Like I always say, Dean is first.

Here we go - Dean v. Clinton:

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/1/25/1158...

Rdorgan: "Pretty good stuff, still. Why should either Clinton attack Obama for facing some of the truths that both of them taught their party so long ago?"

Both Clinton and Obama were/are spouting DLC talking points. The DLC entire Raison d'etre is how to build a new Dem party that shifts to the center-right (unity?) to respond to the success of Reagan in wooing "Reagan" Democrats.

Of course, there is another way. Define what you stand for, pursue a progressive agenda and people will be attracted to principled stands that work in their economic interest. The DLC is essentially reactionary to blur the distinction.

The Progressive approach is forward-thinking and about building

Fox Mulder
Fri, 01/25/08

Ah, but that didn't happen. You require the gov't. to produce the necessary documents, supported by law, and REQUIRE them to take you to court, if necessary, before succumbing to threats and strong-arm tactics. Otherwise, you open yourself up to lawsuits. That's the way the legal system works. Why do you not support the rule of law?

NO AMNESTY FOR TELCOMS.

And that is why the immunity bill will pass with overwhelming bipartisan support on Monday.  Ever notice that the Dems on the Intelligence Committee always seem more serious and are more likely to support the President.  They get to read the raw intel reports.  Is it related, or are they just sell outs.  I guess someone needs to be a grown up every once in a while. 

A DU blogger has hyperlinked a dead Washington Post site for the Edwards 27% figure on Thursday in South Carolina.  Is anyone aware of a source that confirms this figure?

Obama's burden :

http://www.bet.com/News/NewsArticlePoliticsHillaryClintonAttacksObama.htm?wbc_purpose=Basic&WBCMODE=PresentationUnpublished&Referrer=%7B9624097D-F2F3-4D5C-B513-798AEAD259B7%7D

Will Hillary Clinton's personal attacks on Barack Obama ultimately hurt her and her party?

Posted Jan. 24, 2008 – Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is the only one in the race for the White House who’s running against an ex-president.

...

55.
Indy Steve
Fri, 01/25/08

Reply to this

Rdorgan: "Pretty good stuff, still. Why should either Clinton attack Obama for facing some of the truths that both of them taught their party so long ago?"

...

+++

Indy Steve -

You're getting me confused with Tom.  Tom posted that excerpts from E. J. Dionne in today's Washington Post piece.

mary vb
Fri, 01/25/08

Calculating and contradictory. Clinton kept her name on the ballot in MI (is she on in FL?). Now she wants her delegates while the others removed their name. Clinton is making it VERY hard to vote for her coniving ways. Sickening. She will have to EARN my vote for Novermber. And that is getting harder.

3.  I think what you are missing is that the N.S.A., like every other agent of government takes orders from US.  We do not take orders from the N.S.A.  If, at some point, our representatives gave permission to the N.S.A. to demand secrecy from ordinary citizens, then those reps overstepped their bounds and the permission needs to be revoked.

There is a long tradition of executives issuing orders which he wants to be followed without question, but that doesn't make it right. 

Fox Mulder
Fri, 01/25/08

Please explain how some telcoms (QWEST) refused to comply. They saw through an illegal act by the Executive branch.

Here we go - Dean v. Clinton:

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/1/25/1158...

* rdorgan
Fri, 01/25/08

Oops. sorry. my comment to Tom then.

But the point remains: Obama's point about Reagan (not praise because that is misleading) is straight from the DLC playbook, whether he knows it or not.

Fox,

If the police came to your home, demanding to search it and said they had the Sheriff's approval, would you voluntarily let them in?

I hope not. YOu would demand to see a search warrant signed by a judge. The Telcoms know the routine and procedure (or should).
Some were smart enough to not comply. THe others who didn't should be subject to our rule of law, not EXCUSED through amnesty legislation.

Indy Steve -

I will vote for whoever the dem nominee is in Nov, with one exception --

Billary.

My wife feels the same way (and we both voted for Bill wholeheartedly in the 92 and slightly less enthusiastic in the 96 elections) as me.  We both got a bad case of the malidy Clinton fatigue.

He described in detail the contents of the letters they received.  It order them to comly and the order was attached to authorization from the Attorney General of the Untied States.

The whole Telecom immunity crap is to protect Bush rather than them. Lawsuits would bring out information that would detail how Bush broke the law.

6.  Right.  And the intel reports are full of lies.  They are gathering information from people whose languages they do not speak. 

What they are really trying to do is model the global communications network so they'll be able to disable the communications systems of enemies (people who don't follow their orders) without causing disruption to their own.  Other nations are already on to this trick.  Which is why they are developing their own networks to which they will restrict U.S. access.  Dodd wasn't opposed to this stupid legislation because some Americans had their privacy invaded; he's opposed to it because he recognizes that in the long run this kind of behavior is self-defeating.

The dollar is tanking because the U.S. cannot be trusted.  Issuing threats and following through is not a trust-building strategy. 

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/tneil/CGxNJ#comments

Kurt Nimmo
Truth News
January 24, 2008

From John D. Dingell of Michigan, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, to ba-zillionaire mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg and now U2 frontman Bono, we endure calls for a carbon tax. So thick is the hype, so deep is the indoctrination, the New York Times went out of its way to declare that “everyone is using the atmosphere like a municipal dump, depositing carbon dioxide free,” in other words the very fact you are breathing is detrimental to the planet.

Al Gore has declared the discussion over, even though, as Paul Joseph Watson notes, “over 100 prominent scientists who have signed a letter slamming the UN move” toward a carbon tax “as a futile bureaucratic scheme” and “pointing out the results of a recent study in the International Journal of Climatology which concludes that climate change over the past thirty years is largely a result of solar activity and that attempts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions are irrelevant.”

Al Gore, Mr. Green himself, is an inch short of having these heretics flayed alive for the “eco crime” of disagreement based on reality-based science. Like the converso minority of yore, these scientists are to be persecuted for heresy. The only thing missing is the rack, although Al and the new Green bureaucrats — globalist autocrats to the man and woman — expect these enviro-criminals to engage in groveling fashion to the auto de fe, that is to say to ask for penance. Al is our Tomás de Torquemada reborn, the Inquisitor General of the Earth cult.

Indy wrote "The DLC entire Raison d'etre is how to build a new Dem party that shifts to the center-right (unity?) to respond to the success of Reagan in wooing 'Reagan' Democrats."

This promulgates the Clinton propoganda to the fullest extent.  You should have more decency.  The success of Reagan being referred to in each instance is the change Reagan brought about in persuading voters to opt for a stong military, phony fiscal conservatism, and a federal government crippled by starvation and incompetent exectutive agency appointments.  What you either fail to notice, or lack interest in noticing, is that the country got swept up on a wave of conservatism that transmogrified government and the national conversation on government policies for the next quarter century.

We are not discussing an endorsement of conservative Reagan policies, as you are aware, and as every sensate person who blows this smokescreen knows.  You are also clearly aware that a fundamental transformation of the type Obama envisions would be one that reverses the damage of the movement ushered in by Reagan.  Since I don't believe you're a gullible sap, I believe you're simply dishonest, cynical, or both.

Paul Craig Roberts
Counterpunch
January 24, 2008

If polls are reliable, Hillary will win the Democratic nomination. The Democratic groups that prefer Obama are not sufficiently numerous to give him the nomination.

Of course, anything can happen in a political campaign, but the latest Field Poll of likely California Democrats and independent voters gives Hillary a 39 to 27 percent lead over Obama. This is bad news for Obama, because California is a progressive state where race is less likely to be a handicap.

