Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

I rock! LOL

I was surprised to hear Tancandro's ad being compared to the famous LBJ ad, the Willy Horton ad would be a better comparison.

The Tancredo ad reminds me more of an episode of 24, Brian -- and, by the way, just read an interesting profile of the 24 creator (url below), who says this about Jack Bauer: "This guy doesn't care about the law, he doesn't care about the courts, he doesn't care about consequences. He just cares about getting the bad guy and putting him down."

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=12300

Never seen 24, but I'll check out the link you posted. Hey Craig you should find out if active hyperlinks can be turned on on this site, otherwise we have to copy and paste and URLs . Isn't moving fun!

Damn been trying to get through to Chuck Shummer's office to voice my opinion on telco amnesty, busy busy busy!

Tancredo is nothing but the crazy uncle in every family...and I emphasize crazy.

No crazy fascist bigot uncles in my family!

Ok Craig read the article on the Spectator (god I feel so dirty)! The last line made me chuckle,
"To me, the liberal movement is old and repressive," he said. "If you want drinking, smoking, and red meat, you have to hang out with Republicans."

Maybe I'm a member of the wrong party! LOL

gosh, Brian, after your Spectator encounter now if you watch an episode of 24 you might cross over the dark side . . .

passed along your hyperlink suggestion brian, thanks -- so far this site sure is quicker to open and comment, got so weary of the long delays before that it kept me from jumpin in the pool

Craig there aint enough airport men's room stalls in this country to get me to join the GOP!

well.... I do the read meat and drinking part....

hey.... I'd rather listen to the mommy party that tell me what's good for me..... and then let's me do whatever I want..... then to listen to the daddy party that's yelling at me and shaking it's fist with a threat of physical violence if I don't do what I'm told to do NOW.....

FYI,

I am firmly in the camp of Jack Bauer is god and should be our next president...but I am firmly in the camp of I would never vote for a Republican as well...

i am off to Phoenix later today, lookin forward to 85 degrees!

Chris Matthews won't be able to say that Tancredo is papering-over the immigration issue.

And I thought that going to the Mall would save us.

Finally made it through to Schummer's office, took over two hours!

Craig....
enjoy the warm weather while you can....
it won't be anywhere near those temps in NH next week.....
don't forget to bring a coat..... :)

Speaking of the south/west. Craig how come we're not hearing more chatter on MSM regarding Nevada's caucus? The News Hour did a good piece about it on Monday and something they pointed that was rather interesting is that out the three early states Nevada will be a better barometer of how the nation will vote since it's population is a far more diversified than either Iowa or NH.

As we have seen from our own immigrant wars in this gentle site, it is not an easy line for the Democratic party to walk. While most members of the party are more than welcoming to immigrants, they are also populists who have seen their middle class status being steadily destroyed.

Much of the wage decline has more to do with deregulation and outsourcing, but some is due to immigration both legal (H1B Visas) and illegal.

When a citizen in Arizona has to pay more to send their child to a university in California than someone living in California who is an illegal alien, it tends to upset them. That was what caused the defeat of the "Dream" legislation.

A citizen without insurance goes to an emergency room and sits for 12 hours while seeing illegal immigrants being served in the order they arrived at "his" hospital brings out the worst in their attitudes towards people he would never think of rejecting otherwise.

There are scads of issues such as these that are aggravated by illegal immigration.

Unless the Democratic party can come up with a program that assuages that populist view of "fairness" while legalizing the immigrants needed, the Republicans are always going to have an ace in the hole to play.

Jamie how would anyone know the legal status of anyone else in an ER waiting room?

Brian,

Here's a rundown of polls on the Nevada Caucus

http://www.pollster.com/08-NV-Dem-Pres-Primary.php

New site...ooooh, swanky!

I like the "being able to read the article without clicking over" feature

*relurks*.

Thanks for the link Jamie, now without trying to incur the wrath of our dnd, it really surprises me that Richardson isn't doing better in Nevada.

