Tip toeing in to say that Deans are first.  Tip toeing back to work right now.

Must be quiet in the public salt mine. 

good work Donna

~~~~~~

drip, drip, trickle, trickle, splash, splash . . .

3:25 PM EDT

audrey -

I wish David Boren (ex US Senator for OK), Sam Nunn (ex US Senator for GA) and Robert Reich (ex cabinet member in Clinton administration) would be SDs but unfortunately, they aren't  (fyi- there is a Boren who is a SD but his name is Dan Boren and he's one of the current US Reps for OK):

http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegates-who-havent-endorsed.html

2008 Democratic Convention Watch

Superdelegates who haven't committed to a candidate

...

Representatives

...

Dan Boren (OK)

...

Senators

Ken Salazar (CO)
Joe Biden (DE)
Tom Carper (DE)
Daniel Akaka (HI)
Tom Harkin (IA)
Mary Landrieu (LA)
Ben Cardin (MD)
Carl Levin (MI)
Max Baucus (MT)
Jon Tester (MT)
Harry Reid (NV)
Jeff Bingaman (NM)
Frank Lautenberg (NJ)
Sherrod Brown (OH)
Ron Wyden (OR)
Jack Reed (RI)
Jim Webb (VA)
Robert Byrd (WV)
Herb Kohl (WI)
Fmr. Senator George Mitchell (NY)

...

Donna ssshhhh - good firsties.

I inherited a flag pin w/ real gems.

Trivia question from WUFT FM Gainesville, FL classical music and NPR affiliate:

This composer was also an outrageous performer. He was known to cut 3 of his violin strings and proceed to play a difficult piece on the remaining string. Name the composer. Answer on Sunday if i remember :~). I'm 2 for 2 these last two weeks after being 0 for many many weeks.

Congratulations to Wayne B. A master shipbuilder? That's a great honor, linda b.

I've been thinking about Hillary on Colbert last night. Stephen said *We are in a mess - who fan fix this?*(paraphrasing) Hillary shows up and says *I can*. Well, Hillary, you are part of the reason we are in the mess we're in. Just doesn't sit well with me.

Master Shipbuilder and husband to Howardly dynamo linda b; what a team!

rd,

Interestingly enough, of the 19 Dem senators who have not committed, seven of them (Class II) are up for re-election this year. They are Baucus, Biden, Harkin, Landrieu, Lautenberg, Levin, and Reed

(There is a total of 12 Dems in Class II.) The seven are perhaps being very cautious.

mary

I thought for sure Obama would offer to buy a whole bunch of jet skiis for the entire Edwards family:))

I'm hoping Hillary does good enough to bow out with grace and kudos for putting up a good effort. no one can call her a quitter and she can leave with her head high and work to unite the party

I'll guess she wins PA by five points or so for her final victory, and she can have another round with the boys.

Bill was angry enough yesterday he must have seen a poll giving Obama a boost from the debate though so the kitchen sink missed its mark. If they split the delegates it doesn't mean a thing to win.

Fox News has another smear about Obama. I'm sure Hillary will do her best to jump on this one as well. Gosh, I never thought I'd be so cynical - guess that's why I like Barack so much.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4...

mark fiore

http://www.markfiore.com/

Aldo Leopold (January 11, 1887 – April 21, 1948) was a American ecologist, forester and environmentalist. He was influential in the development of modern environmental ethics and in the movement for wilderness preservation. ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldo_Leopol...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldo_Leopol...

---

"Thinking Like a Mountain" A nature story by Aldo Leopold

http://www.eco-action.org/dt/thinking.ht...

Colbert was excellent last night. 

What I love about both him and Stewart is the fact that they are even-handed and fair in both their praise and ridicule of the cands.

BO and HC were very good.

JE was fabulous.

They all can poke fun at themselves.

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

Last night I had a long discussion with a friend who wants to see both on the ticket.  She can't decide who to vote for since she already knows a great deal about both of them and sees the flaws and the plusses.  We talked pros and cons for almost 2 hours and we both agreed that what would be best for the country is to have both on the ticket.  We feel that if HC is not on the tickie, many women will simply not vote, giving it possibly to McC.  My friends highest priority is the environment and she's not happy with either BO or HC in that area.

