Howard Dean is first.

Barack = Unifier.

Please read this diary from a Mormon man who grew up conservative but is firmly a Democrat with Barack Obama. Great story.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3...

The root cause of our current economic problems is loosing out to the free traders instead of fair traders. Tariffs are needed to offset the unfair advantage of countries who sacrifice their populace for market share. If we slapped a tariff on Chinese-made consumer goods that raised the price of those toasters 10 %, we would start to see manufacturing return to this country. It isn’t the manufacture of low-end consumer goods that hurts us. It is the off-shore sales of tool and die machines, injection molders, etc. that hurt us. It is the march toward more energy-saving and more precise cutting, grinding, milling, and extruding machines that limit the improvements in manufacturing processes. Having been in and out of the high-end machine-tool business, the future for high-end manufacturing looks bleak unless we can remove the chokehold free traders have on international commerce. We have labor arbitrage where jobs are traded for goods. The usual response is the workers in these countries will revolt and demand change. Before we expect foreign workers to do that, perhaps we would like to see a stronger labor movement in this country.
The trouble with a military-based economy is most products don’t benefit the consumer. Seen many stealth airliners lately? Improvements in brakes and safety systems are useful. How about the need for that high-powered sniper rifle? Deer hunters of the world want that bad boy. There used to be a lot of technology spin-offs (see NASA Tech Briefs), but fewer and fewer programs generate useful commercial applications. Maybe we can put M1A1 armor (stell cased depleted uranium) on the family auto. That’ll stop the guy with the high-powered scope.

12:25 PM EST

the war that two presidential candidates, still in the running, helped authorize with their votes:

BAGHDAD, March 10, 2008

...

12:27 PM EST

I was so upset about hearing of 5 GIs killed by suicide bomber in Baghdad, I forgot the link:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/10/iraq/main3921125.shtml

12:34 PM EST

After MS votes tomorrow, Hillary hopes to be sitting on a PA poll lead up until Aprit 22, coasting in an air of coming corination, joining her already-siting pretty fellow signatory John McCain.

Well, during the six weeks, all won't be quiet on the Iraq war front and I hope that the PA voters (many who's sons from rural areas have a high number of soldiers in Iraq) realize just who sent them there, and realize that experience isn't all what it's cracked up to be.

The discussion going around in my neck of the woods is whether or not Obama is being realistic about his chances to lead this country without a lot of foreign policy experience. That one is on a tee for me.
We can all answer this question very well, but the fact that a lot of folks are asking the question bodes well for Hillary.
The Obama camp must counter the myth of Hillary’s experience. A lot of folks near me still think the way out of Iraq is more killing. Obama must drum into everyone’s heads that the way out of Iraq is ramp down the violence. What Bush is doing now is ensuring the next POTUS can’t leave. The fallacy of this logic must not only come from the Obama camp. I talk to church and community organizers about this every chance I get. I unabashedly use my own considerable time in combat as a reference for what works and what doesn’t. The only thing killing does is lead to more dead people. McCain and Hillary are weak and weaker on this. Obama has about as good a position as possible on this matter.

OK this does it. NO WAY I would ever vote for Hillary. EVER.

March 10, 2008 11:58 AM

• Email
• Print
• Comments

The Clinton camp's attempts to call into question both the sincerity of Barack Obama's call for an Iraq troop withdrawal and his ability to serve as commander-in-chief took a bizarre turn on Monday, when farming metaphors were deployed for the first time in the campaign.

Speaking on a conference call with reporters, Lt. Gen. Joe Ballard, a Clinton supporter, compared Obama's stance on Iraq to a person who could "recognize a cow" (ostensibly, the perils of the war) but not milk it (get the troops out? has conflict-management experience?).

"Just because you recognize the cow doesn't mean you know how to milk it," said Ballard, who was playing off his time among cows in Louisiana. "I think body of experience, learning what you have to do and how to do it, is very important... No one can tell you how to milk a cow; you have to do that yourself."

