Good news!  As a New Yorker I'm real glad to hear about this. The e-voting machines are so flawed. How anybody could think that we could trust electing our lawmakers on these pieces of junk is beyond me. I hope many more states follow! Lets make it as tough as possible for the Republicans and Diebold to steal our elections!

Howard is first.

http://www.the-grassroots.com/

got Patrick elected as govenor and the same, I hope, will get Obama elected as president

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080127/ap_on_el_pr/obama_documentary_1

Documentary chronicles Obama supporters

By MARCUS FRANKLIN, Associated Press Writer

Sun Jan 27, 2:53 PM ET

NEW YORK - A group of Columbia University students is hoping to capture some of the grass-roots energy behind Democrat Barack Obama's White House bid — by filming his supporters on the home turf of his chief rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

...

The students, who also include Gregory Simmons, 26, of Atlanta, have filmed supporters' elated reactions as they sat in a bar watching results roll in from this month's Iowa caucuses, which Obama won. They also interviewed campaigners who traveled to Iowa.

"When these volunteers talk about their experiences in Iowa, where it was 20 below zero, 15 below zero, they start crying," said Simmons. "They think of themselves as warriors."

8:23 PM EST

In the words of Spike Lee --

please Howard Dean, "Fight the Power" of the Billary tagteam and continue to keep up your dukes against them trying to slip in the MI and FL phantom dem primary votes into the official dem nomination process

8:28 PM EST

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/27/america/assess.php

Obama wins South Carolina, backed by whites and blacks

By Patrick Healy

Published: January 27, 2008

COLUMBIA, South Carolina: Senator Barack Obama proved with his victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary not only that he could endure everything the Clinton campaign threw at him in the most confrontational week of the presidential contest so far, but also that he could draw voters across racial lines even in a Southern state.

...

California Primary Update - Re: Union Endorsements

---

Breaking News: Obama Supporters Scuttle Hillary’s CTA Endorsement! by Dave Rand

Score a big behind the scenes victory for Obama’s California campaign today. Word is leaking out that CTA’s membership staged an outright mutiny at Los Angeles’ Bonaventure Hotel and bucked its own Board’s attempt to railroad through an early endorsement for Hillary. CTA’s elites apparently got a big wake up call when their effort to crown Hillary as the official choice of California’s teachers was upended by overwhelming resistance from rank and file Obama supporters. The vaunted pre Feb 5th CTA endorsement – which was widely expected to go Clinton’s way – appears to now be postponed to April (when we will all be on the edge of our seats, I am sure).

The Hillary repudiation at CTA is more than just inside baseball. This could portend an erosion of support among powerful constituencies that are supposed to be the bedrock of Clinton’s California operation. Add this development with Obama’s superior California ground game, and a big bounce coming out of South Carolina, and he may have enough steam to pull off a victory in the Golden state. ...comments: http://www.camajorityreport.com/index.ph...

 http://elbo.ws/video/j4ZcDGrTelU/

The guy in the wheel chair?       ...that's the way I feel after Hatch, Gingrich, Lott, Regan, Bush, Boner, etc...

I want my country back!

The Cardigans - Communication       http://musicslut.blogspot.com/2008/01/retro-clip-cardigans-on-mtv-euro-awards.html

Communication s/b 'Erase/Rewind'

6.

Susan --

good news about CTA members in CA (a Grass Roots rebellion).

8:39 PM EST

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080128/pl_afp/usvote2008obamakennedy_080128004906

Obama gets boost from Kennedy endorsements

43 minutes ago

...

The unexpected support from the dean of the party's liberal wing came as a slap in the face to national front-runner Hillary Clinton amid reports that Kennedy turned down an appeal for backing from former president and longtime ally Bill Clinton.

...

The Washington news website Politico.com said the Clintons "launched a last-ditch effort over the last few days to stop Kennedy's move, orchestrating a flood of phone calls to Kennedy from sources ranging from union chiefs to his Massachusetts constituents."

"During his two terms in the White House, president Clinton made repeated overtures to the Kennedy family," Politico wrote. "So the senator's rejection of his wife is at least as embarrassing as her 28-point loss in the South Carolina primary on Saturday."

...

8:48 EST

8:49 PM EST

The understanding is that Ted Kennedy phoned Bill Clinton and told him repeatedly that he (Bill) needs to pipe it down with the attacks against Obama -- that it was hurting the democratic party in general.

Bill, though, proceded to keep up the attacks and, thus, long-on-the-fence TK decided to endorse Obama.

7:52 CST

so paine do you approve of my six point spread for the Pats? (testing comment order 7:54 CST)

8:55 EST

I'm not a gambler, but 6 points is OK by me and more accurate than the 14 point spread form last week.

8:57 EST

8:57 PM EST

Tom Hayden just endorsed Obama:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-hayden/an-endorsement-of-the-mov_b_83478.html

Posted January 27, 2008 | 04:49 PM (EST)

With the California primary ten days away, it's time to decide. And for me, it's not been easy.

My paramount concern is to prevent a Republican victory in November. Even though it seems to be a Democratic year, no one can say which Democratic can defeat, say, John McCain, the full-throated advocate of "winning" the Iraq war. At stake are many issues beyond Iraq, not least the appointment of the next generation of federal judges.

...