I think choosing SW would be a  mistake -

I  also think we need a strong environmentalist  as VP, and need to get out of the war  mentality that this country has had since the pilgrims landed. 

If BO is the nominee, I'd like to see Boxer as VP. (after Dean of course)  Possibly Webb, but not Clark.

If the environment is our most pressing problem, and it seems to be, then drafting Gore at the convention would be the best for our country and the world.  The continued aggressive war policies of all 3 running have to stop or they will become moot when we run out of everything that sustains human life.

I would like another debate on the environment, the Consitution, and the repealing of the powers of the unitary executive.

Fat chance. 

Enuf for me.  Things to do. 

Standing room only in Erie, PA with pics.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4...

seashell wrote "JE was fabulous"

I'm glad he's finally found his true calling.

Citibank and Chase stop giving student loans for two year colleges.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4...

We're lucky - both of my children have college funds from their grandparents. One of my daughter's best friends got into Duke University and will have to take out close to 200K in loans (w/tuition/room/board) because her dad makes too much for fin. aid). How sad is it that in this country kids are graduating with a mountain of debt? In European countries - students go for free.

PS

I feel very sad that there is little or no compassion on this blog for HC.  Nobody is all bad and she's done some wonderful things for women and children.  The CM is hard on her as well - not just BO, who is whining about the debate in a smiling affable way.

 They both lie, whine, make gaffes, exhibit arrogance and are elitist, whatever that means...........

How sad that even dems can't muster just a tad of compassion for a woman who has endured great pain and run a good race. Perhaps she'd stayed with Bill becuz she thought it was best for the country. Can you imagine her divorcing him in the middle of his presidency and what it would have done to the county?  Can you imagine her humiliation?

Meanwhile, all that is unimportant.  A car chase is on and a silo has fallen over.'

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

I read a fascinating book on the  Madras earthquake.

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

Newsweek has Obama way up - +19 over Hillary nationally.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/132721

The FEC reports are due after the PA primary. It will show bad news for Hillary - a lot of debt and not enough coming in (so says Robert Novakula)so I think she may not even make it until NC or IN but I'm probably just dreaming...

Top Hillary fundraisers to Dean: butt out.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsm...

These people must think they are the mafia.

Tell President Bush that waiting until 2025 to do anything about global warming is completely irresponsible: http://ga6.org/campaign/bush_gw?rk=j7NK%...

---

----- Original Message -----
From: Barbara Boxer
To: Susan Rowe
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2008 10:16 AM
Subject: Bush or Nero?

On Wednesday, President Bush delivered what was billed as a major speech on global warming.

What a disaster!

Rather than staking out a set of ambitious goals for America to strive for, the President argued that the United States should do nothing about global warming until 2025. I can't believe he said it with a straight face.

That's completely irresponsible -- and President Bush needs to hear it.

Sign my petition to President Bush now -- tell him to stand up and join the fight to stop global warming!

http://ga6.org/campaign/bush_gw?rk=j7NK%...

Global warming is the biggest challenge of our generation. The decisions we make today will have an impact on our planet for generations to come.

That's why I've been infuriated by the Bush Administration's failure to take the global warming threat seriously over the past 7 years. They've relentlessly blocked, delayed, and rebuffed our efforts to step up and really do something about climate change at every turn.

Unfortunately, Wednesday's speech from President Bush was no different. Rather than supporting our legislation in Congress to cut greenhouse gas emissions by close to 70% or more by 2050, President Bush unbelievably suggested that America should merely try to stop the growth of emissions by 2025. No cap on emissions, no cut in emissions -- merely stopping the growth -- and not even doing that for almost 20 years.

With global temperatures increasing, ice caps melting, and sea levels rising every day, President Bush's proposal fails miserably. He needs to get the message. That's why I'm going to deliver our petition to the White House later this month -- and I want your name on it.

Sign my petition to President Bush now -- tell him to stand up and join the fight to stop global warming!

President Bush's plan to do nothing while greenhouse gas emissions reach dangerous levels and threaten our planet is the height of irresponsibility. It's akin to Nero fiddling while Rome burns.

