Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Woo-hoo!

Reposting...

These 'problems' keep cropping up, and they really worry me...how elections go to the loser....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/15/us/15ohio.html?th&emc=th

How are you feeling this morning, Corey?

Hey Craig-
Is this a surprise to anyone? What reason is there to vote for Rudy- I don't think anyone would really trust him on the right or the left.
Take away the glory days post 9/11 where he was the face of the crisis- what's left?
I think about how my friends are arguing over Clinton and Obama's experience- Rudy seems to have no experience and only ethical problems.

More fodder for thought about who's honorable and who should be our next prez...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/15/opinion/15sat3.html?th&emc=th

The media and their faux use of the national polls propped up the Plunger. If Shrub hadn't been awol (again) on 911 rudee would have been a has been a long time ago.

This is what you get when your standard for approval is your candidate got the "pee smell" off of NYC street corners

The CF's would do better to sit out the election and let the goopers lose on their own, it would guarantee their power in the party. They should let the Dole wing of the party be responsible for the lose.

Bill tells Charlie Rose: "It would be a miracle if Hillary wins in Iowa, and I'm not just low-balling you."

So do they want to lose so Edwards will win? I find it difficult to believe for Clinton to be so frank if he thought Hillary had screwed up in Iowa.

dnd
that's a bizarre conspiracy theory floated by true nutjobs

Edwards was always going to win in Iowa.\
Obama will be third.

the same people floating that theory are the same people who said Biden is surging and terra will make Rudee the candidate.

The primary stats are much different than the genera
In the SC being black makes you a favorite. 53% of the SC primary voters are black.

Obama will be out after NH

Obama wona't be a serious contenter after NH but the money will keep him in. Young people aren't enough of a constituency to put you in the WH

i watched that entire Rose interview, dnd (a Bill Clinton tour de force, btw) and there was some interesting context to the "miracle if Hillary wins Iowa" line. His point was that he claims to have told her before she announced that she would not win Iowa, that Edwards already had the organizational advantage and Obama had a leg up as neighboring state pol. So his point was that it was a miracle that she is doing so well -- spin, perhaps, but the analysis behind it made sense. Some of the coverage is trying to fit that "miracle" line into the narrative that she's in trouble, but his point was just the opposite -- that it is a sign of her strength that she has any chance to win Iowa.

seems to me that Obama has to win Iowa in order to win New Hampshire, that not winning Iowa will burst his bubble

one thing i've noticed about the Edwards campaign in NH is that he is working upstate harder than i've ever seen a Democrat do -- it's the most conservative and rural part of NH, but if it works could provide him a margin for surprise off an Iowa victory

ron paul and mccain are the only two side of the road signs I've seen so far in SC

only the very small but rich coastal area that I've seen, I mean

The only yard sign up in my neighborhood is for Kucinich

The independents in NH are not liberals. Edwards has a better chance at them then Obama.

Obama is to the left of Edwards. in terms of voting records

to a degree it's hair splitting about who is more liberal but Obama except for Skinny Dennis probably has the most progressive voting record --maybe Dodd.

Among the more competitive candidates, Barack Obama is seen as furthest to the left. Thirty-four percent (34%) of Democratic voters see the Illinois Senator as politically liberal (see crosstabs). Twenty-nine percent (29%) say the same about Hillary Clinton, and 26% hold that view of John Edwards. Joe Biden is seen as politically liberal by 25% while 18% say the same about Bill Richardson
rasmussen poll

Craig,

Bill's interview really makes sense if you look back to the assets Hillary originally put into Iowa -- basically enough to finish well, but not looking for a win. It wasn't until the polls really showed her with a solid lead that the campaign started pouring money into the state.

I think this may have actually worked against her since when the tightening came, the added money and people looked like that "desperation" scenario so many of the punditry were spitting out in their we hate Hillary scenarios.

BTW, Matthews did a strange toss off yesterday totally out of context. In a whole hour of Clinton bashing, he inserted one sentence right after showing her commercial, "That's what HIllary is like in person".

Why would someone who spends hours practically slandering the woman insert a throwaway line that seems to say that all the negatives are just hot air?

Bill Clinton was
the only candidate in the last seven
presidential elections to lose both the
Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire
primary and still go on to win his
party’s nomination.

"I'm melting. What a world. What a world."
- The Wicked Witch of the West Wing (1993-2000)

Now would be a good time for Moveon to do something to mix it up. ...they could just quote Hucksterbee who said Shrub has a bunker mentality.

Rudy's campaign to date, as far as I could see, was based on the fact that, on 9/11, he wandered around the streets of NYC with no clue what had happened or what to do about it. It was the police and fire chiefs and the other city bureaucrats who led the rescue & recovery effort that he later took credit for.

KGC: Yeah, I heard that. Huckabee called the Bush admin "internationally isolated & incompetent."

Here's Huckabee ripping Bush a new one...

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/15/huckabee-strikes-at-bush-foreign-policy/

I'm feeling better , although I still have an upset stomach. I'm no longer white as a ghost in the face. I tried to do some shopping today. I got myself some things at the grocery store , but I didn't last long. I'm back home to stay for the day.

Corey: Do you have Flu?

The Republicans are better off with the Huckster as a candidate. It keeps the evangelical movement in place, old style republicans are not going to stay home and if they continue to whip up hatred ..they have an anti gay measure on the ballot in Fla and of course immigration.

It was smart of him to attack Shrubco. What does he have to lose. I wonder if this is the first advice from Ed Rollins.

I'm pretty sure it was the flu. Although I heard that some people got sickm after our Christmas dinner at work a few nights ago. But , I doubt it was food poisoning for me.

KCG,
Bill Clinton didn't really lose the Iowa Caucuses...he didn't really compete here as a deference to Senator Harkin who ran that year. Bill came in third to Harkin and uncommitted. It was also a very different time and I don't think you can compare anything that happened then to the compressed schedule of this cycle

Corey: What to do for flu...
* bundle up
* drink cocoa
* watch old movies (30s-50s)

Corey: I had the flu once. I was so weak, i couldn't get out of bed for four days. I didn't feel bad, just WEAK.
I was also floating in a dreamy state of consciouness.