That leaves Barack Obama. I have been devastated by too many tragedies and betrayals over the past 40 years to ever again deposit so much hope in any single individual, no matter how charismatic or brilliant. But today I see across the generational divide the spirit, excitement, energy and creativity of a new generation bidding to displace the old ways. Obama's moment is their moment, and I pray that they succeed without the sufferings and betrayals my generation went through. There really is no comparison between the Obama generation and those who would come to power with Hillary Clinton, and I suspect she knows it. The people she would take into her administration may have been reformers and idealists in their youth, but they seem to seek now a return to their establishment positions of power. They are the sorts of people young Hillary Clinton herself would have scorned at Wellesley. If history is any guide, the new "best and brightest" of the Obama generation will unleash a new cycle of activism, reform and fresh thinking before they follow pragmatism to its dead end.

...

So I endorse the movement that Barack Obama has inspired and will support his candidacy in the inevitable storms ahead.

so you and I are on the same server paine; a conversation would be possible if I had anything useful to say 8:02 CST

9:05 EST

sorry, I should have been paying attention, Phill...I didn't think you had anything to say!;-)

9:06 ?

Bill, though, proceded to keep up the attacks and, thus, long-on-the-fence TK decided to endorse Obama.<<<<<<<<<<

Good news.  A former president so highly visible in his wife's campaign....unseemly.   

9:09 EST

8:10 CST

Giants have to play man on Moss have a takeaway touchdown hold Pats to three field goals, two of which are red zone stops have a goal line stand stop the running game and maintain field position to win is all

Clinton faces more of an uphill climb than that

9:05 PM EST

from the ground up -- the Grass Roots:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrSGBYSd1Jw

Hillary can do good work in the Senate. 

9:10 PM EST

Gov Deval Patrick and Lt Gov Tim Murray were at the N E Patriots send off this morning at Gillette stadium.

of course if the National Men's Skating championship can end in a tie so can the Democratic nomination

the good news, the Chair breaks a tie

9:16 pm est

Clinton's uphill climb also needs some new plays. For no particular reason, and I'm thinking the Pats will pull it off, but Hillary won't.

We will get a sense of the game when the game starts.

I gotta go, bbl

9:19

the sequencing seems better?

Mauro: Update all of Iowa's voting machines

More than 70 counties must update their voting machines to meet a new state law that requires a paper trail for every machine. The state’s top election official believes this presents an excellent – but expensive — opportunity.

All the counties could have the exact same voting machine technology if lawmakers require it, and help pay for it, Secretary of State Michael Mauro told lawmakers today.

~29. sequencing is still off, my posts are ending up in the middle. but Phil, even thought we're on different servers, I'll have a conversation with you any day :-) You too, Paine. Catcha later, and how about Thai for lunch next time?

Cripes, 14. is at 9:23 pm est

9:24 PM EST

tomorrow will be three Kennedys endorsing Obama --

Ted, Patrick and Caroline:

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/01/27/politics/fromtheroad/entry3756225.shtml

Kerry had a good sized voting list (3 million)?
I wonder if he will turn them over to Obama?

now the blog won't let me post...
good night..
9:29 EST

A quick pop in.  Good news coming outta CA.  HC will not go down quietly nor honestly IMO.

And....should BO win the nomination, who would be his VP?

Besides his votes and lack of foreign policy knowledge and experience plus his cozying up to the gov't of Israel, there's something about him I just don't trust.  The Kennedy endorsement means nothing, since Kennedy endorsed loser JK.  The Kennedy's are not w/o corruption.  All his endorsements are good for him and bad for us, since these people should be endorsing a populist candidate, not a corporate/war candidate. 

The dem party knows that most of the people can be fooled enuf of the time to get voted in their inside man/woman.  IMO BO represents the republican wing of the democratic party.

Let's see what he does with FISA.  And why is he not speaking about the Constitution?  Nope, nopey, nope, I don't trust him.

And why all the endorsements before Super Tues?  Are all these people afraid that JE might gain serious traction and they don't want that?  

Assuming we once had a country, when did we lose it?  When did the people not matter or have we never mattered?  

"May you live in an interesting time." chinese curse 

It's all theater, designed to make the people think they have a voice. Our truly good populist leaders are *disposed* of.  I don't think we have to worry about BO since he's already voting and toeing the line while sounding like he's gonna CHANGE things. 

IMO Americans are the most polically naive people on the planet..and possible the least informed...I would think it wise to run away fast from the candidate the people follow. 

We shall see.

Oh, 6:50 western

seashell, IMO the Kennedy endorsements are more about helping Obama take on Hillary than anything about Edwards.

Edwards has made an alliance with Obama, IMO, maybe in return for VP consideration. You'll note that neither of them has a bad word for the other.

I personally wish Obama would put my fave Barbara Boxer on his ticket, but we will see. One thing I can guarantee, he won't ask Billary.

As for the FL and MI delegations, I find it richly ironic that Howard gets to decide this, given the wretched way Hillary trated Howard in 2004. Heh heh heh, payback is a beeotch.

-- volney

Obama-Boxer '08

WILL HILL CHILL BILL?

Kerry had a good sized voting list (3 million)?
I wonder if he will turn them over to Obama?

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

They asked us to destroy them after the election.  So all they have, if they do, are really old, corrupt voters' lists.  The ones we spent hours and hours updating are gone.  Nice work.

10:15 pm EST 

Obama/Warner would be a perfect ticket.

- Young

- Experienced

- Govenor

- Low Negatives

-  

17/38. KErry lists may have been destroyed, but many have been rebuilt due to the canvassing efforts Howard put forth over the past 4 years. I don't see JE as a VP candidate again, but ya never know. Atty. Gen. seems more likely?

10:36 pm est

10:42 PM ET

Obama/Schweitzer

offered by 'broken record' lol

JudyforDean where is our Dean report?

