Birthday "boys" are first! Happy Birthday, Howard!

Happy Birthday to the Number one guy, Governor Howard Dean!!!

Every game day at Notre Dame, the private jets fly over my house like buses. All I can wonder is: do they EVER think about anyone but their own needs, do they think about THEIR carbon footprint? Is it all up to us (middle class folks) to make the sacrifices for THEIR wasteful consumption.

Some days are more pessimistic than others.

HOWARD IS FIRST TODAY - HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOWARD.

FIRST AS ALWAYS HERE.

Linda and Steve are hard to beat to the plate:))

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

After Bush’s religious-based initiatives in 2001, thousands – if not millions of those dollars eventually ended up in the hands of the GOP party and some Repug candidates.

Knowing their history of corruption, which we know it is anything but dead, I don’t buy into the Repugs’ claims that they have a fraction of the money in their campaign coffers compared to what Dems have in theirs?

I believe all of that "lost" money in Iraq and at the Homeland Security Dept has passed through many Repug hands to filter down into safely hidden away offshore accounts or personal accounts of the willing and that it will appear during the 2008 general election campaign to elect their candidates.

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday Howard Dean

Now they see what we mean,

no longer the candidate of mean

As even Wolf Blitzer deems,

"What a nice man", Howard Dean 

Sorry Steve, maybe it was my roll i was on...and my popping on shocked the bloggie.

Excellent blog Michael!

On that topic, it is also silly to make driver's licenses an issue since that is entirely a states rights issue and we all know how much Repugs support states rights -- at least when it serves their purposes!

My diary (last year) is still relevant. A year later and a bit more subdued about how well we're doing with this congress,

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/11/17/145628/20

You deserve a giant birthday cake from all of us who want to take our country back! Your courageous run for President in 2004 awakened a spirit in the land that resulted in taking back the Congress in 06. Your work now as DNC Chair will take back the White House in 2008!

Nice pic Linda.

Bill Richardson did answer the DL question correctly at the debate. What I find interesting is that we have a main post that doesn't acknowledge the Governor's answer even though he was on stage right there with the "front runners".

Even in Iowa where they come to our living rooms in person the media annointed ones seem to be the only candidates that exist in many eyes.

All we're getting is 'sound bites'  (from our idiot press and the REpublicans) about Kyl-Lieberman resolution -- I feel like Michael Moore should be out there with his megaphone - asking if we've 'read it'.

Kyl-Lieberman – Iran ‘non-binding’ resolution was GUTTED by Democrats, the language was substantially weakened.  Those Democrats who voted for it, did so only after ‘bellicose language about military force had been removed".

Hillary Cinton Statement: ... “I voted for this resolution in order to apply greater diplomatic pressure on Iran. This resolution in no way authorizes or sanctions military action against Iran and instead seeks to end the Bush Administration's diplomatic inaction in the region. “This legislation reaffirms my policy of engagement and refers specifically to the statement of Defense Secretary Gates who said that "diplomatic and economic means" are "by far the preferable approach" for dealing with the threat posed by Iran.

The virtual cake I gave Mr. Gore this year, I think appropriate to pass along to Governor Dean.

wonder if hipster doofus is going to blog with us one of these weekends

Howard Dean is such a charismatic guy in person, I wish I had a way to know how many of my Howardly winners have had that live person to person inspiration.

Howard did look great at the debate, I think he likes his job.

Phil Specht
Sat, 11/17/07
12:49 pm

I thought Richardson's answer was right on, too. We have a new law in Indiana that you need a Social Security number (with proof) in order to get a license. Underhanded way to deny undocumented folks and make the roads much less safe.

 I couldn't even register my car until I showed proof. And I lost my Soc. card years ago.

thank you Joan.

So - I should have been the 13th post - but ended up as NO. 1?   Sorry Howard!  We always honor the man who gave us the courage to fight back.  Happy Birthday again. : )

3.

The rich and famous enough to fly privately do not care about their footprints -- they leave that up to their maids and butlers and yardmen who should dump their high gas milage so that these rich and famous can continue living in their fairy tale worlds.