Once again the politics of fear rears it’s ugly Orwellian head (Politics Of Life by Craig Crawford... Rule #3: Love Helps But Fear Motivates). You can practically picture Trancredo's political consultants huddled over the production console--editing this commercial and joking that the title should be, “Trancredo Yelling Fire! In An 'Empty' Theater”.

Smart ad for promoting a political consultants biz– however, it makes Tancredo appear miserably
desperate as usual.

War (on terror) Is Peace

Brian,

They don't. They just hear everyone speaking a language other than English and make the leap. That's the problem when there is class warfare and income slippage ... it makes hatred easy based on notieable differences. Why do you think hatred of blacks was always deepest among poor whites competing for the same jobs?

Possibly the best pizza in America is in Phoenix
Pizzeria Bianco --

I'm refusimg to discuss immigration until after the election because no solutions are going to come out of the campaign because all goopers want to do is use it it to whip up hate.

Brian,

I had the same question in reading Jamie's post. I'm guessing the citizen/taxpayer in the Emergency Room would assume non-English speaking patients might be illegal, but other than that, I hope he wouldn't have a clue. Either way, I get Jamie's point about the use of services that some people are paying for and some aren't.

From comments at Craig's site and elsewhere, I do have a feeling that migrant workers and working illegal immigrants are also paying a price. It seems a significant portion of our economy, particularly agricultural products and food services are made affordable by these people's willingness to work for low wages and no benefits. They're paying a price too, it's just hard to quantify.

glad you like the new digs, Julia. Some tweaking to do, but so far so good -- and best part is that CQ's tech team is the greatest, more than willing to help us make this as homey as possible.

"more than willing to help us make this as homey as possible." Craig will they empty the ashtrays and change the bong water too?

Giulliani may be behind Iowa push poll since he views Obama as the weakest candidate. Craig, can you find out?

http://www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=26550

I'll happily honor KCracker's immigration interdiction because I don't know enough about the topic to add anything anyway. I do want to mention though, that Governor Spitzer backed off on his driver's license plan. I'm betting Hillary was involved with that decision and she wishes he would have done that three weeks ago. Of course, it's not Spitzer's fault that she mis-handled the debate question, but that won't keep Hillary's supporters from blaming him. Just like many of us blame Ralph Nader for Al Gore's loss in Florida, and forget that Gore didn't carry his home state either.

Craig,

Are you sure you want to expose the tech team to the mighty muppets? Could we get prosecuted for contributing to their delinquency?

KGC....
are you trying to make Craig fat?.....

it's really nice to see your old full moniker again.....
and I agree about discussing immigration..... I'm at the point where I can no longer watch Lou Dobbs.... but what little I saw of him last week.... man... he's definitely got a drinking problem!

yes all i am excitied to have more time to actually participate in the blog instead of wrestling with tech issues. off to the airport now, catch you tomorrow

Brian,

Edward's new commercial is great. Definitely working the "jobs/economy" angle well.

Wow Edwards # 2 in The Times Iowa poll!

Jamie his health care commercial is great too! Taps into the rage the voters have against the insiders, very clever.

If the economy starts to tank and it looks like a really bad holiday shopping season coming up it could bode very well for Edwards. His populist msg will go over well as people get more nervous about the economy.

RR

Pizza is health food!
Dobbs is off the rails. I think he knows the goopers are losers and is trying to screw everything up by alling for a third party,
I

Wow, I can access this site on my blackberry Cool! They turned on the auto hyperlink, Brian, see if it works.

link test
http://www.brianarens.com/blog

Works!

In light of Judith's law suit I want to amend my statement regarding Kurik hurting Rudy!

See there brian, these CQ folks are here to help, got right on top of your suggestion. Altho we do still need to empty our own ash trays Now on plane facing 5 or 6 hours without a cig. Ugh!

you don't travel with nicotine gum?

Brian,

Your comments over the weekend regarding JAMA gave me a little more insight when I read the following item in my office today:

"A survey of 1,527 epidemiology practitioners published in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association finds variability in the interpretation of HIPAA has slowed scientific research by making it more costly and time-consuming—to the point that some academic institutional review boards are closing down research efforts. "

I don't question the validity of the numbers in the survey they mentioned, but as the publicity arm of the AMA, I'm taking a different view of their objectivity. HIPAA is a nuisance and gives them one more form of liability. Of course the docs would trash it.

