Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Good morning Vietnam.

God Bless.

So when will he start World War III?

It will be soon so watch out and take care.

God Bless All.

hey anon.... good to see you....

Dooty.... I was watching the Pats..... that Steeler kid who smash mouthed the Pats didn't bother me..... but at the half time show.... when Cowher said the Steelers had them right where they wanted them, it pissed me off..... oh yeah....
guess Cowher had the right idea, just the wrong team......HA!
and that Cowboys/Lions game was exciting!

dnd..... your Broncos did good..... hell.... they did great....

oh yeah..... Oprah..... Go Oprah.... Go!

Jamie.... we watched most of that program on 1968 on the History Channel....
it was ok.... but a tad bit boring,IMO..... but then what did I expect with Tom Brokaw hosting..... that man could cure anyone's insomnia.....

It's raining ice here in NH this morning..... I ain't going anywhere....

You too rr...

Back to work now.

God Bless.

Craigster... Boone Braves Football in state finals class 6A ! Ok not the Pioneers.....

Harpo swings the votes..... The Dem Primay is shaping up to a battle of the women - never seen before, How does Bill count as the spouse?

Is Oprah more powerful for Obama then Bill for Hillary? Seems like it.... Maybe his day has passed - which means the fight and nasty may be on - unless age has mellowed the competitive do whatever it takes to protect the personal appearance in Bill

And Happy 8th day of Hanukkah or is it Chanukkah, Chanukah, Hanukah, or Hannukah
regardless.... Happy Day!

Brian -- don't know if you watched any c-span this am but it would have warmed your heart. Calls were taken from early primary states and a great number of the callers said the media & polls had missed it -- that John Edwards has much bigger on the ground support than it appears in the press.

Edwards also has the best back up supporter of them all - Elizabeth Edwards ! OK second to Oprah in star power..... But of the spouse support she is Tops

Being neither Oprah nor Streisand fan, I have little interest in either of their endorsements. But I'm impressed that Tim Robbins is campaigning for Edwards and that Merle Haggard likes Hillary. And of course my guy Willie has always supported Skinny Dennis. Good for the Red Headed Stranger.

msgop crapfest continues...they wall to wall coverage on every case with a missing white woman but couldn't be bothered to run the Gore speech. CNN did.

Oprah said she hates politics and votes for both goopers and Democrats. I guess she is planning on running on the Unity 08 ticket.

Was there an opportunity for the press to ask her questions. What is her stand on driver's licenses for undocumented workers.

What about Oprah's fashion faux pas.

If I were advising Hillary right now I'd advise her to bench Barbra and ask Merle Haggard to campaign with her through the Western states.

mornin' all.

I never really thought I'd say and mean this, but it's good to be back in the office. I'm not sure what effect Oprah will have in any of the 3 caucus/primary states she's slated to visit, but she will generate excitement among her people - Obamam has to hope some of it sticks to him. Frankly, I couldn't care less - I'm not aware of her much, and am certainly not aware of any political positions she's taken in the past, but that probably isn't important to the crowd who is at home from 3-4 in the afternoon anyway.

what will the goopers do if Senator Clinton is not the nominee

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7282.html

Hey, Ping Pong - Oprama over HillBilly? Future vs. past my friend. HillBilly is so...90s. Besides, Mr. President's every move on the trail is another chance for voters in IA, NH and SC to remember.

Monica
Travelgate
Vince Foster
Whitewater

and ask themselves, do we REALLY want to do that all over again? It's raining in NH? Indeed. HillBilly's tears.

Sen. Clinton saw (then State) Sen. Obama at the convention in 2004 and if you looked at her closeup while he spoke she had the Oh Sh*t look in her eyes. She realized two things then in her heart of hearts (and yes she does have one):

A) She was looking at the next President of the United States, who she still had to run against because she'd already called in the markers and yet she was going to lose, and

B) What she really gets to be after this Wagnerian opera (Op-erah?) is - Ted Kennedy. After she loses, Ted can retire and she can become the senior lion on the Senate, lightning rod to the right and spiritual conscience of the chamber. It's a terrific role and we always need one but it's just not the role she wanted.