Nitie all

16. Phil Spect: If Hillary campaigns in Florida should be stripped of all the delegates she has won so far.

Disenfranchising the people who have voted for her up until now is not the answer.  Delegates aren't playthings or weapons to be used as the insiders deem fit. They are people who embody the votes of thousands of others -- and as such they can't be casually tossed aside.

Obama/Warner would be a perfect ticket.

You want to REALLY throw a monkey wrench into the GOP's machine?

Obama/Sebelius 

(Never mind that she's virtually a Republican.)

<>Or Obama/Napolitano

(Never mind that she's a former Republican.) 

Disenfranchising the people who have voted for her up until now is not the answer.  Delegates aren't playthings or weapons to be used as the insiders deem fit. They are people who embody the votes of thousands of others -- and as such they can't be casually tossed aside.

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

when a long run is called back for holding they still walk off the penalty

the penalty for Hillary needs to be added to the nullification of the run by Florida

Hillary is a great VeePee choice for the Republican Party.

You need to find a way to penalize Hillary without penalizing the people who have cast votes already.

The bad publicity she'll get may be punishment enough. 

strip her of superdelegates?

McCain/Clinton yikes

they were get alot of votes

they were??! they would

calling it a night

strip her of superdelegates?

How can she be stripped of delegates who can vote as they please?

This looks to me a like a job for the Court of Public Opinion (with a little help from faxes by the Obama/Edwards campaigns to the media).

I believe HC has more superdels than BO.  Can she be stripped of them? 

A BO/JE ticket means little to no foreign affairs experience.   I'd much prefer a JE/BO tickie, except the same problem remains, plus that corporate BO thing that annoys me.

Is it possible that the superdels could give it to Hillary even tho BO might win?  And.....can JE stop that from happening? And.....would JE take a VP offer?

I think we've all read that BO has denied making any deals with JE..so...is he lying or not interested?  I would think he'd be very interested if JE is kingmaker. 

Way too soon to write off HC and her guy who runs interference for her.   You know, ol' what's his name.  LOL

Can she be stripped of them?

Uberdelegates aren't committed to vote for anyone -- so how could they be stripped? And the last thing Dean and the DNC would want to do anyway is start a big fight at this juncture with the Clintons and a lot of powerful party politicians.

Uberdelegates suck any way you look at it. 

I think we've all read that BO has denied making any deals with JE..so...is he lying or not interested?  I would think he'd be very interested if JE is kingmaker.

Obama would not make any deal with Edwards until such time as he needed those delegates and Edwards had enough of them to put him over the top. And using the title "kingmaker" for a guy who's hasn't won a primary or caucus -- and probably won't -- and who's campaign is on life support, is a bit presumptuous, don't you think? 

Way too soon to write off HC and her guy who runs interference for her.   You know, ol' what's his name.

Edwards? 

Edwards eyes convention role - to what end? By: Steve Benen


Joe Trippi, a top strategist for John Edwards’ presidential campaign, conceded to the Wall Street Journal that the former senator probably won’t be the Democratic nominee, but can still have a significant influence on who is.

“I think 200 delegates on Feb. 6 is our over-under,” Mr. Trippi said. Although he continues to insist that Mr. Edwards has a chance at securing the nomination, Mr. Trippi concedes it is a long shot. More probable: arriving at the convention with enough delegates to tip the scales in favor of either Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Obama. “Edwards is the primary force keeping Clinton under 50%,” Mr. Trippi said. “Worst case? We go to the convention as the peacemaker, kingmaker, whatever you want to call it.” ... read more: http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/01/26...

44.

Sitka
Sun, 01/27/08


All those DLCers is the Florida and the Michigan Legislatures sure did use their voters as play things when the tried to cheat the DNC rules by making deals with the Florida and Michigan Republicans. If I was a Florida or a Michigan Democratic voter I sure would be mad at my state party's officials who were using my vote with such contempt and so deceitfully.

Joe Trippi, a top strategist for John Edwards� presidential campaign, conceded to the Wall Street Journal that the former senator probably won�t be the Democratic nominee, but can still have a significant influence on who is.

As someone who has yet to vote, I'd rather use mine on the candidate I prefer than give it to Edwards so he can choose the candidate HE prefers.

Why go through a middle man to get Obama or the Clintons when I can make the choice myself?

3935

Famous Last Words........

"That little boy is driving well and he's putting well. He's doing everything it takes to win. So, you know what you guys do when he gets in here? You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not serve fried chicken next year. Got it?"..........or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve."  <>

<>Fuzzy Zeller vanished from golf's stage shortly after making that remark about then rising star Tiger Woods who had just won the Masters.

And it's very possible that Bill Clinton and the political hacks who having been making racist statements and implications about rising star Barack Obama may be playing the last roles of their careers too, should Obama win out.

All those DLCers is the Florida and the Michigan Legislatures sure did use their voters as play things when the tried to cheat the DNC rules by making deals with the Florida and Michigan Republicans.

That's most true. But I can only reiterate that I don't think disenfranchinsing even more voters is the answer to the Clintons' machinations.

Call them on it and rightfully damage them in the public's mind. 

----- Original Message -----
From: Harry Reid
To: Susan Rowe
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 3:04 PM
Subject: FISA

Dear Susan,

Republicans seem to have forgotten that national security is one of the most important issues we address in the Senate. Yesterday, they proved the only thing they care about is politics.

They spent the day filibustering on the Senate floor, preventing Democrats from introducing any amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) bill. This means they are blocking an important amendment, which I support, that would make sure phone companies don't receive retroactive immunity.