Here is something, the local ION network is running an hour and a half show entitiled "Understanding the Mormon Religon."

Zoey

All true. One of the interesting things about this race is Obama and Cinton both have a lot of money so even with losses they can stay in. They are not depending on wins to increase fundraising.

And pretty much everything is true in politics until someone defies the convention wisdom. It's been my experience that guts win out over caution almost everytime.

Zoey: According to Huckabee, Mormons think that Jesus and Satan were brothers. I don't know if this is true but it shows the potential for animosity between Mormons and fundamentalist Christians who take this sort of thing VERY seriously. Personally, I find the issue about as silly as the medieval scholars who debated how many angels could dance on the head of a pin.

America 2007: where medieval theological arguments can decide a presidential debate. (How far we have come.)

By the way, SEVEN angels can dance on the head of a pin, and anyone who says different goes on the rack!
-Archbishop Nash

Do we have a poll this week? I missed a lot of posts this week, so if there was word on it, I didn't see it.

I tried to link from here at Craig's cq site, and got "page not available."

What the HELL. (Chuckle). This is getting interesting. I should just announce my candidacy and get into the Republican primary race.
-Satan
(At least I know what to do after you lose a war.)

FYI...Obama is on C-Span live right now.

The poll is on the right under "links". I don't know if Ran has reset from the last run through, so will have to wait for a message for him when to do another go ahead.

If everyone wants they can put up their picks for the 1, 2, 3 finish in Iowa and New Hampshire. I can do a table, and we will see who the great prognosticators are.

But oh look at the momentum Hillary could receive if she won Iowa after effectively downplaying expectatons.

Jamie,

You left-coasters must get a different screen than I do. I got to the old poll address by clicking "blogroll" under links on Craig's cq page, but all that stuff is on the left on my screen.

That's where I got the page not available. Then went to ran's blog but didn't find anything there either.

Time to run now. Do some shopping, watch the NFL game in a bar on the hated NFL network, then get home and hope I beat the blizzard that's supposedly on its way.

Craig,
Thanks for providing some context to the Charlie Rose interview. That plays well with what Zoey said about downplaying expectations.

Clinton won't lose both IA and NH.

Edwards won't win NH,will finish 3rd in NH.

Clinton wins NH, SC, and Nevada.

Huckabee breezes to a landslide win in IA, Romney stops the Huck-Express in NH...Huckabee wins in SC, McCain surfaces to capture Nevada.

Sez me.

The only thing trippi did was tap into the insane blatherings of tweety..

tweety was all set to attack Clinton over the fundraising charge until he was informed it was Obama doing the fundraising. He is an uninformed nutjob and the only one who believes this crap.

Edwards is the candidate who has no money and the most vulnerable to damage from early losses.
The public funding issue is a real problem is terms of being competitive with the goopers

I think if one really believes Senator Clinton's campaign is in ruin then why say third place..why not put in her fouth or lower...after all since you believe all that other happy horsepucky why not subscribe to the Biden is surging meme too.

The Charlie Rose interview of Bill Clinton is on youtube:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_45KK8jwJR0

I love the experience argument as there is no one in the dems second tier that doesn't have more experience than Hillary and Obama put together.

She has Democratic party types
people who put together slate cards and gtov drives
she has a big base of party regulars in each state.

Despite the analysis to the contrary, the Hucksters surge is not due to his "populist" stands. A title he does not deserve. More media baloney

Hucksterbee is a result of none of the above.
The apparent success of the war should help Clinton and McCain.

I can't speak for NH but there is a lot of talk around here right now about Edwards and the matching funds not beng able to compete with a money machine like Mitt. Personally, I think there will be other Dem groups who would take up the slack should Edwards be the nominee but there is definite concern.

Concern about lobbyist money...not so much. Most of my activist friends believe we are lobbyists too. I don't know anyone who does not have an agenda or issue that is important to them. This is how they pick the candidate they will support, volunteer for, or donate to.

Besides in my circles it has backfired in the past when Edwards brings up the subject of lobbyists. He has taken money from trial lawyers and they are the biggest lobbying group out there. They definitely have an agenda.

Just picked up my mail today, flyers from Hillary, Edwards, Obama, and Richardson. I was beginning to wonder where Richardson was since I haven't heard much about him lately.

I predict Obama and his supporters will be sore losers.

Everyone on the gooper side will be a sore loser.

I get flyers everyday from one or more candidates. Most of it comes from Hillary, Edwards, and Obama. Sometimes I also get hand-delivered pieces of literature. Besides snail mail I also get numerous emails and phone calls.

I feel sorry for my mailman because there is so much political lit being sent out in addition to regular catalogs, personal Christmas cards, and political Christmas cards from the party and local candidates I have volunteered for in the past year.

EdvB

I clicked on the poll and it seems to have been taken down. I sent Ran an email the other day and it bounced. So I'll do it the old fashioned way.

For the first three races: IA, NH, SC

Who will come in first second and third both Dem and Rep contenders.

I'll put your guesses in a table. Final day for submission the day before the IA Caucus

The DSM Register will be posting their endorsements online sometime tonight for tomorrow's paper. They endorsed Edwards last time.

not if the girl gang conspiracy has anything to do with it...

"The newspaper's editorial board, which makes the endorsements, operates separately from the newsroom. Even David Yepsen, the Register's esteemed political columnist, claims not to know what will happen. In a town that consumes political information like popcorn, this is the best-kept secret around.

Those sifting for clues make hay out of the fact that Sen. Hillary Clinton's camp publicly feted the paper's editorial staff at a local eatery recently and that Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware was called in twice for interviews. David Axelrod, chief strategist for the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama, sat in for his candidate's interview with the board a week or so ago. "It went well -- or at least I think it did," he said. "They're absolutely inscrutable."