Jamie...

I called Comcast yesterday to request that they add RFD-TV to their lineup. I told them explicitly why - Imus' 3 to 4 hours of daily (weekdays, anyway) programming - though I also told them I expected to enjoy other elements of RFD programming. They seemed quite surprised when I explained that I enjoyed Imus' program so much that I would likely switch to Direct TV if they were unable to add RFD-TV to their lineup. If you would seriously like to be able to see Imus, I suggest you also call. The power of numbers is the only thing that's going to make this happen.

Are they going to sandwich Imus in between reruns of hee haw?

HW

I wrote them an email. Imus was just one reason. When he talked about rodeos and coverage of the Santa Fe trail migration, I thought there were other things on the channel I might like.

what if the immigration problem is another symptom of global warming.....the peoples are migratiing north....it's a nature thing.......borders are so mappish........

Brian....no...he returns to his legendary drivetime 6 to 10 slot....Hee Haw comes on in Prime Time......

Brian...

"Probably," she said with a smirk....

Oops! Sorry, sturg...stomping on your response to Brian.... Have you been successful in getting Comcast to offer RFD-TV in your area? Or do you already get it?

Imus's head popping out over the corn field as he mutters "nappy headed hos'. Yeah I can picture that!
*he said without a smirk*

And how about you, EdVB? Got your Imus reception plans in place?

I'm guessing that RFD-TV is not big in NYC, Brian. You may miss the excitement!

Harbor....I told them I'd have RFD-TV or I'd have to stick some kind of flying saucer on my roof like the mexicans around here do.....If I dont hear something by the end of the month I institute one of those small changes we peons can still make......

Yeah I wish I could see the farm report, and those make over your tar paper shack reality shows!

*L* at both sturg and BriNYC...for different reasons!

ha ha....brian.....i was born into a tarpaper shack....

Brian...

Am getting a springform pan! Found a recipe for pumpkin pecan cheesecake that I want to try for T'giving. Is that okay if I've never made a cheesecake before? It sounds fairly easy, but what do I know???

Were you home schooled too sturg? *ducks*

Good luck on the cake harbor, let me know how it comes out.

Brian.....oh lordy lou....the only folks home schooled around here were those kids who dropped out of public school in the third grade and worked on their daddy's farm........

Sturg have you seen Jesus Camp?

"lordy lou"?

Just clips.....Im fairly familiar with the subject matter, however......

You poke fun at my humble beginnings and now you belittle my vernacular?

Im non-plussed.

In your honor sturg the next bowl I smoke will be out of a corn cob pipe!

Like the one MacArthur had?

Exactly, I'll even make sure the legs of my pants are drenched in sea water!

Yes....I imagine you will be telling everyone "It's SEAWATER!"

Sturg I haven't reach the Depends era of my life. Have you?

I eagerly await that hallowed day.....when I can once again say "Look Ma......no HANDS!"

Sturg have you ever heard or read David Sedaris' piece on the "Stadium Buddy?" It's basically a condemn with a drainage tube worn down the leg inside your pants so you don't have to get up to go to the bathroom while at the game.

those things are prone to some dang fool ramming an obstruction down the tube right before you put it on.......it's possible.......

where does it go, by the way......stadium floor or into your loafers?

An bag conveniently strapped to your ankle!

I spend all this time trying to get here and this is the conversation I come in on?

David Sedaris reads his essay "Stadium Pal"

http://www.houseofhagen.net/wordpress/?p=338

I can see the obvious advantage......but Im not sure about how I'd feel lugging around a bag fulla pee on my foot.......I'd have to weigh the alternatives......

Corey anytime you walk in on a conversation that involves David Sedaris it's a good thing!

sedaris was in town couple weeks ago and got a nice bit of local press.......charlestoncitypaper.com

He slays me.......