The cap & trade legislation we're currently considering in Congress is a solid first step towards tackling the global warming threat. It will make America a global leader on this critical issue -- and it will also provide huge benefits to our economy by spurring the development of new, green technologies and green jobs all across our country.

In the closing months of his failed presidency, it's time for George Bush to wake up and face facts. We can't afford to wait any longer.

Sign my petition to President Bush now -- tell him to stand up and join the fight to stop global warming!

http://ga6.org/campaign/bush_gw?rk=j7NK%...

In Friendship,

Barbara Boxer
U.S. Senator

P.S. President Bush's global warming speech on Wednesday was a disaster, and he needs to get the message. I'm going to deliver our petition to the White House later this month, and I want your name on it. Sign my petition to President Bush now!

http://ga6.org/campaign/bush_gw?rk=j7NK%...

Sign The Petition!

This is dancing on the head of a pin.  I will naturally fall to my death when I'm hanging on to a limb for dear life off the edge of a cliff by releasing my grip.  I am certainly choosing not to by clinging to it.  However, letting go so that gravity can do its work would also be a choice.  In a similar way, a woman has the choice of not bringing a pregnancy to term in many or most instances of conception, whether or not the idea of doing so even occurs to her.

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

Exactly -

In your logical comparison, hanging from the cliff is the pregnant woman.  She has a choice to let go.  She cannot have a choice to remain pregnant ("carry the pregnancy to term") because that is what she is doing by holding on to the cliff.

The only "choice" is for the woman who wants an abortion - the woman who doesn't want one or who would never have one for philosophical reasons, etc. is not choosing, or deciding anything.

But all women have a right to privacy - and that is offensive to no one.

In the political context, using the term "choice" (or "reproductive right") as a euphemism for induced abortion, is obnoxious to many voters (whereas the term "induced abortion" would not be acceptable) because these  euphemistic terms carry  a subtle underlying assumption that choices and decisions are fait accompli with every pregnancy.

A major portion of the electorate, regardless of political philosophy, want induced abortion to be legal, but most perceive it to be something compelled to consider (if ever) when they "don't have a choice" as it were.

correction 

(whereas the term "induced abortion" would not be acceptable)

meant to say "would be acceptable"

I love the Simpson's episode where Homer keeps saying "I hate liberals" while watching FOX news.

http://www.democracyforamerica.com/campaigns

DFA Goes Carbon Neutral (March-April 2007)

Democracy for America partnered with NativeEnergy and became the first PAC to go Carbon Neutral. As a community, members decided that DFA should allocate 30% of our carbon offset investments in the Farmer-Owned & Distributed Wind Turbines in Minnesota and South Dakota. Another 29% went to the Wanner Family Dairy Farm Methane Project in Pennsylvania. Another 22% of our carbon offset investment to the Owl Feather War Bonnet Wind Farm in South Dakota. And the final 19% was invested in the Native Village Wind project in Alaska. As part of this Green campaign, DFA members also hosted 200 'Kilowatt Ours' movie screenings across the country, and developed plans to turn their communities green.

Compassion for HC? I used to have it but she's earned the animosity of many.

So, did y'all see this?

mary vb, you can dislike s/o and still have compassion.  IMO compassion is not something you turn on and off becuz of what someone else says or does.

Compassion is extended to all sentient life. It's extended to the soul of the other, not to the words and actions.  I think it also helps to put oneself in the other's shoes and then walk 10 miles.

Just my take. 

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/04/prweb874024.htm

On April 21 the Air Force expects to surpass more than one million missions flown by Air Force aircraft in the Global War on Terror since Sept. 11, 2001. Synchronized and integrated into larger Coalition air efforts, these missions represent the most deliberate, disciplined and precise air campaign in history.

[...]

Here’s how the numbers break down as of April 1:
-   Operation Noble Eagle: 50,984 sorties (5.1%) (Estimate ~18 sorties/day)
-   Operation Enduring Freedom: 193,908 sorties (19.6%) (Estimate ~85 sorties/day)
-   Operation Iraqi Freedom: 352,856 sorties (35.6%) (Estimate ~200 sorties/day)
-   Additional supporting airlift missions: 393,424 sorties (39.7%) (Estimate ~180 sorties/day)
Total Sorties in the Global War on Terror as of April 1: 991,172.

