Dean and Obama are first.

http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/25006#comment-1189550

last one

hi Fred!  thanks for the heads-up on the new one.  as usual I left a middle-of-the-night pondering back there so will bring it forward.....

this has been a long 7+ years of Bush - we progressive types have been beaten, battered and bruised.   but then, too, it's the attacks from the inside which have badly bruised our hope.

the dem 'powers that be' dashed our hopes in 2004 when they turned on Howard.  they hurt us in the way it hurts when a family member turns on you.  they surely wiped away any political naivete we may have possessed

they're trying to do it again.

I feel, but obviously can't know, that a lot of the concern here about Obama is a natural fear that comes with the letdown we exerienced when Howard was 'finished off'.  how can we 'hope'again when we've seen what will happen?  how can we, the people, actuallly win one this time? 

well, maybe we won't.  but we certaily won't if we don't try.  and 'settling' by putting them both on the ticket is a sure loser, imo.  it does NOT bring together the two sides of this divide - it just prolongs and deepens the resentment for whoever ends up on the lower end of the ticket. 

HOPE, not fear!  (thank you Howard)

may I say that I miss Judy, here in the middle of the night.  hope all is well with you, lady!

and thankful - I hope to see you this summer!  we'll kick back in my garden and have something cold and delicious to drink. 

I wish there were some excuse to get ALL of you to Burlington - we'd fill my backyard and see whay we are all so much more than the sum of our parts.  we'd remember why we keep coming back here, for the spirit that's there when we need it and the reality when things start to blur.

Barak Obama doing regular 15 and 30  second ads in Southern Oregon on SNL etc.

Pulpit excitement. 

Health care,  keeping jobs here, bringing Democrats and Republicans together, etc. to change country

Hi Jo*

We lived in Colchester VT for four years and worked at the Wal Mart in Williston.  We really miss the health care system.  My wife just lost her Medicaid because I got some SSD back pay.  The kids have it and i have Medicare with a Disability so I have it too.

The dentists were better there too.  But the auto pollution was herendous.  Hope it is better now. I had to quit Wal Mart in 2000 because my MCS worsened.

Obama is going to win. I just know it ...

My daughter is 12 and her whole class was ga ga for Obama when we were still in the primary last fall trying to decide who to support.,   He will motivate the entire nation.  today I heard one news person call him "teflon"  - the last person they called that was Reagan - bad things don't stick to him.

Obama's site appears to have been hacked last night... 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKjomr1Afq0

Fred - pollution, air and water, has been getting better here, imo.  the latest addition to VT health care is great - it makes it affordable for a lot larger group of Vermonters and has taken the pressure off a lot of small business owners and their employees!   no income/low income folks who are on state insurance whose income goes up can transition directly into the other programs, with low premiums and co-pays.  that's big because so often going back to work is a penalty when it comes to health coverage.  it seems to be working well.  I'm just thankful that there are a lot of good Vermonters working hard to make things better for us - in spite of jim douglas!

Jo

Saw the video.  That is a hidden dividend and little known benefit of universal health care.  Business gets a shot in the arm because people are not afraid to make more money, move to another job,  and business don't have to offer health care as an incentive to attract good workers.  I know that we often get discouraged about making more money, or starting a business because we're afraid we'll lose our coverage, and then one sickness or accident and we could lose everything we've worked for, and then some...

This summer we are going to go camping around Cambria, CA, near San Luis Obispo.  I hope we find a better place where we can make it.  Gotta go to sleep now.  See you in the morning.

Fred - poor Williston, VT went from pastoral fresh-aired sweetness to the most dense retail section of Chittenden county in a handful of years - we used to call that area Taft Cornres - now we just call it 'the big boxes'!  the auto pollution there is probabaly still as bad as it was when you were here, if not worse.  we fought WalMart for a long time before allowing them to build there, but alas.... 

