Howard Dean is first.

I will second that Phil.

The Democrats will surrender again on FISA.

and how about a honorary firstie for Chris Dodd given the subject?

bbl 

Amidst all of the Obama worship, Dave Lindorff's perpective is useful........ and sobering.

http://www.counterpunch.org/lindorff01312008.html

Barack Obama, a man who is trying to gain the presidency on sheer sophistry. "Change" is his mantra, but change to what? He doesn't really say. His whole campaign is a feel-good exercise in ducking the issues. The United States has been pillaged relentlessly since at least the early 1970s, when Richard Nixon paved the way, with his recognition of China, for the wholesale offshoring of American industry to Asia. Administrations since then, Democratic and Republican, have been competing with each hasten the hollowing out of the American economy. Will Obama "change" this? No. He has no plan to undo the North American Free Trade Act, or to demand changes in the World Trade Organization rules. American labor unions are dying. Does Obama plan to "change" that by undoing decades of one-sided laws and regulations making it easy for employers to crush unions? No. He hasn't said a word about defending, much less expanding the rights of workers. Health care is in crisis. Does Obama have a solution? No. He is wedded to the same approach as Hillary Clinton, which leaves the blood-sucking insurance industry in charge of financing (and denying) care. The US is being bled to death by military expenditures, which in total account for more than half of the US budget when honestly accounted for in full. Does Obama plan to slash that spending, which is greater than all the military budgets of the rest of the world's nations combined? No. He has not said a word about cutting military spending (nor is he committed to ending the Iraq occupation). The Constitution has been undermined, particularly over the last six years, to the point that it is unrecognizable, with the presidency now more appropriately called an elected dictator, and Congress now little more than a talk shop. Does Obama plan to "change" that by voluntarily restoring the presidency to what it is supposed to be: just on co-equal branch of a tripartite government? He hasn't said a word about restoring checks and balances. Obama's "change" rhetoric is as empty as was Ronald Reagan's talk about America's being a "shining city on a hill."

A Message from Paul Hackett:
When I ran for Congress in 2005, I believed that the only way to bring this misguided, disastrous war to a close was by sending its veterans to Washington. I knew that only the men and women who have seen this conflict up-close would be able to bring the realities of it to the Capitol.
That's why I'm supporting Andrew Horne for the US Senate in Kentucky.
A Marine like me and Senator Jim Webb, Lieutenant Colonel Horne spent 27 years serving our country in uniform, including tours in both Desert Storm and the Iraq War. Now, he's come home to serve our country once more, this time in the United States Senate.
Help me raise $27,000 for Andrew by Friday, February 8. That's $1,000 for every year he served his country in the United States Marine Corps.
http://www.actblue.com/page/sendafighter...
Mitch McConnell, the obstructionist Republican leader, orchestrated more filibusters last year than any Senator in our country's history. Washington needs to take action to confront the countless challenges created by this administration, but McConnell has used every weapon at his disposal to stop progress from being made.
McConnell just helped President Bush veto pay increases for our fighting men and women. He led the filibuster against Jim Webb's bill that provided adequate stateside rest for troops returning from combat. And he voted seven times last year to keep the war going with no timelines or exit strategy.
It's up to us to replace Mitch McConnell with a fighter who has the guts to stand up to the administration, and who won't back down to the Republicans. Andrew Horne is that fighter.
Please give $100, $50, or even $5. Let's ditch Mitch and send Andrew Horne to the Senate.
http://www.actblue.com/page/sendafighter...
Andrew Horne is a great guy, a credit to the Marine Corps, and will make one hell of a Senator. I'm going to do everything I can to help him get to Washington, and I hope you'll do the same, because we need Andrew fighting for us again.
Semper Fi,
Paul Hackett
P.S. - It isn't often we have a real chance to defeat a destructive Republican leader like Mitch McConnell. With your help and mine, Andrew Horne will take advantage of this opportunity and show Mitch McConnell the door. The stakes couldn't be higher for our country and our brave troops in Iraq.
Whether it's $100, $50, or $5, click here and help Andrew Horne ditch Mitch. Let's raise $27,000 by next Friday, February 8.
http://www.actblue.com/page/sendafighter...
P.P.S. You can hear Andrew talk about why he's running and learn more about his incredible background at his campaign website, http://www.andrewhorne.org.

