Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

woo possum

A late contender from newbie KarenGA, posted on last thread at noon:

Hi! I'm a newbie that has been lurking here for a few days. I am just dipping my toes into the pool before I dive in so to speak.

Caption for Katherine Harris:

"When I did this to Gore I wasn't holding him by the tail ..."

LA Times opinion Kathleen Kennedy for Hillary Clinton

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-kennedy29jan29,0,1618955.story

reposting an earlier comment from me, posted after new thread -- and plz note that EuroTom and someone else (ran?) have good late caption entries about noonish too.
====

Chickadee (and others) re Hillary learning from healthcare plan reception:

maybe, maybe not.

Saw recent interview where she was asked what she would do differently re her healthcare plan.

Her response: she would communicate it better.

i.e. the problem is not the plan itself, but people's understanding of it.

Does that remind you of anyone? Like maybe the current Oval office inhabitant, who repeats and repeats his msg, thinking we haven't heard it, which is different from hearing and rejecting it.

====

Was Edwards supporter, than Obama.

My problems with Sen. Clinton are pretty much identical to alpha 1906's take

"Never bought into Clinton's "35 years of experience" buzz phrase. Twelve years of being a first lady doesn't move me. Her health care initiative? Disaster during a Democratic Congress. Plus, she's politically polarizing .... She's the past and it ain't happening.

I disagree with alpha's contention that HRC does not have any passion; I think she's got plenty and lots of exceptional talent.

I think she should remain in the Senate, maybe even be Majority Leader, but should make way for a new face as president.

Jamie and others: you think Hillary would have made it to the Senate and presidency with or without Bill.

We disagree there.

it's a sad comment that the skills necessary to obtain the presidency, and the skills necessary to govern wisely, frequently do not dovetail.

My caption entry:

Possum speaks:

There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home....

Senator Clinton has been involved with the Children's Defense Fund for almost it's entire 35 year history.

http://www.childrensdefense.org/

serving as its chairwoman for a number of years in the mid 80's.

Thank goodness for KGC. It was echoing in here!

Last dog caption entry:

Possum to Katherine Harris:

"I've seen roadkill with a brighter future than you."

This week's coverage of the campaigns ledd me to email this note to MSNBC:

I have known for years that the press was in love with John McCain. I understand the press loves Barack Obama. But NBC's complete and utter loathing for Hillary Clinton, and attempts to influence an election has finally driven me around the bend. So with apologies to Comcast's advertising crew, I leave you with this message to Tim, Chris, Joe, Tucker -- and yes, even Keith:

You are an extremely terrifying cable channel. Just the scariest subterranean commentators on television. I'm afraid that you will give me and my granddaughter nightmares, so I'm going to have to block you. Oh, and tell the zombies they're blocked too.

Hillary Rodham before there was Bill she was famous

FORGING HER OWN PATH

Hillary Rodham arrived at Yale in 1969 a minor celebrity, thanks to her commencement speech at the equally elite Wellesley College outside of Boston, where she rebuked a senator who was sitting nearby.

Rodham gained more prominence during the second semester of her first year at Yale Law, when it seemed like ''the whole place was falling apart . . . the most intense year in the history of Yale Law School,'' said Laura Kalman, who wrote Yale Law School and the Sixties: Revolt and Reverberations.

Several Black Panthers were on trial for murder in New Haven. The campus, opened to New Left demonstrators associated with the trial, became a circus. Downtown business owners, fearing violence, boarded up their windows. A law library was set afire. The shooting deaths of four student demonstrators at Kent State University in Ohio by National Guardsmen further enraged campuses nationwide.

Rodham -- sympathetic to the angry left but insistent that its grievances could be resolved within the system -- moderated a tense campus meeting at which violence seemed to percolate under the surface, as students debated how to respond to Kent State and issues specific to Yale.

Quoting an unnamed student, Kalman wrote: ''Hillary did what nowadays would be international summitry -- flying back and forth between sides,'' maintaining credibility with all, impressing faculty and fellow students, helping to keep New Haven peaceful.

Rodham's time at Yale also introduced her to children's issues through her work for the Children's Defense Fund and New Haven legal-aid lawyer Penn Rhodeen
http://www.miamiherald.com/politicalcurrents/story/375960.html

Clinton worked on the Nxon impeachment hearings
it got Thompson elected to the Senate.

I think Senator Clinton could just as easily been Senator Rodham.

Mebbe that was Jeb's pet 'possum and she's about to boil it like a bunny. She will not be ignored.

And she was the first female partner in the Rose Law Firm.

Health Care
although she did not get overall reform she did learn from her mistakes and went on to address two of the needest groups

As First Lady of the United States, she took a prominent position in policy matters. Her major initiative, the Clinton health care plan, failed to gain approval by the U.S. Congress in 1994, but in 1997 she helped establish the State Children's Health Insurance Program and the Adoption and Safe Families Act.

And we're being "treated" to Hillary's resume for what reason?

If you bothered to read other people's posts you would know.

The legislature passed the standards and passed new taxes to pay for them. Legislators and others praised Mrs. Clinton for her work, and said the new standards were the most important long-range steps for education that the state had ever taken.
http://www.oldstatehouse.com/educational_programs/classroom/arkansas_news/detail.asp?id=528&issue_id=29&page=1

Responding to Jamie's 12:11 post from earlier thread.

ALSO: is there a way to import all of the comments posted after Craig's new thread? Some really good stuff there.

Jamie: "cheryl. There is nothing wrong with hope. It gives you direction, but without training, ability, and opportunity, it will just wait in the bottom of Pandora's box trying to get started.

You can "hope" to be a doctor, but if you never graduate from medical school, get your diploma and open an office, it just doesn't happen."