He's one funny mo! If you haven't heard his life at carnegi hall ablum email me and I'll get it to you in a zip file bgarens at gmail

Now, Gov. Jeb Bush says he supports a bill in the Legislature to allow illegal immigrants and foreign nationals in Florida to drive legally -- subject to safeguards that include criminal background checks.

april 2004

» David Sedaris is Taking Notes
Writer returns to Charleston with observations on chimps, twats, crybabies, and crap
By Greg Hambrick | October 3, 2007 (News: Cover Story)

I'd rather talk about Amy Sedaris!

What's she do?

You never watched Strangers With Candy sturg?

Last week, however, Schwarzenegger hinted he might be willing to compromise on this issue, perhaps by designating immigrant licenses with a different color.

"It has to be a different color driver's license," he said. "So it's very clear - that says on it, 'foreigner' or whatever, or 'immigrant' or whatever, on it. It doesn't have to say, 'illegal immigrant.' I'm not into that."
11/04

Strangers with Candy...I liked the movie better than the tv show but I love her. For a long time a friend of mine convinced me she was David's daughter
duh!

Showing a vid of Hillary being called a bitch by some old repug hag is a new low point for Hardball.

I'm sure Tweety wouldn't be snickering so much of someone had called his wife a btich

this has been all over cable news today and on CNN this morning the buy from Politico said everyone thinks that about Hillary Clinton.

I predict in the very near future Judith Regan will be coming into a very large sum of cash!

We have two different lines going about Hillary. After many, many years of Republicans slamming her in every possible way there is a huge population that believes she is what the Repug Hag called her.

Then there is the group of strangers who say after meeting her that she is a warm and kind person.

Every time Tweety or some Repugnant starts this, it just P.O.s me no end. No one who has known her for many years other than the toe sucker has ever said anything bad about her and her colleagues in the Senate on both sides of the aisle praise her work and dedication.

McCain laughing about it and now trying to use the film to raise money is just horrendous. It just smacks of propaganda and makes him look like a crass opportunist.

Just shows how desperate McCain has become

nice shout out for craig crawford frm KO....
that is great

Next he'll be making cracks about Max Cleland.

There's a news item on the Comcast homepage now about Imus...says his program will be aired on RFD-TV from 6-9 AM, rebroadcast each evening from 6-9 PM, and available in their On Demand features. We'll see....

Oh brother! No wonder I thought nobody had made the switch...I bookmarked the first thread ! It just stopped and there was no warning of a new thread. Now I am up to speed. Yea-Rah for the hyperlinks.
David Sedaris writes the occasional piece for The New Yorker. His story of his move to Europe and his country home living situation with the old man neighbor was my fave work by him. He's very witty, indeed.
The anti-Hillary contingent is already calling Hillary a flip-flopper. Can you believe those Neanderthals can't even come up with a more original term?
Of course this is the backing-off by Spitzer on the illegal driver licenses issues. I wish Russert would not have even asked that question and let Eliot Spitzer make the call on that issue. There is a bigger issue to attack Clinton on, and that's the war plans she has. I don't think she can just say "I don't know what will be on my plate in January 2009..." . I'll tell her! Troops from the US will be in Iraq then, that's what you'll get for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a late night snack!

I watched the Tancredo ad...not shocking enough to make a difference. Poorly done, I thought.
However, my head is full of the last Ken Burns WWII episode which I watched hours ago...I was brought up seeing German concentration footage until I thought I was immune to it...but Burns found stuff that is so disturbing I can't shake it outta my brain. Couple that with the Okinawa footage and the tear-jerking coming-home scenes and I must say I have not ever been moved by a TV production like this episode. Previously I had only seen a little of this episode. I say all schoolkids should be forced to see this episode. It stays with ya.

OK, here I am. We certainly have no moss on us, do we?

Jamie, I tried to post on your blog yesterday, but Blogger still doesn't know who I am. *sigh*

As for what the guy who interviewed Saddam for all those weeks while in captivity had to say about him.......

Am I really supposed to believe ANYTHING that this government says about anything? I don't think so. That guy worked for this government.

I'm totally confused about what day it is.

tt

Craig, we pass in the night, well you know what I mean - I left Phoenix yesterday..