Hartford Courant

The Courant endorsed Hillary, saying, "In addition to her obvious intelligence, there is a a steel to this woman."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfT3S6r7N...

Gatto is through with Move-on--so am I.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_timothy__080201_move_on_has_gone_mai.htm

The reason I can no longer support Move-On is for the endorsement that they handed to Senator Obama. I have a problem with Obama because of his campaign financing. I find it very difficult to believe that he is an “agent of change” when he openly takes money from the very industries and corporations that have been at the heart of this country’s change from a representative Republic to a corporate oligarchy. In Senator Obama’s list of donors is a line-up of the majority of corporations that make up the “military industrial complex”. This may not be an issue for many, but for me, it is a tragedy of great consequence. I don’t support and will not support another  politician that  is obligated to the same corporate boards that are supporting free trade alliances that promote outsourcing of American jobs overseas, fighting regulation by the Federal Government, and accepting subsidies from the Federal Government on each gallon of gas sold in America.

I can’t support a candidate that takes money from commercial banks while they gouge American credit card holders and are responsible for fiscal policies that have led to this sub-prime fiasco, Insurance Companies that have, due to deregulation, raised the rate on insurance policies to the point where in Florida people can hardly afford hurricane insurance for their homes, and where Allstate has been forbidden to write anymore auto policies by the State Insurance Commission because of their exorbitant rates. Obama also takes donations from the Hedge Fund industry while they send their profits to the Cayman Islands to avoid paying taxes on these profits.

Senator Obama is second only to Senator Clinton in taking money from the Pharmaceutical Industries where the cost for drugs in America has forced many people to go to other countries where they can buy these drugs for a fraction of the cost they pay for them here.

Money talks in this country. Obama has chosen to take the money from the corporations he will go head to head with for any type of Progressive change. It is ludicrous to believe that he won’t remember the funding they supplied to him in his Presidential campaign, especially if he returns four years later with his hand out expecting them to contribute to his second term.

It’s absolutely amazing that Move-On, and more than that, the American people can trust someone that is financed by the very same people that in the case of the oil companies, backed the invasion of Iraq, and in the case of the medical industry have done everything possible to avoid national healthcare. How will Obama move past this obligation he has to these corporations?

7.  Well, I haven't had much use for MoveOn since about 1999, but inveighing against all the corporations and financial institutions most Americans do business with doesn't seem like a really good strategy.  

Yes, our Representatives have extorted dollars and favors from the corporations and their lobbyists and they've shunted government functions in their direction in an effort to shirk their responsibility and they provide "protection" with a massive military which, btw, is proving less than useful in the field.  (If we hadn't bombed Iraq to smithereens, the corporations could be buying all the oil they need for fuel, fertilizer and chemical production from the wells Saddam had up and running).  

But who innitiated these relationships?  Who permitted government agencies to make decisions on a political basis, rather than on behalf of the general welfare?  And who permitted representatives to stay in place for decade after decade?  Who allowed themselves to be persuaded that voting is a waste of time and who allowed themselves to be bought off with a couple of bacons at election time?

The following Senators are in class II and their term ends this year:

 Alexander, Lamar
Allard, Wayne-
Baucus, Max-
Biden, Joseph R
Chambliss, Saxby
Cochran, Thad
Coleman, Norm
Collins, Susan
Cornyn, John
Craig, Larry
Dole, Elizabeth
Domenici, Pete
Durbin, Richard
Enzi, Michael
Graham, Lindswy
Hagel, chuck
Harkin, Tom
Inhofe, James
Johnson, Tim
Kerry, John
Landrieu, Mary
Lautenberg,Frank
Levin, Carl
McConnell, Mitch
Pryor, mark
Reed. Jack
Roberts, Pat
Rockefeller, John D
Sessions, Jeff
Smith, Gordon
Stevens, Ted
Sununu, John
Warner, John

Supposedly, there's a deal on FISA.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/1/133634/3710/796/447719 

Denver Post Endorses Hillary

"Clinton's long record in public life shows her well prepared to deal with two of America's greatest challenges: ending the war in Iraq and solving our health insurance crisis."