That wasn't all.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/10/clinton-surrogate-obama-_n_90741.html

time to turn the lights out hillary. by Pennsylvania, you are toast.

I guess you should just insert blood for milk in the clinton analogy.

The blood of the 5 soldiers killed in Iraq are on Hillary's hands. Guess she would just call them fodder.

She is dispicable.

Michelle Obama will be on Larry King at 9pm EDT

Video - Wind Power Project; California and the American Dream; Hotel San Diego Demolitio

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...

Well, I don't think our economic problems originated overseas.  Chinese products do not swim across the Pacific ocean and land at Walmarts on their own.  Jobs do not grow legs and walk on water.  Americans are responsible.  Why do we blame the workers for "losing" jobs instead of the financiers who drive manufacturers into bankruptcy and then send investments to Thailand and South Korea?

Why do we keep promoting the notion that our workers need more training?  Whatever happened to learning by doing?

When did we become a society in which giving orders is more important than actually getting things done? 

Watch for this development by the desperate Clinton supporters. Will the DNC step in to stop this "cross-over" of state funding if he can? Is it playing by the rules?

From WNBC's Brian Thompson

 http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/03/09/748066.aspx

Obama on tv now in mississippi.

"Never thought that people would be looking through my kindergarten papers".

Things are going to get nasty. Hill has surrogates and plants giving out trash talk.

Gov. Rendell (PA) is also in on the deal if it happens. I wouldn't want to be governor in those two states when the taxpayers find out what they are up to.

Remember, 1/2 are  Republicans, 1/4 Obama supporters = 75% who may not support their taxes being spent on Florida and Michigan. It is their money.

This is from a diary at Kos:

Glad he's not on my side.
-------
Like when Rendell was asked recently what the Democratic National Committee should do about the valuable Michigan and Florida delegates it rejected as a penalty for those states' moving up their primaries.

"Shoot Howard Dean," Rendell, who once occupied Dean's seat as committee chairman, was quoted as saying in the Los Angeles Times.
------
Rendell is a smarmy slime ball.

from True Majority:

Dear Jo,

Need some Monday morning encouragement that things can get better? This video from TrueMajority member Gus Melita did it for me.

Gus is just 19 years old, and along with two other University of Vermont students he volunteered to drive TrueMajority's newest mobile political message vehicle to 1,500 miles of demonstrations and rallies last week. The vehicle is a 14-foot missile ridden by George Bush (or John McCain, depending on the day); the message is "Don't start a war with Iran!", and the response has been terrific.

1:19 PM EST

3980

Dean will follow the rules.

Payback is a bee otch.

Rendell and Corzine. Slime. DLC slime

I love what dean said, "as long as they come to us and follow the rules".

wowzer.

Michelle Obama will be on Larry King at 9pm EDT

Iowa is next after Mississippi and Clinton is calling all the delegates right now to get them to switch to her. Obama beat her to it. but we sure don't want the truth of Obama won Texas to be followed by Clinton won Iowa. The Obama volunteers are up to the task of calling here without out of state help I believe, but it has to be done. every state has a next level of voting and I hope DFA members in all fifty are plugged into the process as it advances to the actual selection of individuals going to Denver. Clinton has finally figured out what the game is and this is absolutely not a time to wait for Pennsylvania.

The discussion going around in my neck of the woods is whether or not Obama is being realistic about his chances to lead this country without a lot of foreign policy experience. That one is on a tee for me.

=================

We are a country that believes war is the answer to all problems.  We have war on drugs, war on cancer, war on terrorism.    It would be so much more economical, and efficient to eliminate the root causes of these maladies instead of simply trying to fight them.  It is a losing battle.  It seems the more we "fight" the more they fight back.

the double-talk of the Clinton campaign continues....

by Mike Dorning

After several days of Bill and Hillary Clinton floating the idea of a joint ticket with rival Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton chief spokesman Howard Wolfson declared Monday that Clinton does not consider Obama qualified to be vice president.

http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2008/03/clinton_spokesman_declares_oba.html

MIchelle Obama on Larry King tonite.