Political operatives credit the paper's endorsement with raising the campaign of then-obscure North Carolina Sen. John Edwards in 2004. He went on to place a strong second in the Iowa caucus and won a spot on the presidential ticket. But history may not repeat itself. Even Edwards aides say it is unlikely he will win the prize this time around.

Since 2004, the paper's editorial board has undergone heavy turnover. That six of the seven in the group are women hasn't been lost on political observers, who wonder if this might give Mrs. Clinton an edge.

But speculation tilts heavily toward Mr. Obama, who opposed the Iraq war from the beginning. Some think the Register prefers to back candidates who aren't establishment favorites, a description that may apply more to Mr. Obama. After all, everyone likes to play kingmaker."

Modify slightly.

Everyone have your IA both Dem and Rep picks in before the Caucus. Then we will do NH but you can put them in at anytime. Then we will do NC. That will take care of the earliest contests.

Jamie, here are my predictions so that I may be on the record to eat crow later. Incidentally, the entrails of chickens were involved in this process…

IA D's:
Obama
Edwards
Clinton

IA R's:
Huckabee
Romney
Thompson

NH D's:
Obama
Clinton
Edwards

NH R's:
Romney
McCain
Giuliani

SC D's:
Obama
Clinton
Edwards

SC R's:
Huckabee
Romney
Thompson

Dexter and everyone else, Please make your picks according to format with as many of the picks as you want to do now.

Dem IA, first second and third

Rep IA First Second Third

Dem NH First SEcond Third

Rep NH first second third

Dem NC First Second Third

Rep NC First Second Third

I would not be suprised if the Register picks Obama and Huckster but I really don't have any idea. I had a mole in the room last time but not this time. If I hear anything concrete before it is posted I will let you know.

I could also see the Register picking someone from the 2nd tier of Dem candidates. They like an underdog...it sells more papers.

The History channl is re-running 1968 now if you missed it before.

"I could also see the Register picking someone from the 2nd tier of Dem candidates. They like an underdog...it sells more papers" zoey

the Biden surprise

I think the register will endorse mcCain.for the goopers an Clinton for the Democrats.

Ah, I just throw in when I feel like it...I can't predict anything but the obvious, like Huckabee winning in IA.

With pundits saying "Webb could emerge at the Convention..." and "Thompson is a viable threat...", well...I'd rather just wait and see.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh...and I ain't so happy today...those "Dexter" episodes from ShoTime Channel on AOL TV?
Pay per view.
Fuhgeddaboudditt.

Great post, as always, Craig.

BTW, how on earth can you stand to be in the same room with Chris Matthews, the Archie Bunker of Lazy-Boy Chair journalism?

KCG,
You may be right about McCain...they seem to have a soft spot for him. He doesn't have much support though and hasn't really done the hard work of campaigning in the state which the Register likes to reward.

I wonder how badly it could hurt Hillary if they endorsed her. It raises those expecttions back up and I don't know if that would help or hurt. I will be interested to hear what the non-activist (but possible and likely caucus-goers) have to say when I get back to work on Monday.

Pat Buchanan drives a Lincoln Navigator.
I pulled up beside a Lincoln Navigator today here in town, and glanced over , which I never do...and the driver was a dead ringer for Pat Buchanan. I did a cartoon-like double take...the Navigator had Virginia plates...really weird! A celebrity look-alike in the same model vehicle...odd.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But don't ever be surprised to see Britney Spears at the gas station at 3 in the morning...that WILL be her!

Dexter,

If you have an itunes subscription, you can download the Dexter Show.

I spoke to tweety in person in January of 2004...what an absolute jerk. It was hard to get close to him,his head was so big. I met Craig the same night and there was no comparison. Craig was perfectly charming and well, cuddly, I guess.

Zoey
I guess historically the odds are against Clinton since they endorsed Bradley and previously Paul Simon.

They might endorse Thompson instead of McCain but I don't think it's going to be either Romney or Huckster.
I guess they could really go out on a limb and support Ron Paul.

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=mobile

the register will be happy to text you the endorsement if you want to be among the first to know

Sorry Craig. I have a thing for men in flannel shirts I guess, but only in the winter. Flannel in the summer is just too weird.

I see lots of Fred 2008 bumper stickers here in Nashville....but the only yard signs I see are Ron Paul.....

Any Grant is my new hero....She was on Paula Deen's holiday special and told a story of once when her family had 75 guests for a holiday dinner. She threw together a pan of cheese grits without much close attention. When it was baked, she noticed that there were black specs throughout. One of her sisters (or someone) told her the grits had to have had bugs. She said, "Well, I'm gonna throw some cracked pepper on the top and serve it anyway."

What time is the register supposed to release the endorsement?

They haven't said what time they will announce the endorsements.

At Jamie's suggestion, John Tanner (DoJ, racist) has been added to The Culture of Corrupters List.

tt

Iowa dem: Edwards, Clinton, Obama
Iowa rep: McCain, Huckerbee, Ron Paul

NH dem: Clinton, Edwards, Obama
NH rep: McCain, Romney, Ron Paul

SC dem: Clinton, Edwards, Obama
SC rep: Romney, McCain, Huckrabee

sheer guesswork......

Thick slices of pumpernickel slathered in butter.
Smoked sausage.
Sauerkraut.

Achtung!

Dinner.

Are we placing bets?

tt

I'm really getting to like the young guy in red on the top right.

tt

more about the huckleberry kid and animal abuse.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/78241

yo soy Horsedooty!

Dexter: "Thick slices of pumpernickel slathered in butter.
Smoked sausage.
Sauerkraut.
Achtung!"

Oh my gawd that sound fabulous!

Politics = 'Everybody lies'.

tt

*L* @ tt...So what do you think? Will his ideas change the world?

Tip Toe

Not sure where Ran is so I'm putting everyone's guesses about IA, NH, and SC in a chart.