If I won the Lotto tonight, if it was any more than I could spend in my lifetime living in my present lifestyle, I would contribute to charities, set up grands' college trusts, anything to keep from bring a rich bitch.

high gas milage CARS

duh!

I spent a couple of years at Ames, yet am not a fan, but I want the Cyclones to beat Kansas today to push LSU into the National Championship game so I don't have to hurry our caucus to make it to the Orange Bowl game at the bowling alley.

I wish New Hampshires SOS would announce the date so I could be sure we aren't moving to December to outflank Michigan, who I heard is going to jump again.

May they get beat by Ohio State.

do they EVER think about anyone but their own needs,

>

To quote one of 'em, "He who dies with the mostest, wins"

Iowa requires a birth certificate.

15.

Plenty of cake there for both Gore AND Dean. Maybe even a bite for each of us before the crowd gets here:)

Phil wrote:  Howard did look great at the debate, I think he likes his job.

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

yeah, he did. But I had a twinge of sadness to see him in such a role rather than on stage!

Joan

I met a woman at the Obama event who just moved to Iowa from Florida.

today we have snow flurries

I might have waited a few months if I was her.

she bought a house along the river for less than the down payment of one in Florida, (she said)but there is a reason houses sell for less here, you have to add in your heating bills to the cost of living

Live Earth Sequel? Nobel Peace Concert To Honor Gore and Co.
Filed under: honors, music — michael @ 12:26 pm

It has been announced that Uma Thurman will join Tommy Lee Jones in co-hosting the 2007 Nobel Peace Concert honoring winners Al Gore and the U.N.’s Climate Chance Panel. The December 11th concert, held the day after the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, will draw top music and film stars and be broadcast to more than 100 countries. Whether the world is ready or not, it looks like we’re going to have a mini Live Earth concert special on our hands again.

Slated to perform so far are Alicia Keys, Annie Lennox, Morten Harket, Earth, Wind & Fire, KT Tunstall, and Melissa Etheridge, who won an Academy Award this year for the song ‘I Need to Wake Up,’ which was featured in Gore’s environmental documentary An Inconvenient Truth. From the article,

“Geir Lundestad, the secretary of the Nobel Peace Prize committee, said they were delighted that Thurman had agreed to host. ‘She brings iconic style and substance to the event and will help us tremendously in our mission of spreading the global message of peace,’ Lundestad said.�

Tommy Lee Jones readily accepted co-hosting duties as well. After all, he was Gore’s roommate at Harvard University. Of course!

Have you ever heard of anyone having the type of year that Al Gore is having?

http://www.ecorazzi.com/?p=4414

Steve

I'm sure Howard was thinking that too looking at the stage. really good teams have a smile on their face and a swagger, and Dean can have that twinkle in his eye when he is having fun, but he had to be thinking, I could beat that lineup.

81.

Imn2Paine
Fri, 11/16/07
10:42 pm


The term social contract describes a broad class of philosophical theories whose subjects are the implied agreements by which people form nations and maintain a social order. In laymen's terms, this means that the people give up some rights to a government in order to receive social order. Social contract theory provides the rationale behind the historically important notion that legitimate state authority must be derived from the consent of the governed.

The starting point for most of these theories is a heuristic examination of the human condition absent from any social order, termed the “state of nature� or “natural state�. In this state of being, an individual’s action is bound only by his or her conscience.

From this common starting point, the various proponents of social contract theory attempt to explain, in different ways, why it is in an individual’s rational self-interest to voluntarily subrogate the freedom of action one has under the natural state (their so called “natural rights�) in order to obtain the benefits provided by the formation of social structures.
----------

Worthy remainder about sacrificing "some rights to a government in order to receive social order"!

All what's TODAY left to discover are:
- EITHER we "the People" are the "organisms" without conscience; therefore hundreds of millions of us need ONE SINGLE "decider" (President and/or Government) to decide everything for us,
- OR we are humans who DO HAVE conscience and therefore able not only to control ourselves but also to find MANY talented and capable deciders among us.

That's for us, for People to decide!