====

Lisa: amen sister. And thank goodness Obama is trained, able, and ready to go! The opportunity is now; $32million in recent donors see it too.

Sheila,

Re Obama taking JFK into the future. Guess he can thanks to Caroline, but not RFK,. His children are supporting Clinton. Kathleen did the editorial above and i'm sure Clinton could get her to do a commercial

The pictures from the Ambassador of the RFK assassination could be very effective or RFK's speech on the MLK death would certainly be equally "inspirational" to the Caroline commercial featuring JFK

Kathleen and Bobby Kennedy Jr are welcome to their opinions.

Caroline is welcome to hers.

My mom is a fervent Hillary supporter, and is fine with me supporting Obama.

And your point was???

Updates from the Intrade Presidential Futures markets...

As there is very little or no trading in many of the Feb. 5th races, I have revised the dashboard to reflect two additional markets.

1) Winner-Takes-All market: This market attempts to predict who will eventually win the General Election in November. The graph depicts the probability for each candidate currently in the race. Until party nominees are selected, this market is a nice surrogate for head-to-head match ups of various candidates.

2) National Political Party Vote Shares market: This market attempts to predict the percentage each party will garner in the November election. As you will see, this graph is fairly flat at this time. However, this market does not typically receive much attention until after the nominees for each party are selected.

http://www.central.edu/publicdocs/01%2D30%2D08FuturesMarketGraphs.pdf

For a short tutorial on Presidential Futures Markets, please see:

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/01/florida-to-forecast-both-party-1.html#comment-16896

Dog's eye view---"ALSO: is there a way to import all of the comments posted after Craig's new thread? Some really good stuff there".

I guess you can copy and paste

Chickadee: thanks. Am big believer in cutting and pasting. You guys had some good rollicking comments!

you can post the link to the comment
as spike did with the explanation of how intrade works

The family representation while excellent for both campaigns are irrelevent.

The message is not in ownership. I'm not speaking "tit-for-tat here.

Yes Brian, just hoping to give you a little education.... it goes a long way you know... ;-)

Here's trying to cut and paste some noonish comments into a Word doc; stopped just before Jamie at 12:06. Is there a better way?

===

SINCE WE HAD A LOT OF GOOD COMMENTS POSTED SIMULTANEOUSLY TO CRAIG’S NEW THREAD, here goes:

BRIAN at noon: pogo I was referring to the tone of Obama's speech. I do think Edwards will come out for Obama. MSNBC just reported that Edwards will be meeting both with Hillary and Obama. Damn I wish I could be a fly on that wall!
EUROTOM at 12:01: Chicadee she lost me on several issues... trumping up that false biography this guy wrote and then saying it was no big deal when it was fiction. She only reacted when the outcry grew.
Bringing Dr. Phil to the world. Even though I have a couple of his books, he is STRANGE!!! I can't figure him out. I worry about psychoanalysis being done on commercial tv during a one hour show, with about 20 minutes of it being commercials.
Her "hero worship" interview of G.W. when he was running for President and making a big deal of him kissing her on the cheek after Gore declined.
Endorsing that plastic surgeon who worked on KanYe West's mother only to see her die shortly afterwards. I got frustrated because why should Oprah be endorsing plastic surgeons and psychologists?
Her snub of Whoppi Goldberg burned my ass too.
By the way, last I heard, Oprah's "inspirational leader" -- the great Maya Angelou -- is still supporting Hillary.
Best,
Tom
PATSI at 12:02: Ironic that the bunch of right wingers in Arkansas who first got the whole Let's Get Bubba thing rolling hated him for his strong advocacy on behalf of black Americans.
EUROTOM for caption contest: that caption should have been Katherine saying:
"OH ! I see we both have the same plastic surgeon!"
RAN for caption contest: “I don't know, they grabbed my legs, flepped me over like this, next thing I knew I was Secretary of State"

CHERYL S at 12:06: Pogo you are right in many respects; however, we must come together on issues that affect our survival, for example, healthcare, global warming. You are right regarding the structure of our government but being divided will cause our great empire to fall as those in the past if we cannot move forward together. There comes a time when party loyalty has to be replaced by mutual benefit.

*gigglesnorts @ all the possum caps*

They kinda have the same expressions on their faces, don't they?

A chart of sorts in honor of c'bob.

http://www.grist.org/candidate_chart_08.html?source=liveearth

Dog don't upset yourself, talking to Hillary supporters around here in like an encounter with the Borg.

Here's the last of comments from earlier thread that others may not have seen:
====

There was just a rerun on MSNBC of an interview with a body language expert. He was discussing why McCain wiped up the floor with Romney last night. He spoke of the "air of strength" when leaning forward, strong hand gestures, short declarative sentences without raising his voice ... Romney was practically cringing back into his chair, stuttering confusted sentences, unable to make direct eye contact.

I don't think Obama would hold up against that much better than Romney did. He already has that tendency to mix words in sentences while going "uh" "uh" when not using his stump speech

McCain tries that on Clinton and she will be right back in his face, serving up fact after fact until McCain is going uh uh. Voters respect strength and decisiveness. There simply are not enough virulant right wing haters to defeat her.

Posted by: jamie | January 31, 2008 12:06 PM

What is wrong with hope folks. America would not exist without hope. Successful people would not be successful without hope.

Posted by: Cheryl S. | January 31, 2008 12:08 PM

cheryl

There is nothing wrong with hope. It gives you direction, but without training, ability, and opportunity, it will just wait in the bottom of Pandora's box trying to get started.

You can "hope" to be a doctor, but if you never graduate from medical school, get your diploma and open an office, it just doesn't happen.

Posted by: jamie | January 31, 2008 12:11 PM

when using "UH", you are thinking before you speak. It allows the brain to analyze the facts before making a statement.