___

THE NUMBERS

Barack Obama, 54 percent

Hillary Rodham Clinton, 35 percent

seashell - do you have compassion for Bush/Cheney? Just asking. I am a little ticked at the antics of the Clintons. I'm sure in time - I may be able to muster some compassion for her but not at this moment -- and that's sad because I'd like a woman in the WH.

Fresno Tech Conference Congressman Jerry McNerney

http://washingtontimes.com/article/20080416/COMMENTARY/982402072/1012

By Richard W. Rahn
April 16, 2008

What would you think if members of Congress voted to require the U.S. military to forgo purchases of most of Canada's oil and thus be forced to increase their dependency on Saudi Arabian produced oil? As bizarre as it may seem, this is not a hypothetical question but precisely what Congress did in passing the falsely named "Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007."

[...]

Mr. Waxman said section 526 of the Act prohibits U.S. government agencies, including the military, from purchasing "fuels derived from tar sands." Mr. Waxman also said the Act prohibits the Air Force from developing "coal-to-liquid fuels."

Most of the oil and gasoline produced from tar sands comes from our friendly neighbor, Canada, which has enormous petroleum reserves in the form of tar, or more correctly, "oil sands." And the prohibition of using coal-to-liquid fuels precludes the United States from using its several hundred years of coal reserves to replace dependence on oil produced in the Middle East and other volatile and unreliable regions.

[..]

There is, of course, a difference between "developing" and "using."  The Air Force seems to be casting about for other enterprises, including building nuclear plants on its bases.  It's my experience that government agencies have long been the worst polluters because their activities were considered to serve a public purpose.  Now, it seems, industry is looking to set up "partnerships" which will enable them to be exempt from enviornmentally sensitive regulations.

We need a new value--that cleaning up after oneself is next to godliness. 

Developing story at Huffpo that Hillary has just slammed Democratic activists. Will link when it is available.

More pictures of the Fresno Green Tech Conference

http://www.dfalink.com/uploads/group_pho...

http://www.dfalink.com/uploads/group_pho...

http://www.dfalink.com/uploads/group_pho...

http://www.dfalink.com/uploads/group_pho...

http://www.dfalink.com/uploads/group_pho...

Fred wrote "Exactly -"

Well, you act like we agree, so that's good enough for me.

Uh oh - here's a glimpse of what Hillary said: Not a smart move just before PA.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4...

This is the guy that demonstrated his bona fides by setting off car bombs during Saddam's rule.

 http://www.mil-mall.com/product2512.html?utm_source=04182008&utm_medium=MilMallPromo&utm_content=iraq-occupation

Did Moveon say that the U.S. shouldn't go into Afghan?  Most of the country was all for it right after 9/11. 

yes, mary vb, even for bush/cheney and even tho I call bush putz.  He must have been soul-murdered in childhood or somewhere along the way.  I suspect it was in childhood, and for that I can feel compassion.  And I know what it's like to turn to drugs and/or booze and the demons that drive people to them.

For me, compassion is the experience of having *been there* along with being able to relate to another's pain, simply becuz they are hurting and sentient.  And becuz we are all connected.

Compassion is not selective.  Some people are driven by demons that are never acknowledged....the shadow side.  

JMO 

Fred wrote "Exactly -"

Well, you act like we agree, so that's good enough for me

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

Well I don't mean to belabor a seemingly futile or trivial point.  It is a major contention I believe, to which we Democrats have been blinded-sighted since Carter. Verbology is important.

Let us not forget Carter was hammered for using the term "personally opposed" [to abortion] - Biden was hammered for calling Obama "articulate" - these were frivolous  but shows you the importance of words.

I don't think MoveOn was against going into Afghan.  I could be wrong.  Leaving for work.  Will check back later.

http://thehill.com/the-executive/critics-say-air-force-rule-creates-shipping-headaches-2008-04-17.html 

Critics say Air Force rule creates shipping headaches

A package sent by the Air Force from a depot in Corpus Christi, Texas, to a National Guard Unit in Lexington, Okla., traveled 2,243 miles before reaching its destination, even though the two cities are only 576 miles apart.