New Yorkers can be so lucky!


Gore To Receive International Emmy

Nov 16, 2007
NEW YORK -- Actor/director Robert De Niro will be on hand to give former Vice President Al Gore the Founders Award at the 35th annual International Emmys on Monday night in New York.

Gore, who has won the Nobel Prize and an Oscar in recent months, will receive the award for his efforts against global warming, as well as launching Current TV.

The event, hosted by Roger Bart, will also include Elmo, Gloria Reuben, Rob Morrow, Alan Cumming, Eric Bogosian and others. TF1 Group Chairman Patrick Le Lay will receive the Directorate Award.



Nov 16, 2007
NEW YORK -- Actor/director Robert De Niro will be on hand to give former Vice President Al Gore the Founders Award at the 35th annual International Emmys on Monday night in New York.

Gore, who has won the Nobel Prize and an Oscar in recent months, will receive the award for his efforts against global warming, as well as launching Current TV.

The event, hosted by Roger Bart, will also include Elmo, Gloria Reuben, Rob Morrow, Alan Cumming, Eric Bogosian and others. TF1 Group Chairman Patrick Le Lay will receive the Directorate Award.

Happy Birthday Howard.

Gore Scores 48th Floor at Bank of America Tower
Posted on November 14th, 2007 in Cook + Fox, Green Office Space, Green Real Estate, LEED, New York City, One Bryant Park by Stephen

Back in September, we noted a report in Crain’s that Al Gore’s investment firm, Generation Investment Management LLP, was looking for LEED-certified office space in New York City. Today, Generation announced that it has secured a 5,000-square-foot lease on the 48th floor of the Durst Organization’s Bank of America Tower, which expects to receive the first-ever LEED Platinum rating for a commercial high-rise once it opens up next May. As we’ve noted previously, asking rents at the Midtown tower, which was designed by Cook + Fox, are hovering around $185/square foot; it’s unclear how much Gore’s firm agreed to pay for the space, but as of July, this was the asking price for the only two remaining floors in the building. (By way of comparison, according to Cushman & Wakefield, the average asking rent for Class A office space in Midtown is $70/square foot).

Generation was founded back in 2004 and has offices in London and Washington, with another to open in Melbourne next year. The firm donates five percent of its profits to The Generation Foundation, a non-profit organization “dedicated to strengthening the field of sustainable development and sustainability research worldwide.� Inking such a high profile tenant as Mr. Gore and his firm is obviously terrific news for both Durst and the Bank of America Tower itself as the building prepares to accept the mantle of America’s greenest skyscraper.
Gore Scores 48th Floor at Bank of America Tower
Posted on November 14th, 2007 in Cook + Fox, Green Office Space, Green Real Estate, LEED, New York City, One Bryant Park by Stephen

http://www.greenbuildingsnyc.com/2007/11...

28.

Phil Specht
Sat, 11/17/07
1:07 pm

...Dean can have that twinkle in his eye when he is having fun, but he had to be thinking, I could beat that lineup.
----------

Yeah, I saw "that twinkle" too....., like him saying: "...gosh...., even these 'leaders' CAN NOT screw up any longer what is inevitable social change...", lol.

I 'm one that believes humanity itself has a birthright of certain freedoms that governments cannot take away however it is they are structured. life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness will do as shorthand

Iraq has chaos, mass displacement, hardship, and violence thanks to America.

whatever map our founders intended with their words we have lost our way

Gore, Schwarzenegger To Hold Climate Forum
Bipartisan Team Hopes To Attract Presidential Hopefuls To Event In N.H., Discuss Global Warming


SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 15, 2007



Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, D-Calif., and former Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore are planning a forum in New Hampshire for presidential candidates to discuss climate change. (CBS/AP)


Global Warming

The greenhouse effect, a look at the Kyoto Protocol and a history of the Earth's climate.



(AP) Former Vice President Al Gore and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will take part in a bipartisan presidential forum on energy and climate change next month in New Hampshire, shortly ahead of the state's first-in-the-nation primary.