Posted by: Cheryl S. | January 31, 2008 12:11 PM

There's nothing wrong with hope. But, we need alot more than hope or a vision. We need action. It takes strength and experience to get anything done in Washington. Hillary has both. Obama needs more seasoning.

Posted by: nannymm | January 31, 2008 12:13 PM

My point exactly, if there is no hope there is no action.

Posted by: Cheryl S. | January 31, 2008 12:14 PM

Cheryl,

"Uh" is also the mark of an inexperienced person, who does not know their thoughts and facts well enough digested to simply speak about them.

All the best speeches don't go anywhere near an "uh" or "er". Those are space fillers similar to saying "you know" when talking. Every speech should sound as close to conversational as possible. You are simply conversing with a few thousand people at once. If you have to take a time out to think, you don't know the material.

Posted by: jamie | January 31, 2008 12:16 PM

I feel like I've entered a "Toastmasters" meeting

Posted by: EuroTom | January 31, 2008 12:16 PM

Tom,

It's an open bar event, so you won't be critical of the speakers.

Posted by: jamie | January 31, 2008 12:18 PM

Cheryl S

We know that its more than that too. We know that Obama is ready for the office and we know that it takes more than just one man or one woman to succed.

Obama is not looking backward to the 60's, he's carrying MLK, JFK, and RFK's dreams to the finish line.

We know that it takes daring and courage in the face of fear to accomplish the very CHANGES that Obama has been telling us since 2004.

Policies broken down and parsed until you don't recognise them is now the OLD way. We nkow it. We expect it.

But part of the CHANGE is daring to dream of a united congress who are allowing bipartisanship again. IT work for 200 years. I worked in all the world wars.

Each time all of the "best of the best" were gathered to CHANGE the face of history. They had a goal. They tried and tried until their failures turned into victories.

Obama is saying, Dare to Dream. Dare to believe that we are the same people we were 50 years ago. Dare to finish and progress beyond the dreams of others. Dare to believe that the CHANGE in this country has to be UNITY.

Chery, so many good people fear this kind of change.

Ok, and with that, I am stepping back again. Parse and slam away!

Posted by: Sheila Stone | January 31, 2008 12:21 PM

That is your opinion. It is all a matter of style Jamie. If that bothers you then I beleive you have a deeper problem with Obama which you do not admit. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Posted by: Cheryl S. | January 31, 2008 12:21 PM

Hi Tom,

The biography---are you referring to James Fry and "A Million Little Pieces"? If so---Oprah was fooled and I think she was genuinely concerned about the issue and she took it to the public like she did the issue in The Leadership academy. I have no evidence that she brought the Fry issue to the public, because of PUBLIC DEMAND. She corrected the situation because it was the RIGHT THING TO DO and not from public pressure.

Dr. Phil has put out a wealth of information that has informed and inspired so many dysfunctional people and families----mine included. He gets our attention and I appreciate him.

And Maya-- a strong inspirational woman----it is good that 2 women can be so personally connected and still be separate individuals. Nothing wrong with that. We shouldn't hold it against either of these 2 good women.

Posted by: chickadee | January 31, 2008 12:27 PM

"Uh" is really irritating---- sometimes it ican be just just an irritating habit!

McCain does it and I truly believe because he doesn't know his stuff and goes into a CHATTER.

Posted by: chickadee | January 31, 2008 12:34 PM

NEW THREAD, complete with possum and KHarris in repeat engagement.

Posted by: dog's eye view | January 31, 2008 12:39 PM

Updates from the Intrade Presidential Futures markets...

As there is very little or no trading in many of the Feb. 5th races, I have revised the dashboard to reflect two additional markets.

1) Winner-Takes-All market: This market attempts to predict who will eventually win the General Election in November. The graph depicts the probability for each candidate currently in the race. Until party nominees are selected, this market is a nice surrogate for head-to-head match ups of various candidates.

2) National Political Party Vote Shares market: This market attempts to predict the percentage each party will garner in the November election. As you will see, this graph is fairly flat at this time. However, this market does not typically receive much attention until after the nominees for each party are selected.

http://www.central.edu/publicdocs/01%2D30%2D08FuturesMarketGraphs.pdf

For a short tutorial on Presidential Futures Markets, please see:

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/01/florida-to-forecast-both-party-1.html#comment-16896

Posted by: spike | January 31, 2008 12:48 PM

McCain thanking Ahnnold and the Plunger

Gee he didn't mention that Ahnnold was an undocumented worker who overstayed his visa

Golden Flash comment posted on old thread at 1:02.

Now maybe we are all on the same page, if not politically.
====

I really don't understand why Obama going on the attack is a big deal to Hillary. It's better to hear it straight from the horses mouth rather than constitutes....i.e. Bob Johnson, William Jefferson... I just think she is turning into a cry baby.

I was shocked to hear also that the 18-24yr old group support Clinton in FL....I am in that group..maybe I am missing something.

Hey folks, away from desktop on blackberry but need to say: old comments don't go away and each has its own url for spotlighting in a newer post. Things will get unmanageable if we import too many old comments into new posts. If you want to call attention to an old comment, just click the highllighted date under a comment -- your browser will open a page with that comment on top -- just copy the url and paste it in your comment to a new post. It will automatically create a link to that comment.

Dog I like your style. Thanks for reposting. Interesting day today. ;0)

Thanks for that, Brian - I seem to recall a boorish singlemindedness about Edwards in the past. lol

singlenesses perhaps, boorish NEVER!

I was shocked to hear also that the 18-24yr old group support Clinton in FL....I am in that group..maybe I am missing something.

Posted by: dog's eye view | January 31, 2008 1:12 PM

Perhaps you are. But people have different agendas.
Senator Clinton has made a strong appeal to changing the laws on student loans. There are a lot of problems with current student loan programs and she has proposed signficant changes.