Just checked out MYDD cause I see it mentioned here. Ya thing they are for Hillary?

The answer to the Dream Ticket (nightmare)

Obama today in Miss. I won twice as many states, more popular votes, more delegates, but I can't understand why someone in second place would ask someone in first place to be their VP.
especially when they think that person can't answer the phone at 3 AM. (paraphrased

OK this does it. NO WAY I would ever vote for Hillary. EVER.

So let me see if I get this.
There were lots of votes to determine who we want to be the Dem nominee. These votes meants something (unless you live in Mich ot Fla.).
Now Hillary is saying none of them matter?
Then why have a nominating system in the first place?
Hillary shows herself to be more evil every day.

The root cause of our current economic problems is loosing out to the free traders instead of fair traders.

================

The best thing we could do for trade (aside from changing the nature of tax breaks) would be to have universal coverage for all Americans, provided by Uncle Sam, Medicare for all.  It would give American-based countries a great advantage, and would also set the example we need for demanding other countries cover their workers.

12.
linda b
Mon, 03/10/08

Reply to this

OK this does it. NO WAY I would ever vote for Hillary. EVER.

5.

Monica Smith
Mon, 03/10/08

...
When did we become a society in which giving orders is more important than actually getting things done?
-------------


Oh, Monica..., we did become such a society actually long, long ago..., lol, since people were separated by “property rights� relationships. In fact, it happened so long ago that you’ve probably forgot about it.

Those who have these rights are “giving orders� to those who don’t have it.

Obama in Columbus MS. Great retort.

The Clintons thought they would use this offer of Obama being on a Clinton ticket as a way of insinuating they were winning the nomination.

It certainly backfired today in Columbus. Obama got to showcase his first place positions in all areas and to a great supportive crowd. Great job by Obama

Now Hillary has to back off the offer by saying she doesn't consider him qualified. Another bad decision for Hillary no matter which way you look at it! First I was, now I'm not for starters.

Fred,
GM lost about 4200 per car last year. If health care costs are about $1k per car, they would still loose over $3k per car. Health care costs are a big deal as well as pension costs but the main reason for the demise of GM, Ford and Chrysler is outmoded manufacturing plants and policies. Beleive or not, Toyota uses almost single flow manufacturing as they make stuff in small losts. If problems occur, they can fix them fast without tearing up a huge line. The big 3 are dinosaurs who exist because they aer too expensive to kill. They cannot survive without a huge change in culture and manufacturing processes

Corzine can pay for the elections with his pocket change.

Why does Harold "Ken Starr" Wolfson still have a job after Power lost hers?  

The funnies

http://static.crooksandliars.com/2008/03...

Al Sharpton in Florida threatening to sue if the original delegates chosen after the Jan. 29th straw vote were seated in Denver.

Even if there is a valid election to come or not, the process of picking new delegates to support the outcome will be crucial and necessary and Al Sharpton has a good point there. And it does appear to be a valid claim that many thousands of Dems may not have voted in Jan. because they understood it was not a binding election.

I know my own DEC which consists mostly of Clinton supporters were fast on the subject of getting applications quickly by anyone who wanted to apply to be a delegate. My question of them was why are choosing delegates if they won't be seated?

Those delegates already chosen could not be representative of a new binding election -- that is Sharpton's point and it is a valid one!

don't kid yourself the votes matter and Clinton knows it, that is why they are calling county delegates in Iowa right now.

dog soldier
Mon, 03/10/08
___________________________________________________________________________

We,ve just ordered our brand........new...............Toyota Prius....................

26.

* rdorgan
Mon, 03/10/08

+++Fred -I respect Biden alot but where is he now ? Why isn't he speaking up to Clinton and McCain and their surrogates, and reminding Americans who it was who was against this war from the start ?The big players amongst the super delegates are just largely holding back, I don't get it ?...... Do they understand there's possibly a movement underfoot in this year's dem nomination ?

===========================
Getting out of Iraq boils down to two factors: The political will; The logistics.