I'm a bit burnt out from my gardening this week, so a friend and I may drive around the islands and wander up to the world's oldest coral 'reef' later today. 

oops - kinda lost the link in the formatting, I guess - it's there, but barely.  also - pls excuse all the mid-night typos!

http://www.anr.state.vt.us/DEC/geo/chazytxt.htm

'night Fred - 'night blog.  blowing kisses 'cause you're all really sweet at heart.  ;)

Good morning, everybody

Found this on KOS

http://www.whoreallyownscongress.com/Boswell/ 

Thanks Jo.  The corals might be fun to visit.  Have sent the link to paleobotanist daughter.

A google funny--

I just realized something about tall people that may account for why they have greater success in politics.  In order to attend to what people are saying, they have to bend down and that gives them a deferential aspect from the perspective of the viewer.  Physiology probably has something to do with it.  I wonder if the military training, demanding that one stand ram-rod straight counteracts that?

my favorite spot on the farm is a tiny waterfall from a spring near a cold cave vent that has ferns and moss and lichens like in Canada and the snails you find look indentical to the million year old fossils that are everywhere in the rocks exposed by the little brook on the other side of the ridge

don't know if it is true, but it seems possible that those snails have found a place to call home for a million years, and it puts human effort into perspective

when I was developing my long range grazing plan as a response to sustainability concerns back in the early eighties I visited native prairies and counted species in inter-realtionship and came up with the number seven quite a bit so I made seed mixtures of seven species in my drill

the last stand I have had to replace was in 1992, that decision worked out

but I have more cows than the carrying capacity of a six month growing season so have to rely on stored feed in this climate

the cheap dollar builds demand for exportable crops like corn (I live a few miles from a bardge terminal) and that demand pulls acres out of hay crops into corn so the market says I have to outbid Korean corn purchasers to keep those acres from being plowed up

American decisions to buy Korean heavy equipment or cars is also a decision to pay more for milk.

the bad weather from two years ago that eliminated the wheat reserve, and precipitated a world wide shortage of grains has struck planting decisions in America this year for the first time ever when there is a fully integrated global system for feeding people in the trading economy and a shortage at the same time so that literally food will be taken out of the mouth of an American to feed a Korean (or Chinese) customer

I bring up Korea simply because of the meeting yesterday on just this subject between Bush and their new President.

the scorecard for who is winning or losing in trade is the current accounts deficit and we aren't playing like the cubbies to lead the division most of the season only to fade, we are stuck in the cellar as a trading country

the falling dollar is supposed to self correct as it makes our exportable goods a bargin and imported goods become prohibitively expensive and might work if we didn't import all that oil from the middle east and drove little cars that burned bio-fuel instead

Iowa decided to make our own fuels instead of playing the ship it to Korea and trade it for goods game, but we would like to sell them the beef grown from the distillers by-product feed.

I have an extra hour today because after the debate debacle I won't be watching This Week. (which means I won't be blogging either). the rivers are bank full but the trout stream is fishable

For those interested in impeachment, there's a follow-up thread to the tabling of H.R. 24.  Seems like some of our leading Democrats are still stuck in the authoritarian mode.

http://bluehampshire.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3970#38723 

Paying taxes.Paying taxes is what we do to purchase a share in the public decision-making process.  Even Republicans agree with that.  Why else is it that they constantly argue that those who don't pay shouldn't have a say?

NO PAY--NO SAY

Jon Stewart Rips ABC Debate

Paying taxes.Paying taxes is what we do to purchase a share in the public decision-making process.

<

That is an excellent point, Monica.

One question that occurs to me which might differentiate fascist Republicans from equality minded Democrats is,

How much value do we grant the individual voter in the public decision-making process?

Does an apparent (to me in my ignorance of the ruling) Supreme Court decision, which acknowledges the value of one-dollar-equals-one-vote, lead to a weighted-valuing.

Does economic wealth supersede the notion of equality?

Seemsthat the answer is, yes. 

 

Anywho.just some thoughts here generated. 