Brian,

You get the geek of the week award for making a Star Trek TNG reference in the blog...I get honorable mention for recognizing it.

Here is a blog I posted on 24 November. Unfortunately, it seems the situation has not gotten better, only worse. And now instead of just Obama, the Clintons were forced to join the "fray"

Obama Needs to Take the High Road as Promised
Current mood: discontent
Category: News and Politics

The following is a message I sent to the Barak Obama official MY SPACE. I like Barak, and I like Hillary. But I have been increasingly disturbed by Barak's attacks on other candidates, particularly Hillary. It isn't like no one else does this, but Barak was campaigning on the need for a "new politics", instead of all the usual attacks one sees in Presidential campaigns. He has apparently abandoned this goal after seeing his popularity figures dwindling and Hillary's skyrocketing. Here is the message:

"I have to say .. Obama has increasingly disappointed me. I really loved his keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, and also his call for a "new politics" when he announced his interest in running for President. But, when he wasn't getting the numbers he hope for, he went on the attack on Hillary particularly. I am a Clinton fan from the days Bill and Hillary were in the White House. I have also watched with great interest and hope with Obama's run for the Presidency. But his vicious attacks on Hillary has taken away the moral high ground he pledged to walk on.

I don't expect you guys to post this comment. I am still open to Obama, but I need to see less attacks on Hillary and a return to the "new politics" he has given us much hope to see in this election cycle.

Oh and one more thought. Democrats attacking Democrats only hurts the whole party going into the general elections. I wish it would stop. We can't afford another Republican President.

Thank you,

Thomas"

http://mediamatters.org/action_center/matthews_monitor/

i tawt a taw tweety

Craig: "If you want to call attention to an old comment, just click the highlighted date under a comment and copy the link into the new thread "

Excellent housekeeping tip. Maybe that should go as a header at the top of each thread....

Thank you George for doing your best to strengthen our military and keep us safe in the Homeland (god, I hate that term - it sounds so Hitlerian).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/31/us-military-may-not-be-re_n_84286.html

Since McCain is looking more and more like the Repug nominee,and is BushII in all matters military, I hope that Hillary or Obama throws this in his face and asks what, aside from throwing money he doesn't have at the problem, does he propose to do to address the lack of readiness of our military to defend the US.

Here's a great move:

McCain and Hillary should agree on a joint statement calling for action on Darfur and Kenya. They should formulate a compromise position that is tough and calls for the UN and others to move past the stalemate to "protect the human rights" of those suffering. They can signal a new effort tot really bring Deomcrats and Republicans together rather than other candidate's strategies of division and blame.

In a bold move it shows new Republican and Democratic willingness for bipartanship as well as map out some of the JFK/Reagan policy either candidate would likely field.

Now who needs this more, McCain or Hillary? I think it serves them more, than detracts. Now that's thinking outside the box. I think it nails Romney and Obama.

Any thoughts?

No offense Euro Tom, really.

But please spell his name "Barack" not Barak. Seems to be a habit and you were so interesting when finding out the correct spelling and the Names meaning.

I thought the meaning was meaningful. Barack = Blessed. Thank you for that. ;0)

It's an interesting thought Maxtrue... it could show that bipartisan can work. I think self-interest will stop anyone from doing this. But send it to the campaigns... why not?

Craig: good to hear re housekeeping. We had a flurry of posters, at least one of them new, about the time you posted today at noon.

Neither McCain or Hillary and nominated. What the hell are you talking about Maxture.

right! I understand Sheila, but that post was written 24 November. But I agree !!!

Craig--
just wondering......have you mentioned anything to your friends at MSNBC about people feeling that their coverage is beginning
to be as tainted as that of Fox news--albeit in the opposite direction?

And again, as a courtesy to readers and your source sites, PLEASE do not copy large blocks of text when links are available. Excerpts are fine, with links. And whenever you paste a full url into a comment, the system automatically converts it into a clickable link

Brian do candidates have to be nominated to make such a gesture?

oops sorry Craig

McCain can't afford that move max because he is seen by too many on the hard core right as a liberal leaning maverick.

To do anything in conjunction with Hillary Clinton would only exacerbate that impression and it would make it harder for him to win in November.

OT: Has anyone seen the film Buried Alive with Steve Sandvoss and Terence Jay? It's a horror film, and my little Italiano made me watch it. But there is this really cool song that Terence wrote and sings for the end titles. I love it. If you want to take a listen go to http://www.myspace.com/eurotom . The song is not commercially released, but I loved it IMMEDIATELY when I heard it. It's called Demon.

Caption: Just one hundred more and I'll have my coat!

how about "separated at birth?"

No Euro and they shouldn't be making gestures that act as if they have the nomination in hand. It's a stupid idea.

dog, been there in the echo chamber before. Another voice is always welcome, no?

dog, there is a critical difference between Hillary's statement about communicating the healthcare proposal better and Dumya's seriatum attempts to get unpopular legilation passed - she understands that her explanation of a very complex proposed solution to a very complex problem was not adequate and would actually explain it better the second time around - Dumya seems to think we were too dumb to get the wisdom of his simple approach to what he views as a simple problem (no matter what the problem or how complex it really is) the first time and just repeats the same old platitudes he said the last time, only louder.

Editing Brian -- It is not the best idea.

dog, the kinder gentler brian!

Haha

Truebeliever -- I've said it on the air about most DC media. FYI: MSNBC has comment boards for such thoughts. Jamie, you still have the link to that one uinder my name? I don't have it on my blackberry. It would be more effective to post complaints there

pogo: good point w your 1:38 post. Very likely what she meant with her comment.