And watching her watch Obama in '04 you could tell she knew it. She's not my cup of tea but she ain't dumb, either.

"what will the goopers do if Senator Clinton is not the nominee"

Same tune different words. Next year anything of this nature against any of our candidates should be greeted with loud guffaws of laughter and side by side comparison of everytime they hauled out the same totatlly useless, knee jerk phrases.

Tom Brokaw put me to sleep. Fortunately the book "BOOM" is much more interesting.

A new name for TipToe's list of GOP evildoers

http://www.ocweekly.com/news/news/nielsens-plea-deal/28158/

tomorrow is special election day
another bad day for goopers

the thirty percenters continue to talk like anyone cares what they say

the goopers don't have a single candidate that can win anything --the Democrats have a full house.

I wonder if Mitt will defend the Scientologists in Germany/

the pundit class remains a joke
where have they been correct?

Big Swift Luxury Boat opined:
Monica
Travelgate
Vince Foster
Whitewater
and ask themselves, do we REALLY want to do that all over again? It's raining in NH? Indeed. HillBilly's tears."

Sorry Boat, the old Monica et all crap doesn't hold water. The morons who bought into those witch hunts will drag them out again, of course. But how do they compare to a presidenet whose family fortune was built on arming Hitler, whose personal fortune involved insider trading and being in bed with the bin Ladens, who laughed about the fact that as a frat rat he branded other men's butts, and that BEFORE he ignored warnings about 9/11, gutted the constitution, lied us into war and has destroyed the economy. Gee, that penny ante land deal in Arkansas looks pretty mild.

And the Republicans will swift boat ANY Democratic candidate. They're already barnstorming with the Obama-is-AlQuida emails.

Patsi,
Great idea! I'd go see Hillary if Merle was there.

A friend who use to work in the "business" told me that celebrity endorsements benefit candidates only indirectly. They get free tv time, a bump in the poles and consequently some more donations. But it is rare that they change minds or get people to the polls.

OT, but I just heard the space shuttle launch was postponed until January 2nd. I bet that's got a lot of the launch crew happy with the idea that they'll be working over New Years...

"Big Swift Luxury Boat opined:" Patsi
Excellent!

Oh, Mr. Luxury Yacht - your analysis is sooo Republican, trying to smear Hillary with Bill leftovers - only one of which even returned the equivalent of an indictment, and a verdict of not guilty, I might add. With the exception of Monica, there was no there there, and with her, who other than the Repug hacks in the house gave a sh*t? Certainly not the Senate, which made quick hash of the impeachment articles. Only borderline criminals like Rudy, who continue to beat the drums of war and refuse to respond with anything that resembles candor when asked about the skeletons in his closet need to be concerned about voters wondering whether we can take another 4-8 years of what we've had with Dumya. If I've somehow misread your leanings, and you are instead an Obama supporter, best of luck on Super Tuesday, or Super duper Tuesday, or whatever the hell they're calling it these days - unless the numbers change A LOT, you're going to need it (seen the latest AP/Ipsos poll numbers? or the polls from New York, Florida, Nevada, California and Michigan?) I wouldn't be so smug.

hello peeps.

When will this story be on msgop
kind of hard to say Shrubco supports the troops

WASHINGTON -- Families with ties to the military, long a reliable source of support for wartime presidents, disapprove of President Bush and his handling of the war in Iraq, with a majority concluding the invasion was not worth it, a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found.

http://www.latimes.com/news/custom/timespoll/la-na-militpoll7dec07,0,4843202.story?coll=la-home-center

dnd - heard a funny thing yesterday about the shuttle delay - the NASA official who was being quoted expressed frustration with the lack of consistencey and reliability of the liquid hydrogen fuel gauges DESIGNED IN THE 60s that intermittently don't work well, and have repeatedly delayed shuttle losses over the last several years. Now I'm no space scientist, but I really would not be surprised to find that there have been some technological advances in the liquid Hydrogern fuel gauge world since the 60s.

Hey Craig,
We are under a winter storm warning in DSM from 6 pm tonight until 6 pm Tuesday. Freezing rain followed by 3-5 inches of snow. There will be ice in the Southeast part of the state with .50 to an inch accumulation forcast.