Obama is favored by those who rank the Iraq war and foreign policy as the most important issues, by blacks, college graduates, and those with higher incomes.

Hillary is favored two to one by women, two to one by lower income groups and three to one among Latinos. Hillary has a further advantage. At the 2004 Democratic National Convention approximately 50 per cent of the delegates were women. As Democratic delegates are invariably feminists, they are not going to miss the chance of putting a woman in the presidency.

Are the Democrats choosing Hillary because she has the moral integrity to stop an unjust war and to hold war criminals responsible for leading America into war based on lies and deception? Are they choosing Hillary because she defends the US Constitution from usurpation by executive power? Are they choosing her because she is public-spirited instead of personally ambitious?

No. The Democrats are choosing Hillary because of gender and race. Despite all the efforts of Democratic activist groups, the majority of Democratic voters are more concerned with race and gender issues than with their country’s reputation and their civil liberties.

If elected president, Hillary will bring no more change than did the Democratic congressional majority elected in 2006.

From the National Nuse Newsletter:

The National Nursing Network Organization (NNNO) is completely volunteer and made up of grassroots supporters such as yourselves. Many organizations and campaigns hire government relation specialists who are paid to go to Congress and advocate on their behalf. These same groups often pay a stipend or honorarium to their Board of Directors. This is not the case with the National Nursing Network Organization. We believe this campaign is for those of us who live on Main Street, not K Street.

Members of the NNNO Board of Directors value the power each of us have as individuals to participate and make a difference in improving the health of our country. All three of our elected nurses in Congress began with nursing careers, and all three have made a huge difference in helping to improve the lives of nurses and ordinary Americans. It is our goal to do the same.

So when advertisers approach us, and ask if they can advertise on our website, www.nationalnurse.org and pay us, we continue to refuse their offers regardless of what they are selling.

This campaign depends on you-and today we ask you, our supporters, to please make an on line donation at https://co.clickandpledge.com/sp/d1/defa... or email teri@nationalnurse.info to learn where to send a check.

We are asking for $20. For those who contribute $20, the team will place a certificate in your honor inside a packet that will be delivered to your US Representative during our March trip to Washington DC. The same certificate will also be mailed to you. Please know that it costs $20 to make up a professional packet of supporting materials about the Office of the National Nurse proposal, so your donation is actually paying for this packet.
~ ~ ~ ~

Teri Mills is our very own blogger, Teri the Aspiring National Nurse. Legistlation will be reintroduced ~ listener posted over on HEP... "I actually got a note from my Rep, Peter Welch, about the certificate and have spoken with his health person and he's willing to support the bill when it comes to the House."

IMO, a show of our support for the Office of the Naional Nurse is just as important as supporting candidates... in other words, if you can send a little help Teri's way, please do it.

Hillary Clinton to Howard Dean: Screw You!

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1...

I think I'll save my $208 (which the DNC asked for) for something else.

Glad to see the blog back up and running. I'll check back in later...

♥'s to all

Kindness is free!

BTW, this is worth perusing in its entirety.

http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/2007/07/green-is-the-new-red/ 

I have some great news here folks.

In Virginia, we have 11 congressional districts.

Each year each of the congressional district committee is asked to nominate a "grassroots" Democratic activist to be the recipient of the award, given at the annual JState Democratic efferson Jackson Day Gala on Feb 9 (this year).

The grassroots award winner from the 3rd congressional district (Bobby Scott"s district)

is..............................

Lindab!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't even know I was nominated but I just got a call from our chair. 

Wow.

.  It order them to comly and the order was attached to authorization from the Attorney General of the Untied States.  It further told them that disclosure of even receipt of the letter was against the State Secrets Act. 

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

Why is this not grounds for Impeachment? 

Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet
January 24, 2008

The huge debt bubble, which has artificially propped up the stock market since the turn of the millennium, could cause a new great depression according to one expert, who also predicts that investors will flock to buy gold as the dollar continues to plummet.

Financial analysts have been drawing comparisons between this week’s chaos and the October 19 1987 crash, known as Black Monday, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by over 22 per cent and markets sunk worldwide.

But Vancouver-based investment adviser Ian Gordon has gone a step further, seeing clear parallels between current events and those that foreshadowed the 1929 crash and ensuing depression.

“We’re really seeing a mirror image of what happened following the [19]29 peak in equity prices in the United States, and the subsequent crash in equities,” Gordon told the Georgia Straight. “We’re seeing really the mirror of…the huge debt bubble that was built into the economy in the ’20s in the United States. We’re now seeing the collapse of the debt bubble that was built into the world economies, but principally in the United States.”

Gordon levels the blame at Alan Greenspan for creating a huge bubble by injecting too much money into the system in an attempt to offset the "economic winter" that inevitably arrives as part of the boom and bust cycle of the fiat money system, arguing that the realistic peak in the stock market occurred in 2000.

Gordon predicts that the "economic winter" will last another 7 or 8 years and that the worst is yet to come, with the continued meltdown of the dollar causing people to flock to the safe haven of gold.

“As this whole collapse in paper assets begins to unfold, causing tremendous strain on the banking system, we will see a tremendous rush to gold, to own gold,” he said. “But I think the worst is definitely in front of us, and not behind us.”

Gordon slammed the huge 75 points rate cut as ineffective, arguing that neither banks or consumers want to engage because of the crippling problems of their existing debts.

The analyst’s conclusions are in line with those of Paul Craig Roberts, the father of Reaganomics, who on Tuesday warned that the mess could result in the dollar losing its status as the world reserve currency.

Roberts also cautioned that the rush to diversify into gold could make people’s assets a target for government confiscation, as happened in 1933, four years after the great depression

That is way cool, linda b.

Because Romney is not a serious candidate with ideas of his own. It’s all a dog and pony show for the American people, who will accept Hillary Clinton as their next decider-commander

linda b

when you have been instrumental in changing the majority in the United States Senate you deserve a NATIONAL AWARD ( besides your Howardly )

wOOt!!!

John Taylor Gatto is an activist critical of compulsory schooling and the hegemonic nature of discourse on education and the education professions

linda b ~ Congrats on a well deserved recognition. You rock!

ttfn

A very strong showing by John Edwards would be very damaging to Clinton in South Carolina and she is not back there campaigning to stop Obama but to slow down the Edwards surge.

linda b

when you have been instrumental in changing the majority in the United States Senate you deserve a NATIONAL AWARD ( besides your Howardly )

wOOt!!!     change the senate and house what good has it been? old boss same as new!

Congratulations. 

25.  Why would you penalize the DNC for Hillary's bad behavior?

What we have here is another attempt to distract.  Ignore it.  If you've got time to send some letters to South Carolina or vote a friend, do that.

While you're watching the monkey, your poclet is likely to be picked.

What should be increasingly evident to us Democrats is that while we were all agitated by the 'right-wing" attacks on poor Bill and his tremendous effort not to be distracted from his job "on behalf of the American people" it was actually his own irresponsible behavior that provided fuel for the distraction which kept us from noticing that American jobs were being sold overseas and American mothers were being forced to earn dollars so they could pay someone else to care for their children and "protecting industrial secrets" set the stage for monitoring all electronic communications.

Why were the telecoms suborned before 9/11?  Because the monitoring of communications was already well underway.  But, you see, the primary focus was always to promote the interests of commerce and industry, so they missed the terrorists. 

Terrorists are like the boogeyman.  Their purpose is to scare the children and keep them close to home. 

A very strong showing by John Edwards would be very damaging to Clinton in South Carolina and she is not back there campaigning to stop Obama but to slow down the Edwards surge. 