Then Brian, you should welcome and encourage it. Of course it wouldn't happen in a million years, so WTF?

What can I say pogo, I take umbrage at any suggestion these nonimations a done deal. I don't believe resistance is futile!

One cannot escape the message Obama is making. Democrats don't want a leader that has any views that can bridge the political divide. How he unites is strange. Any explananation?

McCain is loathed by the Right because he has views which are more moderate in some areas. I think it helps these two to explain what bipartisnaship means. The notion Obama is pushing is illogical. On one hand he sports JFK which the Washington Monthy article shows clearly Obama is not. In fact, he talks more about talking to enemies than he has actually talked to our European allies. He goes back to the past all the time, but disses the Clinton run as a return to our past. Quite amazing. He goes back to Reagan while touting position for the future that are extremely unReagan. He calls Hillary divisive as his campaign and rehtoric has produced the most divisive primary in years (LOL he blames the Clintons) and his remarks on SOTU as well as stump speeches are nothing about JFK like policy and much ado about evil Republicans. He actually copies Clinton policies now in Iraq and on the economy.

McCain will have no problem knocking Obama, but by showing some civility and bipartanship with Hillary now, he can take the steam out the attacks on the more centrist, consolidate his position and leave the final race about policy differences. I don't know if either would be so bold, but at the present rate, this race is devolving into fractionalism, idiot slogans and sleeping at the wheel which led to 9/11.

Did McCain support Desert Fox? Does Obama know what Thomas Ricks said about Desert Fox? Pretty funny that the media has yet to give an unbiased account of Iraq from 1990 -2003. It is quite a story flipping anf flooping all the way to Piro's interrogation of Saddam. Obama still thinks Bosnia and Desert Fox reprresents a failed past? How JFK of him, or shall I say, how Reagan of him.

Craig, an FYI - when I've gone to the MSNBC message boards, they require that you provideway more information than I normally do to nonsecure sites (and I have not gotten any message telling me that my info is encrypted and the site is secure) and they also require that you agree to Microsoft termsof use that includes payment of fees, etc. without making any mention of what those fees mitght be.)

However, you can contact Abrams and the rest via e-mail through links on the site, although it's been a while since I've done that.

Who said nominations are a done deal? Hell have Obama and Romney suggest it then. This is what sucks about politics. No one wants to work together because to do so may challenge their own personal fifedoms and political interests.

Brian, resistance is futile. Submit.

Maxture,

One cannot escape the message Obama is making. Democrats don't want a leader that has any views that can bridge the political divide. How he unites is strange. Any explananation?

YOu just make no sense. Sorry...don't pass go and collect $200. ;0)

Ok pogo no more kook-aid for you today, obviously you've already had far too much!

Brian has an obsession with Kool Aid. When I was a kid I loved those commercials with the Kool Aid Pitcher on legs. And then there was this really cool special offer with so many Kool Aid packs purchased you could get the Kool Aid Pitcher. That was almost as fun as when I got my Quisp beanie.

Pogo--
Craig--

Thanks for the info--I will certainly speak my mind. I currently am an undecided voter, and although I do have leanings, I want decide on my own from the facts. Not what some is trying to shove down my throat.

Brian, exactly....and such a move can be quite helpful in showing Americans why both McCain and Hillary are far more constructive and bold leaders than a Rmoney or Obama would be. (typo intentional)

Yes, be silent about Kenya, Obama. Do nothing on Darfur. Show us all how JFK and Reagan-like you are. What great leader has said, "we have met the enemy and he is us? My suggestions plays to the reason these two trump their opposition. It is about doing something, seeing threats for what they are and being able to reach across the divide to unite shared goals. Obama does none of this while Rmoney talks about creating more Gitmos. Maybe a combined effort would show America who the pretenders for unity and strength really are......Words are cheap but calls for reall action ring truer

Maxtrue: Obama is not silent about Kenya.

Words falling on deaf ears, now that is another matter.

I was disappointed that none of the candidates really spoke on on FISA and Harry Reid's poor treatment of Senator Dodd. Edwards did the most and then Clinton and Obama didn't even issue a statement until after the first vote.

I don't get it. Dodd is out there providing leadership they didn't even have to come up with a plan they could have just made the issue a focus in one campaign speech.

And they could have lobbied their Senate supporters who voted with the Republicans. FISA is a no brainer.

Caption:

This is my match from e-Harmony !

Katie,

Its important from a campaign point of view to concentrate on Health Care and other safe issues. Issues that are sanctioned as safe for now. FISA is still considered pretty contraversial publically.

Too devisive for the Primaries. Most for the General once the NOM is sealed.

Both Clinton and Obama are being prudent for now.

h20: good one.

Euro Tom-
I still have my Kool Aid pitcher...only now I seve margarita's in it!
~G

Sheila

I completely disagree with that. The bill is very important and this would have been a great opportunity to demionstrate some leadership.

It would be more division in the general. They all share the same position. Why not do something together. It was more than the FISA vote as well. It was Reid's failure to respect Dodd's request for the hold.

Legislation and policies are happening during this campaign. The candidates shouldn't be in hiding.
If they can bring people together...let's do it now.
To me actions speak louder than words.

Here's Russ Feingold on FISA
on why it is important NOW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDlYcn5HEs8

32 million dollar haul for Barack in Jan. Good to see that the "little person" is being heard.

caption:

Mirror, mirror on the wall--who is the fairest of them all?