On a happier note, not only is Tim Robbins coming to stump for John Edwards this week, but I forgot to mention Kevin Bacon will be here next weekend.

And once the Oprah Endorsement Tour '07 is over, what next? The excitement will fade, Oprah will be pushing a new book and Obama will have every little thing he did as a state senator shreaded and regurgitated. This whole thing seems to be more about Oprah than Obama, I'd be suprised if this makes much of a difference for him. And has he promised her an Ambassadorship?

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm kevin bacon.

thanks for the weather report, zoey. that and my still-bum ankle has me thinkin i won't make it out there tomorrow as planned. keep us posted. is blueindallas still in IA?

Craig, RICE.

Brian, you NEED to go to IA - it could be a twofer for you.

yep Pogo, i'm on the RICE plan for sure, got a snazzy brace at CVS with built in gel packs for cold or hot. but zoey tops me for sympathy points, hers is broken

Craig - Yep, I'm still here, but hope to get out this afternoon.

Zoey - Next time, maybe we can do a midwest C'listers meeting. Always enjoy meeting all of the other posters.

those wacky republicans

http://youtube.com/watch?v=j_GADQv3vKs

travel safe blue, really enjoyed your Iowa reports

Craig,

Got a note from her on Sunday. It indicated she had at least one more day as she had packed all wrong and was facing having to wear high heels today. You may need to loan her your crutch if she isn't careful.

Thanks for the good thoughts.

Craig,

Just got another note from Blue with the following:

" If Craig is still planning on Iowa today, hope his flight isn't hexed by the ice storm. Maybe he has a direct flight, but O'Hare is a mess. I am supposed to get out on time this afternoon, but a big ice storm just north of DFW, so hope it's OK. "

Yes blue, I was really hoping to be able to meet up with you while you were here, but the weather and my ankle kept that from happening. Let me know the next time you are back this way.

Craig, sorry you can't be in town this week, lots going on but the weather will make it difficult to get around. 4years ago it wasn't very cold and there wasn't any snow. Real winter came early this year and I hope it won't impact the caucuses too much.

Zoey

Is there a minimum number of people who have to show up to hold a caucus or can it be a party of one.

A church shooting, god bless the NRA

Well, my best wishes to both of you - Zoey's will take longer to heal initially, but sprains have this way of coming back to visit when you least expect it.

And Blue, fly safe - after experienceing O'Hare in the snow last week when it was down to 1 incoming runway, you have my deepest sympathies.

I don't blame scooter for dropping his appeal, why spend all that money on legal feels when you're going to get a pardon.

Pogo....
if I read your posting to Mr Luxury correctly.....
are you making the same prediction that I made last week..... namely, that on super duper Tuesday Hillary will be the big winner on the Dem side?

Blue.... I hate flying in the winter unless it's to go to someplace worth it..... like Hawaii..... good luck today.....

Craig.... sounds like a good decision to stay home for a while....

Brian, if there indeed is a God, I'm sure that's exactly what he (she?) does for the NRA every time some lunatic shoots up a church (or mall or whatever for that matter) it defends the rights of the lunatic who shot it up to have the gun he used to do it. If there is a hell, Wayne LaPierre has a special placed reserved at the table, right next to Ted Nugent and Charlaton Heston.

KCG,
I imagine there are some sort of quorem rules governing caucus attendance but I don't know what they are. At my last off-year caucus, there were 4 participants and 1 observer. We usually have more people show up but had to move the caucus out of the precinct to a church several miles away. It is hard to get people to get out and go very far after Dinner on a Winter night, especially if there are no Presidential candidates involved.

We had around 145 people last Presidential caucus and I have been told to expect more this time. I suspect we will discuss contingency plans and if there are quorem rules at my next temp precinct chair training.

Zoey
Thanks. I guess the prepared campaign will have a list of drivers with 4 wheel drive who will pick up other people.

Renee, you certainly read my posting to MrLY correctly - while things are tightening significantly in polls in the the 3 earliest states, polls in the other SDT states and nationally show her with anything from about a 15 to close to 30 point advantage. And MrLY apparently ignores all the polls that show Hillary as the strongest Dem candidate against each of the Repug candidates. I guess he's an Oprah fan. Once again, you and I think alike - which over the past couple of years has happened not infrequently.

