And he would be a great running mate for nextprez Obama.

Please vote for me in DFA's Netroots Nation scholarship contest:

http://democracyforamerica.com/netroots_nation_scholarships/3-jessica-falker

Thanks!

The researchers found some clear links between the sun’s activity and climate variations. During periods of high solar activity, the North Atlantic Oscillation’s influence extends to the Indian Ocean. These adjustments may affect the distribution of air temperatures, which subsequently influence air circulation and rainfall at the Nile River’s sources in eastern equatorial Africa. When solar activity is high, conditions are drier, and when it is low, conditions are wetter.

Provides for discussions of individual posts via the "reply" button

It hasn't taken hold, and I would encourage my fellow bloggers to take advantage of it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frances-moore-lappe/is-clintons-2012-campaign_b_104159.htm

We know Hillary Clinton is smart, and we so can assume that for some time she has known, as well as anyone, that it is virtually impossible for her to become the Democratic nominee for President in 2008. So what could explain her continuing to battle, risking her party's approbation?

We fear there is one explanation that fits too well: that Clinton is actually already fighting the 2012 race. We hope we are wrong. But within this frame, her actions do make perfect sense.

Here's, sadly, how the strategy looks to us.

First Clinton defends her continued presence in the race against all odds, arguing that the pressure on her to get out is "unprecedented." To make her case, she compares hers with two other supposedly extended campaigns -- her husband's and RKF's. But Bill Clinton was essentially unchallenged from March on. And RFK? He entered the race mid-March, so his campaign lasted less than three months.

Then she continues her campaign as long as possible -- ideally right through the convention -- all the while pressing themes already proven to weaken Obama's. Her methods:

• Play on powerful racism that in America lies barely below the surface by emphasizing Obama's weakness among white working-class voters.

• Stoke anger about her trailing position among her most ardent supporters -- older white women -- by using sweeping claims of sexist treatment instead of attacking specific sexist statements.

• Promote uncertainty about Obama's religious beliefs, but subtly so she doesn't get slammed. For example, when she was asked whether Obama is a Muslim, she equivocated with "not to my knowledge."

• Point out, along with McCain, Obama's lack of military service as evidence that he will be inexperienced and weak in dealing with our enemies -- not as tough as she and McCain would be.

• Make the full counting of the Florida and Michigan votes a moral necessity, increasing anger among those voters. Although these states would not appreciably affect the delegate count, giving them full voting rights would create havoc in the Democratic Party's 2012 campaign schedule.

• Resist as long as possible the inevitable coming together of the two campaigns, depriving Obama of time to consolidate his efforts and giving her more time to deepen resentment against Obama among her supporters.

If we are wrong, and we hope we are, Clinton will graciously withdraw next Tuesday night when all fifty states, Puerto Rico, and the territories have been heard. She can declare whatever victories she wishes. But at that point, she must join Obama, ask all of her supporters to throw their full energies in support of him, and do everything she can to help him become President of these United States.

Whether or not Clinton refuses to concede at this point, the remaining uncommitted superdelegates should declare themselves immediately after the release of Tuesday's results and the leadership of the Democratic Party should publicly declare that the people have decided who their nominee will be.

l

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGBmTn

I'm hopeful that the disappearing toolbar bug is high on your list of fixes.  Aside from that I have no problems witht the new blog--think it's great.

-- Greg Sargent - TPM Cafe, May 29, 2008, 5:21PM

In a quick phone interview with me just now, prominent Hillary supporter James Carville diverged from the Hillary campaign message on several key "electability" questions, saying that he thinks Obama "will" win the general election.

Carville, surprisingly, also seemed to downplay Obama's problems with non-college whites -- a cornerstone of Hillary's electability claim -- saying that if Obama gets the same level of non-college whites that John Kerry did in 2004, he "will" win the general.

Asked if he thought Obama would beat McCain, Carville said: "I think he will. I think Democrats will win in November...There's a crushing desire for change in this country. No one has seen a party or brand held in such low esteem" than the Republicans.

Carville's repeated suggestions that Obama "will" beat McCain contrast with the core Hillary message -- repeated frequently by Hillary advisers -- that Obama merely "can" win a general election, while Hillary "will" win it. Carville's comments also suggest that with the fall contest looming, it's becoming tougher for prominent Hillary backers to sustain any argument that doesn't show full confidence in Obama's chances against McCain.

Link to rest of Carville story.

Bid to link McCain, Bush taken to streets

By Michael Mccord
mmccord@seacoastonline.com
May 29, 2008 6:00 AM

DURHAM — On a bright spring day, one of the initial skirmishes of the fall general election took place — and it wasn't sanctioned by any of the major presidential campaigns.

Tim Horrigan of Durham and Jan Alberghene of Dover hosted a "Bush-McCain Challenge" event in downtown Durham on Wednesday. Representing the grass-roots, liberal-leaning organization Moveon.org, the goal of the "challenge," Alberghene said, was to educate voters about what the group sees as the close policy and ideological ties between presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain and President Bush.

The challenge was based on the marketing premise of the soda tasting competition that began in the 1970s. While people strolled down Main Street during the lunch hour, Horrigan and Alberghene tried to corral curious onlookers to take a five-question political pop quiz on domestic and foreign policy issues —such as the war in Iraq and the current housing foreclosure crisis.
..........

Since blockquote wasn't doing anything, I suggested that it be removed from the tool bar.  Danny agreed.  Tim said he could.  Then he changed his mind.  So, let's see how it works.

"If the most important thing to any of you is choosing someone who did not cast that vote or has said his vote was a mistake, then there are others to choose from."

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aXAqg6VR427Q&refer=home

Hope the link works.
I have had three calls from HC supporters in the last 24 hours.

Hard to make an argument that it is a swing state needed to win the general election(but by all means count those votes in the popular total as you leave out the caucus states)

flood warnings are out again for tonight

Trials 'rushed due to election'

2 hours ago

Lawyers for five 9/11 suspects have accused the US government of rushing their cases at Guantanamo in order to influence the US presidential elections.

They asked the military judge to dismiss the case in a court filing. The filing also includes documents showing that the former chief prosecutor at Guantanamo, who resigned last October over alleged political interference, was sanctioned by the military on May 23 after testifying for the defence in a Guantanamo hearing.

The former prosecutor, Air Force Colonel Morris Davis, wrote that the action will discourage any other military members from providing information about the controversial war-crimes tribunals.

The tribunals' legal adviser, Air Force Brigadier General Thomas Hartmann, said Mr Davis was sanctioned not because of whistleblowing but because of poor performance as chief prosecutor.

Is it any wonder
that the totality of the stimulus will be transferred to the pockets of XYZ?

"fill the tub, and drown the baby"

is on COUNTDOWN

NOW

I do feel that Scott was used by this administration. I should have stood up soon but he doesn't have the gravitas of a Colin Powell - who truly could have made a difference as far as Iraq goes (IMO).

Okay - better go grab some dinner for my hungry gremlins.

link.