You can do them all now, or just do IA before the Caucus and the others later before those elections.

Endorsement news:
Globe goes for Obama

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/12/15/for_the_democrats_barack_obama/

Globe also endorses mccain

Dog:
I yelled Achtung! to alert everyone to the kraut & stuff!
Just sausage and kraut on a plate with a platter of pumpernickel , all smeared up with butter. Of course you can have some! ---Store-bought apple jam-filled cookies for a last course...I was bad and ate all the homemade chocolate chip cookies. My wife brained me with a cast-iron skillet for that caper! No problem, we have lawyers in Crawford's house here!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you follow dog's lead and go to Arlington National Cemetery,chances are you'll visit the Kennedy gravesite.
Just a few steps away lies Vance Hartke, my fave all-time US Senator.

and Clinton gets the IRegister's nod-
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071215/NEWS/71215016

Forgive me for this very tired joke:

"You say they buried Nixon twelve feet down? "

Yes, because deep down, he is a very good president.

Ok...I twisted it...it is really about "lawyers". But I don't wanna get banned!

Kathy...I suspected that.
Just as I suspect Clinton will win the whole thing.

A White Russian for The Dude!

http://hydepark.hevre.co.il/Upload09/D4BB9508E23A4ED1ABC5D35A2ECFF5A3.jpg

for dog: This is Joe Louis's fist...It is outside JLA in Detroit.
And yes, it has been very controversial.

http://www.rivalfish.com/rivalroom/uploaded_images/JoeLouisFist-783792.jpg

Dex , remember when someone threw white paint all over the fist a few years ago? I am crashed out on the couch tonight.

Yep...and that sculpture has been catching hell ever since it appeared there.

Well Jake Rienhart's rodeo is over for this year. Tonight he tied with two other fellows for second and third and fourth with a time of 4.8 seconds for his run. That will pay him $16,923.07.

he came in to the rodeo winning $55,264.98 and with this week he has won $72,188.05. Things could have been better but they could have been a lot worse.

yo soy Horsedooty!

The Des Moines Register endorsement proved a key boost for Edwards in 2004, resulting in a second-place finish. Additionally, the Register's endorsement has proved influential in three of the last four cycles; they backed caucus winner Walter Mondale in 1984 and second-place winner Paul Simon in 1988. In 2000, the Register's endorsed Bill Bradley who lost to Al Gore.

Just finished watchin "American Perspectives" on C-SPAN with Michael Dukakis as the guest. It was very thoughtful and interesting on a whole host of subjects.

One pleasant remark: "Romney is a fraud and he was a lousy Governor".

well when I wrote the last update about the daughters friend they had not updated for tonights rodeo. Jake won $23,886.21this week and total for the year $79,151.19. Not bad for a WNFR rookie.

yo soy Horsedooty!

Jamie, I'll do my prediction after the caucus.

Ah, Peter Maxx, what an artist.

tt

"after the caucus"

20/20 Hindsite?

Make that Hind Sight

another example of Gov Huckleberry Hound's judgment with funny looking parole and clemency hearings.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/15/519110.aspx

yo soy Horsedooty!

The Register endorsed John McCain, too.
Jamie...did you know what Dukakis reported? NIXON tried to get Universal Health Care in 1971...passed the House , like 330-70 of the voters on the floor that day...sent to Senate...and the southern Senators filibustered it to death! NIXON!! I was in the Army then and never heard a damn thing about it.

Dukakis also said Bush43 is the worst prez in his lifetime.

AND I say EVER !!

Des Moines story:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-12-15-register-endorsements_N.htm

At a loss on what to fix for Christmas dinner this year? Try this thing:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=502605&in_page_id=1770&ito=newsnow

Yes, Jamie and then I can say I knew it all along.

tt

That's a HUGE turkey.

I've learned of the Turducken since I moved here.

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

Not quite as fancy.

tt

just looking at that gives me gas.

yo soy Horsedooty!

John's dad with some rye whiskey:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05E91pgKCx0

The Vatican Rag, for Rudi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f72CTDe4-0

send the marines:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHhZF66C1Dc&feature=related

Lehrer on songs satire and boosh:

Lehrer has commented that he doubts his songs had any real effect on those not already critical of the establishment: "I don't think this kind of thing has an impact on the unconverted, frankly. It's not even preaching to the converted; it's titillating the converted... I'm fond of quoting Peter Cook, who talked about the satirical Berlin cabarets of the '30s, which did so much to stop the rise of Hitler and prevent the Second World War."[1] In 2003 he commented that his particular brand of political satire is more difficult in the modern world: "The real issues I don't think most people touch. The Clinton jokes are all about Monica Lewinsky and all that stuff and not about the important things, like the fact that he wouldn't ban landmines... I'm not tempted to write a song about George W. Bush. I couldn't figure out what sort of song I would write. That's the problem: I don't want to satirise George Bush and his puppeteers, I want to vaporise them."[2]

the beatles and the press about "bigger than jesus" flap with a dash of viet nam and sho biz........

disc jockey Tommy Charles.......B'ham, right Pogo? Doug Leyton and Tommy Charles........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1CidMWUfbw&feature=related

Dex: have you seen the U-tube "F'ing Short Version of the Big Lebowski" ?

Good Morning Gang.....

I'm housebound today.... along with my eastern brethren.... BIG blizzard going on..... supposed to get ice on top of lots of snow this afternoon..... hope our power holds out for the Patriots game.....

I'm predicting that Clinton will be the Dem nominee......
don't want to go state by state...... want to enjoy the show without any emotional baggage......

looks like I might watch some of the Sunday shows...... Rick and I can't get out for our usual Sunday brunch...... but then.... I could always stick my nose in a book...... currently reading "Pillars of the Earth" (Oprah book).... having lots of fun with it...... at almost 600 of it's 900+ pages..... set back in the 1100s..... oh the subterfuge and politics that went on back then!

Wait! DSR's editorial board can be bought for a free dinner? Ain't politics grand!