KCG,
Yes, that is part of having boots on the ground in each precinct or at least the precincts that a campaign has targeted. Something important for the campaigns to consider this year for sure.

Amen pogo, amen.

The pastor where the church shooting just had a news conference. They were praying for the family of the shooter as well as the victims. The heroine of the story was the security person who dropped the shooter with one shot.

pogo,
"And MrLY apparently ignores all the polls that show Hillary as the strongest Dem candidate against each of the Repug candidates."

Hillary leads in national polls. Hillary supporter Paul Begala was on Imus this morning and said national polls are worthless.

There are also polls that show Richardson is the strongest dem to beat each of the repubs. There's probably a poll that shows Mike Gravel beats each of the repubs.

Pogo,
I hate to rain on anybody's parade but as someone who watched the numbers disintegrate overnight for more than one candidate in the 2004 nominating process, the numbers can all change once the process gets underway. This is why I absolutuely hate this compressed schedule. Candidates don't have the opportunity to recover like they once could, if they don't meet or exceed expectations in the early states.

First Ronnie, then Arnold...Sure, Oprah could do it.
Pick a state and run for US Senate or Governor.

RIP GOP?
From Truebluelivberal.com

Will the presidential election of 2008 mark a turning point in American political history? Will it terminate with extreme prejudice the conservative ascendancy that has dominated the country for the last generation? No matter the haplessness of the Democratic opposition, the answer is yes.

I wonder if Kevin Bacon would come and give me a sponge bath?

dnd, I'm more concerned with the state polls in the big states and early states than national polls, although those polls are similar - I agree with Begala on his point about national polls, at least w/r/t the primaries, although as strong as Hillary's leads are in most of the national polls, I can't help beliving that she's still the candidate to beat on the dem side, and Oprah or not, Obama isn't exactly riding a groundswell. Of course we both agree on the fragility of the ground on which polls sit.

zoey, I don't disagree with anything you said, but with a 2/1 margin to overcome about everywhere except IA, NH & SC, the rest of the field better be working very hard i fthey think they can win on SDT.

Pogo,
I agree. I am not looking at it the same way you are I don't think. What I am saying is that even with a large lead in the states to vote on Tsunami Tuesday or whatever it is, Hillary has to meet or exceed expectations in one or more of the early states to keep her poll numbers up in later states. It is pretty much her show at this point. I don't think any of the others are in positions that they can sit back and wait for Tsunami Tuesday in order to sprint ahead of her.

"This is why I absolutuely hate this compressed schedule. Candidates don't have the opportunity to recover like they once could, if they don't meet or exceed expectations in the early states."

Zoey...... I totally agree with that statement..... including hating the compressed schedule part....
I think because of that compressed schedule that "name recognition" is going to be the biggest factor this presidential primary and caucus season.....

one thing I was reminded of while watching Brokaw's "1968" last night..... Bobby Kennedy was shot after winning the California primary...... in JUNE.... that state will be part of SDT, Feb 5th...... virtually only one month after the IA caucuses..... there will be no time for campaigning there....

oh cool, Edwards on Tweety tonight.

Edwards on Hardball tonight. I will be waiting for a report from some brave soul who can stomach Tweety.

Wonamini: so good to hear from you! Thanks for Obama-Oprah update from the Palmetto State. Would very much like to have been there.

Luxury Yacht: welcome. These waters are often partisan, but always good to have a new poster.

Brian: was thinking of you while listening to Washington Journal this morning. Lots of Edwards support, also Obama. One nice lady who loves Kucinich and will go with Hillary on second ballot. One really interesting Korean War vet (also for Obama, yippee) who advised those who like warmongering to go with a Republican Christian, having already said our country has too many religious and not enough actual Christians. Moderator let him speak a long time because he was a really interesting caller.

A few Democrats supporting Ron Paul; one artist who was 2004 Dean supporter spoke in his favor. One or two mentioned RPaul has a lot of support but the GOP will probably try to torpedo his supporters at caucuses.