Gore, who has been the target of several Democratic grass-roots efforts to persuade him to run for president, has said he has no plans to become a candidate, but hasn't firmly shut the door to a bid. Schwarzenegger, a Republican and native of Austria who is prohibited by the Constitution from becoming president, had previously signaled his intention to play a role in the 2008 contest by drawing attention to issues of special interest, including global warming.

A spokesman for Schwarzenegger confirmed the forum after Arizona Sen. John McCain, a GOP presidential candidate, mentioned it Thursday during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif.

Schwarzenegger spokesman Adam Mendelsohn says the forum is still being planned, but candidates from both major parties are expected to attend. Gore - who won the popular vote for president in 2000, but lost the electoral vote count through a Supreme Court decision - will handle the Democratic candidates at the forum, while Schwarzenegger will handle the Republicans.

"I know the issue," said McCain, who has been an advocate in Congress for legislation regulating the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. "I've been involved in it for many, many years. And I'm proud to have played a role in leadership on it."

Gore's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But Mendelsohn said the former vice president was actively involved in designing the forum.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/1...

Imn2Paine
Sat, 11/17/07
1:00 pm

yeah, that attitude! And the hell with the rest of us. One thing global warming has done is shattered the myth that as long as how one lives doesn't affect others negatively, it's AOK.

Now how you live directly affects me and my offspring. And I'm gonna be in your face about it!

short lunch break as I have to finsih work in time for football, lol, but I will resume the conversation during the game

thanks puddle, baby is incredible

if we fly into the wind we pick up lift

it is not as hard as it looks, it just takes longer

I wonder, if by the Democrats holding Bush to only $50 billion - and right now holding that - that it could definitely affect any 'sneak plans' he has for attacking Iran?

From Juan Cole:

Have a Happy Birthday Howard, this is your day.

We honor you for all that you do.

Lastnight Mark Green, President of Air America Radio was discussing the debate from the night before and comparing it to the last Presidential election.

He talked of how they wanted to take down Howard Dean and Kerry decided to let Gephardt to it and then Gephardt and Dean lost.

Of course, he didn't talk about how he was confident of staying out would ensure an all on onslaught would still take place, because former staffers of Kerry, with other backers, formed a special group just to take out Governor Dean....and one of them is running someone elses campaign now.

________________________

Well, Governor, I hope you have a great day. No bike ride with squished cupcakes this time of year, but enjoying home I'm sure will help make it a great day for you.



...my morning here today......all be well.

33.

 'm one that believes humanity itself has a birthright of certain freedoms that governments cannot take away however it is they are structured

>

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

[...]

Although the theory of natural rights influenced the development of classical liberalism, its emphasis on individualism and its rejection of the necessity to subordinate individual liberty to the sovereign will stands in opposition to the general tenets of social contract theory.[1]

rejection of the necessity to subordinate individual liberty to the sovereign will

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

I draw the line at losing habeus corpus.

Indy, don't get in anothers face, invest in green:

 http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5h6zNNYcFTuUXkejhPh6MFWJjeqEw

2 days ago

NEW YORK - Al Gore's environmentally friendly investment firm is opening an office in a green skyscraper going up in midtown Manhattan.

The 51-storey Bank of America tower opposite Bryant Park on Sixth Avenue is scheduled to open next May and will house 195,000 square metres of office space.

Generation Investment Management, the firm founded in 2004 by Gore and former Goldman Sachs executive David Blood, is poised to sign a lease agreement for 465 square metres on the 48th floor, the parties announced Wednesday.

[...]

Go to this and watch the video for a real Howard hit on his birthday. What I wanna know.....

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/11/16/233831/48

33.

Phil Specht
Sat, 11/17/07
1:15 pm

.....
whatever map our founders intended with their words we have lost our way
-------

Whatever they intended it WAS THEIRS INTENTIONS NOT OURS therefore we have lost their way, NOT OURS.

The ours one we, "the People", STILL LOOKING FOR..., and when found we'll NEVER lose it again, 'cause it'll be truly "ours".

The "founders" (the leaders) CAN make mistakes "the People" CAN NOT.

