that he is like that monkey on a leash that entertains the audience while their pockets are being picked.

60.  No shredder and I've started to save them as interesting artifacts.  I think I read somewhere that in S.C. people had to buy tickets.  The first big even they had here for Obama there was a big rigmarole about picking up tickets at a box-office ahead of time, after having ordered them over the phone or online, and then they didn't even collect them at the door.  It was clearly just an exercise in getting people's phone numbers and addresses which they used to follow up within a couple of days, but haven't been utilized since.  Ditto for the Clinton campaign.  There was a big todo about getting people to sign in, making them walk through a long line snaking through one auditorium until they got to the door and handed in their filled-out card.  And then there was no follow up.  We know because the spouse used a special name to fill out his card (I refused to fill one out) and he never got called.  All of the mailings from the campaigns are coming to commercial lists (Smith family or current resident).

Bush is going to lead his own "investigation" of Bhutto's assassination.

I suspect it will find Iran responsible.

8:50am

62.

the tickets to the Obama-Oprah event on Sun Dec 9 in Columbia, South Carolina were free

but keep trying to link Clinton and Obama tactics together, if that works for you

59.  Well, see, that's a problem.  Liberals don't talk about conservatives enough.  So, maybe some of their animosity is just because they feel ignored.

We were taught that, if you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all.  Moreover, unless you knew someone really well, you weren't supposed to talk about their personal attributes, clothing, jewelry etc. either.  It was a matter of respecting their privacy.

The odd thing is that when there's a respect for privacy, there's much less need for secrecy.   

Pakistan: Al-Qaeda Claims Bhutto Assassination
Mike Cohen, Pacific News Center Correspondent 28.DEC.07
6:42 p.m. An al-Qaeda leader based in Afghanistan formally claimed responsibility for the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, whom he described as a "most precious American asset."

Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, spokesperson for al-Qaeda, was quoted as saying that "We terminated the most precious American asset who vowed to defeat the 'mujaheedin.'" The claim of responsibility came in a phone call from al-Yazid who is described as a "main al-Qaeda commander in Afghanistan."

[...]

64.  It's not a matter of linking tactics; it's a matter of reporting events as they are happening on the ground.  I'm not sure if wasting a lot of money is supposed to be a tactic.  The reality is that a lot of money is being spent burdening the postman with fliers that go almost directly to the trash.

I'll admit that our sunday papers still come stuffed with fliers which go into the recycle box without being inspected and I wonder from time to time whether people actually respond to these advertisements or its just a habit.  The stories on this shopping season tended to agree that the malls were not over-flowing and there was a lot of speculation that perhaps more and more people are doing their shopping on the internet.  Since I've been doing that for a decade, it means little to me.  Perhaps it is significant; perhaps not. 

[...]

Osama bin Laden declared a 'fatwa,' or a religious edict condemning Bhutto to death in 1993. Since then, there have been numerous attempts by al-Qaeda and its allies on Bhutto's life. In a 1993 assassination attempt, Bhutto's security detail captured five al-Qaeda members allied with local Pakistani Taliban leaders.

[...]

_____________________

Some think a good approach to the terror is to imprison or execute all family members of confirmed Islamic terrorists.  Kill the root. 

66.  I wonder if there's a formal history that explains at what point a CIA invention became an autonomous organization.  What would it mean if I started describing myself as the main Smith-family commander?

Posted by: bag of songs ❤ in "5 On A Friday : Where Does The Ti…"
Download song: MP3 @ Amazon | MP3/M4A @ iTunes •

http://hypem.com/track/452822 

58.

Monica Smith
Fri, 12/28/07


........
The main difference between subservience and cooperation is that the former involves submission to a person, while the latter involves submission to a task. Problems arise when the latter is dependent on the former and there's no evidence that the authority claimed by the teacher is deserved. When the message is "I will teach you, when you behave," there's very little incentive since what "teach" means is unknown. Indeed, from the perspective of the student, learning is something one does on one's own.

I suspect that one of the reasons nuns were such effective educators was because they did it for "the honor and glory of God" and weren't aware of having to serve an earthly master, administrator, or school board. So, they disseminated what information and knowledge they possessed without giving much thought to whether it was appreciated or valued and their students picked up what they needed, along with the realization that knowledge is valuable in and of itself, regardless of whether it's useful in making a living.
-----------------------

!!!
You may want to try to apply the same approach (namely "cooperation") besides education, to ANY OTHER form of human activities and you may find out that its "effectiveness" much higher when done "because 'the honor and glory...', not because "of having to serve an earthly master, administrator, or school board".
(I suspect that precise "discovery" has moved Dean in the direction toward "you have power").




I'm only familiar with American public schools from what my children and the children for whom I was a guardian endured. For none of them was it a positive experience, other than to convince them that learning was something they would have to do on their own.

American public schools are geared toward turning out good uniform citizens and workers and failing. Immigrants with virtually no formal education aren't being hired because Americans won't take the jobs; Americans don't know how to do the work.
------------

American system of education in public schools particularly (as just one part of the entire "system" generally) is a dying in front of reality illusion.
Good riddance!

For Sea 

Dodd was on MSNBC before I came here.

He did very well.

Dodd is at the top of my list. 

I am a product of public schools and state universities.  Like any organization, they are not perfect, but to broad brush them as failing, or "authotitarian" or "liberal" or any other simplistic label is like labeling someone's political position -- it's useless and inaccurate.  Public schools will work so long as they have the support and attention of the community, both those with children in the system and those without.

But it has to be about teaching.  Where I've seen schools and school systems get lost is when it becomes about other things. 

A nice holiday tune:

i signed onto being a precinct inspector yesterday for the 5 feb primary. that's what they call the person who's in charge. should be interesting.

i agree with rich on the schools. i also am a product of public institutions, plus a lot of military training, which is also a public school of sorts. having close friends who are grads of expensive exclusive private schools, i can detect no difference except for the moniker on the diploma. doesn't mean you necessarily get a better job either.

74.

rich^kolker
Fri, 12/28/07

---------

My guess is it was probably much better then comparing to what it is now. Degradation comes rather slowly than quickly, but it evidently now, imo, that public schools education has reached the point of complete failings, especially with this "all (not none!) left behind" policy, when children are NOT BEEN TAUGHT BUT MOSTLY ARE TESTED.

WHY EDWARDS IS SURGING

http://www.alternet.org/election08/71813/

To a far greater extent than Obama or Clinton, Edwards has struck at the heart of issues that should matter most in the race to replace not just George W. Bush, but the Bush agenda of corporate giveaways, job-crushing free trade deals, war profiteering in Iraq, and subprime mortgage profiteering in Indiana, Idaho, Illinois and, yes, Iowa.