I know newspaper's endorsements carry weight, but it baffles me why they do.

Dexter,

Though I knew about Truman by name because at the time my dad was in the Army, I first became aware of politics enough to have an opinion with the 52 election. That is how long I've heard about universal healthcare.

Virtually everyone coming out of WW II thought it was a good idea and it was at that time that England first adopted the NHS, so it doesn't surprise me that Nixon was for it. Unfortunately Eisenhower coming on the heels of Roosevelt and Truman owed his presidency to the money men and they hated the idea of "Socialized Medicine". This then became part of the Republican ethos as the cold war deepened.

It has taken us until now to finally convince the American public that it might be a good idea to consider again. The rubric of "best medicine in the world" has started to fall on deaf ears now that the public has been exposed to having the most expensive health care with the poorest results for the money.

oh..... I forgot to say who I think the Repug nominee will be....

ok..... after much consideration.... they will decide none of the current bozos fits the bill and nominate Reagan's ghost..... and Gomer Plye will be VP.....

seriously..... I don't know.... none of them appeals to me..... and apparently, there's no consensus on which one appeals to them.....

I'm just gonna watch and see what happens......
and of course..... as always..... I'll enjoy the ride...... :0)

Oh great....here we go again....

HuffingtonPost:

Florida4Marriage sounds like the worst boy band of all time, but it turns out it's not. It's a Republican front group, run by a personal injury lawyer, to lure gay-hating boobs into the voting booths next November.

Florida4Marriage, and its chairman, John Stemberger (a recognized leader in rental car accident law) are the people behind Florida's new Marriage Protection Amendment, and yesterday they finally got the signatures they need to put it on the 2008 ballot.

So come on down! And while you're in there, marking the magic X that proves you're not a homo -- and that your life wasn't a squalid waste of everyone's time, because at least you got yerself hitched -- why not also vote for a Republican president?

Something for you. Something for the GOP. It's a get-out-the-vote win/win.

Anti-gay amendments are the Happy Meal toy of Republican politics.

Julia,

$800 per person Christmas dinner is a bit outside my budget.

Rep Julia Carson (D) of Indianapolis dies at 69

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071216/SPECIAL21/712160384

Actor singer Floyd Red Crow Westerman also passed away.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_7724819?nclick_check=1

dnd

"I know newspaper's endorsements carry weight, but it baffles me why they do." Many voters who consider it their duty to vote, but who are not particularly caught up in politics enough to analyze the candidates depend on a trusted source for a recommendation.

This is why the far right started distributing cards to the church goers as their "religious" duty to go to the polls. It has given them a leg up for years though has less force now that so many people have caught on that it was a fund raising source for the groups putting out the cards.

My favorite Tom Lehrer wasn't political

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXx2VVSWDMo&feature=related

Jamie,
You of course are correct. But my feeling is that one's duty is not only to vote, but take a few minutes to see where candidates and ballot measures stand on issues, and see how they agree with one's own opinions. Otherwise one is vulnerable to being duped into voting for someone who's ideas you generally wouldn't support.

Ok, I'm climbing off my soapbox now...

dnd,

At that's how we got George. There are a lot of people voting who shouldn't be allowed out of doors much less into a voting booth, but up until now, the system usually manages to be self correcting.

I'm not completely convinced that we will get past this presidency without something almost permanently destructive happening.

and my other favorite Lehrer - The rather licentious Alma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgTL71yZ3Mo

as usual tweety continues his anti hillary campaign and I guess they did the promotion for it before Clinton got the Register endorsement. Now he looks like a spoiled child who is throwing a tantrum.

Obama also bought dinner .
DND you are joinging Tweety in your irrational hate of Clinton

Renee

When you finish the 900 pages of The Pillars of the Earth, you still have another 900 to go with the sequel "World Without End". I'm about a fourth of the way through and I'm starting to think of it as "book without end". It's really good, but rather impinging on my life.

dnd: "Otherwise one is vulnerable to being duped into voting for someone who's ideas you generally wouldn't support."

That's what's happening with a lot of the Ron Paul supporters....people only hear no income tax and get out of Iraq....

rrr
If you are still around...What did you think of "Into the Wild. " People I know were divided. Some thought it was a romantic although sad story while the other side thought he was stupid selfish and a taker.

Howie Annis Kurtz trophy husband of a gooper whore is making false claims about Cinton

he never reveals his conflicts. cnn politica coverage is full of crap

KGC,
"DND you are joinging Tweety in your irrational hate of Clinton"

1. I don't hate Clinton. In many ways I admire her.
2. I'm not joining Tweety in anything. I don't watch Tweety, and if you're interested in hearing serious political commentary, I suggest you don't watch him either.

Patsy,
I think what appeals to a lot of Ron Paul supporters is his authenticity and genuineness. He is not slick.

But when he talks about eliminating the Federal Reserve, I think his doctor needs to adjust the dosage on his meds...

Patsy,
I think what appeals to a lot of Ron Paul supporters is his authenticity and genuineness. He is not slick.

But when he talks about eliminating the Federal Reserve, I think his doctor needs to adjust the dosage on his meds...

KGC.... I didn't go see the movie..... I'm waiting for it to come out on DVD.....
I loved the book.... from reading it, I thought McCandless was restless, intense, smart and an idealistic kid who happened to make a stupid and tragic mistake.....

Jamie.... I did buy both books from Amazon..... however, I will wait a while to read the sequel.... I'm suppose to plow through Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles for my book club at the end of January...... not sure I want to reread something that depressing.....

dnd..... Paul appeals to those who listen to sound bites and don't really study a candidates positions, IMO..... I agree he's authentic.... but a nutjob too....

Pau; believes in freedom from government and freedom of choice except if your are a woman

oh yeah.....
for those wanting to hear from ran......

he's in northern NH..... they are getting all snow and it may be as much as 2 feet..... I wouldn't expect to hear from him today......

Read Tess ages ago and you are right. There is a lot to discuss in it, but I would schedule TV for nothing but comedy while you are doing it.