If Edwards can knock the Clintons into third and demonstrate that their dirty politics are rejected it will help everyone.

BTW, my wife voted for  the Clintons today and that's GREAT news. Whether it's sports or politics, she ALWAYS backs the ultimate loser (don't bet on the Pats either).  She also always picks the slowest line at the supermarket (I wait for her to pick one and then say, "Let's go to that one over there." It never fails to get us out quicker.)

I say we ship all the global warming doubters to the islands of Bangledesh and let them bet their lives on whether or not global warming is a fact.

no need though since many own Florida property

Phil Specht get a new wipin horse edward is done move on!

He may be a "never will be," but if he's taking more votes from the Clintons than Obama at least he's helping the better cause.

mary vb....

If we cut our money to the DNC now, it will reflect badly on Howard. imo

30.  Because there are so many others?

Hillary Clinton to Howard Dean: Screw You!

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1...

...

+++

mary vb -

So, Florida is at it again.

In 2000's general stolen election, they handed George to America.

In 2008's dem primary election to come, will they hand Hillary to America ?

I pray and hope that Dean and the rest of us have enough steel-will to counter the Billary's attempt to steal this primary.

there is a huge problem in this country with scientific illiteracy

Tom Bearse
Fri, 01/25/08

No need to start the name-calling. A reference to Reagan and how he "won over" Democrats by being strong on defense, markets and Conservative social issues is a DLC theme. Clinton, as Chair of the DLC, did it in 1992 and won by moving the party to the right. Triangulation, remember?

Why Obama did it in Nevada is also promoting the theme of moving right, whether he knows it or not. Bringing up Reagan should ALWAYS be accompanied by how he ran up the debt, created an economy for the wealthy, and pursued free market policies that destroyed our economic base. If you don't do that, you are promoting the myth.

there is a huge problem in this country with scientific illiteracy

What do you expect from a country that couldn't even convert to metric? 

The main reason leadership is reluctant to move to Impeachment is of course that it will expose complicit Democrats.

Phil wrote: there is a huge problem in this country with scientific illiteracy  

I would add: there is a huge problem in this country with ECONOMIC illiteracy  

Starting with the Congress and their "economic stimulus" package.

Hillary is PENNed in :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo9HBH4w5f8

Bringing up Reagan should ALWAYS be accompanied by how he ran up the debt, created an economy for the wealthy, and pursued free market policies that destroyed our economic base.

Bringing up Edwards and Hillary should always be accompanied by how they voted in support of the worst of Bush's agenda -- and that's just what I do. 

Phil....30

Add it to the pile. We need to sit on Nadler hard. He's the stumbling block to impeachment.
I tie that to his support of Hillary. I think that is the reason impeachment is being squelched....embarrassing to Hillary. She's not worth our Constitution. I guess I have to say imo.

Obama is going to do great in South Carolina because that's where Michelle's family is from.

Don't worry about it.

Phil's right.  Edwards needs to do good.  Well, actually, all he needs to do is get some delegates.

Let's hope SC teaches Hillary a lesson in humility.  Not that she's likely to get it. 

Lindab,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Well-deserved. Keep givin' 'em hell!

Tom wrote: are also clearly aware that a fundamental transformation of the type Obama envisions would be one that reverses the damage of the movement ushered in by Reagan.

I'm not aware of any such thing. In fact, his economic advisor is a Chicago School economist. I am aware that Edwards' view is one that clearly recognizes the cause of US economic decline, the ravages of unmanaged globalization and ways to correct it. Obama hasn't convinced me he gets it yet.

Linda b......

Congrats...way to go!!!!!!

BTW according to my Holstein newsletter there are exactly 650 live cloned cattle in the United States today according to the firms that did the work and that have now implanted RFID and are working to exclude them from a general mixing in the food supply by creating a tracking pledge with owners and outlet with packers who will label the meat so as not to concern the over half of the population that does not believe cloning has been accomplished yet and others who have expressed concern.

who knows what effect that will have on the crowd that thinks RFID is the "mark of the beast" though

Edwards out and Hillary moves to a 50/50 chance of the nomination.

Edwards in and the odds are less.

Bringing up Edwards and Hillary should always be accompanied by how they voted in support of the worst of Bush's agenda -- and that's just what I do. 

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

Ok, I can fathom that one.......next time you bring up JFK please be so kind as to mention Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis, nuclear holocaust , and oh by the way...........advisors to Vietnam which led to...................the Vietnam War.

FDR...........continued segregation.....japanese internment camps......delayed US entry into WW2 until Pearl Harbour

Truman.........Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Congratulations linda b!

48.  Well, you're right.  But Obama was getting ready to move on to SC and the people in SC don't need to be told about the disaster that was Reagan.

Where the Hillary people made their mistake was in trying to spin Obama's words.  That's how she revealed herself as someone that's not to be trusted.

Referring to him as a "young African American" was a mistake too.  Made him part of the family.  If there were doubts before, that sealed it. 

Ok, I can fathom that one.......next time you bring up JFK please be so kind as to mention Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis, nuclear holocaust , and oh by the way...........advisors to Vietnam which led to...................the Vietnam War.

No problem. Facts are facts. 

Indy wrote "I'm not aware of any such thing."

Because you're willfully ignorant.  If you get a clue, a more elevated discussion can replace responses to your door hanger rhetoric of rote talking points for noncritical thinkers.

Tom Bearse
Fri, 01/25/08

since you are continue to call me names (ignorant is one) and taunt, and don't appear to want to talk substance, this will be my last post to you.

And need i remind you of blog rules?

Was the DFA/BFA just now down again ?

Phil wrote "Edwards in and the odds are less."

Not again.  After much beating of the bushes, we were unable to smoke out a single confessed Edwards supporter here would consider throwing his or her support to Clinton if Edwards withdrew from the race.  That includes you, the Obama delegate. 

If you're so inclined, here's the place to go to keep Edwards' voice speaking out:

https://www.johnedwards.com/action/contribute/form/ 

EDWARDS CAMPAIGN BREAKS ONLINE FUNDRAISING RECORD

In the first 25 days of this quarter, campaign has raised more online than the whole 4th quarter – the vast majority of which will be doubled by federal matching funds

Chapel Hill, North Carolina – As a sign of John Edwards’ growing grassroots support across the country, today the Edwards campaign announced that it has raised more than $3 million online during the first 25 days of the quarter – more than it raised during the whole 4th quarter of last year.  Just yesterday, the campaign had one of its best fundraising days, taking in more than $230,000 in contributions. The vast majority of online contributions will be doubled by federal matching funds.

"First, we want to thank everyone who has contributed," said senior advisor Joe Trippi.  "More and more Americans want to get involved in our campaign because they recognize that John Edwards is the only candidate in this race with the backbone to say we are in a fight for the middle class and we can’t negotiate or take money from powerful entrenched interests if we are going to have change – we have to take them on.  Our campaign relies on the support of regular Americans, and with their support we can bring real change to America."

The Edwards campaign has been built on reaching out to all Americans – not just those who can give the maximum donation to the campaign.  Edwards is the only candidate who has never taken a dime from Washington lobbyists or PACs. He continues to gain new support as he travels the country to talk with voters about his plans to fight for the middle class.  

Tom

I include you in the statistically illiterate.  and let it go at that

Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis, nuclear holocaust , and oh by the way...........advisors to Vietnam which led to...................the Vietnam War.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bay of Pigs and advisers in 'Nam, were programs started under Eisenhower. JFK didn't have the good sense to drop them. Cuban missile crisis was certainly all his. Nuclear holocaust, a feature of the cold war. Which he neither started nor ended.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/21/AR2008012102611.html

Barack Obama and sister Maya at his high school graduation. (Family Photo)

The Obama Family's Multicultural Weapons

Tuesday, January 22, 2008; Page C03

Michelle Obama is already a formidable weapon on the campaign trail -- now, as the Democratic presidential race really heats up, expect to see more of Barack Obama's secret weapons: big sister Auma Obama and little sis Maya Soetoro-Ng.