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/c...

87 on the last thread

Hey Indy!

I think you may have misread what I posted. NORML is NOT endorsing Obama or anyone for that matter.

That is simply a newsletter that discussed the candidates' views. That's all :)

And there is nothing wrong with NORML, by the way. Don't be afraid of the repugs - especially since this topic never makes the political election cycles. But since the Federal government stands in the way of sick people getting something that helps them when conventional pharmacueticals cannot or do not, it's a subject that needs to be addressed, sooner rather than later.

Unless people are for more jail time and tying up courts for a weed. They are already tied up enough with cases for our legal drugs - alcohol being number one.

Give the sick people what they need. Leaving it to the states is not working when DEA raids and closes down cannabis cooperative clubs on a regular basis.

It's my position that it's none of the government's business what people inhale, ingest, inject into their own bodies, or excrete, for that matter.  There's a move afoot in NH to let 17 year olds who will be 18 by the general election in November to vote in primaries.  Perhaps if we get more younger voters we can get rid of the age restrictions for alcohol consumption.

Now THIS is an endorsement - LA Times have not endorsed since the 70's

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2...

That's right Monica :)

And at least cannabis has been studied (globally, not so much in the US) and there is tons of data out there that it actually enhances the quality of life. Some might say alcohol does (not naming names here) but I doubt it's been used medicinally anytime in this or the last century.

Linda wrote "Denver Post Endorses Hillary"

It's just about the end of the line.  Pretty soon, your flattering news notes may have to sing the praises of Obama's Republican opponent. 

Oakland Trib endorses Barack.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2...

Great idea from a Florida news paper blogger......put the politicians in classrooms and see how much they like NCLB.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1799

Navajo president endorses Clinton
FELICIA FONSECA
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER


ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The leader of the country’s largest Indian reservation threw his support behind New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday, saying she would best protect tribal sovereignty.

“We want so much to have Washington, whoever is the president, whoever is living in the White House, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Senate, we want them to recognize that, and I believe that Sen. Hillary Clinton has recognized that,” Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr. told The Associated Press ahead of a radio announcement.
Shirley’s decision comes on the heels of an endorsement of Clinton by former Navajo leader Peterson Zah, who also praised Clinton for understanding the key issue of tribal sovereignty.

___________________________

Cape Cod Times endorses
Hillary Clinton
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.d...




WOW! It looks like everyone just wants to endorse someone, doesn't it?


_______________________________

Newsday.com
NY state firefighters endorse Clinton

2:27 PM EST, January 31, 2008

ALBANY, N.Y.


New York state's uniformed firefighters are endorsing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for president.

The New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association, which represents 25,000 members statewide, says the Democrat has fought for firefighters during her time in Washington.

Association President Charles Morello says the group considers Clinton their hero.

Among other measures, Clinton co-sponsored a law that provides health monitoring for firefighters and other first responders in the event of terror attacks or natural disasters.

The Courant endorsed Hillary, saying, "In addition to her obvious intelligence, there is a a steel to this woman."

Yep. She's a regular "Iron Lady." 

Great idea from a Florida news paper blogger......put the politicians in classrooms and see how much they like NCLB.

And make them pay for their own health insurance. 

http:



70% Of Americans Think Country Headed The Wrong Way

Youtube
Friday February 1, 2008

70% Of Americans Think The Country Is Going In The Wrong Direction, At the same time FEAR a 3rd party candidate.


//www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx120Oc5G3I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx120Oc5G...

Obama's dramatic sweep of newspaper endorsements including 28 in Calif.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2...

<>LindaNM:

<>I see you've successfully jumped from the bandwagon of "Mr. Charisma" to that of "Ms. Inevitable."

Get ready for another hard landing. 