Hi - I'm just saying good morning from Cocoa, FL where I'm at the HI-Express blogging for free. Some relatives still in bed. Would like to get on the road - about 3 hour drive ahead. My grandniece's wedding was exceptional. When I was young you got married, had some punch and a cake. Now it's two live bands, a wedding at water side, a tent, a sit down dinner with beef and chicken, and of course the most beautiful bride on earth. When I was in college a beau from Annapolis brought me pearls from Japan. I gave them to the bride a few years ago and she wore them at the wedding. It made me cry.

maryvb I thought the MoDo was downright snide. What was uplifting about it.

See y'all later - may try to find a TV and watch Russert - no ABC for me.

Obama is going to win. I just know it ...

My daughter is 12 and her whole class was ga ga for Obama

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

Fred,

12 year olds cant vote..........based upon that BO loses............realsitically Amerians will not vote for  rock star in these times......................Mccain gets the WH

The wonderful world of Disney isn't so wonderful any more and has't been for quit sometime. We shall see what and who makes the corporate media pundit "shows" this morning. It is wise to remember that it's the corporate media who are the ones who it programming.

----

We Came, We Saw, We Handed Out Flag Pins by: David Dayen
Sat Apr 19, 2008

OK, so I should mention the results of our Courage Campaign protest yesterday at the ABC/Disney headquarters. It went really well. Consider that I had this idea sitting on my couch at 12:00pm Thursday, and by 4:00pm Friday we had 60 or 70 people out there in Burbank. Considering that in the current age there's almost an allergy to protest, that's not bad (especially in gridlocked L.A.), and we were able to get the word out without making one phone call. ...Read the full report, see news video and lots of photos: http://www.calitics.com/showDiary.do;jse...

han't s/b hasn't

A McClatchy-MSNBC-Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Poll has Clinton leading 48-43 with 8 percent undecided.  Clinton leads among bowlers, hunters, and gun owners.  I'm amazed that the poll would even ask if you are a bowler.  I guess there are alot of bowlers in PA.

Beer drinkers (as if that should matter) tied 50-50.

She leads just about every demographic except blacks, voters under 35, Protestants, and those looking for change and honesty.  Clinton leads in those wanting experience, yeah I want an experienced liar in the white house.

Good news she doesn't lead enough to cut into Obama's delegate lead. 

No cell phones called, I think that definitely gives Obama a little advantage there. 

My heart tells me she is going to win, but not big.  I hope it is kept under double digits.  To me that will be a Barack victory.  (I know I sound like the Clinton campaign lowering expectations).

I want to call PA, but I'm not good at it at all.  I think I'm bad luck in fact.

Sorry here is link to poll

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/34246.html

Michael do you think those 12 year olds are having an affect on how their parents vote?  I cannot think of another election where the youth have been so involved.  Those kids are smart.

Hey guys, sorry about the rude comment about her crowd, but they all look so unhappy.

rae hart
Sun, 04/20/08
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

rae,

Would YOU let your 12 year old shape your life for you...........at 64 years old I hope not for your sake...............

let me put this in terms , we ALL can understand.................circa 1965-66 The Beatles were the greatest rock group the planet had ever seen..they changed music, hairstyle, dress, social thinking, etc for MANY young people..............................BUT yet many parents of these kids back then were not influenced enough by not only The Beatles message but the message from other young people fed up with the establishment..............................Nixon won, Nixon won again.

Hope is always a good thing............but dont be obsessed with that simple mesage that harbours vague content..............thats what, the parents of many 12 year olds today are afraid of with BO.....................and thats why, in key electoral states I am betting that they wont take  achance with him.................personally I think they should and its long overdue, but they wont..........IF they do then this country may have reached a brief rest in its downward cycle to social, moral and economic decay........................

But if HOPE gives you some measure of contentment then by all means cling to it...............remember, I am merely a cultural observer these days..................