The two women, who've quietly stumped in Iowa, New Hampshire and other key states, have such low profiles that many voters don't realize Obama has half siblings -- one's African, the other half-Asian. "I could sometimes see folks trying to make out the family resemblances," Maya said in an e-mail.

Auma, who is in her late 40s, is the daughter of Obama's father, Barack Obama Sr ., and his first wife, Kezia (he also fathered five other sons). The social worker lives in Nairobi and first met her half brother in the mid-1980s; in 1987, she took him to his ancestral village and introduced him to his African relatives.

Maya, 37, is the daughter of Obama's American mother, Ann Dunham, and second husband Lolo Soetoro, an Indonesian businessman. She grew up with Obama in Indonesia and Hawaii. On the campaign trail, she shares her childhood memories: They used to spend hours talking on the phone -- her pouring out frustration or uncertainty, him dispensing slightly bossy big-brotherly advice. Now Maya is a wife, mother and teacher in Honolulu; they still talk every week

...

Tom

I include you in the statistically illiterate.

+++

Phil -

Are you insulting Tom ?

21.
Phil Specht
Thu, 01/24/08

Reply to this

sitka

blasts the corporate dems .... blasts the anti-corporate candidate ... leaving...????!

an empty space ....

don't let it creep between your ears 

+++

Phil -

Are you insulting Sitka ?

who knows what effect that will have on the crowd that thinks RFID is the "mark of the beast" though
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ROFLMAO!! Thank you!

BFA must be overloading the www

I think the current blog problem began when they began running live results from the all star voting and they have a third party vendor verifying e-mails which gives hackers a possible crack in the back door to mess with our lists. so we are under attack through these servers 

NARAL issues email regarding Obama, Clinton and Edwards. Obviously, they got the word that the Clinton campaign has been spreading some untruths about Obama's record. Plus, Keenan's sister is for Obama. LOL

lindab ~~ Congratulations! No one I know deserves it more. Mostly action, very little talk! Hugz & ♥

link:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/25/...

puddle, so nice to "hear" you. hope all is well.

how are the dear????

thanks to all, I am away!!!!!!!!!!

Contgratulations, Lindab.  Three cheers for all your efforts, and so glad to see them recognized.

Dear Friends,

The New York Times has endorsed Senator Clinton for the nominee for president.  Here's my letter that I just sent off.

Criticsms are welcome.

Dear Editor:

I am dismayed at your endorsement of Senator Hillary Clinton as the nominee for the Democratic Party.

Your reasoning is cautions and even equivocating. If ever we needed new thinking, we need it now.

It could be argued that Senator Clinton has learned nothing from President Bill Clinton's terms in the White House. Her reputation for punishing those who disagree with her appears not to have changed. Her attacks on Senator Obama show the same kind of distortions and judgments that she leveled against those Congress members who disagreed with her health insurance plan.

Her sponsorship of the Flag Burning legislation; her continued support for the Iraq War; her vote for the Kyl/Lieberman Resolution designating Iran's Revolutionary Guards as terrorists, all show her ability to compromise in ways that leave her integrity in question.

You dismiss Senator Edwards because his voting record is the antithesis of what he purports to stand for now; yet, Mrs. Clinton's voting record is nearly identical to Senator Edward's. Why the distinction?

Furthermore, it seems to be an axiom that you can't solve old problems with the same old thinking that brought about the problems in the first place. Einstein said it better: “ You cannot solve any problem in the same state of consciousness in which it was created.” p. 215*

Finally, Senator Barack Obama is brilliant, perhaps more brilliant than Senator Clinton. He has shown an ability to see more than one perspective, more than the perspective that as its sole purpose will be to ingratiate him with voters. He was President of the Harvard Law Review. He turned down corporate offers to work in the communities on the South side of Chicago to organize people, to work for jobs and civil rights. He has in his work, in his performance in the Illinois Legislature defined himself, but you seem to have ignored that. You indicate he is undefined. I frankly, am not convinced by your statement since you do not indicate you have even read his record.

Probably most important of all the arguments for his candidacy is he has shown his honesty, integrity, breadth of mind. He is a newer generation, willing to work in a new paradigm for consensus.

Corinne McLaughlin, executive director of The Center for Visionary Leadership based in Washington, DC and the San Francisco Bay Area, who coordinated a national task force for President Clinton's Council on Sustainable Development and is the author of several books, says this in her essay, “2012: Socially Responsible Business and Non adversarial Politics” in the anthology The Mystery of 2012: Predictions, Prophecies & Possibilities, about Senator Obama:

[Senator] Obama represents the next generation of leadership, which will be very powerful by 2012. He recently told Newsweek, ' My peer group finds many ... divisions [since the 1960s] unproductive. We see many of these problem differently–race, faith, the economy, foreign policy, and the role of the military....The next generation is to some degree liberated from what I call the either/or arguments around these issues.” p. 183

The world is ever more complex. Those born before 1970 are aging, many near retirement. The new generations X, Y, and Millennium need to take their part in the world, and they need a leader who will reflect the reality they have grown up with and their options for the future. Senator Clinton represents more of the same polarizing politics, expediency, and questionable connection to special interests that have made many of our domestic issues as well as foreign policy efforts ineffective and even damaging.

One of our greatest gifts as citizens in this society is that we were flexible and open to change. The last 16 years seem to be a hardening of the arteries with the representatives we have had in power. If we are to be a viable, vibrant, and resilient society, we desperately need leaders who are capable of more than the same old perspectives and ideas, the ideologically driven reflexes that use the same tactics which frankly are not working.

I once again say how dismayed I am at your specious and convenient judgment in your support of Senator Clinton.

*The Mystery of 2012: Predictions, Prophecies & Possibilities, “The Clock Is Ticking” by Arjuna Ardagh.

Sincerely,

Pat Maslowski

look up the writings of Joe Stiglitz if you want to gain some understanding of who has John Edwards ear as an economic advisor

Indy wrote "since you are continue to call me names (ignorant is one) and taunt, and don't appear to want to talk substance, this will be my last post to you."

That would be willfully ignorant.  Ignorance is a lack of information, which is what your posts that attempt to portray the most liberal of the top tier candidates as some Reagan stooge reveals.  Referring to the suggestion as name-calling, as you have, is just an illustration of it.  Willful ignorance is actual language with meaning and, in your case, application.  You ignore (the root of ignorant) the substance of the allegation by means of immaterial, diversionary arguments as an alternative to addressing it.

It's no different from hearing the sentence "Reagan changed the trajectory of America in a way that you know Richard Nixon did not, and in a way that Bill Clinton did not," into 'I admire Reagan's policies,' as if changing the trajectory of America from the Bush Agenda did not, of necessity, require a complete rejection of such policies, since they are products of the movement Reagan began.  That's the simple meaning of Obama's statement on its face, but it suits your purposes to pretend that it's not, so you ignore the meaning and use rhetorical feints and shopworn talking points, designed for mass consumption by people without the energy or intellectual curiosity to challenge them. 

Phil wrote "I include you in the statistically illiterate.  and let it go at that."

I take it then that you are an Obama delegate who, supporting Edwards, will actually favor Clinton for the nomination once Edwards drops out.

I will vote for the pig again like I did in 1968 if forced to choose between two War Party candidates.