<>I see you've successfully jumped from the bandwagon of "Mr. Charisma Photogenic" to that of "Ms. Inevitable."

I think every word that is uttered from Bill Clinton's mouth is for sound bites. He knows it will be played on the news and create doubt. His latest is trying to create doubt about Ted Kennedy.

Perhaps if we get more younger voters we can get rid of the age restrictions for alcohol consumption. 

Let me get this straight.....  you WANT children and teens to be able to buy and consume alcohol? You're willing to acquiesce to childhood drunkeness and alcoholism?

With all due respect.....that's insane. 

I think every word that is uttered from Bill Clinton's mouth is for sound bites. He knows it will be played on the news and create doubt. His latest is trying to create doubt about Ted Kennedy.

Based on what we're seeing since SC, nobody pays attention to Bill any more. He's already squandered whatever level of respect he had left.

Sitka - I can't find the post you're referring to about alcohol consumption. Who wrote that? It's hard to keep up with this jumping blog.

Seattle PI: Obama

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/34...

Monica Smith

It's my position that it's none of the government's business what people inhale, ingest, inject into their own bodies, or excrete, for that matter.  There's a move afoot in NH to let 17 year olds who will be 18 by the general election in November to vote in primaries.  Perhaps if we get more younger voters we can get rid of the age restrictions for alcohol consumption.

Thanks, Sitka.

A change of pace for all you sports fans out there.

Chris Berman of ESPN completely loses it.

http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=40424

Reich on the economy

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5deb45aa-ce7e-...

[last three paragraphs]
In short, the anxiety gripping the middle class is not simply a product of the current economic slowdown. The underlying problem began around 1970. Any presidential candidate seeking to address it will have to think bigger than bailing out lenders and borrowers, or stimulating the economy with tax cuts and spending increases.

Most Americans are still not prospering in the high-technology, global economy that emerged three decades ago. Almost all the benefits of economic growth since then have gone to a small number of people at the very top.

The candidate who acknowledges this and comes up with ways not just to stimulate the economy but also to boost wages – through, say, a more progressive tax, stronger unions and, over the longer term, better schools for children from lower-income families and better access to higher education – will have a good chance of winning over America’s large, and increasingly anxious, voters.

post 36 comes out about 22....
6:44 pm

I'm done...
See you when the blog is fixed.

The Rodin exhibit was very nice ... courtesy of the CA Cantor Foundation. Learned all sorts of interesting things about *lost wax* casting and the casting in bronze (not by Rodin himself) of the *Gates of Hell.*

***********
Just a couple of comments: Linda, on Barack's Kyl-Lieberman *action,* the point for me was that he did not vote *for* and that was good.

***********
Sorry that you don't care for my posts and think that they are overdone, Denise. Please just scroll.

***********
Pat: I most always enjoy your posts. But you jumped on mine when I said that Hill's bringing people together early was essentially what Barack was proposing. When I responded to that ... and yes, we Edwards supporters, even those of us whose support was not whole-hearted, are still stunned by his pull-out at this time and most of us are not ready to just jump on a new bandwagon right away ... unless it's Gore or Dean ... you didn't really address any points other than my taking things personally. Which was not really the case ... I was and am not that invested in any candidate.

Sorry that you still don't quite *get* it. But let's please not let that destroy what we both enjoy about each other.

***********
I make a standing contribution to the DNC and will likely increase that amount as soon as my finances stabilize a bit and I see what all the new hits are since I am liable for taxes in two countries. Consulting fees are OK but they don't come in as consistently as a regular salary.


**********
And I think that it's time for me to take a breather from this blog.

Three Grateful Dead members endorse Obama.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2...

Cool.

The candidate who acknowledges this and comes up with ways not just to stimulate the economy but also to boost wages – through, say, a more progressive tax, stronger unions and, over the longer term, better schools for children from lower-income families and better access to higher education – will have a good chance of winning over America’s large, and increasingly anxious, voters.

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

thanks for that dog soldier, yes that should be the message of any Democratic candidate

5:53 CST

mary vb

my slow connection was hanging up on Berman and was hilarious starting and stopping at each curse 

Drinking age was lowered (nationally) to 18 when I was a junior in high school, Sitka ('72).