Edwards summed up his increasingly aggressive and powerful anti-corporate themes with a declaration: "What makes America America is at stake: jobs, the middle class, health care, preserving the environment in the world for future generations.

"But all those things are at risk. And why are they at risk? Because of corporate power and corporate greed in Washington, D.C. And we have to take them on. You can't make a deal with them. You can't hope that they're going to go away. You have to actually be willing to fight. And I want every caucus-goer to know I've been fighting these people and winning my entire life. And if we do this together, rise up together, we can actually make absolutely certain, starting here in Iowa, that we make this country better than we left it."

WHY EDWARDS IS SURGING

http://www.alternet.org/election08/71813/

To a far greater extent than Obama or Clinton, Edwards has struck at the heart of issues that should matter most in the race to replace not just George W. Bush, but the Bush agenda of corporate giveaways, job-crushing free trade deals, war profiteering in Iraq, and subprime mortgage profiteering in Indiana, Idaho, Illinois and, yes, Iowa.

Edwards summed up his increasingly aggressive and powerful anti-corporate themes with a declaration: "What makes America America is at stake: jobs, the middle class, health care, preserving the environment in the world for future generations.

"But all those things are at risk. And why are they at risk? Because of corporate power and corporate greed in Washington, D.C. And we have to take them on. You can't make a deal with them. You can't hope that they're going to go away. You have to actually be willing to fight. And I want every caucus-goer to know I've been fighting these people and winning my entire life. And if we do this together, rise up together, we can actually make absolutely certain, starting here in Iowa, that we make this country better than we left it."

Apology for double post--momentary glitch in Interner Service

9:58 am

Barack Obama has won the support of UAW Local #893 in Marshalltown, which includes 3,000 members and retirees.

http://commoniowan.blogspot.com/2007/12/marshalltown-uaw-to-support-obama.html

81. Endorsements mean so much

82.

anti-ospama is alive and well with some

Some think a good approach to the terror is to imprison or execute all family members of confirmed Islamic terrorists.  Kill the root. 

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

and those would be the ones headed for a Nuremburg like showdown with justice at the Hague

test

With confused politicians any common sense person (like Paul) seen as ridiculous, out of its mind one...., lol

why isn't ron paul calling for impeachment???

Phil -

I saw this about a Toledo, IA dairy farmer and thought you might get a kick out of it:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071228/us_nm/usa_politics_obama_dc_2

Iowa voter butters up Obama

By Carey Gillam

Thu Dec 27, 10:03 PM ET

TOLEDO, Iowa (Reuters) - While presidential hopefuls were trying to butter up supporters ahead of the January 3 Iowa caucus, one would-be voter was literally buttering up her favorite candidate, Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.

Norma Lyon, 78, a dairy farmer from Toledo, Iowa, used 23 pounds of butter to sculpt a life-sized bust of Obama, who is seeking to become the first black U.S. president.

The butter bust was on display at an Obama speech in a middle school auditorium Thursday night

...

Following the speech, the sculpture was headed back to the freezer until its next scheduled appearance on January 3 at one of the caucuses that will help determine the Democratic and Republican nominees for the November presidential election.

Obama thanked Lyon for her support and her skills in molding dairy products.

...

The senator fretted only slightly over whether or not the sculpture made his ears too big. Lyon said that as much as she liked Obama, she had to be honest in her art.

...

Barack Obama has won the support of UAW Local #893

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

that is a strong local, it should be good enough to win that county, 98 to go

51. Yes rdorga --. ll Hillary's *experience* doesn't mean much. She used poor judgment (which I believe was politically calculating) in the biggest foreign policy blunder of our lifetime.

should be all Hillary's...

many of Iowa counties have little union prescence; urban areas have many unions that dilute the effect between candidates, it is in the single industry medium counties with one dominate local that an endorsement can mean the difference like Marshall County and an Obama win

in the counties that used to be like that but have a shell of a local because the plant closed and was shipped overseas Edwards will win

DEMOCRACY--IOWA STYLE

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/28/night-workers-barred-from_n_78539.html

Ruth Kennedy's boss won't let her take time off from her night-shift job so she can caucus. She's not alone -- emergency workers and other Iowans on the night shift will miss the marquee political event in Iowa.

Three weeks ago, Kennedy asked to leave her customer service job at Mediacom at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 3 so she could caucus for Democrat Hillary Clinton. She said her supervisor waited until Christmas Eve to deny the request, saying that they couldn't spare her, that they hadn't had such requests before and that one fewer person at the caucus wouldn't make a difference anyway.

Nothing in the law requires Iowa employers to give workers time off so they can stand up for the presidential candidate of their choice.

The pinch is being felt more than usual by Des Moines emergency workers. As candidates gather with hundreds of supporters, staff and the national media in Des Moines, more police and firefighters will be required to be on shift in Des Moines than is typical for a Tuesday night. That means even fewer can caucus.

That worries some firefighters, who have endorsed Democrat Christopher Dodd. The firefighters have "a pretty good time" at the caucuses, and were counting on their enthusiasm to move undecided Iowans to the Dodd team, said Lt. John TeKippe, president of Des Moines Association of Professional Fire Fighters.

 "Our job caucus night is to make our candidate viable. If he's viable, then he's got a ticket out of the state and everybody else can look at him. It's pretty big for us."

But extra firefighters will be on shift that night, being paid overtime, so that all 10 Des Moines stations are fully staffed.

The politically active president of the Des Moines police union happens to be one of the nighttime officers who won't be able to caucus. Supervisors limited the number of third-watch officers allowed to take time off, which means about 30 percent more officers will be on the street than the usual minimum.

More than 300 tire production workers assigned to the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift at the Firestone plant in Des Moines will be excluded from caucusing, said Al Skinner, president of United Steel Workers Local 310.

10:30AM

I saw this about a Toledo, IA dairy farmer and thought you might get a kick out of it:

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

take a turn north at the four way stop on Highway 30 between Tama and Toledo at the Hardees and a little park on the left has a bronze work by Norma Lyon that is a favorite of mine 

U.S. Options for a Post-Bhutto Pakistan

Looking ahead much will depend on next year's elections--not Pakistan's but our own. And that also frightens me. None of the U.S. presidential contenders has a clue what to do about Pakistan, a nuclear power that is a ticking time bomb with Islamic terrorism, uneasy relations with its neighbors, and a population that wears its anti-Americanism as a badge of honor. No one has formulated a foreign policy toward Islamabad beyond the simple observation of: Musharraf (sort of) bad, democracy (sort of) good. In his Foreign Affairs article, Mitt Romney mentions Pakistan not once. Ditto Rudy Giuliani. John Edwards drops the P bomb just twice, while Hillary Clinton calls for "redoubling our efforts" in Pakistan's tribal regions, whatever that means.