I was talking about logistics. The Clintonistas don't really make that distinction. They put both burdens on Obama as if he should have the experience to know the logistics (which she doesnt either) People like Biden, Clark, or even Petraeus would be better than Hillary or Obama for planning an exit, and they know it.

Now Wolfson says that Hillary would not choose smeone for VP if they don't pass the national security threshold.

Backed into a corner and declaring herself the winner.

35.

Michael Ellis
Mon, 03/10/08

We,ve just ordered our brand........new...............Toyota Prius....................

========================
I'll take my 94 Escort thank you, with the toxic vinyl vapors pretty much gassed out, and getting 40 mpg on the Interstate at 65 mph, more than any other gas engine today. It is a collector's item.

Obama has picked up two more superdelegates so far today.  One from NC and one from Mississippi.

NY TImes reporting that Eliot Spitzer is involved in a prostitution ring. WTF is about all I can muster.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3...

Toyota may be doing research into non-toxic interiors for their cars in the future. Stay tuned.

Toyota may be doing research into non-toxic interiors for their cars in the future. Stay tuned.

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

Thnaks Fred............now I will definitley not lick the dashboard when we pick it up................

re: Spitzer - there will be a press conference startng soon.  he has met with his top advisors to let them know of his involvement in that prostitution ring that mary referred to.

lucky Hillary, there may be life after this election after all - she can run for Gov of NY!

flippin blog...

FRED from Ashland OR
Mon, 03/10/08
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

What would you think about converting Detroit from auto producers to, say light urban rail/trolley for the future? 

Personally, looking at the demographics and popluation trends in this country, it looks like the South will soon if not already replace the rust belt in mass production of anything.............

2:22 PM EST

Why are there not more surrogates, more SDs coming out to assist Obama in talking about the costs (human and economic) of the war in Iraq ?

Instead, the CM is talking about how Hillary is on the news offensive about Iraq, with the words of a surrogate cheapening what's going on in Iraq by talking about knowing how to milk cows.

36.

Michael Ellis

We,ve just ordered our brand........new...............Toyota Prius....................
=============================

IMO - the real benefit of Hybrids (which most people overlook) is the benefit to human health to occupants and to others on the road - ESPECIALLY IN URBAN STOP-AND-GO driving.

Acceleration, especially when cold starting releases more toxic pollution than crusing on the highway for a mile. The hybrids usually use the electric motor for stop-and-go.