The 1992 Iowa Caucus and NH Primary is a faulty model for understanding 2008. Harken made Iowa irrelevant and Tsongas had home field advantage in NH. What was unique was Clinton's framing a second place finish as "the come back kid." Brilliant strategy bought by the MSM. The Clintonistas are telegraphing a redux when Bill tells Charlie Rose a Hillaryland victory in Iowa will be "a miracle." I smell, "the miracle kid."

My picks
as previousy stated
Iowa
Edwards,Clinton, Obama
Huckstersee, Thompson, The Plunger (but a distant third)

NH
Clinton, Edwards,Obama
McCain, Paul, Romney

Tobe,
Interesting analysis.

Renee,
"I agree he's authentic.... but a nutjob too."

Some would argue their all nutjobs. So why not pick an honest nutjob?

Got it KGC

News from NH. Heard that Hucksterbbe & Norris wimped out AND CANCELLED their events because of snow. NH people see that as a sign of weakness.

Approx. 12" of snow on top of Thursday's 10" in Nashua. No doubt, we're having a White Christmas this year.

Saw the Boston Pops Christmas Show last night in Manchester, NH. Nothing like a live orchestra for Christmas music.

This was a pretty interesting read:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007712160589

I think the rea question for the day is
why and when did Barry Obama start being
Barak Obama and when did he stop selling cocaine :)

I'll be glad when Iowa and NH are over and there will actually be some facts to deal with about who's up and who's down......

Clinton's fall (sic) in the poll is gratituous baloney
the Register along with all the other non beltway and loca pol endosrements she has will carry the day for her in Iowa. She is working hard and she has the resources to make her hard work pay off

Your question is based on the idea that she was out of it and that my friend is crap

the real question for today is how much will the NE Pats beat the NY Jets by? Field conditions are not the greatest.

yo soy Horsedooty!

I wonder if Rush Limbaugh did a tour with Willard if he would get the same size crowds as Oprah did for Obama

Yes she was a head in Iowa but she started out behind so the numbers have gone up and down for all three candidates
.
Your argument is based on the inevitability argument made by the media...the not the Clinton campaign.
I think they have worked hard and taken advantage of all their resources. Woud you expect less. Under your argument I suspose Obama would tell Oprah to stay home because it's just not right.

Personally I think the Oprah thing isgoing to turn out to be an error because I think it makes him more of a back candidate. Oprah made a specificaly black appeal which Obama had, I assume, deliberately had not done.

Maybe it's just me but I thought the most interesting and forceful thing about him was who he is racially;.

It's A Wonderful Presidency...

http://weeklyradioaddress.com/WRA20071215.htm

It is called opposition research and I used to do it for my clients when I was a market research consultant. Everyone does it and it is probably a good thing in the long run because the press sure doesn't do any investigative reporting on the candidates anymore. Most of the time they don't even vet the emails they receive as part of the whisper campaign. If you think Trippi doesn't have his minions out there digging up the oppo research, you are nieve about the way campaigns are run.

No wonder Mike Huckabee hearts psychopaths.... his son is one.

Here is another stomach turning Huckabee abuse of power, courtesy of Michael Isikoff and Holly Bailey in Newsweek:

"As Mike Huckabee gains in the polls, the former Arkansas governor is finding that his record in office is getting more scrutiny. One issue likely to get attention is his handling of a sensitive family matter: allegations that one of his sons was involved in the hanging of a stray dog at a Boy Scout camp in 1998. The incident led to the dismissal of David Huckabee, then 17, from his job as a counselor at Camp Pioneer in Hatfield, Ark. It also prompted the local prosecuting attorney— bombarded with complaints generated by a national animal-rights group—to write a letter to the Arkansas state police seeking help investigating whether David and another teenager had violated state animal-cruelty laws. The state police never granted the request, and no charges were ever filed. But John Bailey, then the director of Arkansas's state police, tells NEWSWEEK that Governor Huckabee's chief of staff and personal lawyer both leaned on him to write a letter officially denying the local prosecutor's request. Bailey, a career officer who had been appointed chief by Huckabee's Democratic predecessor, said he viewed the lawyer's intervention as improper and terminated the conversation. Seven months later, he was called into Huckabee's office and fired. "I've lost confidence in your ability to do your job," Bailey says Huckabee told him. One reason Huckabee cited was "I couldn't get you to help me with my son when I had that problem," according to Bailey. "Without question, [Huckabee] was making a conscious attempt to keep the state police from investigating his son," says I. C. Smith, the former FBI chief in Little Rock, who worked closely with Bailey and called him a "courageous" and "very solid" professional."

http://www.newsweek.com/id/78241

Remember, kids -- The Huckabee Standard is as follows:

1) If you are a murderer/rapist -- and Dumond was NOT the only one he released or tried to release -- you do not have to show remorse or contrition or have legal grounds to challenge a verdict -- just claim "salvation" from Jesus and accept Mike's religion and you're on your way outtathere.

2) Give money to Mike and get a government position or laws bent or ignored for you.

It's all good with Hucksterbee, used religion salesman, 'cuz he has such a great sense of humor -
I'm sure he told this joke at all the Schiavo fundraisers.

Today on the way up here Matt Mayberry [Dover City Councilor] was driving us. He was telling us about a lady here that had hosted her uncle who had come into New Hampshire for a visit. Kind of a tragic story. He came to visit his niece and while there had a heart attack, and they had to take him to the hospital. They got him to the hospital and after a few minutes the doctor came out and says well ma'am I need to tell you that here's the situation with your uncle. His brain is dead, but his heart's still beating. The niece grabbed her cheek and said oh my we've never had a Democrat in the family before. [laughter]. I could only get away telling that out of state at a Republican gathering. [applause].
http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2008/huckab082705spt.html

Doots,
Great news about Jake.