The next leader of the free world needs to think more specifically and clearly about how best to use American influence to keep Pakistan from becoming the next Afghanistan or Sudan circa late-1990s. The first serious American politician to propose a radical realignment of U.S. policy toward Pakistan was Barack Obama. Last summer, he proposed unilateral military action if the United States was supplied with "actionable intelligence" on Osama bin Laden's whereabouts in Pakistan. He was pounced on by the punditry, his statements taken as further evidence he is a foreign policy lightweight. How dare a presidential candidate jeopardize one of America's most prized partnerships and impinge Pakistani sovereignty! Or, even if Republicans might agree with Obama, it's best not to say such things in public, pundits said

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lionel-beehner/us-options-for-a-postb_b_78461.html

95.

one of these days, I'll eventually get to Iowa  (and most of the rest of the country !)

looks like Iowans wear many hats (ie. dairy farmer and sculptor, for instance)

We might have thought about Pakistan before we green lighted the Indian nuclear weapons production.

Bhutto hasn't been a part of the equation for quite a few years so nothing changes much the challenges were there for years

stick your thumb in a nation's eye enough times (like the deal with India) and they will cease being a partner

Here is a video of an 85 year old lady Annie Bennett.  I absolutely love her.  She is an Obama supporter, but beyond that I think she envelops true patriotism.  She is so damn cute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaNHsQb9cW8

In regards to testing kids -- I was tested like crazy in school.  Some of it was specific to me (they were considering jumping me a grade) but a lot of it was just what the public schools in New York did.  Then, from Junior High through High School I had midterms and finals each year, both comprehensive.  In some cases, they were "Regents" exams, which are standaradized statewide tests in specific subjects (which in my case was like a vacation, because my school tests were harder).

I don't think there is anything wrong with standardized testing.  In fact, I think there's a lot of positive in standardized tests.  There ARE things you are expected to master, facts to know, skills to master.  They shouldn't be the only input to judging success or failure, but to fault the concept of standardized testing because of bad implementation is a mistake.

rae 99.

that was a great video

I haven't heard anything from any of the candidates about how they would handle Pahistan that reassures me.  But then, neither does our current path, which was a mistake from day one.  Take "stability" over civil society when judging your friends, and you'll end up with neither a friend, nor a stable society.  That was true during the Cold War, and it's true today.  Screaming "democracy" but defining that as only having some kind of election some time doesn't help the US or the nation wer're pushing toward "democracy."  Creating a civil society is so much more than that, and promoting (not forcing) civil societies around the world should be the underlying principle of US foreign policy.  Of course, right now, we're not much of a model.

99.

rae -

Thanks for sharing that video.  As a veteran myself, with a wife from another country, of a different race, I can partly relate to it.  SC's Annie is an example of Stand Up ! Fired Up !

I haven't heard anything from any of the candidates about how they would handle Pahistan that reassures me.  But then, neither does our current path

...

+++

rich -

Thanks for your candor.  Yes, Pakistan is definitely a conundrum for the U.S. right now.  Something about how we are currently dealing with them needs to CHANGE.

EXPERIENCE has shown to be not much to look to for inspiration.

That's where absentee voting is powerful, John.

Weekend/shift workers (who tend to vote Democratic ticket) are left out.

Again...anyone in ME (for any reason) can vote absentee (weeks in advance); and can register/change registration up to (and including) the day of a caucus or an election.

Voting is a state legislative issue, so if your state hasn't already taken care of related items, it ain't gonna happen in the '08 races.

Our caucuses will be a dud; however, the important part is that people may opt in, if they so desire.

With emphasis: those college kids are on break, so count them out in NH & IA--no that they actually show up, anyways.

Shredders are useful for personal identity issues, Monica--best $40.00 I've spent in a long time.

I hate waste of any sort (yes, we New Englanders are a frugal bunch); and have taken the time to email both Pingree/Allen staffers to NOT send me that crap.

If I need/want vis stuff to distribute elsewhere, have it available for me to do so (take what I want; and put it in my trunk for others, etc.).

Glossy fliers worry me--not only for the monies WASTED; but that anyone would pay attention to 'em (and fail to think critically, re: how they vote, for whom, and why).

Yes, Obama charged $23.00 a head for folks to see him @a Portland rally; however it wasn't w/o a whole lotta bitchin' from the grassroots.

I'm too cheap to spend money driving to Portland for *any* candidate...not on my dime, thanks.

...to pay "admission?"

Never.

I don't fuckin' care who it is.

What a joke.

Yes, Obama has been accused by African Americans of not being "black enough;" and as an academic, what Monica states of the fliers is indeed "teachable."

Critical thinking skills, folks (e.g., media studies/poltical science/public policy/business & marketing, etc.).

In rural states such as ME (w/gas & heating prices what they are--killing us), you'll find activists like Moi charging campaigns federal rates for mileage costs/tolls incurred.

If they can pay hotshot "consultants" hundreds of thousands of dollars for absolute bullshit, they can pay for that of activists, too.

Tom Allen (that's the Future Senator guy, BTW) will be holding many inexpensive public community forum suppahs (esp. here in CD#2).

I laughed when he indicated as such, as it's a sore spot here (even amongst activists, re: how much to charge for fundraising events...you want people to attend, but not feel ripped off).

Furthermore, you want more than the "ususals" to show up.

Those should never cost more than a VFW or American Legion's baked bean & casserole suppah, BTW.

I wouldn't go over $5.00 per head, but that's just me (depending upon what's on the menu).

I'll tell you what really struck me yesterday and today.

Almost the first word out of everyone's mouth about Pakistan was "stability."  It struck me so strongly, because eight years ago when then candidate Bush was being questioned about world leaders, he referred to "the General fellow" who ruled Pakistan, and had brought "stability".

Searching for stability brings us friends like the Shah, and Marcos, and Putin.  Not exactly what you'd expect from the "shining city on a hill".

If all our Democratic candidates can think of is stability, then none of them are really thinking. 

------------

???

I would hope you've not heard "the MAN of common sense"..., lol, he answered your question unambiguously.      To be honest, I don't remember such a calmness and directness even from Dean 4 years ago (although, yes, there were much more passion!).

106.

rich^kolker
Fri, 12/28/07

I'll tell you what really struck me yesterday and today.

Almost the first word out of everyone's mouth about Pakistan was "stability." It struck me so strongly...

Searching for stability brings us friends like the Shah, and Marcos, and Putin. Not exactly what you'd expect from the "shining city on a hill".

If all our Democratic candidates can think of is stability, then none of them are really thinking.
---------

!!!

The secret is simple, in their (Demos including!) vocabulary that word MEANS STATUS QUO!