Imn2Paine
Sat, 11/17/07
1:29 pm

Paine, good idea...invest green. But I also think we need to challenge those who are not getting the message. The time of being " hands off" is over. They're flying over my house in those private jets, spewing global warming CO2 crud everywhere.

We are being too polite and letting them get away with it. And they (these are corporate elites) are trying to have it both ways with greenwashing crap that does little to address the problem.

No, getting "in their face" is what we need to do. Constantly.

41.

Imn2Paine
Sat, 11/17/07
1:24 pm

"....rejection of the necessity"

----------
"....rejection of the necessity" IS rejection of the chance to set oneself free, 'cause freedom IS the realization of necessity.

Here's an interesting site where you can calculate your carbon footprint and invest in carbon offsets as well. It is audited by independent third party to assure that offsets are real.

Until we have true offsets that reduce carbon for every molecule we release, this is a good way to do it. Check it out.....

http://www.terrapass.com/

Linda SFNM great pix of you above w/ the Governor - you lucky girl.

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

I just had my own private SICKO party, a few threads late I know. It's a very moving and well put together movie, I thought. Many things stand out, but one is -- the Brits get free dental too?? Maybe we will be like the Mexicans coming here to work -- we will go to Canada and France and elsewhere for the medical care. Most thoughtful point he made was that we put up with everything because we are afraid. I know I am, and I don't know what I'm afraid of -- maybe that they'll put me on a no fly list or harass me like that -- not worried about my job or health insurance b/c I'm retired and on Medicare. But still that fear. Why the hell aren't we in the streets? And after I watched SICKO I went down to gas up and paid 3.04 for regular and you have to go into the station twice -- onece to prepay, then once to pay, each time waiting in line behind people buying lotto tickets, and waiting for the clerk to finish his phone call, etc. Anyone else old enuf to remember when they checked your fluids and your tires and washed your windows and your mirror in addition to pumping your gas? Guess I'm down on America today.

PS -- Why is the SF opera singing Carmen in French? Wasn't Bizet Italian? Maybe it's always in French what do I know.

50. Thank goodness for Wiki:
Carmen is a French opera by Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Meilhac and Halévy, based on the story of the same title by Prosper Mérimée.
The opera was premiered at the Opéra Comique of Paris on March 3, 1875.

Imn2Paine
Sat, 11/17/07
1:29 pm

of course, getting "in their face" is a figure of speech. Doesn't always mean literally. But if you see a company trying to take credit for being green when it isn't, call them on it. Publicly.

When we see a political leader who talks a good talk but then votes against green policies, take them to task.

When we see educational institutions paying lip service to green ideas but not in practice, write the BOT and the campus newspaper and bring it to light. WE need to stop being a "live and let live" society or our survival is at stake.

Is everyone aware of the DIASASTER unfolding in Bangladesh? It will be many times worse than Katrina....

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jY0QrS8yNcOHGn_pvMb7pzUoNzbwD8SVGPU00

By PARVEEN AHMED – 3 hours ago

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — The official death toll from a savage cyclone that wreaked havoc on southwest Bangladesh reached 1,723 Saturday — the deadliest storm to hit the country in a decade.

53. Yes, Steve, we are in the effects of climate change.  Millions will be moving from the flooding shorelines.  We are in it.  It's not a futuristic story.

 ...and the candidates are talking about planted questions.

___________________________________________________

Annilow, for you.

...One of the most scenic Opera Houses.  Here in Santa Fe.  

I was so sorry Judy L Cordet didn't make it here to see her Indiqo Girls.

Take them to task...

I think that's what Gore for one is doing by staying out of politics and moving forward in the market place. 

Whee, my carbon footprint from my car is 0 !

I have to chime in on the Clinton s**t.  To say that you have something awful on s/o and then not say what it is, is pure immature gamey Clintonesque. Put your zillions where your lying mouth is, Hillary.   This is slander, with Obama having no recourse to explain or deny or whatever. I can't believe how low she's fallen.  Oh wait.  This is Hillary we're talking about, right?