They're not televising the Pats/Jets game out here. The Broncos have as much chance of getting into the playoffs as Mike Gravel has of getting the nomination. Probably watch Corey's Lions v. the Chargers.

this from a guy who thinks the world is 6000 yrs old....

The Plunger gave a major address on Saturday and for the media coverage he got, his name could be Tancredo.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/16/MNJFTVF6D.DTL&tsp=1

the Giuliani mulligan

Actually , I'm a Chief's fan. I just don't announce that too loudly. That is why I'm going to see them play the Lions in Detroit next Sunday.

Obama's campaign used personal attacks early on: Geffen.

While looking for something else in Rochester, I came across.

Primary dates.

http://www.whec.com/article/stories/s283334.shtml?cat=10540

tt

jamie,

How are you?

Hi 9/11

I had a touch of something or other that my stomach didn't like, but that is past. Other than that, life trundles along in a rather boring fashion I'm afraid.

What is the news from the bright lights of Broadway or lack of them?

well this should push him over the top (NOT)

Lieberman To Endorse McCain...
16 Dec 2007 02:30 pm

Democratic and Republican sources say that Sen. Joe Lieberman, the independent Democrat from Connecticut and fierce supporter of the war in Iraq, will formally endorse Sen. John McCain tomorrow in New Hampshire.

A McCain spokesperson declined to comment.

Whoa! Brett Favre just passed for more yards than any other QB in NFL history!

Corey,
I'm a closet Chiefs fan too. Other than the Raiders, they're historically the Broncos biggest rival. They always had great players and coaches. And were always a class act.

That and the great BBQ in Kansas City....

Obama wrote and published his history by his choice.

Obama writes well. He is far better than either Clinton or any candidate in memory.

And what is under his byline so far has been his own work. That is most often not the case for politicans including John Kennedy who won a Pulitzer who conceived and wrote some parts of Profiles In Courage -- but the book is attributed mostly to Ted Sorenson who understood Kennedy's mind and language so well.)

Plus, while the book in question was written by a man who had strong political ambitions, it was so far removed from being a political autobiography his candor becomes jarring to many over a decade later as he runs for office.

Memoirs recently provoke a hell of a lot more argument than histories and biographies. (Until the Kajillion Little Pieces/Running With Scissors scandals broke, one of publishing's dirty little secrets was to tell novelists to sell their romans a clef as personal memoirs as those sold much, much better that way than as fiction.)

All memoirists get challenged.

As a memoirist, Obama already has a history of having his facts challenged by people who were present during the events he described. There was a skirmish in Chicago over his claims of leadership in a major community action very shortly after he declared his candidacy in Springfield. His critics told a story that was credible and more detailed than Obama's version.

According to the man who write its first draft, Bush's campaign autobiography from 2000 should have been titled "Hello," He Lied. He even lied about how he was born again.

And the press challenged barely any of it.

Obama set the terms of his life narrative more and better than any candidate in memory.

He's made good money by promoting the cocaine accusation.

If the Clintons "kneecapped" anyone, so far it has been themselves.

I believe they were prepared for how this has played out.

Do I like it? No.

Do I like Obama's making hay off it? No.

But Shaheen is damn right: this will make a great cartoon distraction for the Republicans -- one that will grant many voters the justification they may seek to not vote for a candidate who's part black.

And Obama's capitalizing on it could cost him a lot more than he is making now.

You don't capitalize when you have to cauterize.

jamie,

There is finally a great American play on Broadway, courtesy of Steppenwolf.

And there is a great if stupidly chopped up interview with Sondheim about the Sweeney Todd process in the NYT today.

Two things to remember for it:

1) There are only two other pieces of his he will let be adapted as films: Company and Follies. Follies is already in development with two guys I don't care for doing it -- Aaron Sorkin and Sam Mendes.

2) My hero Peter Stone gave something to Sondheim which he keeps on his desk: a stone tablet on which is engraved these words -- "Nothing Is Written In Stone".

I'm glad you're feeling better.

And even gladder you do not allow bore yourself or me.

Correction: it is not an accusation Shaheen made.

He raised the question all memoirs raise.... because what is said makes one wonder about what wasn't said.

There's an interesting article on the campaign and swiftboating techniques vs legitimate questions in the LA Times today:

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-op-klein16dec16,0,6964063.story?coll=la-home-commentary

Ron Paul on MTP next Sunday...expect a "Today Show" -like crowd waving outside and complimentary camera-recognition.

The next round of polls will show Clinton picking up again

How many people actually watch Hardball?

How many others scour the net for clips of it?

I don't know how many journalists are directly or obliquely influenced by Chris Matthews.

I do know that his usual suspect guests from Pat Buchanan to Joan Walsh and Arianna Huffington aren't.

And I'd have to say that judging from here and other comment-driven sites, the blogosphere treats him as a narcissistic joke.

So I'd have to say no matter whoever he is running up or down really doesn't have much of an effect on political realities or their coverage.

However, I like his passion for and knowledge about movies (except about the unwatchable one he appeared on it) ..... and would love him to be a guest programmer (about something other than political movies) on TCM.

9/11

Sweeny is my granddaughter's favorite Sondheim musical so I am looking forward to seeing the Depp version and comparing note with her.

Folies is my favorite Sondheim mainly because of "Could I Leave You" because of the lyrical play on words expressing a depth of anger that would silence any normal human being.

Are you talking about "August: Osage County"? I read a review of it that sounds fascinating.

The better to twist, my dear.

gee how quickly they forget...just two weeks ago the media was condeming Edwards for his personal attacks on Senator Cinton and being too negative and how this could only help Obama.

Heeeeeere's Johnny!
Newsweek, current.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/78238

Has John Edwards (who was employed by a hedge fund which has given his 2008 campaign over 100K in contributions) made any statement about supporting or not supporting the Senate Finance Committee's proposed legislation to make private equity and hedge fund earnings taxable?

Schumer is clearly for it and has a fine future ahead of him in the field. Clinton is equivocating.

But Edwards? Two Americas? Fair taxation?