100.

rich^kolker
Fri, 12/28/07


In regards to testing kids -- I was tested like crazy in school....

I don't think there is anything wrong with standardized testing. In fact, I think there's a lot of positive in standardized tests. There ARE things you are expected to master, facts to know, skills to master. They shouldn't be the only input to judging success or failure, but to fault the concept of standardized testing because of bad implementation is a mistake.
-------

???
Never said "standardized testing" might be (or is/was) a mistake.

I've said that currently in public schools "TESTING" gained UN-PROPORTIONAL(!!!) importance (in terms of time and efforts by teachers) comparing to "TEACHING".

It must be (may be it was at your time?!) other way around: TEACHING first, TESTING - second!

have we established now that Iowa is a different kind of test for the candidates than a typical election?

The process here gives them a chance to be vetted for skeletons in the closet, exposes who is backing them, and puts them on record, all while fairly allocating the few delegates to the nominating convention that we are entitled to.

works for me

but if you let your judgement be unduely influenced by the results of the couple of hundred thousand people that have seen them up close and personal for months you would be lazy, if you ignore that particular judgement you wouldn't be utilizing all available facts, good citizenship demands attention

sort it out

110.

Phil -

Looks like you're correct about the weather being clear skies over Iowa on Jan 3:

http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/nwprod/analysis/namer/gfs/12/images/gfs_ten_144l.gif

...lol, the newer twist...., at least not boring....

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/12...


ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Benazir Bhutto died as a result of a fractured skull after hitting her head on part of her car's sun roof, not as a result of a bullet or bomb shrapnel, a spokesman for Pakistan's Interior Ministry said Friday.
............

Ivan wrote "lol, the newer twist...., at least not boring...."

Boy, are you in a good mood.

Why doesn't Ron Paul ask for Impeachment? Indeed, why, but why don't the others, excepting Dennis Kucinich, of course, who iniiated the action.

Why aren't all of the Dem. candidates calling for Impeachment? Especially when they start waxing poetic about their "vision" for the future of our country'

Is that vision to carry over the present maffia standards for behavior in the WH? Are none of them going to say that's not the American standard, and that they don't need to be a dictator to carry out their "vision", because it is one that the people want.

I'm waiting for one of them to come out and let us know that they aren't looking forward to using some of that "Power" that Bush has introduced.

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

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid353515028/bctid1358585519

WHITHER BIOFUELS?

http://www.counterpunch.org/goodman12282007.html

Will bioenergy production save American agriculture, end our dependence on oil, save the environment and keep food on everyones table? Perhaps not. Biofuels are not the "cash cow" farmers were promised. As an energy source they are less efficient and no "greener" than oil. Growing them will cause food prices to rise and as a result, the poor will be at an even greater risk of hunger. Rain forests will be destroyed and become cropland, peasants around the world will continue to lose their land, their food sovereignty, all to feed the worlds appetite for fuel.

Can biofuels replace a significant amount of fossil fuel? Perhaps not. If, in 2006, we had dedicated the entire US corn crop to ethanol production we would have replaced only 12% of the gasoline we used. If we had planted every acre of cropland in the nation to corn we would have replaced only 80% of the gasoline we used. If the U.S. Energy Information Administration is correct in its estimates, and by 2030 the US is capable of producing 700,000 barrels of ethanol per day, we will have succeeded in offsetting roughly 6 percent of our transportation fuel needs.

Biofuels are a greenwash scam, a feel good solution for the end of cheap oil. When one considers the industrial agricultural system that is necessary for their production, biofuels are anything but sustainable. Costly inputs of fuel, fertilizer and biotech seed will challenge the profitability of Northern farmers while peasant farmers will continue to be evicted to make room for monocultures of corn, soy, sugarcane and oil palms. Food prices will climb, hunger and poverty will increase and we will be no closer to energy independence or truly renewable fuels.

We need energy solutions that will work; tough vehicle fuel standards, new public transportation systems, real renewable fuels like solar and wind and mandated commitments to conservation and recycling, now, not a 2030 "pie in the sky".

So, when we drive to the supermarket and complain about the high prices, then proceed to load up our flex-fuel SUV, will we think about the 50% of the worlds population that lives on less than $2 a day? Will we even consider that when we bought into the biofuel scam we also took away their food sovereignty and may have handed them a death sentence?

Jim Goodman is a dairy farmer from Wonewoc ,Wisconsin.

audrey wrote "Why doesn't Ron Paul ask for Impeachment?"

It may be worthwhile to ask Ron Paul this question. As to Kucinich's resolution, Paul voted to table it for purposes of hearing in Judiciary:

"I rise, reluctantly, in favor of the motion to table House Resolution 799, Impeaching Richard B. Cheney, Vice President of the United States, of high crimes and misdemeanors, and in favor of referring that resolution to the House Judiciary Committee for full consideration. I voted to table this resolution not because I do not share the gentleman from Ohio's desire to hold those responsible for the Iraqi debacle accountable; but rather, because I strongly believe that we must follow established protocol in matters of such importance. . . .

"I have always been strongly in favor of vigorous congressional oversight of the executive branch, and I have lamented our abrogation of these Constitutional obligations in recent times. I do believe, however, that this legislation should proceed through the House of Representatives following regular order, which would require investigation and hearings in the House Judiciary Committee before the resolution proceeds to the floor for a vote. This time-tested manner of moving impeachment legislation may slow the process, but in the long run it preserves liberty by ensuring that the House thoroughly deliberates on such weighty matters. In past impeachments of high officials, including those of Presidents Nixon and Clinton, the legislation had always gone through the proper committee with full investigation and accompanying committee report."

As to impeachment proceedings against Bush, I think it's fair to assume that Paul favors them:

"During an interview with Alex Jones on the GCN Radio network, Paul had outlined the likely scenario as to how impeachment proceedings would unfold.

" . . . .

"Paul said that Bush should be impeached not under the umbrella of partisan vengeance but for ceaselessly breaking the laws of the land.

"'I would have trouble arguing that he's been a Constitutional President and once you violate the Constitution and be proven to do that I think these people should be removed from office."

"Opining that the U.S. had entered a period of 'soft fascism,' Paul noted that the legacy of the Bush administration has been the total abandonment of Constitutional principles.

"'Congress has generously ignored the Constitution while the President flaunts it, the courts have ignored it and they get in the business of legislating so there's no respect for the rule of law.' said Paul."

PATTERNS OF WEAKNESS

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_andrew_b_071227_patterns_of_weakness.htm

WHAT IS SPIRITUALLY WRONG WITH AMERICA, THAT THE AMERICAN SYSTEM COULD NOT PROTECT ITSELF BETTER AGAINST THESE BUSHITE FORCES?

Are we to believe that things could have happened like this --that a criminal regime of this sort could endure, not signficantly confronted-- at just ANY time in American history?