PS: I though Oprah's Des Moines speech was excellent. Obama did not say much of substance following; he seemed to let her have the field that day.

Does anybody know who's idea this compressed schedule is? Seems really dumb to me.

Heard snippet that the parties like the compressed schedule, but it truly seems like a bad idea.

Think primaries need to start later and less time between primaries and general. Schedule is too long and too expensive.

Can you imagine how exhausted the eventual president-elect is going to be on assuming his/her duties? This is insane!

dnd, The compressed schedule was started by Terry McAwful. He thought it would be better to have a nominee earlier rather than later to go against Bush. Truth be known it may have been to lay the groundwork for a Hillary run. I believe other members of the DNC went along as a way to get their states moved up.

Terry McAwful. And states wanting to be first, not contemplating how awful it will be to have months upon months of negative campaigning focusing on two nominees most of a year before the general.

Bright minds, all. And they wonder why more US citizens do not vote, compared to other democracies.

It's like the gerrymandering jerks. Why can't they do something that would ensure more competitive representation? Why does drawing district boundaries have to be a political favor to the people temporarily in power, rather than something that might enthuse citizens about having a more accountable government? We end up with polarized districts with congresscritters who are unstoppable unless they engage in sex with underaged persons or get indicted/convicted before the election.

I have been considering Oprah's involvement in this campaign. I believe that Oprah, who has been pretty much universally loved within the USA and elsewhere, has damaged her credibility by endorsing one candidate over others. Oprah is not only a person, she is a brand, and this "brand" has been built to be even-handed and careful not to do anything within the political campaigns (at least until there is a nominee).

To be honest, I was not happy with Oprah back in 2000 when Al Gore declined to give her a kiss and then she brought on Bush and they made a big show of him giving her a kiss. What was the point? It made Al seem like a stick in the mud and Bush being Mr. warm, "compassionate" fun guy. There have been some rather questionable examples in Oprah's judgement as well...

She was embarrassed when a book she loved and found spiritually uplifting, also turned out to be a work of fiction, rather than the true story of the author: James Frey. It can happen to anyone, but after the news broke she was still supporting him, until it was clear that the public wasn't buying it.

Then there was Dr. Jan Adams, a plastic surgeon whom she promoted on her show when he is not even board-certified in plastic surgery. Adams performed several cosmetic procedures on Kanye West's mother the day before she died. He told TMZ that he "did nothing wrong."

I guess Dr. Phil has been a pretty good endorsement by Oprah. I have a few of his books and he is passionate about what people need to do to correct the problems in their own lives.

Anyway, Oprah has been an inspiration for so many, and I'd rather see her in the element she has excelled in and stay away from the dog-eat-dog world of political campaigning for Presidential party nomination.

They just buried Evil Kenivel today? Damn you Christians love to keep your dead hanging around.

Brian, they thought Evel would survive this one, too.

Thomas, Oprah has 60,000 people coming out to see her in one appearance - she is doing exactly what she does best - draw people in to see her - only this isn't on TV. She's not in the d-e-d world of pres politics - she's on the stage.

It is really hard to imagine Ophrah giving up her life and her work to enter politics and with it the daily grind of policy, administration, governing, and public scrutiny.

Though her job is in many ways similar, Ophrah seems to have a lot more control over her life than the political types have.

Ophrah is huge asset for Obama. He appears to be pursuing the very smart strategy of activating people from among the 50% of the American people who don't vote.

Since the margin between Bush and Kerry was only 2.5 million, the mobilization of an additional 5 million people will swamp the system.

Instead of battling the GOP for the 4% undecided, Obama has decided to recruit millions of new voters to tip the scales in his direction.

Since he is universally liked, respected and admired by the Democratic rank and file, he can depend on their passionate support.

Given the dispirited and divided condition of the GOP and the increasing liklihood of a long, bruising and divisive primary fight, Obama's strategy of reaching out through advocates like Ophrah looks, innovative, reformist and effective.

the church shooting heroine was the security person who dropped the shooter with one shot.

Is this what the GOP conservative values revolution and Bush's moral clarity have left us with.