At the end of the day, Senator McConnell decided he would try and stop debate entirely by filing for cloture. That means if Republicans get 60 votes on Monday, debate on this vital issue will be shut down.

Normally I wouldn't go this deep into Senate procedure, but if you care about your civil liberties and our national security, it is vital you tell your Senators to vote no on cloture Monday by visiting:

http://giveemhellharry.com/fisa

Looking at this situation makes me think the President and Republicans want to fail so they can run and cry to the media that Democrats are weak on national security. That line didn't work in 2006 and it won't work in 2008.

Closing the debate on this bill now is wrong.

Tell your Senators to vote no on cloture Monday by visiting:

http://giveemhellharry.com/fisa

Thank you,

Harry Reid

Paid for by Friends For Harry Reid 426 C Street, NE Rear Bldg. Washington, DC 20002

<> 

The yellow line (Obama) shows why the Clintons have gotten so desperate in recent weeks 

62.

Sitka
Mon, 01/28/08


They're the same voters. It's the State Committee's and then the County Committee's who are responsible for their own voters not the DNC. The DNC is responsible to it's members only.

64. 

The Reeps and their DLC collaborators wouldn't be on the verge of shoving the FISA bill through if Dithering Harry hadn't brought it to the floor.

Paid for by Friends For Harry Reid

If they were really Harry's friends they'd have an intervention for him.

They're the same voters. It's the State Committee's and then the County Committee's who are responsible for their own voters not the DNC. The DNC is responsible to it's members only.

Florida and Michigan voters were disenfranchised by the DNC because FL and MI politicians tried to rig the game for Hillary by holding their primaries early. Those are facts.

<>And it was suggested upthread by Phil that the voters of IA, NH, NV, and SC who voted for Hillary also be disenfranchised by stripping her of the delegates they chose. That's wrong.

While it may be satisfying to "stick it to Hillary," Democrats can't solve problems by disenfranchising the very people who make up the party every time politicians play their dirty games.

BREAKING! Hillary To Vote No on FISA Cloture Tomorrow


We interrupt this normally scheduled diary to bring you breaking news. Hillary Clinton has confirmed that she WILL be in DC on Monday for the FISA cloture vote, and that she will be voting no.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/27/...

BREAKING! Hillary To Vote No on FISA Cloture Tomorrow

Obama too. 

Clinton and Obama WILL Vote Tomorrow To Support Constitution

Could they have voted any other way?   LOL Do they really mean it or will they take it back?  My goodness!  What will the corps think of them now? 

Anyway, here's a photo from the tango costume party last night.  I have more but dial-ups might curse me forever if I post several.  :-)

OK, one more.  This is the hostess, "Carmen Miranda."  The colors got weird when I changed from JPG to GIF.

Anyone know why changing to GIF from a JFG shot with a digital cam does this?

I'm assuming congress is going to vote on this ridicuous package.  Most of us here on the blog can see thru this pretense of doing something while actually doing nothing.    Let's see what the kingy and queeny will do on THIS one.

Tax Stimulus Rebates To Be Withheld From Those Who Need It Most By William Cormier  (5 comments) the final details have been ironed-out and the legislation appears to be a sure thing. As usual, Washington made sure that those most harshly affected...

Putz still has time to blow up the world.  This is so serious, I may have to wear my Groucho outfit all week everywhere I go.

Terrorists Launch Big Offensive In Pakistan By Muhammad Khurshid  (3 comments) Now Pakistan has lauched the war on terror in real sincerity as the terrorists have reached very near to the corridor of power. But there are still so...

Make no mistake, the so-called "Protect America Act" was not designed to protect this country, but instead those corporate cronies whose ongoing sodomy of the First Amendment President Bush enthusiastically endorses. And, somebody needs to tell this legislator-in-chief the era of corporate protectionism won't outlast him.

Any White House that threatens to use the veto this much clearly mistakes it for Viagra.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_jayne_ly_080127_state_of_the_bully_a.htm 

Groucho your costume is A plus!

And our dems, including BO and HC, have allowed this to continue.

Sheila Samples: Traffic Jam on the Highway to Hell Our government is nothing but a Good Ol' Boys and Girls club, with judges, journalists, legislators and administration jesters whooping it up while pillaging the Treasury, ignoring cries of their victims, turning a blind eye to slaughtered and displaced innocents, and sending thousands of their own citizens to their deaths. They have mauled, raped and obstructed Justice until that once noble Lady is no longer recognizable.

I forgot about the SOTU tomorrow night - that will be hard to sit through. The man is so despised that you would think there would be some kind of demonstration. Pelosi and Reid of course will have something canned and corny to say afterward.

Well, this certainly goes along with HC's statement:  paraphrase:

"We have to prepare for the next war."

McCain Warns: "There Will Be Other Wars" John McCain told a crowd of supporters on Sunday, "It's a tough war we're in. It's not going to be over right away. There's going to be other wars." Offering more of his increasingly bleak "straight talk," he repeated the claim: "I'm sorry to tell you, there's going to be other wars. We will never surrender but there will be other wars."

I forgot about the SOTU tomorrow night - that will be hard to sit through.

Haven't sat through or even watched a single minute of one of his yet. Won't start now. 

And our dems, including BO and HC, have allowed this to continue.

Mustn't give Edwards a pass for his parts in the worst of it. 

McCain Warns: "There Will Be Other Wars"

If he becomes president, at least. 

Tax Stimulus Rebates To Be Withheld From Those Who Need It Most

We called it on this blog 2 days ago. 