Caption for photo:

"Don't taze me bro:

IShelia,

I will not repost Obama's speeches in the last week. He blasts Clinton for having any views that bridge the political divide. He calls them Republican views, or supporting Republican ideas. I suppose Bosnia or Desert Fox were Republican ideas. I suppose there was nothing in the Patriot Act worth passing. I suppose the Free Trade agreements were all completely wrong. The idea that a Democratic candidate should have views that reflect only Kos or Huffington is absurd. All on the gang of 14 should have been shot? Again. Obama makes the Republican Lite claim of anyone agreeing to a compromise, of bridging the divide. That is why he publically declared his support of the Amnesty Bill (to look compromising) and then tried to sink it by putting forward his brilliant and creatively imaginative idea to prevent employers from checking worker's status. This is classic Obama. He didn't even support the President's SOTU plea on Darfur. Hypocricy? Again Obama blasts sanctions on Iran making his public record in the speech he delivered to AIPAC a blatant lie. Read the speech. Do you get it? Do you except the reality of facts? Or is it all about the nice cherry Koool Aid? Google Obama's speeches, google his failed amendment during the Amnesty fight. He hasn't even taken an active fight on Kenya because it might favor some "Republican" ideas. It is such nonsense and I can see why some Obama supporters stamping such criticism right down. Do you not think it will be coming? And will Obama supporters cry "lynching" to avoid such vetting? Will Obama tell McCain what Reagan was about? Now really. Obama couldn't out flank Hillary's centrist credentials so he created a fairy tale he thought he could sell that would allow him to appear centrist while pandering to the Left with Leftish rhetoric. Maybe Democrats are blinded enough by ad work to believe. Hell, Obama's site asks us to believe. A real leader doesn't ask us to believe, but to see with our owneys the ideas and the vision laid out before us. Don't take anything on faith. Know only what you see and can reasonably assume. The rest is snake oil which is much what Bush sold. AH....how quickly we forget.

Now come on, you don't have to be a professional pundit to see this. And if you were a professional pundit, you probably would be using air time to promote such a myth to see the "irresistible force' beat the "immovable Clintons"...LOL

So I suggest Hillary touts her bipartanship and ask what the hell Obama means by bipartanism when he attacks her record of such bipartanship. It is completely disingenuous for all but the true believers.

The Constitution forbids religion as a requirement for holding office and what Obama suggests is that only those believing in his "religious" view (of course I mean this ideologically) ought to be nominated by Democrats. The future, we are asked to BELIEVE, is something Obama will deliver us oncce we defeat those evil Republicans. He'll get us to the promised land if only we believe. You know, only campaigns banckrupt of details and policies run on such blather. And when they stumble they come up with divisive slogans, scapegoats and excuses.

Funny how Nader thinks Obama more corrupt than Hillary in terms of economic policy. I know, Nader is a Republican Lite.

hey.. just because my caption contained the word "balls" doesnt mean ya should ignore the Canadian..

kook aid? LOL

http://www.counterpunch.org/nader01072008.html

The Nader piece on Obama. If you are an Obama supporter don't bother you've heard it all before.

Speaking of Kool Aid...the folks at TV Guide seem to be partaking!

http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Cheers-38-Jeers/Scarboroughs-Morning-Joe/800032157

Dog,
Please link recent speechs by Obama on Darfur and particularly Kenya. I want to see his passion and plans. I want to see his bipartisan effort and what leadership and arm twisting he will use now to do something about the situation.

I have read through recent speeches and see nothing. I did not hear his applauding the SOTU's call to act on Darfur or blast those on the left who have recently called Darfur far less than genocide. Did Obama have words with Carter who also said Darfur wasn't genocide?
So show me the meat and show me the policy that will work or is this more of our believing Obama will get it done somehow AFTER we take the chance, believe and elect him President?

Don't know, do you?

MaxTrue - the great leader who said "We have met the enemy and he is us" was POGO.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/01/captioning-kate.html#comment-23845

Craig: Newbie here. I emailed you about your courageous stance against the MSNBC collective (or shall we say "Borg"?) about how they were distorting Clinton coverage.

I just have to know ... do these pundits work off a script or outline? In the case of MSNBC do they decide on a specific theme and run with it? It was quite disheartening to watch Keith join with the schoolyard bullies and be a party to the distortion. IMO it kinda takes the bite out of his special comments when he plays fast and loose with the truth. Let's put it this way, in seeing what he did to the Clintons' the night of the SC primary, I have to wonder about a lot of the stuff he has said about the Bush administration. And .. trust me... I PRAY that the things he has said about Bush are true.

Have to admit ... it's shaken my world view a bit. Up until now, I have viewed Keith as a GOD! LOL

Well the Judicial Watch List shows Hillary's long vetted crimes never proven, but look at Obama's record. Remember this is the guy touting his Ethics Bill in what is essentially his only act of bipartanship. Not pretty and Rezko is far from over. Maybe Obama will testify? The wisdom of it all as the Chicago papers claim far more donations that Obama has given back. to date, is questionable. And Obama gave back some of that cash only days ago after Clinton blasting. Obama has know about this for months. Are we to assume that her pressure caused him to donate Rezko to charity? Had Clinton done this, Mathews would be spitting on her picture live.

Look at the other "claims". May the typical DC politican, but the Second Coming? No, not pretty at all.

Max a little suggestion, ratchet down the tone a little. You don't want people to thick you're just Hillary created clone whack job.

Caption
:Hey ya'll...doesn't this make a better logo for the GOP than that dumb elephant?

Pogo,

I know, that was for you, just a friendly joke......

I didn't really think you picked that username for any support of Obama........

Shiela

How hard is it to stand up to the friggin' phone company and say law breakers should be hauled into court.

I guess the later only applies if your a Mexican.

Jack

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/01/captioning-kate.html#comment-23874

Tylenol: I was going to use the word "balls" in my caption too, but I thought it would be unseemly for a newbie. LOL

Don't taze me bro.

Classic.

Max: in all honesty, I do not follow his speeches because more busy with ground work. And generally do not get into long parsing matches on speeches -- (1) no time and (2) it seems that coming to an understanding about speeches -- or anything else political -- says as much about the listener as it does about the words themselves.