IOWANS, ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS? (somehow, I don't think so....)  :-( 

As for the diamonds and pearls, I might have asked, "Who planted this silly question?"  

You know, I think I'll send a little something to Obama too even tho he's not my preference. 

Hillary Cinton Statement: ... “I voted for this resolution in order to apply greater diplomatic pressure on Iran. This resolution in no way authorizes or sanctions military action against Iran and instead seeks to end the Bush Administration's diplomatic inaction in the region.

What did Hillary say back in 2002? 

So it is with conviction that I support this resolution as being in the best interests of our nation. A vote for it is not a vote to rush to war; it is a vote that puts awesome responsibility in the hands of our President and we say to him - use these powers wisely and as a last resort.

Is Hillary really too stupid to know whom she is dealing with? 

She knows.  They all do.  If they don't, they are the most naive people ever put into office, but then naive voters vote for naive people, don't they?

Telling bush to use powers wisely is like telling a drunk to have only one drink. 

As for the diamonds and pearls, I might have asked, "Who planted this silly question?"

CNN, because they thought it was a neat way to end their attack Hillary show.  An inside joke on the only woman in the race: a dis'

CNN might have ended with a question to Obama, "What hair product do you use?"  The keen minds of the south would'a gotta hoot, even if the rest of us really really wanted to know.  

Well, here is where I have a problem with all the major candidates. Like Howard Dean said in his speech in 2003, it's not OK, to do one thing and claim another.

Voting for, and continuously supporting key policies that are not representative of the Democratic Party is not OK. These are no small things. We're not talking who didn't vote to name the Pine Tree, the Lincoln of Trees. And all these majority candidates and front pushing candidates are of the same record.


here is the direct link for the video of Howard Dean's "What I Wanna Know" speech.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?/fusea...

AND

i perfected the poem,

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday Howard Dean

Now they see what we mean,

he's not the candidate of mean

As even Wolf Blitzer deems

"What a nice man", Howard Dean



...and I am off.......sorry bfa bloggers, just drawn back in today.


Time for
a COOL
change,
GORE
2008

59.

CNN might have ended with a question to Obama, "What hair product do you use?"  The keen minds of the south would'a gotta hoot, even if the rest of us really really wanted to know.  

paine,

It doesn't take "keen minds" to see your remark as racist.

Bob Novak: Hillary has dirt on Obama;

Update: “Shameless,” says Obama;

Update: Clinton spokesman blames GOP?

http://hotair.com/archives/2007/11/17/bob-novak-hillary-has-dirt-on-obama/

Divide and conquer??

Somebody needs to clue Hillary in to the fact that "diplomacy" is not a synonym for "threat"

Telling someone that "if you don't do what I want, we'll bomb you is not diplomatic. 

59.  There was a time when personal questions from mere acquaintances were considered rude.

'Course, you can't tell the press their questions are stupid or rude. 

41.  Individual liberty need only be subordinate, it you don't see human behavior as internally directed.  Of human behavior is seen as responsive to external prompts, then, of course, it's going to be subordinate.  If you observe an infant closely, you can't miss that initial behavior is responsive to interior prompts.  It's only later that it becomes socially reactive.

http://blogforamerica.com/view/23000

Those flying privately are most likely giving more to charities each year than we make.  They avoid any tax on that income and it gets them invited to all sorts of free events, the best seats at the symphany and at the Notre dame sky box seats.  PSL's at colleges are 80% deductable. At Nebraska it is $20,000,000 for a 20 years lease on a sky box.  At a million a year, that is excludes $800,000 of income from any tax.  Let's not worry about others and be jealous of the decisions they make, until we know for certain what good they are doing in our communities.  Our symphany could not exist without LARGE private donations from those of wealth, and they are very gracious in their giving each year.  They drive BMW's and live in big houses, but so what.  Their generousity allows me to enjoy my time in a small midwest town with some beautiful performances.  Live and let live, instead of looking up at them and only thinking the worst.

If a driver's license is not available to everyone, regardless of immigration status, then how will the police be able to investigate crimes and prevent people from joining organized crime?