Here's a good list of who, what, when, where and why re: FISA and how to contact everybody.

 http://firedoglake.com/2008/01/27/fisa-its-a-sunday-fax-a-thon-for-the-rule-of-law/

And for all you Jack Nicholson/Morgan Freeman fans, "The Bucket List" is good.  They are superb!

Thanks, Annilow.  Good night and good luck.  :-)

One more or so....

Putz will end up putting us on South America's Axis of Evil.

The vehemently anti-US leader says Nicaragua, Bolivia, Cuba and Dominica should create one united force.

Mr Chavez, a long time critic of what he sees as US imperialism, made the comments after a summit of its leaders.

Despite constant US denials, Mr Chavez is convinced it poses a serious threat to South and Central America.

Venezuela's socialist leader has long been a critic of what he sees as US imperialism.

He has recently accused the country of trying to destabilise the region by forging stronger links with Colombia.

Mr Chavez has some key allies in his fight against capitalism, globalisation and the US.

Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua and now the Caribbean island of Dominica are all members of a trade alliance known as the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, a group that takes its name from South America's independence leader, Simon Bolivar.

Mr Chavez has urged them to draw up a joint defence policy and create a united military force against US imperialism.

The vehemently anti-US leader says Nicaragua, Bolivia, Cuba and Dominica should create one united force.

Mr Chavez, a long time critic of what he sees as US imperialism, made the comments after a summit of its leaders.

Despite constant US denials, Mr Chavez is convinced it poses a serious threat to South and Central America.

Venezuela's socialist leader has long been a critic of what he sees as US imperialism.

He has recently accused the country of trying to destabilise the region by forging stronger links with Colombia.

Mr Chavez has some key allies in his fight against capitalism, globalisation and the US.

Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua and now the Caribbean island of Dominica are all members of a trade alliance known as the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, a group that takes its name from South America's independence leader, Simon Bolivar.

Mr Chavez has urged them to draw up a joint defence policy and create a united military force against US imperialism.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7212457.stm 

oops, that was a *double your pleasure* thingie.

Anyone know why changing to GIF from a JFG shot with a digital cam does this?

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

Going from a jpg to a gif will *always* lose you some color/resolution.  Gifs don't have as much information in them: sort of like cartoons.  

4:37 am EST 

Good Morning, everybody at 5:06 AM                                                                                                                                                              Let's rephrase that headline from Columbia, shall we?  The Voters Have Spoken, black and white together.

So, the blog is still erratic.  

bbl 

I propose that one of the first acts of the new president should be to rename our soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen as what they are instead of calling them "warfighters."  Of course you're going to have war, if you've got a million warfighters.

Don't know when that started.  It was before Bush Two. 

47.  Yes, I've thought for some time Hillary should have run as a Republican.

Be that as it may, it just occurred to me that the Clinton backers who like to work behind the scenes are in a real pickle because they can't come out and reveal themselves.  They have to trust that the Clintons will do the right thing even though they now know that the Clintons can't be trusted.  

Tough. 

Ah, I finally got past puddle.  LOL

Well, I figured everybody was going to be rushing to D.C. today since Kennedy is going to make his Obama announcement there, together with Caroline.  So, Obama will be in D.C. to vote on FISA and the dems will steal the news cycle from the SOTUS. 

Looks like somebody finally got through Harry's thick head that it's not doing the telecoms a favor to make them the tools of government.  Nor is it doing the economic interests a favor to make it possible for the government to tap their communications lines.  

The duplicity of the anti-communist totalitarianism has been exposed.  It was only when the means of production were to be popularly controlled that they were opposed to totalitarian rule.  Totalitarian rule is great when the "right" predators are in charge. 

The Michigan Primary was moved up because governor Granholm and enough legislators wanted it. Dems were willing if not major pushers of this deal and all the praising has come from the few Dem powerful. The Michigan Dem party leaders were against the deal but were overuled.
Florida is the same except the Repub governor and repub majority state congress wanted the deal. Florida Dems were against the deal but are stuck with it.

5:50 AM

A good place for Bill for a long time.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-borow...

Buried in the article was this gem
[snip]
Elsewhere, the White House announced that President Bush's State of the Union address would be simulcast in English.

Florida Dems were against the deal but are stuck with it.

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

If you had followed any of floridagal's links you would know that not to be true, but Dingell and Levin were the principals in MI's push.

what Clinton's move does it make it much more contentious an issue, making the fight not about a slap on the hand which was likely to an actual credentials fight like happened back in the civil rights fight days

in other words the Clinton's will go to any extreme to try and paint Obama as the black candidate

Florida has been a anti-Dean effort on the part of the pro-Clinton players and a part of her campaign plan from the git go

this just shows that they are last gasp desperate

look at sitka's poll numbers at 63 above and you will see the truth of my assertion that it is Edwards steady support that is denying Clinton the nomination as long as he stays in the race, might not be true after Feb 5th but remember now we have to add Florida nd Michigan delegates back in since Clinton is claiming them so need to be overcome elsewhere.

if they end up not being determinate they will just be seated

stripping Clinton of super delegates doesn't disenfranchise anyone and would be the appropriate remedy kind of like using stripping Committee Chairs for ethical breaches in Congress

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sg_NRC8ozk

Perhaps if we don't insert any more images or videos, the software will settle down.  It may just be that the loading time screws up the sequencing of posts. 