Well, yes, Michael, a lot of people who are used to taking direction, rahther than giving direction are going to listen to their kids.  And then, of course, there's all those people who keep mouthing off about how much importance they place on doing things for the "next generation" and they're about to be hoist on their own petard.

Whatever.  The following is the list of people, former military men except for the guy with the asterisks, who served as the president's analysts in certifying to the American public that the disaster in Iraq was going just swimmingly.  What I can't figure is whether all of these people revealing themselves is a case of lemmings or a flood of guilt.

Robert S. Bevelacqua
Kenneth Allard
Jeffrey D. McCausland
Thomas G. McInerney
John C. Garrett
Donald W. Shepperd
Montgomery Meigs
William L. Nash
James Marks
Joseph W. Ralston
William Cohen
Barry R. McCaffrey
Wayne A. Downing
Paul E. Vallely
William V. Cowan
Carlton A. Sherwood
Charles T. Nash
Timur J. Eads
Robert L. Maginnis
Robert H. Scales Jr
David L. Grange
James T. Conway***
Rick Francona

Not quite two dozen.  Too bad.  Otherwise we could call them the dirty two.

Maybe the "dirty twenty-two' will have to do.  I've got a flashing migrain and am finding it hard to count. 

10:06 AM EDT

up on deck today and tomorrow:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/readingth

Reading High School
801 N. 13th St
Reading, PA 19604

Sunday, April 20th
Doors Open: 10:30 a.m.
Program Begins: 12:20 p.m.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/scranton

On Track for Change Rally in Scranton
with Barack Obama, Senator Bob Casey, and Caroline Kennedy

Riverfront Sports Complex
5 West Olive Plaza
Scranton, PA 18508

Sunday, April 20, 2008
Gates Open: 5:00 p.m.
Program Begins: 7:00 p.m.

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

Penn State Greater Allegheny
Wunderley Gymnasium
4000 University Drive
McKeesport, PA 15132

Monday, April 21st
Doors open: 4:00 p.m.
Program Begins: 6:00 p.m.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/pittsburgh

On Track for Change Rally in Pittsburgh with Barack Obama

University of Pittsburgh
Petersen Events Center
3719 Terrace Street
Pittsburgh, PA

Monday, April 21st, 2008
Gates Open: 7:30 p.m.
Program Begins: 9:30 p.m.

10:08 AM EDT

well this Tues April 22 isn't just the PA dem primary, it's also Earth Day:

http://www.earthday.net/earthday2008.aspx

Annilow - Great wedding. For MoDo - it was better than the last. No one escapes her venomous tongue I'm afraid but she's a bit warmer to Barack -- as warm as she can be that is. LOL
---------
I think Hillary will win PA with about 54% of the vote - I just looked at the undecideds and they're in rural PA - her stronghold. Just my take.

Annilow - Great wedding. For MoDo - it was better than the last. No one escapes her venomous tongue I'm afraid but she's a bit warmer to Barack -- as warm as she can be that is. LOL
---------
I think Hillary will win PA with about 54% of the vote - I just looked at the undecideds and they're in rural PA - her stronghold. Just my take.

sorry about the double-post - for some reason my computer is really slooooow this AM.

We see Gallup putting out some uncredible new polls today. From Obama ahead by 11 points to Hillary ahead by one point in three days is ridiculous. This is the old Gallup who sold out to CNN and USA Today for years. Probably the same CNN is doing some dirty work.

Okay - I'm already revising my numbers - I think Hillary will receive between 54-58% of the vote. I just read some rec'd diaries at Kos and they're about the rural voters and they're tough for Barack.

Michael,

I hear what you are saying.  I don't know if I can explain this or not, but here is how I feel, those kids are the future, it is their future along with us older guys, I think we should listen to them.  Would I vote for someone based on what a 12 year old saids?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  

Yes Michael I do hope.  But I don't cling to it.  I hope for it.

I think the new Gallup poll was coerced.

MHO.

I have never been polled.