I fully understand how, having been asked to believe in a compassionate conservative who was a craven hack, voters are saying "show me" rather than "yeah, I'll take your word on that."

But do keep an open mind, please.

PS: if you have read through recent speeches, could you link the ones you referenced? And maybe you could pull out short passages, if you like. Many thanks.

To: Barack Obama
From: JohnR
Re: Tonight's Debate

Be very careful, I know you will attempt to be aggressive pointing out differences between you and Hilliary. But, Hilliary's plan is to be the nice compassionate, soft woman that wants to just "all get along." This will be her strategy and if you appear too aggresive you will come off as "badgering the woman." Just rememebr what happened in New Hampshire when she started crying and received a lot of sympathy. Be prepared to do battle but if she attempts to play the "soft woman" card change gears and show the more compassionate side of yourself. If you follow this advice you win win California!

Maxture,

I absolutely give you a wide gurth to speak what you want.

You have no earthly idea what I was talking about when I posted this morning and I understand now that Clintonites are completely oposite of The Obama Supporter ideology and THATS OK.

I may disagree with you and not understand why you are so hot under the collar, but I respect your views and the blind love you have for you candidate.

Please, by all means continue.

sure was pogo.. i luvvved that comic..

Brian,
"Max a little suggestion, ratchet down the tone a little. You don't want people to thick you're just Hillary created clone whack job."

Too late...

GAKaren,
Welcome. And I thought your caption was hilarious.

In all candor I don't see why any of you are bothering to argue policy. The distance between the candidates isn't wide enough for a sheet of toilet paper. It's all about the "vision thing" at this point. One has a vision and one wants us to return to the "glory days" of the 90s.

(of course this all about the dems, not the repubs)

Why do we need to label each other?

Can't people support a specific candidate without having their intelligence called into question?

I'm really concerned that after the dust settles in August Dems will not be able to come together and vote for the nominee whether it is Hillary or Obama.

dnd: Thank you. Katherine Harris pictures write themselves actually.

AMEN GAKaren!!!

BTW,

dnd, always good to read your smiling face. ;0)

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

- Abraham Lincoln

There are signifcant differences in the candidates.
If you have certain priorities the issues should be the focus.

The heath care plans are an example of that.

Sheila: LOL at giving Maxtrue a "wide gurth". Berth, kiddo. Now what service were you in?
===

Tech question: someone sent me a link to a Google doc, and I have the email address but not the account's password.

Can I get into a Google doc spreadsheet without a password? Many thanks.

If I lie, burn me at the stake. If I make a foolish error, correct me. But if I tell the truth in these decisive hours while Democrats make a BIG choice, then no apologies.

I don't mean to be mean. I think Obama is proably a cool dude. I don't know what I would have done with the cards dealt, but Lieberman, Kerry, Clinton and others welcomed him in. He had no fight for office as Republicans couldn't field a real candidate. I just am angry over the convergence of media derangment and a very hypocritical campaign tearing down a two term President while trying to erect a fantasy. I really believe there are some nasty threats brewing in the world and misteps now on the heels of Bush might really squander the sacrifie of millions of those who came before us. Our past is very important and those who fail to learn from the past, repeat the same mistakes. My Dad died recently and I know he was worried that one day soon, few would remember the sacrifices made in an effort to reconstruct the past to fit the imagined future.

So I am very passionate about false promises, false records, snake oil and pipe dreams. Of course we should dream and seek a better tomorrow Brian. Who doesn't? I feel strongly about Iran with nukes, a retreat from abroad, a capitulation to fundie ideology, ignoring Chavez or Putin, The Brotherhood or Assad. I find JFK's swearing in sppech exceptional. So forgive me my passion. I could be earning money right now, but I chose to do what little I can by adding a pinch of salt to the broth.

We make a huge mistake voting with our hearts rather our heads. Our adversaries are many, our political divisions here real and the time on the clock growing shorter. Vilifying the Clintons and advancing Bamalot to crush the Republicans is not wiser than real unity, civility and a vetting of the best ideas. I just decided that if the partisans wish to play tough, I can do that too. And do it with facts.

Just like the Giants will have to this weekend.

the author of the google doc has to invite / enable you to see it

KC you're right, and in all candor I think Hillary's plan is better than Obama (OMG he said something nice about Hillary), but then she did steal Edwards' plan. But I think most voters have accepted the both Obama and Hillary will be bringing about some form of national health. IMO I think it's all about style and comfort level at this point on the dem side. If you're looking for serious policy debate watch the repugs.

Laughing @ dog!

Max. I appreciate the joke.

h20: Thanks, that's what I thought. And this person is either out to lunch. Or Out to Lunch.

Which is why I have all this free time to surf Craig's blog today.

I like Hillary's plan for college education financing.

Tuition at 43 k per year ... the sub-prime mortgage mess of today ...is the college loan mess of many tomorrows if we dont get something changed

Folks don't forget we're highly engaged. You're lucky if you can get the average voter to read a pamphlet much less take it from your hands when you are passing them out on the street.

dog, you know Sheila's a chef. She I am sure revels in giving folks a wide girth - she just don't spell too good. Musta been one of them Freudian slippers.

Max,

Very nice post indeed. Now if you look at this please.

We Obama and Edwards supporters are not the MSM. I myself took as a lot of time and vetting, if you wiil, to settle on my Candidate. I know that 99.9% of his supporters feel the same way.

We believe in what we have seen heard and gleened form all of his writing, his background, his spoken word.

There is always a caluculated risk when you support a candidate. We have made the same as you.

To me, what I wrote this morning is paramount. But reality speaks that I go foreward here in a careful way. I don't want to become disalutioned about Clinton when I know I might vote for her.