I don't know where Sea's pictures came from, but i did notice that after they were fully loaded into my cache, the comment posting resumed regular order.  You do know that images are all loaded onto your hard-drive, right?  When you close your browser, they will be cleared, if that's how you have your preferences set.  Otherwise, they will sit there and, if they happen to be live (moving commercials) will continue to claim not just space but power.  I don't notice this on my computers with towers, but on the lap top the energy consumption causes a heat build-up and turns on the cooling fan, which I can hear.

Email messages sent via comcast, btw, consume energy as long as the mail program is open.  Putting them into trash does shut the power drain down. 

Good Morning, everybody at 5:06 AM                                                                                                                                                              Let's rephrase that headline from Columbia, shall we?  The Voters Have Spoken, black and white together.  

+++

Yes, indeed.  Most of the headlines are spinning this for what it wasn't.  It was across the board (all demographics win for Obama and the forces of change - add Obama's 24 % white vote to Edwards 40% and that's close to 2/3rds of that vote for change; in all age, income levels, etc. on Obama's own, he bested Clinton and Edwards, even combined in some instances)

One of the few news media outlets that got what happened in SC correctly -- The International Herald Tribune:

Obama wins South Carolina, backed by whites and blacks

COLUMBIA, South Carolina: Senator Barack Obama proved with his victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary not only that he could endure everything the Clinton campaign threw at him in the most confrontational week of the presidential contest so far, but also that he could draw voters across racial lines even in a Southern state.

...

A really good summary of the PNAC clan--

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/27/205559/973/1018/444438 

I think the problems with the blog started when we got the image and video link capability.  Perhaps the program should be tweaked to limit the importation of images to those that have been uplinked to DFALink.  Other sites, such as KOS limit the originatin web sites for images to places like photo bucket.  Which means that they've made special arrangements to accept those URLs and not others.

While being able to uplink images from anywhere is nice, I'm not sure it's wise from a security point of view.  We've already seen how commercials can be snuk in. 

107.  This comment just shot my image hypothesis to hell.  Oh well.

But *rdorgan you missed my point.  The emphasis should be on what the voters have decided and accomplished, not on what the candidates did.  They did nothing but watch the votes come in and then make comments.

Elections are about the voters. 

*rdorgan

Did you wait for all the images on this thread to be loaded before you submitted your comment?  Did you notice? 

107.

Ok, so far, what the voters have accomplished, in their quest for change:

IA: O 38% + E 30% = 68%

NH: O 37% + E 17% = 54%

NV: O 45% + E 4% = 49%

SC: O 55% + E 18% = 73%

7:49 AM EST 

108.

Huh ? I don't understand what you're asking ?

7:57 AM EST

"If at first you don't suceed, try, try, again":

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/01/28/kerry_to_face_gop_challenge/

Vowing to fight illegal immigration, reduce US military presence in Iraq, and wean the nation off oil imports, Republican Jim Ogonowski has announced that he will challenge incumbent Democratic Senator John F. Kerry for his US Senate seat.

...

Campaigning as a populist reformer pledging to shake up the status quo, Ogonowski lost his bid for Congress last fall in his first run for political office, but garnered 45 percent of the vote and made the race closer than expected in a heavily Democratic area.

Since his defeat by Democrat Niki Tsongas in a race that drew national attention

...

Ogonoswki, the brother of an airline pilot killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, said national security would be his top priority

...

FEAR AND DENIAL

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_sheila_s_080127_traffic_jam_on_the_h.htm

Still backing up posts.

screw this useless blog!

7:59 am

About Florida moving the date...

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/08/26/State/...

[snip]
With a major tax overhaul initiative on the ballot Jan. 29 and a potential multimillion-dollar cost for caucuses, state Democrats said they had no choice but stick with Jan. 29. Democrats tried to stop Florida Republicans from setting the date.

And another article about Florida moving the date.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/...

[snip]
The Florida Democrats argued that the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature and governor changed the primary date and they had little control.
----------------------------------------------
I guess we can play cut-and-paste for a while!

 Democrats tried to stop Florida Republicans from setting the date

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

That has been proven untrue by floridagals posts and links time and again. do your due diligence dog soldier

I will counter my own articles...
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-...

[snip]
GOP officials in the state say they had no idea until late in this spring's legislative session that the change would create so much turmoil on the Democratic side.

"I don't think anybody made us aware of that until the very end of the process," said Marco Rubio, the Republican state House speaker.

And Jeremy Ring, a Democratic state senator from Broward County and co-sponsor of the legislation, defended it.

Phil,
there are lots of articles to show both sides...

And Jeremy Ring, a Democratic state senator from Broward County and co-sponsor of the legislation, defended it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

proof right there

see above...

which of your links should I believe the NYT or the words of the co-sponsor you just posted?

Dems were in on it not innocent victims of those mean old republicans

and now Hillary just stuck a thumb in Howard's eye

a swift boat attack on Howard Dean is not going to go unanswered by me

Another
http://www.makeitcountflorida.com/page/c...

[big snip]

Question: The DNC says that Florida could have applied to hold an early primary when it was developing the calendar, but didn’t. Why not?

Answer: In Florida, the Legislature is controlled by Republicans. Democrats must prioritize what they work on to achieve the best they can for Floridians. An early primary was never a priority for Democrats, who remain far more concerned with issues such as insurance reform, increased healthcare for children, and improving our schools.

Question: The Rules say you had to try to stop the primary move, but Democrats voted for the law. What gives?

Aanswer: Initially, before a specific date had been decided upon by the Republicans, some Democrats did actively support the idea of moving earlier in the calendar year. That changed when Speaker Rubio announced he wanted to break the Rules of the Democratic and Republican National Committees. Following this announcement, DNC and Florida Democratic Party staff talked about the possibility that our primary date would move up in violation of Rule 11.A.