Both Edwards and Obama are IN favor of increasing taxes on private equity and hedge fund earnings.

(From the New York Sun.)

Obama? Billary?

Joe Ho Ho to you: Lieberman will endorse McCain for President in time for the Holy-Joe-idays.

And you three endorsed HIM against Ned Lamott in the primary.... then vanished for the general election. (Except for Hillary sending him Howard Wolfson to mess up his campaign team on purpose.)

The Clinton/Obama support of Lieberman/failure to effectively support Lamott is the fuck up that keeps on fucking up the party, the nation and the world.

NB: John Edwards not only endorsed Lamott but campaigned for him.

And Dodd endorsed Lamott and campaigned for him, too.

Yep......Joe Lieb should have been scuttled.....

If anyone was suprised by the LIEberman endorsement their Joementum isn't working. He hasn't really been a Democrat for a long time. He is a truly a party of one.

Zoey,

Another non-surprise is Bob Kerry's endorsement of Hillary.

I'd say with that the midwesterners who moved to NYC vote is under her thumb.

By the way, if anyone wonders why I am so paranoid about ther racist vote...here's a message on the Tennessean boards that is probably the worst I've seen. I've emailed the paper several times today asking them to remove it because it is so offensive. But while this is the worst one, I checked message boards in other Tennessee cities when Harold was running and they'd often make your blood run cold. And TN ain't even the real South.

http://forums.tennessean.com/viewtopic.php?t=131849

Patsi,
I lived in Memphis for a few years and even voted for JR. the very first time he ran for the House. I understand what you are saying about the racisim. It is sometime hard for people to understand who have not really seen its pervasiveness on a daily basis. Memphis was a cesspool of racism and I couldn't wait to leave.

patsi,

In working on Democratic campaigns both in New England and in NYC, whether for candidates marketed as moderate or liberal, I have heard plenty of racism from both co-workers and people we were canvassing who were lifelong Dems.

Anyone who can't imagine that is naive.

Prejudice is its own cultural norm in this country. As I wrote before, there will be many Americans, whatever their affiliation or declared beliefs, who will itch for an excuse to not vote for a minority candidate.

With Ford it was "womanizing" (white woman division). With Obama it will involve the drug use as stated by him or distorted by others -- or more.

Those anti-Ford TV spots oiled the hinges on the door of prejudice-as-acceptable-politics not just regionally but nationally.

But it's not just Obama or race.

Hell, the whitest man in the race is Mitt Romney who has had the worst sort of religious prejudice heaped on him since Al Smith ran in the twenties.

I read this stuff about Joseph Smith, the original mormon, and about L. Ron Hubbard, the scientology guy, or any basic history of popedom......and I just have to wonder if humans are basically just kind of retarded......I mean, I guess what I wonder is just HOW retarded.......golden tablets buried in the woods? jesus.

sturgeone,

And that brat Abraham made like Keith Moon in his dad's fashionable Baghdad idol shop and the Yeshua ben Joseph kid believed he was not Joseph the Carpenter's son but the son of God.

Anyone who founds (or who is credited with the founding of) a religion -- sincerely or not -- is going to be a little differently motivated than anyone else.

Hubbard did it (literally) on a bet and to get rich.

Smith was a brilliant man and personality -- and his beliefs and experiences were very typical of where he came from in Western NYS which was where all sorts of new religions began to the beat of drummers loopier than Moon in the first half of the 19th century.

My fave? The Oneida Community. You can look it up online or have a lot more fun reading Sarah Vowell's Assassination Vacation history.

How did I learn about it?

I was an assistant buyer for an NYC department store when I was 21. My job was silverplated flatware and my main vendor was Oneida... which originated with the sexually and religiously highly active Oneida Community.

Retarded is the human condition. Though I'm only speaking for myself...

Some humans are "kinda retarded".

Some are more than that in their self-destructive habits (like using drugs and drug dealing to others).

I have a question.

Do dealers (or ex-dealers) ever wonder how many lives they helped destroy?

Can anyone here answer that?

dog,

Dinkins is at least as thin-skinned a human as is Giuliiani.

However, his greatest excess in office involved a custom-made $11,500 headboard which Dinkins had a city employee make for him.

He planned to take it with him but it got exposed and now sits somewhere in a city warehouse... next to Rosebud, I guess.

Rudy's Liberal Party sub-boss Russell Harding stole twice as much as that weekly -- and Mr. Transparent Gov't did everything he could to block any access to the facts in that matter.

I think you do better by looking for that recipe your mommy gave you for flippant self-righteousness.

It's quite the winner.

dog,

Dry drunks like Bush seem to attract enablers for their grandiosity like rot attracts yeast.

I don't want to get into the fray, but what's important to me can be summarized in this song:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=m1qE2vJdDw4

You shouldn't use the word "retarded" either. Trust me on that one.

Buddy Holly caught a one way flight

Dan Fogelberg has died of prostate cancer. He was 56 I think.

Dan Fogelberg was a musician I never grew to appreciate.
He had many albums and was famous, but our "paths" never crossed. I knew nothing about him until I performed a perfunctory Google search just now.

I was in the music business in the late 70's when he had a lot of his hits and I lived in Louisville when he premiered the song "Run for the Roses" for the Kentucky Derby one year. While his type of music was a little tame for me at the time, I felt he had a lot of talent.

In a local interview John Edwards was asked if he would consider another VP run or what would be next for him if things didn't go his way? He smiled and said it was going to go his way. Hmmm, does that mean he thinks he is the King and is inevitable. He better watch out or the press will mock him and call him on his statement of inevitability just like they did Hillary.

Night all. I am going to try to work a full day in the office tomorrow. Laters.

Dex me too.

tt

Of all the foods to be jonesing for...I just GOTSTA have a PBJ sandwich ..NOW !

Back home from my brother's wedding...it was lovely and fun! And now my sister-out-law is my sister-in-law. I'll kinda' miss her old nickname...I liked it!

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