fix the fricken blog

~~~~~~~~~~~~```

water in your gasoline

2:25 PM EST

35.

FRED from Ashland OR
Mon, 03/10/08
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

What would you think about converting Detroit from auto producers to, say light urban rail/trolley for the future? 

Personally, looking at the demographics and popluation trends in this country, it looks like the South will soon if not already replace the rust belt in mass production of anything.............

++++

Michael -

Frankly, in this dem election cycle, the so called blue, liberal states in the Northeast and Middle Atlantic are the "rust belt" in ideas too -- that's why states like my home state MA, RI, NY, NJ, OH and possibly PA have supported Hillary over Barack, whereas in the South and the West are looking for new opportunities.

Taking a risk is a way to progress.  I'm looking forward to MS's vote tomorrow and to NC's vote on May 6.

re: I'll take my 94 Escort thank you

I'm driving a '96 Saturn SE2 with 86k FLORIDA miles on it, ie: NO RUST!   gets about 29 city, 33 hgwy.  cost me $1k about a year ago.  works for me!

milking cows isn't the hard part of running a dairy, just tell the Pentagon to get it done

I am glad the establishment Dems are staying out of the BO-HC furrball. If they were to take sides, we would counter that the people are not being heard.
If BO can't deal with HC, he won't be able to deal with JM.
Let it play out and try to keep it honest. With HC, that is tuff to do.

re: Why does Harold "Ken Starr" Wolfson still have a job after Power lost hers?    

Phil - they asked him that last week.  he said his attack wasn't 'personal' and Power's was and no one challenged him, as usual.

45.

Michael Ellis
Mon, 03/10/08

What would you think about converting Detroit from auto producers to, say light urban rail/trolley for the future?
=======================

I love the idea. You want to see me with the n-scale trains at Christmas time, but unfornately our culture is not compatible with mass transit.

A more feasible alternative would be overhead electric lines, provided by taxes, from which people with electric cars or hybrids, could drive onto, and draw power in dedicated street lanes for that purpose. In other words cars that also work as private trolleys that can hook onto/off a publicly-powered electric overhead lines, like some buses in San Francisco.

* rdorgan
Mon, 03/10/08
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hmm,

Wish I could give you a positive on NC for Obama but not sure.....NC is a state in transition, will eventually go blue down the road.....pockets like Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Greensboro and Asheville I would bet will go for Obama plus the fact that many monorities will too IMO.............its kinda gueswork right now, not many bumperstickers out there............

49.

Jo*in*Vermont
I'm driving a '96 Saturn SE2 with 86k

===============
I got the 94 in 2003 for $1900 from a woman's husband when she died of cancer. The car was like new. Best car I ever owned. Totally trouble free and coolest-running engine ever. The engine fan almost never goes on.

Escorts engines are not that smooth running and powerful (but very reliable) and they had a bad reputation in the 1980s so these 93 and later Escorts are some of the best deals out there.

wind turbines in parking lots that distribute power to all the electric cars that plug in while working or shopping

DC is the way to go anyway

2:39 PM EST

Well, Michael, at least BO has a chance in NC.

In MA, and in neighboring RI, the love of the Clintons is too-entrenched.  At least  BO won in the state I grew up in -- CT.

Who does Spitzer think he is? Bill Clinton?

59.s m
Mon, 03/10/08

Obama has picked up two more superdelegates
=================
Slick Wolfies slimball tactics are apparently making her more enemies than friends in the party.

dog soldier
Mon, 03/10/08

Reply to this
Who does Spitzer think he is? Bill Clinton?

-------
LOL. It sure sucks for his family.

2:42 PM EST

What is going on in our so-called blue, liberal states ?

First, you got the governor of New Jersey who is leaked out of the closet; then replaced by a governor who doesn't know how to wear a seatbelt, endangering himself and others.

Now, you got an attorney general in New York who's caught in a prostitution ring.

It almost reminds me of the entrenched Bush admin when people thought they could just do anything because they were no real political threats, no competition.

It's time to wash out that experience.

As of yesterday, he was over 600,000 votes ahead of her in the popular vote. That doesn't include MI and FL, but the 2,025 delegates needed to win doesn't include them either. Also, this morning on MSNBC it was reported that the DNC had cancelled Michigan's hotel rooms in Denver because their date to comply was this past Friday, the 7th of March.  So point being, if your're not counting MI & FL in the delegates needed, you can't count them in the popular vote which most likely will be done over since Hillary has her governors out there willing to raise money for her.

wow , sounds like a piece of news to counter obama.

who cares??

mary vb
Mon, 03/10/08

I was hoping Elliot would consider a couple of terms as Gov before going to the WH. He had his share of problems and this dooms it.
I am sure his wife and kids are thrilled with daddy running around.
As an aside, I think Hillary accepted Bills sexual escapades but it was Chelsea I always felt sorry for.
This is partly the reason I condem Bill as he dragged his daughter thru crap so he could have sex with other women.