Party leaders, Chairwoman Thurman and members of Congress then lobbied Democratic members of the Legislature through a variety of means to prevent the primary from moving earlier than February 5th. Party leadership and staff spent countless hours discussing our opposition to and the ramifications of a pre-February 5th primary with legislators, former and current Congressional members, DNC members, DNC staff, donors, activists, county leaders, media, legislative staff, Congressional staff, municipal elected officials, constituency leaders, labor leaders and counterparts in other state parties. In response to the Party’s efforts, Senate Democratic Leaders Geller and Wilson and House Democratic Leaders Gelber and Cusack introduced amendments to CS/HB 537 to hold the Presidential Preference Primary on the first Tuesday in February, instead of January 29th. These were both defeated by the overwhelming Republican majority in each house.

The primary bill, which at this point had been rolled into a larger legislation train, went to a vote in both houses. It passed almost unanimously. The final bill contained a whole host of elections legislation, much of which Democrats did not support. However, in legislative bodies, the majority party can shove bad omnibus legislation down the minority’s throats by attaching a couple of things that made the whole bill very difficult, if not impossible, to vote against. This is what the Republicans did in Florida, including a vital provision to require a paper trail for Florida elections. There was no way that any Florida Democratic Party official or Democratic legislative leader could ask our Democratic members, especially those in the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, to vote against a paper trail for our elections. It would have been embarrassing, futile, and, moreover, against Democratic principles.

Question: Why can’t you just change the primary date?
Answer: Unfortunately, Florida Democrats are outnumbered almost 2 to 1 in the Legislature. They are an extremely hard-working and committed group, but to change a law that the Speaker of the House has made a priority is nearly impossible.

That Democratic leaders of the Florida legislature didn't know what was going on doesn't pass the smell test, but that is a different issue entirely than Hillary breaking her pledge to Howard and the other candidates which is a direct attack on Dean. the Clinton's opened another front against progressives this time directly aimed at Howard dean personally.

Phil,
What are you talking about?
Attacking Howard?
The issue is more complex about Florida then what you make it out to be.
The Dems wanted to be earlier but not early enough to hurt their delegate chances.
They tried to compromise with their opposites and got screwed.

regular readers here that followed floridagal's links know the real story

8:25 AM EST 

on the day of the dem phantom primary votes in FL --

-- Obama heads to El Dorado:

http://www.kansas.com/news/story/294153.html

What: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's campaign stop in El Dorado

Where: Butler Community College gymnasium, 901 S.W. Haverhill Road, in El Dorado

When: Doors at 11:45 a.m. Obama's scheduled arrival time has not been announced by his campaign.

How much: The event is free and open to the public. But an RSVP is required.

To RSVP, go to http://my.barackobama.com/ElDoradoCommunityEvent or call 316-789-5194.

...

All Michigan and Florida delegates should be undecided. Dems need to campaign in Florida and Michigan else the Repubs get a big lead in organization. Putting the delegate stuff aside, Dems have to be in all states at all levels (50 state campaign).

I'm not going to bring up things I learned in executive session. unlike Hillary Clinton my word is good

dog soldier I've been involved with these rules fights for two and a half years you are arguing with the wrong guy, but if a pledge to the Party Chair can be broken, so can a Treaty by a Unitary Executive, and I don't want another liar as President

8:31 AM EST 

129.

Ditto.

Honor thy pledges.

The primaries allow candidates to interact with the people. By not coming to Michigan, Dems have hurt their chances in November. The political climate is slowing changing to Repub as the economy spirals out of control and governor Granholm is left holding the bag (wrongly).
Romney or McCain will do well here.

Phil,
What are you babbling about?
I am not arguing with anybody except Dems need to be in all states regardless of the delegate issue. Dems are still holding fundraisers in states where the delegates won't count. Make Florida and Michigan delegates undecided and allow them to participate in the convention.
To not campaign in both states gives them to the Repubs in November. To not allow their delegates to be seated as uncommitted turns off the Dem supporters.
What the two states did was dumb. It has to be rectified in a way that lets Dems compete.
Dems lose without Michigan and Florida.