I don't like it when they divide us by race.  If I am ever polled, if they ask what race I am, I will refuse to answer. 

In fact when I think about it, I think polls generally suck.

I think it is possible Barack could win by a small margin.

If she wins please, please keep it below double digits.

As usual, i was brave enough to watch portions of the traitors' broadcast this morning.
George Stephanawfulness is the most pathetic of turncoat corporate lackeys i've ever seen. His 'panel' of experts, which he 'joined' today, are just the fascist elite... more like the nazi propoganda machine than the revered watchdog our founders trusted.

.. and Kookey Roberts, don't get me started. Her take on the 'change' emphasis of the Democrats goes like this (tho not verbatim).
Kookey: 'Change? Noooo... why? Bought off, by big money, politicians? That's the way it is and won't change. The Fed govment is supposed to be slow, corrupt, and gridlocked when it comes to the things that the people need.'

The crew on ABC was all about being defensive about their mugging of Barrack Obama in the Penn. debate (ambush). Poor Charles and George, can't be blatantly attack dogs without being under the microscope themselves. Whaaaah, poor sports all.
On que, the Clinton folks are all over the meme 'can't take the heat'. Meanwhile her campaign still won't explain away her COC endorsement of John McCain. What a bunch of traitors there too.

Morning Folks,

Jo in Vermont, thank you for your wisdom.  Your kindness, thoughtfulness, and reasoning is a joy, a balm to lacerated spirits, I think.  And others, Joan, rae, Monica, marvy vb,  Fred, phill, also your posts are appreciated .

I 'm still ruminating aboutt the interstate highways, the speed, the noise, the danger, the metal, the concrete, the ripping through the earth and land for commerce, and the antithesis to the warmth, softness, space, light, quiet, and beauty so necessary to life.  We seem to be caught up in a momentum that is destroying earth itself.  As if all the destructiveness that humans are capable of are being turned against any resistence to such treachery.

When Jo spoke of the disillusion as the democratic party turned against Howard Dean and so many hopes were dashed, and that hurt is still present, I thought she was prescient.  I've certainly thought about that.  If Obama loses Pennsylvania to the degree that the Clintons continue on; if the prejudice, ignorance, fear, and war mongering becomes the dominant ethos, what then?  Do I have the heart to continue?

The answer is, yes.  Jo is right that we are not ignorant anymore, have grasped how compelling the ambition for power is, have witnessed the corruption and collusion, have in our own small blog seen people turn on each other when there is disagreement, have seen over and over the cynical and negative posturing that like the Harry Potter dark wind spirits sucked the hope out of people (can't think of the name), or the dark riders in Tolkien.

Yes, there's reason for despair, we may have passed the point of being able to salvage a civiliazation and the earth, but that's not something we get to decide.

There was an interesting story in my University of Michinga alumni magazine. A couple who has spent their lives working for good causes, for the environment, are now building an 8000 square foot ("environmentaly sustainable") house in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (very wealthy area).  The house is being touted and praised for recycled materials, environmentally sustainable systems, but it occurred to me, where is the disconnect?  When and why do two people need 8000 square feet for a house?  When women in Haiti are taking their children to the doctor for an examination so that their children can get a free cookie, where is the disconnect here?  Why can't we get it?

Anyway, appreciation for the reason, the kindness, the wit (miss you Sitka), the information, and the good will . 

Mccain gets the WH

 Oh no!!!

.. relax there rae.

The 'polls' that count are 80 percent over. Only the corporate money dependant Clinton campaign won't recognize the results.

As one of the idiots said this morning, "Look at Obama's answers (to the attacks of ABC)." Even tho i'm no fan, he did put up a good fight in the face of a coordinated planned attack, live in primetime. Despite the spin, if you listened to his answers, and have a brain... he wasn't badly hurt.

... and that was probably the fascists' last best chance, in reality. The superdelegates can't now be worried he won't be able to stand 'whithering fire'.

New thread guys.