NY governor linked to prostitution ring
24 minutes ago


...But last week, federal prosecutors in Manhattan filed conspiracy charges against four people accusing them of running a prostitution ring that charged wealthy clients in Europe and the U.S. thousands of dollars for prostitutes.

The Web site of the Emperors Club VIP displays photographs of the prostitutes' bodies, with their faces hidden, along with hourly rates depending on whether the prostitutes were rated with one diamond, the lowest ranking, or seven diamonds, the highest. The most highly ranked prostitutes cost $5,500 an hour, prosecutors said....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080310/ap_o...

Obama has picked up two more superdelegates so far today.  One from NC and one from Mississippi.

sm

Who are these superdelegates? I couldn't find anything on a Google search. thanks

Spitzer is a super d for Clinton. Is a a state co-chair?

There was a really strange diary over at Kos today before this news broke. It was from an unnamed woman who was a professional married to a very high profile person who she discovered cheating on her five years into their marriage. I read it and thought it was so strange. Now it all makes sense - don't know who in the heck posted it but obviously it was all about Eliot Spitzer. This was early this morning before the news broke.

2:57 PM EST

typo - Now, you got an attorney general in New York who's caught in a prostitution ring.

s/b - Now, you got a governor, ex-state attorney general, in New York who's caught in a prostitution ring.

The most highly ranked prostitutes cost $5,500 an hour, prosecutors said....
===================

As a liberal, the least he could have done was made them give 10% of the profits to one's favority charity - LOL

Here it is: My husband cheated on me.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/10/...

This is really weird.

Just a quick update.

Here's Gallup:

PRINCETON, NJ -- Forty-nine percent of Democratic voters nationally support Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination compared with 44% backing Hillary Clinton, giving Obama a slight but statistically significant five percentage point lead. (snip)

For the past week Clinton and Obama had been neck and neck in national Democratic support, but preferences have now returned to where they stood in late February when Gallup Poll Daily tracking found Obama consistently ahead by a 5- to 8-point margin.

This comeback for Obama started prior to his victory in the Wyoming caucuses on Saturday, March 8, thus blunting Clinton's winning streak coming off of the March 4 primaries. Obama has led Clinton on each of the individual days included in today's three-day rolling average, from March 7-9. -- Lydia Saad

That said, I'm shocked and saddened to hear of this. Eliot Spitzer would be the last person I would think this would happen to.

The only good that could come out of this is they find the monster is involved as well.

Joan asked about Obama's superdelegate pick ups today, so I'm posting this excerpt from Domenico Montanaro's article at First Read:

"Obama picked up another superdelegate today -- Joyce Brayboy, a DNC member from North Carolina -- bringing the superdelegate total to Clinton 254, Obama 216. (The Obama campaign sent out a release that Everett Sanders, a DNC member from Mississippi has also endorsed Obama, but Sanders does not factor into our count because he was already on a list previously provided to NBC News by the campaign.)"

Also:

"NBC News has given one more delegate to Obama based on the Texas caucus results, bringing NBC News' total to a 92-92 tie so far with nine Texas caucus delegates still unallocated."

3:09 PM EST

SD movement so far this week:

http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegate-list.html

...

3-9-08 - Added DNC Mary Jo Neville for Obama
3-10-08 Added DNC Joyce Brayboy (NC) and DNC Everett Sanders (MS) for Obama
- Added DNC Roberto Ramirez (NY) for Clinton

...

New thread.

Oh great.  I'm reporting that it's a new thread on an 83 post string of comments with a post in the low 70's.  Someone farther from the server will have to announce it.

Israel Approves Home Building in West Bank 

JERUSALEM — The government of Israel said Sunday that it had approved the construction of hundreds of homes in a West Bank settlement north of Jerusalem, a move that could further complicate a peace effort already hobbled by violence.

Hundreds of dwellings are to be completed in Givat Zeev.

The announcement slightly eased pressure on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert from the right wing in his government, particularly after a Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem fatally shot eight students, most of them teenagers, at a prestigious Jewish seminary in western Jerusalem on Thursday....

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/world/middleeast/10mideast.html?th&emc=th

Joan,

Sorry, I should have named them.

Jackson, MS – Today, Mississippi Superdelegate and Democratic National Committee Member Everett Sanders endorsed Barack Obama, citing his plan to provide affordable health care coverage to every American, improve education and his leadership on Katrina.

Joyce Brayboy has endorsed Barack Obama.

The Democratic superdelegate, whose day job is as a Washington, D.C.-based lobbyist, made the decision recently

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

There is a New Thread for anyone who didn't see the post well above where I hope this one will be:))

new one

http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/24179#comment-1178233