One thing we know: there has NEVER been such a pervasive pattern of lies and crimes in the American presidency as with this Bushite bunch.

Here we have a list of scandals –some of them profound scandals– that sometimes gets to seem like almost every day brings a new one. And --still-- America deals with this administration as if it were a genuine presidency, as if it were more than a bunch of criminal suspects.

What does it say about the state of the country that we have not reached consensus on regarding this regime as criminal and fascist and downright evil, and has not used the mechanism designed for the nation to defend itself from this kind of usurpatious power.

It is not clear if the battle against the Bushites COULD be won. If this battle IS winnable, but is just not being fought, what does it say about the spiritual state of America that the system has failed to do what it was supposed to be designed to do?

The people failed. The press failed. The Congress failed. The opposition failed.

Green energy provides opportunities for tribes
December 28, 2007

by: Gale Courey Toensing / Indian Country Today

MASHANTUCKET, Conn. - With almost two-thirds of energy resources in the continent located on tribal lands, one of the hottest topics at a recent finance conference was green energy - how to use it and profit from it. ...Full article: http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm...

More gobbledy gook from Ron Paul....he favors Impeachment? ...except he thinks we should follow established protocal. Impeachment is the established protocal. He thinks we should investigate first? That is what Impeachment does.

Huron John...
is right. We treat this administration just like it is normal, and because of it, that's the kind of normal we will see in the future.

audrey wrote "He thinks we should investigate first? That is what Impeachment does."

He wants a decision for hearings to come out of Conyers' committee.  That was how impeachment proceedings began in the cases of Nixon and Clinton.  I wouldn't characterize is as a very radical view.

Hillary, Obama, Edwards, Richardson. Dodd, Biden. why aren't you calling for Impeachment? Are you just being good little soldiers so as not to upset the Party leadership.
A couple of you could run your campaigns without the Party's help.

You really need to let us know if any of you are secretly hoping to use some of these extra-curricular powers that have been introduced to the job description if oresident.

that would be of president

112

lol?  I fail to see any humor in this story whatsoever.

120. Huron -- it worries me a lot. Mainly the erosion of our civil liberties and Congress's failure to put the quietus on anything - they just pass bills which screw our civil liberties like HR 1955 http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext... and the coming (appropriately named) APIS http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/inspec... I posted before about when I took a city tour of Berlin and we stopped at the Reichstag and the tour guide spoke about it. He said that the building was destroyed (damaged-can't remember) and 'probably by the Nazis' and afterwards, the Germans lost their civil liberties one by one. He enumerated some of them. This was not a tin foil hatter on a blog talking, this was a tour guide on a tour bus in Berlin in December 2007.

Education -- I got a public education, 50 years ago of course. I think today if I were young and energetic and had a child, home schooling would be very tempting. Just b/c there's so much bs in school. Of course the bs is part of socializing people I guess.

Delegates announce pullout from U.S. treaties
December 28, 2007

by: Jerry Reynolds / Indian Country Today


WASHINGTON - Territorial sovereignty is not vested in individuals or groups of individuals, but in governments. Under international law, even governments aren't considered sovereign until recognized by another prior sovereign.

That may explain the assiduous attention paid on Dec. 19 by Lakota activist Russell Means to Mario Gustavo Guzman Saldana, the ambassador of Bolivia to the United States. Means led the Lakota Freedom Delegation to the Plymouth Congregational Church in Washington, where he declared a Lakota withdrawal from all treaties with the U.S. government. Saldana was the only diplomat on hand, and Means repeatedly took note of a skeleton media turnout.

He contended that since 1855, when Lakota nations granted a right-of-way to the U.S. government for roads through to Montana gold fields, Lakota territories have been illegally occupied and guiding treaties broken. ...full article: http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm...

---



Indian Museum Director Spent Lavishly on Travel

By James V. Grimaldi and Jacqueline Trescott

Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, December 28, 2007; Page A01

The founding director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian spent more than $250,000 in institution funds over the past four years on first-class transportation and plush lodging in hotels around the world, including more than a dozen trips to Paris.

In that time, W. Richard West Jr. was away from Washington traveling for 576 days on trips that included speaking engagements, fundraising and work for other nonprofit groups, according to a review of travel vouchers for West's trips obtained by The Washington Post.

West's travel often took him far from American Indian culture: Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand; Athens; Bali, Indonesia; Sydney and Brisbane; London; Singapore; Florence, Rome and Venice; Paris; Gothenburg, Sweden; Seville, Spain; Seoul; Vienna; and Zagreb, Croatia.

At the time, top Smithsonian officials were allowed unlimited leave with pay. "At all times," West said, "my travel authorizations and reimbursements, and their direct connection to NMAI and Smithsonian business, were reviewed and approved fully by my supervisors.

"There is no point at which these activities were being carried on in anything but an open way and with the approval of the Smithsonian."

Smithsonian officials have been under scrutiny since earlier this year following revelations about spending abuses by then-Secretary Lawrence M. Small. An independent panel sharply criticized Small and Sheila Burke, his top deputy, for taking too much time away from the office.

Small and Burke were West's supervisors. The unlimited-leave policy was changed after the Small scandal. Small resigned in March and Burke left in September.


West said the congressional mandate that established the museum called for him to be a global emissary for the Indian Museum's mission. He said that on occasion the museum was reimbursed for his trips by sponsoring parties. ...full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...

126.

rae hart
Fri, 12/28/07

Reply to this

112

lol? I fail to see any humor in this story whatsoever.

-----------

I'll explain:

"lol", was about "fair and balanced" media's attitude toward "facts" rather than about facts itself.

www.johnedwards.com/askjohn

I'm proud to be the only candidate who has visited and taken questions in all of Iowa's 99 counties. I've learned a great deal traveling across the state. You put tough questions to me and the other candidates, and you demand direct answers - as you should. It's Iowans like you that make the caucuses so important in deciding who will be our next president.

Now, with just six days to go, I'm deeply committed to continuing to answer Iowans' questions no matter what the topic. I strongly believe that whether you're from Des Moines or Decatur, every caucus goer deserves to hear from each candidate about what that person will do as president to fix the broken system in Washington that puts corporate interests ahead of working Americans. I want you to have all the facts - not mere rhetoric, but real substance.

That is why we launched this new program, and why I'm asking you to help spread the word. Please pass the link below along to anyone you know who's still deciding which candidate to support and encourage them to ask me anything:

www.johnedwards.com/askjohn

The wealth of information and opinions brought to this blog, I hope this is a lurking and learning spot for many undecideds -- be they in Iowa, New Hamshire, Nevada, South Carolina or anywhere else in the nation.