Criticsms are welcome.

Dear Editor:

I am dismayed at your endorsement of Senator Hillary Clinton as the nominee for the Democratic Party.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/tneil/CGxNJ#comments

81. ~~ Phil, you are enormously more kind than I am, lol! As I see it, it began when HQ ignored (because they have no clue as to the value of the blog) the obvious expertise on-blog (e.g., mainefem) and instead of moving to Scoop, decided to reinvent the wheel. We have now with the DFA-invented software not one single thing that Scoop doesn't offer FREE. . . . And doesn't do it half as well.

The inability to recognize and *own up* to one's muck-ups is the very essence of non-progressive. . . . DFA/BFA has become uncomfortably close to the W admin's way. . . .

Phil wrote "I will vote for the pig again like I did in 1968 if forced to choose between two War Party candidates."

Excuse my statistical illiteracy but, applying that reasoning to Edwards supporters in general, I'm afraid having Edwards out of the race would not improve Clinton's nomination prospects. 

Tom Bearse
Fri, 01/25/08

I don't pretend to know WHY Obama brought up Reagan. I assume it had to do with, egad, politics, to reach out to Conservative Democrats. Or maybe he was just into intellectual discussion of history - Right.

The point I am making is to question whether Obama intends (as Clinton did) to reach out to those "Reagan Democrats" and indies by moving to the right or by defining progressive principles and values that show how his policies will work to their benefit in an economy that works again.

Edwards is explicit on this point. Obama is vague and confusing. If you really want to convince me one or another, show me his words, deeds and future pollicies. Anyone who wants to start compromising with the right-wing nuts in Congress is already moving right.

Crap, now it looks like I was commenting on my own post, lol!

lindab, deer is doin' jus' fine.

Just a drive by to shout out...AWESOME! to linda b

If Iowa with a minority population of 2% and South Carolina with one of the largest in the nation both give results of Obama,Edwards, Clinton; it is Clinton who should consider dropping out of the contest, or in the least, never bring up the subject of race again.

I think I'm, going to get off this blog now (it's getting my eyes too tired to keep track of the placement of the posted comments -- it reminds me of a bulletin board in a school dorm, with posted notes, tacked on top of it other, some upside-down, etc).

98. Oh, I like that! ;-)

Indy wrote "I don't pretend to know WHY Obama brought up Reagan."

That's what's so funny.  That's exactly what you do.  You do it by supplanting the words he spoke with your overlay of meaning.  Not only that, but you use the opportunity to compare it to tactics you theorize the DLC would employ, to insure the implied reason has a negative connotation.

Pat

That is an oustanding LTE you wrote to the NYT. thanks for sharing it with us

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/25/9843/11339/497/442909

'I DON'T REMEMBER MEETING REZKO'  screams Drudge headline

**INTERNET EXCLUSIVE Photo surfaces of smiling Clintons with Tony Rezko... MORE... Clinton injected the indicted developer's name this week in heated debate with Obama: 'I was fighting against those ideas when you were practicing law and representing your contributor, Rezko, in his slum landlord business in inner city Chicago'... Clinton tells NBC 'TODAY' show on Friday: 'I probably have taken hundreds of thousands of pictures. I don't know the man. I wouldn't know him if he walked in the door'... Developing...

The story is now all over the media... and it does have legs

• aaraujo's diary :: ::

Just in case some of you have missed this one.  It is the story of the day and just before the South Carolina Democratic Primary.

It broke on the Today Show this morning when Matt Lauer confronted Hillary with this picture when Hillary was again pushing the Barack Obama has "innercity slumlord" connections.

The Today Show video is here...

http://thepage.time.com/...

Here is the picture that is worth a thousand words.

When you play in the mud, you get dirty!

Indy Steve
Fri, 01/25/08
__________________________________________________________________________

Some good points, and I will credit Obama for voiving his displeasure with the war vote, but I dont recall seeing him ever on the news or on the front lines like Kucinich did............Obama could have led a much stronger anti war element which would have quieted his critics today.

So far, Ive heard one or two things I lie about his foreign policy, and several that I seriously question.............

Edwards, IF he should go up against Mccain in the final will have alot of explainin to do and I hop he is up to it.  Obamaa also will get no free ride from Mccain either............a colleague suggested maybe Obama should name a strong VP running mate right now..someone who can counter the miltary experience thing Mccain will have, Edwards as well...............

The random element is.......what do the people want?  I dont see any drastic changes in foreign policy to our detriment.........

Tom

If you don't give political calculation any part in the bringing up of Reagan by Obama you are left with the thought it might have been simply superficial. window dressing for the argument. bending to the carefully crafted Republican frame thet "everybody knows Reagan was a transformative President"  

I tend to think the latter. Indy Steve the former. bad choice which is why the smear campaign jumped on it

Tom Bearse
Fri, 01/25/08

It isn't about what I do or say. That doesn't mean squat. I'm trying to understand WHY Obama brought up Reagan at all. I know he didn't do it to praise Reagan. But why did he do it?

Phil Specht
Fri, 01/25/08

Good point. I'm willing to see that Obama likes to discuss historical events and there was no political intent. But, in the context of a campaign, it sure was something the others jumped on. For Clinton to jump on him for saying what she and Bill actually did (which was to move right to appeal to R Dems) was laughable.

But to call Reagan a transformative politician without condemning his policies and the results is a mistake, IMO. Later, Obama did clarify that part. But many DLC -types are jumping on his wagon and it does raise questions.

Krugman on the bad stimulus plan.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/why-worry-about-a-poor-stimulus-plan/

So the stimulus plan agreed to by House Democrats is a real piece of, um, bad legislation. It could have been even worse — it could have been the plan Bush wanted, which would have delivered virtually no stimulus at all. But it’s very, very weak.

But why worry, aside from the big waste of funds? Because there’s a real chance that we’ll be very sorry that we didn’t

linda b congratulations on your award -- that's wonderful.

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

don't know what poll results y'all are looking for but here's a link to the 3 day Zogby/CSPAN tracking poll.

http://tinyurl.com/39ldps

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

Friday WUFT FM classical music trivia question. Answer tomorrow (if the blog is working):

About which opera composer did Respighi write a musical tribute?

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

OT as well -- I have a great new CD - YoYo Ma Appasionato. It is classical music that is very romantic and could be filed under 'easy listening' and runs the gamut of nationalities and eras. I seem to be collecting YoYo-was slow to get interested b/c I can't stand to watch him perform.

More from Krugman today. Dems capitulation....this is what I mean by moving right.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/opinion/25krugman.html?ex=1359003600&en=666576ca1e66bdcb&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Stimulus Gone Bad

By PAUL KRUGMAN

House Democrats and the White House have reached an agreement on an economic stimulus plan. Unfortunately, the plan — which essentially consists of nothing but tax cuts and gives most of those tax cuts to people in fairly good financial shape — looks like a lemon.

Paul Krugman.

Specifically, the Democrats appear to have buckled in the face of the Bush administration’s ideological rigidity, dropping demands for provisions that would have helped those most in need. And those happen to be the same provisions that might actually have made the stimulus plan effective.

On the blog problems (which just put my new post halfway up the thread for some reason) -- this is probably paranoia but the Internet to my comm coll has been down for over 24 hours. Wonder if 1) I'm inadvertently spreading some virus, as Macs can be carriers and not know it and/or 2) There's some major Internet sabotage going on?

And as for bats, if HQ put one up for the blog I would contribute.

Nice to see Bloggie up again.  I found this yesterday, I think on Kos.