I bought booze before that, as I always looked older (height & overall body lingo  stature), vs. my real age (didn't need a fake ID, either). 

We didn't drink and drive (esp. on secondary roads)--had parties at people's camps instead--stayed overnight until mid-morning till noon (and danced a helluva lot in bars--those have been decimated by anti-smoking laws & tough .08 BAL OUI laws).  Less lethal; and lessened the potentiality of"binge" drinking, too.  Esp. in rural states like Maine--secondary curvy roads are nasty --even when straight & sober.

The focus was moreso on social drinking & fun, vs. "how fast can we get shit-faced?" Great way to kick out the brain stem.

I've tended bar/served it in waitstaff capacities on the floor (lounges/bars) in the past, and was always relieved when the pot smokers left during band breaks...makes things less violent.

It's impossible to "reason" w/a drunk...sorry.

I personally don't toke, but don't mind if others do.  Can't tolerate drunks--they irritate me to death (wet, or dry status). 

ME was the 1st state in the nation, re: prohibition (for 60 yrs.); and it only created a nasty underground/coastal rum-running, etc.  Made the situation worse than ever (police depts. were notoriously corrupt).  

*gasp*

Google Neal S. Dow & Maine prohibition fmi--he was a real right-wing control freak & prohibition "temperance" nutcase. 

...all those body bags coming home from Viet Nam  had sumpthin' to do w/it--anyone who can obtain credit, purchase a home, marry, or be fodder for the Selective Service (as well as current "occupations) should be able to (legally) inbibe ethyl alcohol.

17 yr.. olds in ME can now caucus--if they will reach majority by the Nov. general (they certainly didn't bother to do so in '04); and I'll wait to see some stats on Feb. 10th.

Same in '06--no appreciable demographic difference during that mid-term election cycle.

 This potentially includes juniors, who had a late autumn b-day (Oct. 15th is the cut-off here).

They'll be more likely to come out in the general--if & when their own life and limb are @risk.

 ...it'll be too little, too late by then. Selective Service laws/policies have changed dramatically, too.

I hope Nadar is happy (e.g., "there's no difference between Gore & Bush/two-party duopoly" pablum)?!

So...instead on one or two states starting the avalanche, it only took four.  What a sad nation we are.  But then, lots of folks want to vote for the perceived CM *winner.*  Which is likely to be HC.  That's what the *cards* say.  LOL

With all these stats finally coming out,  our 2 "rock stars" look pretty hollow.  And BO couldn't even be bothered to vote on Kyl-L cuz he was out taking millions from the corps and campaigning.

Remember the question JE asked of him about this? Something about was he going to feel indebted to the corps?  I was listening real hard to the answer, which never came. 

How would he have voted had he been in the Senate for the *war vote?"  He can now claim he was against the war before he was for it (check his votes). But he can't claim anymore that he was against the war.  He can, but he'd be lying.  Jeez, I wish s/o would ask these 2 some decent questions.

Freddie of Freddie and The Dreamers endorses Obama................(even tho hes English)

One of my former clients (cosmetologist) never had any money, but he insisted upon paying me in pot.

Love the barter system, huh? Late 1970s, when some men still would not frequent a hair salon (women's).

In large green  Hefty trashbags...strong Mexican homegrown.  He had a green thumb, for sure!

Considering I didn't toke back then, either...puts me to sleep in an instant.

 I had to drive the stuff around in my trunk (and risk being arrested for illegal possession and intent to dsitribute w/it), and/or find someone who wanted it. PDQ

 I certainly didn't dare to burn it in a campfire, while visiting @someone's camp....

I still chuckle.

22

Oh Judy knock it off. And usually, I do scroll you when they are posts of news I already knew about. But when you knock a friend of mine that posts eloquently with her own thoughts, I step in when I see she is being treated unfairly. That's what friends do.