I heard a first person interview from a actual witness of the assassination that said the gunman was just yards away when he opened fire and then blew himself up with a suicide vest causing the explosion. (BBC overnight I believe, or the German World News they show here on PBS after Tavis Smiley) I'll see if I can find a link.

se, I just learned I don't know how to spell Hampshire (smile) 

typo - New Hamshire  s/b - New Hampshire

typo - se   s/b - see 

nail-biter:

http://www.journalpress.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=79&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=4407&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1139&hn=journalpress&he=.com

The fight for the Democratic and GOP nominations is still wide open
 

David Kerr

26.DEC.07

Election 2008 is perhaps the most wide open contest for President we have seen in the past hundred years. Usually, at least one party or the other has an obvious candidate in waiting. But this year, neither the Republicans nor the Democrats, have a clear choice. Even one time heir apparents, candidates who started a couple of years ago as the presumed nominee of their party, have faded in favor of a crowd of rapidly rising and setting stars.

...

I try and get much of my news from the BBC, PBS, NPR and my local news from Wisconsin stations as well as Iowa this time in the cycle so I can sort the spin from the facts.

CNN has little actual news backed by facts, and that is true of most of the others. CBS overnight news sometimes strays into the truth.

we find out today the wall of the tiger exhibit wasn't 20 feet, it will take the liability suit to get the real number, when they cover the trial

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-elliott/hillarys-war_b_78589.html

Posted December 28, 2007 | 02:03 PM (EST)

Benazir Bhutto was standing in an open car in the military city of Rawalpindi when the shrapnel sliced into her. That was just over a day ago. Violence has engulfed the region and we're waiting for the next chapter in this ever-worsening dilemma.

It would be cynical to blame Hillary Clinton for Bhutto's assassination. She didn't pull the trigger, after all. Non-the-less, She voted to authorize George W. Bush, George W. Bush!, to go to war in Iraq. It was a simple, obvious vote based on political calculations. There were still weapons inspectors in Iraq saying they needed more time.

Now we're looking at the rebirth of the Taliban in Afghanistan and a rapidly destabilizing Pakistan. The connections with our failed adventure in Iraq are beyond obvious. By losing focus and spreading our resources too thin we've turned a possible success in Afghanistan into a failure. That failure has spread to Pakistan (and New Orleans). To imagine a stable Afghanistan one just needs to imagine a world where America does not bomb Iraq, focusing on the task at hand instead of opening a war on two fronts with the entire Muslim world.

Hillary spokesman Jay Carson said yesterday in response to comments from the Obama campain, "This is a time to be focused on the tragedy of the situation, its implications for the U.S. and the world, and to be concerned for the people of Pakistan and the country's stability. No one should be politicizing this situation with baseless allegations." I know Jay Carson. We got drunk together in 2004 when he was working for Howard Dean and I was there when he took off his Dean pin and replaced it with a Miller High Life button in Wisconsin. Jay's easy to like and capable of spinning anything. But when Hillary talks about not making politics out of this tragedy, when she talks about looking forward, she's actually urging us not to learn from the past.

Hillary is simply not an acceptable candidate, and it becomes clearer by the day. Progressives don't want to abandon her completely because we think we might have to back her at some point in the near future when she's up against some monster like Rudy Guiliani (who once justified the war in Iraq by stating Saddam Hussein is a weapon of mass destruction, as if he was farting plutonium nuggets). Still, it's hard to believe that someone that voted for that war, and under the exact same circumstances would cast the same vote again, is capable of being president. We're not talking about any mistake, we're talking about the great mistake of our time.

...

we got another half foot of snow dumped on us this morning but that hasn't stopped my son from canvassing for Obama, rdorgan

now that it has let up I have to spend a few hours pushing it out of the way

the Edwards supporter in me smiles at my son's work because the efficacy of the gains versus those lost because how could they support a candidate who has workers out in a snowstorm with no common sense, is my rationalization to stop by the blog, my guess is for six hours of work they might pick up one or two

138.

Phil -

Glad to hear about your son's efforts (I remember riding a 10-speed to get to work in snow storms when cars were all stalled out when I was a teen and in the early '70s on college summer breaks when there was the oil embargo).  Young un's, where do they get all that energy ?

look at the nuclear deal with India if you want to know why we lost our friendship with Pakistan, and as long as we have cooperative working arrangements with the elements in charge of the launch code America is not at risk from Pakistan

World Peace is at risk if India presses an advantage when Pakistan is in chaos, so that might be a good phone call to make. 

John Edwards at least apologized for his 2003 vote in favor of authorizing the U.S. to invade Iraq.

Why hasn't Hillary Clinton apologized ?

2:56 pm

and to hold him or her accountable for implementing it if elected.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This was our hope the last two elections, wasn't it? Did it work?

The problem with nuclear anything with Bush/Cheney is that their goal is to secure a nuclear fuels monopoly and a credible nuclear weapons threat to insure that monpoly.  Their interest in getting rid of nuclear weapons is nil--not virtually nil, but nil.  Nuclear weapons are their ace in the hole.  It's what they can rely on to get what they want when other coercive actions don't work.

These people have no use for rules, agreements, treaties or co-operation that doesn't serve their superior status.  And the really scary thing is that their superiority is constantly undermined by a sense of inferiority.  Which means that no amount of superiority is ever enough.  It's as if they had an imp sitting on their shoulders whispering in their ears, "you're still a failure." 

Printable version

The veto is in response to a section of the bill that could leave the Iraqi government liable for compensation claims from Saddam Hussein's victims.

Opposition Democrats have complained that the president's veto will derail funding for US troops and that concerns should have been raised earlier.

A new version of the bill will now be drawn up and debated early next year.

.

'Bowing to demands'

Congressional Democrats accused President Bush of giving in to a threat from the Iraqi government to withdraw all of its assets from US banks.

"We understand that the president is bowing to the demands of the Iraqi government, which is threatening to withdraw billions of dollars invested in US banks if this bill is signed," said Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, in a joint statement.

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

alrighty then, another chance to give the Senators running for President on record for funding the war

BTW, I am getting really tired of the picture in this thread post.  I don't even want to know whether we're supposed to consider Edwards, Clinton and Obama as progressives.

What I suspect is that none of them are in favor of equality because they each have a chip on their shoulders, if not an imp, and have to prove themselves to be superior.

What we need is a President who can say "I am what I am" and be satisfied with it, like Harry Truman.

Also, it isn't possible to hold someone accountable in regards to doing what they are supposed to.  If people do what they are NOT supposed to, they can be punished.  If people fail to do what they are supposed to, they can only be fired or not re-hired.  The genius of the Congress is that citizens have an opportunity to turn out one third of the Senate and ALL OF THE HOUSE every two years.  If we don't pay attention and don't turn them out, then what they do is our fault.