Obama Stalls on Making Down Payment on "Empathy" Deficit
2008 Elections | Barack Obama | Israel | Middle East
by Russ Wellen | January 24, 2008 - 7:57am

article tools: email | print | read more Russ Wellen

gazawall.gif

How the heck does Obama's letter to the US ambassador at the UN on January 23 (at bottom) jibe with his transcendent speech on January 20 (excerpt immediately below)?

    "Unity is the great need of the hour -- the great need of this hour. Not because it sounds pleasant or because it makes us feel good, but because it's the only way we can overcome the essential deficit that exists in this country."I'm not talking about a budget deficit. I'm not talking about a trade deficit. I'm not talking about a deficit of good ideas or new plans.

    "I'm talking about a moral deficit. I'm talking about an empathy deficit. I'm taking about an inability to recognize ourselves in one another; to understand that we are our brother's keeper; we are our sister's keeper; that, in the words of Dr. King, we are all tied together in a single garment of destiny."

    Dear Ambassador Khalilzad,

    I understand that today the UN Security Council met regarding the situation in Gaza, and that a resolution or statement could be forthcoming from the Council in short order.

    I urge you to ensure that the Security Council issue no statement and pass no resolution on this matter that does not fully condenm the rocket assault Hamas has been conducting on civilians in southern Israel...

    All of us are concerned about the impact of closed border crossings on Palestinian families. However, we have to understand why Israel is forced to do this... Israel has the right to respond while seeking to minimize any impact on civilians.

    The Security Council should clearly and unequivocally condemn the rocket attacks... If it cannot bring itself to make these common sense points, I urge you to ensure that it does not speak at all.

    Sincerely,

    Barack Obama
    United States Senator

A token show of concern for Palestinians does little to begin repaying our "empathy deficit." You can't talk America's way out of the ranks of the moral bankrupt, Senator. We need you to make compassion the coin of the realm.
_______

Who let the dogs out Hillary, stop it !  call back your dogs :

http://www.bushvchoice.com/archives/2008/01/a_message_to_pr.html

Nancy Keenan is president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

This week Americans mark the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a milestone that coincides with the 2008 presidential election.

As we celebrate this occasion, and this critical time for women’s reproductive freedom, NARAL Pro-Choice America is proud that we have such strong pro-choice candidates like Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and former Sen. John Edwards, running for president.

As the political leader of the pro-choice movement, NARAL Pro-Choice America has researched the voting records, public comments, and actions of each of the candidates and shared the information we've documented with the more than one-million activists, supporters, and members our organization represents.
 
Beginning in Iowa, continuing into New Hampshire, and now in South Carolina and the states voting in the February 5 contests, there has been an undercurrent of speculation and innuendo that calls into question Sen. Obama’s record on choice. This has the potential to divide the pro-choice community and create tension where none should exist. Today, for the sake of our issue and our movement, I am asking that these tactics stop.

...

This was on Kos yesterday.

Who is currently your favorite 2008 candidate?

Steve

Obama has the lead right now so all kinds of factions in the party will attach themselves to him. I wouldn't worry too much about the DLC claiming him as one of their own since they are behind without him.

This makes it more clear.

Who is currently your favorite 2008 candidate?
    John Edwards
43%    8511 votes

    Barack Obama
40%    8028 votes

    Hillary Clinton
9%    1966 votes

    Dennis Kucinich
2%    578 votes

    Other
1%    260 votes

    No Freakin' Clue
2%    415 votes


| 19757 votes | Vote | 

Linda b.  Way to go, you feisty active woman!

I don't know if you all remember that about a year ago my wife started having problems at her place of employment and ended up getting fired. She was voicing concern at meetings about the facility being understaffed at night with two employees for over thirty patients on two floors. Policy said no one was suppose to lift by themselves but policy also said floors were to be staffed at all times. If you left the floor for any reason, you could disciplined and if you lifted by yourself and injured yourself, workman's comp. wouldn't cover it because you didn't follow policy.

I looked into the Vt. law pertaining to work breaks and found Vermont had some of the most vague and lax laws re; breaks in the nation. You see employees were also having to take their meal break while patients were roaming the floor and my thinking was that the employer was in violation of an employment law by not allowing a break during a twelve hour shift. I was wrong and set out to change this law.

Working with my Representative, he has sponsored a bill (H.0620) which has been introduced this legislative session. I found out today that I will be asked to testify before the General Committee (butterflies in stomach).

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Yesterday, in the parking lot, a man approached me and asked, "What does that mean?" referring to my "Support the separation of church and hate"  bumper sticker.  I opened my mouth to explain and he said, much louder, "I don't understand.  I go to church all the time. What does that mean?"  I again opened my mouth and he fairly shouted, "I don't want my head cut off!"  And he rapidly walked away shouting, "I don't want my head cut off."

Are these the fruitcakes that BO is going to unite with people like me?  I don't think so.   Perhaps we could compromise and just cut this man's little finger off.  Yuck! 

I did shout after him..."If I were you, I'd be more worried about the economy."

BTW, we my huge rebate, I'm going to pay bills.  What a joke.  Most people will do the same I would think altho maybe not.  Maybe going into and being in debt is the new thing....   

This is an excerpt from a Florida environmental group email:

Mark Fiore

http://www.markfiore.com/ 

Let's see where this post ends up...it's suppose to be 122
3:30 EST

Indy wrote "That doesn't mean squat. I'm trying to understand WHY Obama brought up Reagan at all."

To get nominated.  He thinks he is uniquely qualified and positioned to do what Reagan did, which was to fundamentally transform the political landscape.

My reaction is complete puzzlement when I hear Edwards supporters try and discredit Obama as a candidate who is not a liberal in comparison with Edwards.  Think so that you realize the answer to this question: Why do you think Edwards is the liberal in this field?

Is it because he was a community activist promoting the cause of disadvantaged citizens?  Is it because he abandoned a certain lucrative career in a high powered law firm to write and pass liberal laws in the state legislature?  Is it because he spoke out forcefully against the Iraq invasion when the idea was still in its infancy?

No.  It's because of what he said.  Edwards supporters think he's the liberal in the field because they ignore his entire professional and legislative career and listen to speeches he makes to construct his reputation as a liberal populist.  And it works, because he's a very successful trial lawyer.

What's funnier is that supporters think his profession as a personal injury attorney helps bestow some kind of liberal credentials on him.  As an idealistic firebrand attorney, you can work for community organizations, civil liberties, poverty centers, poor people doing pro bono work, public interest groups, or criminal defendants on constitutional questions.  You can also fight corporations and insurance companies on contingency cases.  The only difference with the last option and the others I mentioned is that if you succeed as a trial attorney, you stand to make a fortune.  Obviously, Edwards is a very successful trial lawyer.

He's also capable leading poverty study schools and advising hedge funds, but none of these are indicative of a person with liberal values of any consequence in comparison to, say, a Morris Dees or even a Ralph Nader.  One thing we know, however, no matter what his qualifications to persuade a jury or talk a good game to voters, is that Edwards is not capable of using good judgment in making decisions on bills of critical importance when his fortunes as an office holder and presidential candidate are on the line. 

Good  post, Joan.  But why not just draft Gore?  :-)

I will vote for the pig again like I did in 1968 if forced to choose between two War Party candidates.

Well, let's just hope that neither the Clintons nor Edwards gets the nomination, so Phil can vote. 

Tom that is a fair criticism of Obama. His one fatal flaw to me is that as a Professor of Constitutional Law he has not been at the forefront of efforts to confront the unConstitutional efforts of the Unitary Executive thereby calling into question to me whether he envies those powers and wants to reserve them for his White House

125.