I love it when people are called on something, and then have to

a: announce they are leaving

b: have to take a breather

c: announce they are leaving but come back to post anti Obama or pro Hillary comments

d: complain about long posts and then do the same thing themselves (when a link will suffice)

CALIFORNIA IS VOTING!!!

county registrars of voters are advising absentee voters who have not yet sent in their marked ballots to walk them in.  any polling place in their county of registration will take them.  the date of receipt, not the postmark, determines their acceptance, so do not mail.

the registrars have reported that the turn-in rate is lower than expected for the week before a presidential primary election.  it must be unnerving for the clintons, as absentee voters--mainly committed supporters of machine candidates--mail their ballots early. 

also, seiu's endorsement must be making the clintons sweat a bit.  latinas make up a large percentage of the union's membership.

the la times endorsed obama today.  i've heard that the newspaper hasn't endorsed a candidate[s] in a presidential election since 1972.  [needs fact check]   if true, that's incredible!  

however, it does use its megaphone to sway voters on initiatives, and those can be hotly contested.  one initiative, associated with guiliani, would have apportioned gen election votes by congressional districts, wiping out the winner-take-all democratic advantage. 

***********

GOTV with moveon.org

after john edwards suspended his campaign, moveon.org took another vote among its membership for the endorsement of either hillary or barack.  [no candidate reached the established threshold on the first-round vote.]  barack won.  now we get to work.

34

We are a sad nation because JE didn't keep his promise to stay in until the end?

It's not the nation's fault he pulled out early.

And BO couldn't even be bothered to vote on Kyl-L cuz he was out taking millions from the corps and campaigning.

Sea this is a major distortion. He got the majority of his millions the same way Howard did. You're sounding pretty desparate. Might want to practice a bit of step 4.

This is a temperance petition that was presented to the Maine Legislature in 1845.

It was widely believed that if the manufacture and sale of liquor could be abolished, crime and poverty would disappear from society.

Women were among the most active proponents of legislation to prohibit the use of alcoholic beverages; and by the end of the century Maine had enacted the most stringent anti-liquor laws in the country.

You think you got problems?

A Question Of Care: Military Malpractice?
One Marine Served His Country With Care. Was His Cancer Misdiagnosed, Leading To His Death?

ELLENVILLE, N.Y., Jan. 31, 2007


(CBS) Carmelo Rodriguez was dancing with his niece just last year. By all accounts Rodriguez, a 29-year old, loved life, his family and the Marine Corps. He was also an artist, a father, and a part-time actor. He once appeared with Katie Holmes in a scene on the TV series Dawson's Creek.

An image of Sgt. Rodriguez with his Marine buddies in Iraq in 2005 shows him as a fit, gung-ho platoon leader.

CBS News correspondent Byron Pitts met Rodriguez two months ago. That once-buff physique had been whittled down to less than 80 pounds in 18 months by stage 4 melanoma. He was surrounded by family, including his 7-year-old son holding his hand. It was Rodriguez's idea we meet.

 ....

New thread

mainefem that document is fantastic!

I love your history lessons :)

Chris Berman of ESPN completely loses it.

The video is "no longer available." 

Drinking age was lowered (nationally) to 18 when I was a junior in high school, Sitka ('72).

You're thinking of voting laws. Drinking laws are up to the states.

As for letting kids buy and drink legally, thank goodness it'll never happen.

I think it's appalling that BO is out criticizing HC's war resolution vote, claiming to be the anti-war candidate.  He's telling a half-truth, or a half lie, however you want to state it.  Either way, he knows most voters do not pay attention to his votes and so he's misleading them.  It's appalling.  He's not an anti-war candiate.

I hope HC tells people about his votes.  Of course, then he'll have to talk about her votes too....both supporting putz's policy of death and destruction.

They should both be thrown out and we should be able to start over. 

 BO WAS AGAINST THE WAR BEFORE HE WAS FOR IT.  And that's the truth.  His latest votes contradict his spiel.  He should come clean and then aplogize to the American people for voting for spend our money to kill Iraqis. 

At least JE had courage.  These two have very little but political ambition.   If either one started telling the truth, the voters would stay home.