The President can't do anything the Congress doesn't permit and give him the money to spend for.

I hope that as soon as this primary stuff is over, we will start concentrating on the congress. 

Thank you, Monica. I saw Dodd on Keith yesterday.

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

"It is not clear if the battle against the Bushites COULD be won. If this battle IS winnable, but is just not being fought, what does it say about the spiritual state of America that the system has failed to do what it was supposed to be designed to do?"

WHAT spiritual state of America?  It's non-existent

"The people failed. The press failed. The Congress failed. The opposition failed. "

Religion failed!  The original catholic church in Constantine's time was the greatest purveyor of lies and greed of it's time; and that's what people are still buying into.

THE GREAT LIES 

1.  God is a he.

2.  God is outside of us

3.  God punishes

4.  We are born evil

5.  Original sin exists

6.  Heaven is up and out there somewhere

7.  Hell is down there somewhere

8.  Obedience is necessary if you want to go to heaven.

9.  God hates gays.

10. God hates choice

11. God blames women for the downfall of men.

ETC ETC ETC

Is it any wonder we're on the brink of horror? 

VOTE BUDDHIST!  :-) 

WUFT FM Friday afternoon classical music trivia question. Don't look it up.

Which state presently uses O Tannenbaum (the melody) for its State song?

http://iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1732

Today, Iowa Independent releases its final round of power rankings, designed to answer the question, "If the caucuses were held tonight, what would be the results?"  The rankings are derived from impressions we received from activists, campaign officials, seasoned political observers, and rank-and-file caucus-goers, but at the most basic level, they are based on the gut feelings and instincts of our writers, who have watched the race unfold here from the beginning.

A lot can change in six days, and we expect that it will.  But if the caucuses were held tonight, this is how we think they would turn out:

First Place

Barack Obama -- The Obama campaign's ability to build a crowd is its greatest asset.  The Illinois senator consistently seems to draw larger crowds than his opponents in the same places, which speaks both to the strength of his campaign's organization and the enthusiasm his candidacy seems to generate.  And his wave of small-town newspaper endorsements should enhance his second-choice support in rural parts of the state where he has been perceived as weak.  If the caucuses were held tonight, Obama would pull off a narrow victory.

Second Place

(tie) Hillary Clinton -- The Clinton campaign's ambitious "Every County Counts" tour the week before Christmas was not without errors, but its last impact seems to be that it firmed up some of the campaign's softer support and drew new caucus-goers in to hear what Clinton had to say.  That, in combination with the Des Moines Register's endorsement and the extraordinary efforts of independent groups like Emily's List and AFSCME, would put Clinton in second place if the caucuses were held tonight.

(tie) John Edwards -- Edwards's greatest asset is the foundation he began building over a year ago.  He has lost some of the activists he recruited early on to other campaigns, but in recent weeks his constant campaigning has firmed up his base.  His supporters are likely to caucus, and many of them are experienced activists who know what it takes to get out the vote.  If the caucuses were held tonight, we think he would finish second.

...

144.  More evidence that there's plenty of money in the pipeline.  Either that or Bossy Bush just likes to hold our troops hostage.

Maybe some letters to the editor are in order.  LOL 

Chris and the girls getting ready to tour with the firefighters. 

Chris has adorable kids.

well off for now

148.

dorgan

I read the Iowa Independent article. But there was no poll results with it so one would wonder where the writer's source is. Perhaps he is just looking to up his reader score.

was = were

149.

Dodd is sooooo presidential looking. I wondier if the reason his campaign didn't catch on is that voters truly are looking for change, but then you'd think Clinton would be in last place. Of course a lot can happen in six day (cliche).

Keith was right on in having Dodd on his show last night. Dodd's depth of knowledge and reason are his trump cards.

He was the only one I have heard saying the Pakistani elections should be delayed until a reasonable candidate can be found for the opposition party. Most are saying they should have the election as planned or wait a few weeks. Dodd is right as usual though a delay probably will not happen.

Iraq now "owns" a piece of our Congress too? the Iraqi gov't. will withdraw the billions









Now the Iraqi gov't owns a piece of our Congress? Where does the average American go to stand in line to buy our piece?

The Iraqis will withdraw the billions$$$ they have deposited in our banks if our Congress doesn't vote the way they want? Now, they're preparing another bill to be considered when they get back from vacation.

At the risk of sounding too simplistic, I can only say, that if they have billions in our banks or any bank we need to pack up and get out, and let them manage their own budget and country.

155.  I've been somewhat amused by his staff who keep fretting that they can't get any media traction.  Because I've noticed that when Dodd wants attention he knows just how to get it.  So, I have to think that flying under the radar is calculated.  Will it work?  Who knows.  The polls tell us nothing because people aren't being asked about any but the three "leaders."

At the risk of being tedious (to myself) I need to remind everyone that four years ago my constant refrain was that the only poll that counts is the one they conduct on election day.

Dean's ranking in the polls created a lot of euphoria that seemed not to be able to be damped--until the numbers actually came in.  That was one of those times when I would rather have been wrong.  I'd already noticed that the swift-boaters were waiting to go after Kerry.

This year is different.  I'm hoping that our progressive leaders are working in the back-ground.  Dodd is effectively using the internet, but mainly because it's a source of free media.  Eventually, when Clinton/Obama/Edwards get stale, the major media will sniff around the intenets and see what new stuff they can pick up.   On the other hand, he's got some really innovative email appeals for funds.  I got one today asking for $25 and saying this would be the last appeal before january 3rd, BUT if Iowa turns out well, I should be prepared to make the largest contribution ever!

You see what I mean about planning ahead. 

Bumper sticker alert again.......... youre all familiar with the W stickers........well, this person had a W, with a tiny American flag and under it said "worst President ever.

Also, those famous black "W" (the President" stickers.....well this car had a "F" and the President.........

Pretty funny

147.

Which state presently uses O Tannenbaum (the melody) for its State song?


---


Maryland




158. Sounds like a great bumper sticker.

I realize the people on dialup have some difficulty with Youtube in this format, but this fellow's mug is not to be missed. LOL

Also, I'm a bit reluctant to keep pushing Dodd, but the focus on the top money raisers strikes me as not good for democracy.  I could push Biden and Gravel, but I don't really have much more time in a day and Gravel doesn't seem to have any output to push.  Kucinich has lots of other people catapulting his information. 

Aw, that's sweet.

This holiday season, as always, there are so many things to do. This year in Iowa, we have the additional responsibility of setting the tone for the upcoming presidential election. Looking at the field of candidates in the Democratic Party, we have a difficult choice between many qualified candidates. Many people have made up their minds, but many are still considering this important decision.