Yes, why not?

I would love Al Gore for president.

Unfortunately, we cannot simply draft him to do what he apparently has no plans to do.

I don't consider John Edwards to be a member of the War Party because I was with him the day Clinton voted for Kyl -Lieberman and his response made it clear that he is not looking to make war.

and that is the vote that cemented Hillary Clinton's membership

Phil wrote "Tom that is a fair criticism of Obama. His one fatal flaw to me is that as a Professor of Constitutional Law he has not been at the forefront of efforts to confront the unConstitutional efforts of the Unitary Executive thereby calling into question to me whether he envies those powers and wants to reserve them for his White House."

Just so we both know, I wasn't criticizing Obama.  Being at the forefront, as you say, and not favoring efforts to rein in the powers of a unitary executive are two different things.  If you think he hasn't been assertive enough on a certain issue, I can understand your feelings but if you think he is on the wrong side of the issue, I don't know where that comes from.  Maybe you could help me there.

124.

Tom Bearse
Fri, 01/25/08


Indy wrote "That doesn't mean squat. I'm trying to understand WHY Obama brought up Reagan at all."

To get nominated. He thinks he is uniquely qualified and positioned to do what Reagan did, which was to fundamentally transform the political landscape....
--------

Every candidate supposedly thinks "he is uniquely qualified"...., that's the principal philosophical point of "competition for the country's leadership"...lol.

Besides..., Regan DOES deserve it, imo..., 'cause he DID "fundamentally transform the political landscape....".

That's another question that direction of the transformation happened to be in the exactly opposite to what he proclaimed..., lol.

May be Obama thinking how to correct it?!
We'll see.

127.

Please Phil,

Obama has no "fatal flaw."

In addition, your expectations of what you think he should have done or will do far outweigh anything that you apparently expected Edwards to do.

Obama has the lead right now so all kinds of factions in the party will attach themselves to him.

Same with Dean back in 2004. All kinds of factions also fabricate the most malicious smears and canards to attack him with too.

The funny thing is, The Clintons are actually still in the lead nationally (with Obama still gaining), so I don't get why some who say they detest them most are doing hatchet work on Obama in their behalf.

Joan

what I meant was my greatest personal disappointment with Obama, because of the promise enherent in a Professor of Law

I have heard Edwards broach the subject many times, it is something he doesn't wait for a questioner to bring up.

It has to do with the mindset that the President is "one of the people" and representing all

and I do listen very carefully 

Joan

what makes that a "fatal flaw" to me is the relationship of the candidate to the country's future

as soon as the campaign become about the candidate rather than a vision it becomes a fatal flaw

so that the opportunity exists for a teachable moment at anytime about what it means to be a nation under the law and how that might relate to thje position sought

I don't want a President that thinks the job is what it has been represented to be by Bush 

Hi and then off,

Thanks, Phil, for the compliment.  I'm smiling as I write this.  From someone  as solid as you are, and as good a writer, it means something to be praised. 

It is why I am sickened everytime the Dem leadership caves to Bush on anything from FISA to the stimulus package.

It is why I am sickened everytime the Dem leadership caves to Bush on anything from FISA to the stimulus package.

They've been doing it even since Hillary and Edwards were Senate colleagues. 

Pat

My next project is the Platform and the Chair functions as Editor in many respects so the shoe will be on the other foot.

I'm off now for chores too.

100.

Phil Specht
Fri, 01/25/08

I will vote for the pig again like I did in 1968 if forced to choose between two War Party candidates.
----------

...lol, Phil, no question about it!

That's why half Country do not vote since lo..o..ong ago..., lol.

The only chance for you (and for me too) to vote is for...Ron Paul!

what makes that a "fatal flaw" to me

But, of course, Edwards is the one on "life support."

as soon as the campaign become about the candidate rather than a vision it becomes a fatal flaw

A curious statement considering most of the slamming of Obama on this blog in recent weeks has accused him of being too visionary. 

I don't want a President that thinks the job is what it has been represented to be by Bush

I don't want a president who helped give us the worst of Bush's agenda. 

That would be Hillary and Edwards. 

I would like to see all Americans being able to use a paper ballot to vote. we could look right down at our hand and know just exactly who all we voted for, and not wonder. John Edwards.
Sounds like "Howard talk".

I'm not around a lot.

For those who want to know, I didn't make it on the ballot for State Rep in ohio.  Unfortunately a work conflict prevented me from being on the ballot.  I'll be working to change jobs this year so I can ron in 2010.

I did want to share a letter that the leadership coalition I've help build has been puting out to our new members.  In it, we have been sharing our new vision for our local party.  

In March I will be Running for Vice Chair of the Geauga Democatic Party.  9 Dean people will be on our party executive committee, and the others will all be like minded.  The Chair has been a DFA supporter and her husband wrote this letter.

"

former wrote "The only chance for you (and for me too) to vote is for...Ron Paul!"

Now you've got me to vote for the pig. 

SC black caucus leader is endorsing JE.

Go, John!! 

Indy Steve - Why don't you email the Obama campaign and see if someone there will tell you exactly why Obama brought up Reagan?

Bloggie hasn't moved in 15 minutes.  Broken again?bbl if bloggie is behaving

136.  That's because in their book, "leveling the playing field" mean getting rid of the competition.

blog is jumping again.  inserting comment willy nilly.

Format keeps shifting.

I'm not around a lot.

For those who want to know, I didn't make it on the ballot for State Rep in ohio.  Unfortunately a work conflict prevented me from being on the ballot.  I'll be working to change jobs this year so I can ron in 2010.

wow, congrats. what an honor.

SC black caucus leader is endorsing JE.

Can't find it in the news. Where did you hear or see it? 

Fire eases at Vegas' Monte Carlo
Associated Press

LAS VEGAS -- A fire on the roof of the Monte Carlo hotel-casino forced guests and gamblers to flee and sent a plume of smoke above the Las Vegas Strip before easing about an hour later, hotel officials said. ...full report and photos: http://www.sacbee.com/749/story/662441.h...

Looks like Obama had some fun on Letterman last night

January 25, 2008
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK -- Barack Obama is making some campaign promises we can be pretty sure he won't keep.

Appearing Thursday on the ''Late Show With David Letterman,'' the Democratic presidential candidate delivered a tongue-in-cheek list of his top 10 campaign promises, including a pledge to rename the tenth month of the year ''Barack-tober.''

Also on the list is a vow to ''appoint Mitt Romney secretary of lookin' good'' and another to ''put Regis on the nickel.''

And the No. 1 campaign promise?

''Three words: Vice President Oprah.''

Obama, the latest in a string of candidates to show up on Letterman's show, appeared just briefly to deliver the night's list.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/ob...

Hey lindab, congrats on the good news!!

I knew Hardball would have Kucinich on eventually, and so they did for a few seconds. Then Chris said " Looks like the people at home didn't mind that he ran for Pres. as long as he didn't get trounced.
This is my e-mail to Chris:

Yes, and you helped see to it that he was trounced. You and "UFO" Russert. But, th
at is what you were paid to do.

Kucinich comes out looking like a hero who tried his best to do something for the peope, whereas you look ike a sleaze for the establishment.

ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR DEMS TO FOLD

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/25/last-stand-bush-to-battl_n_83252.html

A new White House effort to negotiate a long-term military-to-military relationship with the Iraqi government - to replace the current U.N. Mandate - has congressional Democrats and war opponents up in arms. Constitutionally, they say, it is Congress' right to weigh in on such agreements. Moreover, they add, anything that codifies America's continuing presence in the region would be unfairly tying the hands of Bush's successor.