A country in which armed security guards are required in churches?

Is there anyone callow enough to believe Bush's line that the Arabs hate us because we are free?

And MrLY apparently ignores all the polls that show Hillary as the strongest Dem candidate against each of the Repug candidates."

The situation is so fluid, and the election still so long from now that such polls cannot possibly be taken as definitive.

Obama is making and effort to reshape the electorate. If he is even moderatley successful, the effect will be enormous given the shattered state of the GOP.

How is Obama reshaping the electorate?

* revitalizing the Dems- people are sick of the war and mainstream Dems constant caving on action against it. Obama offers a straight ahead promise to end it.

* bringing third party types to the Dems- on any number of issues, there is a significant number of progressive and other left leaning people, who are increasingly dissatisfied with the Dems business as usual approach to enacting an effective and future oriented political agenda

* marshalling the moderates, Republicans and others who are dissatisfied with Bush and the GOP leadership. The GOP commitment to the quagmire of Iraq and their unwillingness to prosecute the GWOT and protect America was responsible for the Dem victory in 06. The GOP leadership is still stuck defending Iraq and protesting that it has relationship to the GWOT. Obama holds forth the promise of getting us out of Iraq and ferreting out and dealing with terrorists.

* validating and mobilizing the people standing by the sidelines- Obama appeals to and advocates for the people on the outside looking in. Vast areas of American culture seem like a raucous party with an exclusive invitation list.

Obama will make government representative and accountable- for the majority. That is a 180 degree change from the status quo.

Obama has the political gifts to empower the uempowered. Once they are empowered, we the people, will revamp our institutions to govern creatively and fairly.

The one great thing that Tsunami Tuesday and the compressed primary schedule has going for it, is that the pols and hacks won't have time to war game and recover.

A comment about Ophrah and Obama-

after watching their speeches in Iowa on C-span last night, I have to say that if there is anyone in America who is running a campaign for public service, rather than for personal ambition, it is them.

They both have achieved an incredible pinnacle success- both of them could rest very comfortably on their laurels.

Yet there they are, putting themselves on the spot to carry forth their message of change and empowerment.

Impressive.

Political future for Oprah? Perish the thought! She actually made me less likely to support Obama.

Is Oprah Damaging Her Own Credibility With the American People? I believe the answer is a resounding YES!

This is a free write and as a caveat. let me say upfront that I support Hillary Clinton but would gladly welcome Barak Obama, John Edwards and the others as the Democratic Nominee for President.

It is just as I thought... Oprah, who has been pretty much universally loved within the USA and elsewhere, has damaged her credibility by endorsing one candidate over others. Oprah is not only a person, she is a brand, and this "brand" has been built to be even-handed and careful not to do anything within the political campaigns (at least until there is a nominee). By never doing this before in any campaign but only campaigning for a Presidential candidate who happens to be Black leaves me with the impression that race was her motivator. She has herself said she that she has voted for Democrats and Republicans in the past. I mean, Obama is good, but it isn't like the second coming of Christ which is the way Oprah acts about it.

To be honest, I was not happy with Oprah back in 2000 when Al Gore declined to give her a kiss and then she brought on Bush and they made a big show of him giving her a kiss. What was the point? It made Al seem like a stick in the mud and Bush being Mr. warm, "compassionate" fun guy. There have been some rather questionable examples in Oprah's judgement as well...

She was embarrassed when a book she loved and found spiritually uplifting, also turned out to be a work of fiction, rather than the true story of the author: James Frey. It can happen to anyone, but after the news broke she was still supporting him, until it was clear that the public wasn't buying it.

Then there was Dr. Jan Adams, a plastic surgeon whom she promoted on her show when he is not even board-certified in plastic surgery. Adams performed several cosmetic procedures on Kanye West's mother the day before she died. He told TMZ that he "did nothing wrong."

I guess Dr. Phil has been a pretty good endorsement by Oprah. I have a few of his books and he is passionate about what people need to do to correct the problems in their own lives.

Anyway, Oprah has been an inspiration for so many, and I'd rather see her in the element she has excelled in and stay away from the dog-eat-dog world of political campaigning for Presidential party nomination.