The reason? A complicated Air Force rule that is sometimes interpreted as a requirement that a shipment be flown for at least one leg of the delivery route. The result, according to congressional critics, is that military shipments cost taxpayers millions of dollars more than they should.

[...]

Ten years ago, the Pentagon amended its transportation regulations to operate more like a company in the private sector would. The new “mode-neutral” rule no longer dictated the means of transporting a package. Instead, shipping decisions should depend on when the customer needed the package.

But the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command operates under the Air Freight Traffic Regulation Policy No. 5, which is still mode-specific instead of mode-neutral.

[...] 

THIS IS WHAT STAT MAN WAS TALKING ABOUT

Hillary Drops Back
A new Newsweek poll shows Obama pulling away 

Despite her campaign's relentless attacks on Barack Obama's qualifications and electability, Hillary Clinton has lost a lot of ground with Democratic voters nationwide going into Tuesday's critical primary in Pennsylvania, a new NEWSWEEK poll shows.

The survey of 1,209 registered voters found that Obama now leads Clinton by nearly 20 points, or 54 percent to 35 percent, among registered Democrats and those who lean Democratic nationwide. The previous Newsweek poll, conducted in March after Clinton's big primary wins in Ohio and Texas, showed the two Democrats locked in a statistical tie (45 percent for Obama to 44 percent for Clinton). The new poll puts Obama ahead among women as well as men, and voters aged 60 and older as well as younger voters. (For the complete poll data, click here).

One of the more devastating results for Clinton was that a majority of all registered...

 http://www.newsweek.com/id/132721

With a mama like Barbara Bush it's no wonder W ended up like he is. She's something else. Cheney must have just been born evil - a bad seed.

 We talked pros and cons for almost 2 hours and we both agreed that what would be best for the country is to have both on the ticket.  We feel that if HC is not on the tickie, many women will simply not vote, giving it possibly to McC.  My friends highest priority is the environment and she's not happy with either BO or HC in that area.

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

That would sure be a smart move for the environment   ....you are kidding about the not voting right? but the logic ? not happy with either so you want both????!!!

Clinton anywhere on the ticket energizes the right wing nut jobs

folks like Bill and Hillary do need our compassion and will need even more of it if she does not become POTUS.  that will be a very hard blow for both of them - I'm sure they're in disbelief each and every day, now, as her tactics fail and Obama's numbers rise.

I have to say that I would also like to see a little more compassion for Michelle and Barack from some folks here.

Being critical of policy is not  lack of compassion.  Compassion does not mean you agree with people.    Right now the Clintons are hurting, and it doesn't seem like the Obamas are, since they're winning.  But who really knows what's going on in their private lives.

Everybody's suffering from something or other.  The woman last night says that if BO says he doesn't get angry, which he has said, she thinks he's repressing it.  If that's true, it's cold anger. McC's anger is hot and dangerous.  HC's anger leads her to say untrue things - to lie.  She really was expecting to knock out Dean and be the next prez.

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

Phil, there are people here on the blog who've said they won't vote for HC if she's the nominee.  Might there not be many voters who won't vote for BO if she isn't the nominee?   Might they go to McC instead?

And what about the youth?  Can we count on them to vote in Nov?

I think both of them have high  negatives with various voting blocks.

The objective is to beat McCain and the choice of VP will be very important.  

And what changes if Liebermann or Rice partner with McC?  Who could beat that ticket?  Condi has high postives. Shudder. 

I just don't think this is a slam dunk for the hapless complicit dems who can't even bring the occupation to an end. 

The repugs will stop at nothing.  What about those false flags?  Would they go that far?  9/11 really worked well for them.

The electorate could be managed enuf to go from bitter to terrified.  That's what the CM does well.

Did you all hear Colbert's parting words last night?

"Now that we've told you how to think, go out and vote." 

51.

seashell :-)
Fri, 04/18/08


…The objective is to beat McCain….
-------------

???..., and that’s it?

I feel Obama is better than this.

I think his objective is to suggest to Americans the new, the different (from PNAC) way ahead for many, many years.