I don't know why they bother. The despicable Dems are going to roll over for the worst and most unpopular president ever.

6:05 pm

159.  Since we have 750 bases overseas and most of them are not being reviewed and approved by Congress this is a big deal.  What we're considering here is long-term leases for bases which, presumably will involve payment.  Certainly, Bush would like to make commitments without authorization, but that's not how it ought to be.

SENATE DEMS ROLL OVER FOR THE DICKER

http://www.counterpunch.org/cohn01252008.html

After a January 24 debate in the Senate on amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the Senate appears ready to capitulate once again to the Bush administration's agenda of sacrificing liberty for questionable security.

On the day before Congress was slated to take up this issue, Dick Cheney addressed the Heritage Foundation, the most influential right-wing think tank. Invoking the memory of September 11, 2001 twelve times, Cheney said it was "urgent" that Congress update the FISA law immediately and permanently. Notwithstanding the administration's well-known violations of FISA months before 9/11, Cheney claimed they had used "every legitimate tool at our command to protect the American people against another attack."

Senator Christopher Dodd has indicated his intent to filibuster, or prevent a Senate vote, on a version of the bill that includes immunity. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid apparently now supports the filibuster. The Senate is scheduled to vote on whether to proceed to a final Senate vote on this issue on January 28. Three of the Democrats who voted against the SJC proposal must be persuaded to change their votes, and Clinton and Obama must follow suit in order to maintain the filibuster and prevent the Senate from adopting a bill that includes immunity and omits vital civil liberties safeguards.

Here are the Democrats who voted against the SJC proposal:

Bayh (202) 224-5623
Carper (202) 224-2441
Inouye (202) 224-3934
Johnson (202) 224-5842
Landrieu (202)224-5824
McCaskill (202) 224-6154
Mikulski (202) 224-4654
Nelson (FL) (202) 224-5274
Nelson (NE) (202) 224-6551
Pryor (202) 224-2353
Salazar (202) 224-5852

 

CALL THE BASTARDS!

3:33 PST

Hillary just lost my mom's vote. If Edwards isn't viable before WA votes - she'll then lose my dad's vote as well. They are fed up with Bill's ploys but the kicker was Hillary trying to get the delegates in MI and FL seated. Thank God they're paying attention.

Drive by:

Just wanted to note,  in case you didn't already know, that Sicko has been nominated for an Academy Award, Best Documentary film.

Go Michael!

VIDEO - Religion and Politics: A Guide for Houses of Worship

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SPLMxGPF3XM

This resource helps religious leaders during the campaign season understand: * The importance of encouraging their members/congregants to vote. * Why they should never tell members/congregants whom to vote for. * That a partnership between religion and government can and should preserve the autonomy of houses of worship and ensure that religious institutions are not held hostage to the priorities and interests of federal, state, or local governments. * That religion's powerful healing force in politics can be severely compromised when America's shared values are replaced by values that advance only particular sectarian interests.

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Election Year Materials from The Interfaith Alliance http://www.interfaithalliance.org/site/p...

Running for Office in a Multi-Faith Nation
http://www.interfaithalliance.org/atf/cf...

A Campaign Season Guide for Houses of Worship
http://www.interfaithalliance.org/atf/cf...

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Message from Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy - The Interfaith Alliance
As the campaign season heats up, candidates from both major parties continue to abuse religion for political gain. Some clergy have even risked their tax-exempt status by using their houses of worship for political backdrops as they endorse candidates. This disrespects the Constitution, their ethics, and the unity of their congregations.

Last week, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty—whose definition of religious liberty ignores the First Amendment—sponsored a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal, in which a Wisconsin pastor, Kenneth D. Taylor, dares the IRS to stop him from engaging in partisan political activities from the pulpit.

Pastor Taylor and the Becket Fund want churches to believe that the IRS won’t really crack down on them. But the IRS reportedly investigated over 40 houses of worship following the 2004 election and is actively reviewing many more cases right now.

This abuse of religion is not unique to the Religious Right; clergy have endorsed candidates from both parties. Last Sunday, in the latest, but certainly not the only example of this, the Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, a highly respected pastor in New York City, endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton on the steps of his church.

The First Amendment was carefully crafted to protect both religion and democracy. That’s why The Interfaith Alliance has worked with the IRS to help pastors understand that they are free to speak on issues but are barred from endorsing or opposing candidates, in their official capacity, without losing their 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status.

The Interfaith Alliance will continue to condemn these violations, but we need your support and your voice to be heard. With your help, we can set the record straight about these abuses of the law, ethics, and religion. Your gift today will help us distribute our One Nations, Many Faiths Vote 2008 election-year guides for religious leaders and political candidates.

Sincerely,
Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy
President

I heard Mccain winked at Huckabee in the debate last night.........this could mean one of two things, 1)prepare for a Mccain/Huckabee ticket or 2) well, you figure it out.....................

Rhythm of Life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97GzBd92kWk

hey Mike I have a Giants hat on, what if I give you a wink

Just one question: For what solid reason is John Edwards staying in this race??

I have lost much respect for him at this point. He insists on staying in the race he cannot win, perhaps to luck into a job in D.C. from the eventual winner.

He has a wife who is probably going to die of cancer at a young age. I cannot think of him as a caring person at all. Rather than running around the country trying to play the primary game he is losing, I would think he would want to spend Elizabeth's last years with her, not away from her.

Joan

It is Elaizabeth's wish that they campaign.

170

Joan what I cannot imagine is a strong marriage like the Edwards have doing anything besides what they truly believe in when challenged by lifes turns.

Elizabeth and John are both doing exactly what they believe in, fighting for a better America.

He has a wife who is probably going to die of cancer at a young age.

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

I need to reference Joan's statement since I'm popping up above her on the jumping blog.

John and Elizabeth are very clear that trying to steer this country in the right direction goes to the core of what makes life worth living for them.

kind of why I blog, to make it even more personal, I doubt a diagnosis would change my behavior

172.

Joan* In*Florida
Fri, 01/25/08


Because he's the best to win against the Republicans. And he's the best to help grown the Democratic majority in Congress.

The blog count is off again.

170 s/b 173

I want to give you an Edwards direct quote, because dispite sitka's protestations I do look people in the eye when sizing them up(we all do); and happened to be standing beside Elizabeth when John spoke the words and he turned to her when questioned about his health care plan and said "This is not about us, Elizabeth and I will do fine." and was witness to his gaze.

This is a couple living their priorities.

TEST

s/b 176

170.

Susan Rowe
Fri, 01/25/08

Reply to this
172.

Joan* In*Florida
Fri, 01/25/08


Because he's the best to win against the Republicans. And he's the best to help grown the Democratic majority in Congress.

---------
You may want to share that with Russ Feingold.

Joan, he is going to the convention.

I seriously doubt John Edwards would take a job In Washington if he is not on the ticket. I think we can rule out that reason for him running. He has a pretty nice home that will either be White House South or just home.

lol

Joan is going to have the last word in this exchange, bloggie insists

You and maybe someone you know may get hit by a car of put in gitmo cause of you know who?

you gonna run for something?

I have seen John E talk many times and he is sincere. Would u like to leave this world saying you did not try?

NO

Joan* In*Florida
Fri, 01/25/08
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Joan,

Im sure after reading your post he will drop out now..........

Joan.....

Chill with planning Ellizabeth and John's life for them. They're doing a beautiful job of it themselves. I hope they spend their "last years" as you like to call them, in the white
House.

http://blogforamerica.com/view/23644#comments

JONI MITCHELL - BIG YELLOW TAXI  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15ImUBP9GeI

Forgot to say new thread.