 Dems have hurt their chances in November

~~~~~~~~~~~

I'd complain to Levin and Dingell since they are responsible.

kudos to the Brits:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080128/wl_africa_afp/britainsleonediplomacyaidenergy_080128133033

Britain to help get lights back on Sierra Leone

9 minutes ago

LONDON (AFP) - Britain is to provide 20 million pounds (26.9 million euros, 39.6 million dollars) to improve electricity provision in Sierra Leone, the government announced Monday.

...

"It should provide a sustainable electricity supply to the one million residents of Freetown and provide lighting and power for health centres, water pumping stations, colleges and police stations," he said in a statement.

Alexander's department said if averaged out over the whole population, the power generated in Sierra Leone last year was only about two watts -- equivalent to one lightbulb per 30 people.

...

After watching 60 minutes last nite and the incredulous story on saddam and some fbi agent, I could have drop kicked both of them and the tv to the curb.

bringing up the same old lies. and where would an undercover fbi agent give out this info. it was all crap.         

and the reporter said at the beginning that saddam "led us" into two wars.

lies, and more lies before bush's state of lies speech.

cbs, you suck, and that is being nice.

Phil,
It was just as much Granholm's fault because she thought it would get publicity for the poor economic climate. It didn't work.
The state Dem party chair was against it. Your trite comment (133) sounds like something Sitka would say. Repubs will take Michigan unless accomodations are made to energize Dems. That won't happen by denying them at large seats.

There is one and only one candidate that is trying to turn the rules squabble into a personal advantage and in so doing is breaking her word to the Party Chair.

Granholm probably wasn't even a US citizen when this fight started.  

137,
Now I understand what you are complaining about.
You are complaining about HC trying to get her delegates after the other candidates honored the DNC wishes and stayed away. My suggestion is to remove all Mich and Fla delegates from all candidates and allow them to be uncommitted. Then they can attend the convention and the state Dems won't feel left out.

gotta go..will play later.

Good morning, BFA! And I am now on EST REAL time.

********
I owe everyone a Howard report. You would have had it on Thurs am but there was no functioning BFA when I had my brief "blog moments" and that was it for a few days as we were prepping to come to the US, actually came to the US (sans luggage for another 18 hours!), had to celebrate some birthdays and other family doings and NOW ... I am finally back on-line.

*********
Yes, cC, I too mourn Roger's lost match. But he had his chances and Djokovic was just too good. What with Tsonga now in the mix ... and actually getting a set against Djokovic in yesterday's final ... I think that we have some excellent men's tennis to look forward to this year. Roger will have his chances again, I am sure.

Morning Blog,

Congratulations to New York on having a verifiable paper trail for voting.  Now if we can just get it throughout the entire United States.

Phil, are you enjoying the temps today before the weather turns nasty tomorrow?

7:54 am CST 

Florida and Michigan I'm sure would go along with a plan to turn all of their delegates into super delegates as dog soldier suggests.

as I have stated before there is no such thing as a Party without Rules

those that would like to destroy the Democratic Party are mostly Republicans, but every once in awhile officials want to turn it into a personal fiefdom, and then thoses pesky Rules get in the way

Rules are the only way a grassroots can take over the destiny of a Party otherwise it is top down "get in line" muscle

a Presidential Candidate that ignores the Rules would likely ignore the Constitution as well

9:07 AM EST

http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2008/01/28/kennedys_to_endorse_barack_obama_for_president/

January 28, 2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Rep. Patrick Kennedy on Monday

...

Kennedy becomes the only prominent Democrat in the state, and the only member of the Rhode Island congressional delegation, to endorse Obama. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Rep. Jim Langevin have endorsed Clinton. Sen. Jack Reed has not endorsed anyone.

Former President Bill Clinton said last week that Rhode Island, New York and Massachusetts were his wife's "three best states."

9:14 AM EST

! Si se peude !

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Vh27q0MkFVY

Wow, how did my previous post get moved up a lot, Bloggie Behaving Badly yet again?

************
The Howard Report ... first, I must provide the great disappointments: no photos allowed (this was a completely off-the-record event), although one previously authorized person was videotaping; and in my brief moment with Howard, I did not get to mention his blogging here. Really sorry about that.

But, those were the ONLY disappointments, except as described more below. As those of you who have met Howard in person know, he is absolutely magnetic. There were around 50 in attendance (there were lots more who wanted to come, but had just missed out on the responses) and they were from all over the country. There were even a couple of people who came over from London!

A few things that I can mention: Howard is very excited about the Global Primary being held this year by Dems Abroad and our own Christine Schoen Marques from Switzerland is running the show. He is excited about it because if voting security can be assured, on-line voting may become the nouvelle vague at home and would thus remove the teeth from the states who want to move their primaries earlier and earlier because the DNC could then just run its own primaries.

As for the MI and FL delegates this year, what Howard proposes is much what dog has described, i.e., assigning the delegates to no one but credentialing them at the convention so that they can still vote.

Howard is very excited about ALL the Dem candidates and really wants all Dems to quit the circular firing squads and rally round whoever is the nominee because whoever that person is will be 500 times better than anyone that the Repos have. Of course, as DNC chair, he has to spout the party line, but he is quite serious about this and sees this election as really drawing the line. If we do not win, this country is literally on a track from which we may ever recover.

Where he disappointed many of those present was on one issue: impeachment. We who live and work in the international environment are quite sure that merely changing those in power without punishing the wrong-doers for what are essentially war crimes under any definition will not be satisfactory to a world that is beginning to function quite well without us. I do not believe that even Howard understands the full ramifications of what putzCo have done to America's standing, reputation, and influence abroad at a time when other countries have learned to stand on their own, without us, and when goodwill is about the best thing that we will have going for us. Of course, he must in his position appear to support the Dems, but many of us believe that they are wrong in this position. Howard said that they can be left to the Courts, but given how the judiciary has been stacked by these literal evildoers, I am not sure that our justice system will provide the answer.

I do know, however, that his presence was energizing and hopeful and it does make me believe that we can win, with whichever of the candidates is the nominee.

I am sorry that I was not able to report back sooner, but last week altogether was pretty busy and when BFA acts up at key moments, that can really jinx a lot of things.

143,
I agree with the need to follow the rules. To totally deny them seats as punishment was unworkable anyway. As this year may turn out to be a brokered convention, making their delegates uncommitted gives these states more power anyway.

I give up ... what turned into my 133 was written well after what is now dog's 142.

The blog was better BEFORE all the so-called fixes.

Sheesh, it happened again. I am leaving for now and perhaps a miracle will take place and the blog will begin to work again.

One can always hope, but frankly, this is BAD.

new thread guys and you are it!!!!!!!!!!!!

look at sitka's poll numbers at 63 above and you will see the truth of my assertion that it is Edwards steady support that is denying Clinton the nomination as long as he stays in the race

I've never seen an explanation as to why supporters of The Great Populist would switch to the Clintons if he wasn't in the campaign.