As I searched for a candidate to support, I was seeking a candidate with proven leadership, someone I could trust and someone who can win in November. I did not have to look far for this candidate. Last summer, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd spent a day in a classroom at the Head Start Program where I work. Head Start is a federally funded preschool program for at-risk children. Dodd arrived that morning at 7:30 when the lead teacher opened the door. He worked along side staff all day, washed tables, ate with the children, held them on his lap and read to them, and he listened to them. Listening to all the people is an important quality in a leader. It is obvious to me why Dodd is known as the "Children's Senator" and was named "Senator of the Decade" by the National Head Start Association.

This election is too important to be decided by media hype and celebrity. I believe this election is about finding the most qualified candidate with a proven record of service and integrity, and that is why I am going to caucus for Dodd.

Donna Castle

Solon

Coralville

159 & 147 ...

Sheesh Anni ... you beat me to it. I was just skimming through the thread and was so delighted to see a trivia question that I knew the answer to.

Oh yes ... "O Maryland, my Maryland ...!"

Speaking of trivia ... on our most recent vacation, we were playing Trivial Pursuit with some other couples and NONE of us knew the answers to anything ... except for the husbands who were able to answer some of the sports questions.

It was a humbling experience.

We finally decided to let people move if they could answer ANY questions on the card. Otherwise no one would have gotten any pie slices.

When did Trivial Pursuit get so weird?

In 2000, perhaps?

138

Phil, please thank your son for all the work he is doing for Barack.

When is there going to be a new thread post?

I'd like to post some of what's being said over here about Benazir Bhutto and the assassination (definitely horrible, but certainly not unexpected), but don't want to end up at the bottom of a thread, as is usually the case.

In the meantime, here's some totally trivial fluff.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/...

138

Phil, please thank your son for all the work he is doing for Barack.

+++

Phil -

I second rae's comment.

And thanks too for the work you yourself are doing for Edwards

Ah well, I'll just post and let the articles fall where they may.

================
Plan B for Pakistan
The US had placed its hopes for Pakistan in Benazir Bhutto. Now it must prevent her death from becoming a victory for al-Qaida

[...]
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/paul...

An interesting article at DU, by McCame Taylor.
Benizar Bhutto knew the skeletons in the closet regarding who facilitated nuclear weapons in Pakistan, and how Saudi Arabia and Cheney and Wolfowitz benefit. The assassination of her father and connections to the neo=cons.

And another ... which rumor you've already heard ...

============
Pakistan blames al-Qaida for Bhutto death
Allegra Stratton and agencies
Friday December 28, 2007

[...]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/pakistan/Story...

Remembrances from those who knew her at Oxford ...

============
Oxford contemporaries remember Bhutto's vibrancy and ambition
Graeme Wearden
Friday December 28, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

[...]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/pakistan/Story...

From the Independent ...

==============
Pakistan in crisis as Bhutto buried
Reuters
Published: 28 December 2007

Benazir Bhutto was buried today in her family mausoleum after the opposition leader's assassination plunged Pakistan into crisis and triggered violent protests across her native Sindh province.

[...]
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia...

Whatever her flaws, Bhutto was a very courageous woman, living and working in a culture dominated by men.

For her achievements in a culture heavily weighted against her, I salute her and sincerely hope that a backlash will result against those who murdered her primarily for being a woman who dared.

===================
Michael Fathers: Bhutto's flaws in office cannot diminish her greatness, or the extent of Pakistan's loss
Published: 28 December 2007

Violence, assassination and murder have followed the Bhutto family like furies throughout the 40-year history of Pakistan. Every member of the family who has shown any political ambition and entered public life has been killed violently. The one exception was Begum Nusrat Bhutto, Benazir's mother who, for a brief time during one of Benazir's several exiles, was the figurehead president of the family's Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

The violence began three decades ago when her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the first Prime Minister to have won power in what was perhaps Pakistan's only free and fair election since the creation of the country, was toppled in a military-led coup in 1977. He was hanged a year later as a common criminal after a majority of appeal court judges confirmed his conviction for conspiracy to murder a political opponent.

[...]
http://comment.independent.co.uk/comment...

From the Times ... running through the usual suspects ... which are not only Al Qaeda and supporters.

======================
December 28, 2007
Main suspects are warlords and security forces
Jeremy Page, South Asia Correspondent

[...]
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/wo...

Now gone ... TGIF!

running through the usual suspects ... which are not only Al Qaeda and supporters.

The "usual" suspects have to include the Pakistani Government--especially its security service.

I am highly doubtful that the government's own investigation will reveal the real culprits.

And if Darth Cheney has anything to do with it, the US "investigation" will make an Iranian connection to give Bushco the excuse to bomb the livin' sh*t out of them

whoever writes ten syllable jingos for a living is safe from me

"I've looked into his eyes and taken the measure of the man."

Does 15 syllables count? 

John Edwards --  If the caucuses were held tonight, we think he would finish second.

Been there. Done that. 

If voters didn't want him the first time around, why would they want him the second? 

The Nation editorial parrots the DLC position that we have to accept whoever it is that comes out of the Democratic wringer.

I certainly won't sign on to that concept.

Foll me once, etc..............

6:09 pm

That's "fool"

The President can't do anything the Congress doesn't permit and give him the money to spend for.

Not according to the Rubberstamp Democrats who control Congress with their GOP collaborators.

Bloggie stuck! Anybody home?

My only thoughts and fears about Pakistan are about Bush and  Cheney, not Musharraf.

They had both better keep this butts out of there before creating another castastrophy worse than  Iraq -- this time with nukes. That would be a worldwide nightmare.

ABC did have their Dodd profile on tonight.  Who watches TV on Friday LOL

well. i went and recommended another post in browse.  Maybe that will trigger a new thread.

Me.
7:02pm

I just heard s/o on Matthews say that some study or other has determined that IA caucus goers have TWENTY TIMES THE POWER TO CHOOSE A CANDIDATE THAN ANY OTHER VOTER.

(which most of us already know)   :-( 

I just heard Huckabee saying that we have more Pakistani illegals coming over our border than any other people.

He has a big lead in IA.

We cannot have bible thumpers choosing our presidents. 

One knit, 2 pearl for the new thread.

NEW THREAD!  It's lonely there!

IA caucus goers have TWENTY TIMES THE POWER TO CHOOSE A CANDIDATE THAN ANY OTHER VOTER.

Haven't you heard? Your vote counts just as much even though most if not all the candidates but one will be forced out by the time you get to vote (kinda like those "elections" in the Soviet Union where there was only one to choose from.)

And forget about them ever coming to your state to ask for your vote since they have to camp out in IA for a year and visit every county and kiss every hand over a helpin' heapin' of panderin'. 

The only question is, how much does the current system suck? 

http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/23381...