Thank you for understanding.

Max: good post at 3:03. Understand your concern.

Am not for villifying the Clintons either -- too many whackos in that canoe -- but neither do I subscribe to the view that only Hillary Clinton can learn from the past and save us in our present.

I think Sen. Obama is plenty smart, good judgment, and likely to work well with all comers.

Plus, he excites Americans to get involved in the political world.

Brit documentarian told me Obama's crowds were the most fervent; lately they seem to be the largest too.

Maybe that's people voting with their hearts rather than their heads. Maybe not.

Now laughing @ pogo!

Max at 3:03 "We make a huge mistake voting with our hearts rather our heads. Our adversaries are many, our political divisions here real and the time on the clock growing shorter. Vilifying the Clintons and advancing Bamalot to crush the Republicans is not wiser than real unity, civility and a vetting of the best ideas.

Well thought. Well said.

Is good or bad news for Obama?

"Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was the most liberal senator in 2007, according to National Journal's 27th annual vote ratings. The insurgent presidential candidate shifted further to the left last year in the run-up to the primaries, after ranking as the 16th- and 10th-most-liberal during his first two years in the Senate. "

Shelia,
My apologizes. What I have no clue about is the nature of this "contact" thread...LOL. Yes, thank you for giving me wide berth to rant when these rants might be best directed at those I hear ranting all day from the other side at the evil Clintons.. So I see it is somewhat misdirected at you and giving my very recent landing, forgive the learning curve. I don't actually know any of you, so it might be very unfair to level any blasts.

If I do, then just imagine I'm blastin back the copious crap thrown at the Clintons that I feel is unjust and wrongheaded. Much of it from a derenged media. Yes, I have real issues with Obama. I think I have tried to make my case, but I just wanted others out there who support the Clintons and other more centrist Democrats that there are many who feel their pain...LOL Perhaps now is a good time to stand up and remember Democrats were known for leading this country through wars and adversity. No, the enemy is not so much ourselves as the world. I just wouldn't bring my car to a priest, I would bring it to a mechanic.

And I certainly would bring anything to Catherine Harris, except two men wearing white suits.

H2O: excellent Lincoln quote.

That ain't gonna be on Cheney's tombstone.

"villifying the Clintons"

That's my job! However vilifying the clinton supporters is not my style.

"Brian

"Max a little suggestion, ratchet down the tone a little. You don't want people to thick you're just Hillary created clone whack job."

"___________ a little suggestion, ratchet down the tone a little. You don't want people think you're just Obama created clone whack job"

But in all seriousness, I am getting tired of all this back and forth. It was fun for the first week, but now it's wearing thin.

T

Brian:

"That's my job! However vilifying the clinton supporters is not my style."

Sorry Bri, but if isnt your style you do come awfully close.

Maxtrue: I hear you about the media and the Clintons. And much of that is crazy-making.

Had the pleasure of enduring the Richmond Times Dispatch (aka the Disgrace) coverage of Clinton presidency. Blamed everything but Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance on them. And was early, perhaps, in adopting "the Clintons" in discussing the Oval Office.

Am a fervent newspaper reader; first time I did not subscribe to the local paper. And I even had a parakeet.

BUT -- DLC fan as I am, and real fan of WJC's presidency -- I do not think Hillary has the political skills to win the general election or -- more important to me -- soothe the waters after 8 years of BushRoveCheney misrule.

And she is plenty competent, but I will bet you real money she does not listen as carefully as Sen. Obama does.

Brian
You are right about engagement.
But you were also right, last night, about the country being weary of this war. I see it in the Republican friends and relatives, People are ready for Bush to go. I know conservative Republicans that are giving Obama and HRC a real look. It is a most unusual election.
It is unusual for me because I don't have a dog in this fight. I don't care which Democrat wins, I just care that they do so with an eye to the general election. At this time I doubt if I will vote in the tuesday primary or if I do it will be a spoiled ballot. I will let the partisans amoung you fight it out. Then I will work hard for the Democratic winner.

Jack

"And I certainly would bring anything to Catherine Harris, except two men wearing white suits. "

That was my typo sin of the day.....LOL

AND I CERTAINLY WOULDN"T BRING ANYTHING TO KATHERINE HARRIS, EXCEPT TWO MEN WEARING WHITE SUITS....is the right line

But then you all knew that anyway....

Max,

I've posted to you twice now.....ARGH!

Very quickly,

You are sweet and intelligent and thank you very much.

The anology I'd like to give you is this. I wouldn't want a priest for my Prious or a regular mechanic. I'd want someone who was up on the latest technology and who spoke the cars language too.

To use Hipster's closing excuse...."All I'm Sayin!

Re H20's Lincoln quote:

It reminds me of what a friend told me about Cub fans. He was in Chicago for a three game series between the Mets and Cubs and wearing a Mets' hat to show his colors.

On the days the Cubs lost, their fans couldn't have been nicer. "Great game" "Boy, you guys have great pitching." and similar complimentary terms. But when the Cubs finally won the final game of the series, he says their fans were totally obnoxious.

His summation: "They're great losers, but they're the worst winners I've ever seen." Old Abe had those folks pegged a long time ago.

Tom said,

But in all seriousness, I am getting tired of all this back and forth. It was fun for the first week, but now it's wearing thin.

LOL Join the club my friend,, Join the club!

the primary should take place on one day

Ok well... for those who are interested, you can reach me via My Myspace profile... http://www.myspace.com/eurotom

Good night, it's my bed time

Good Night Tom Boy!

Come to the force young Max.

Tom, take heart - it's the back and forth that keeps things lively here and at other more longstanding and successful blogs like FireDogLake and Kos. One of the things I've seen at many other blogs is kind of a hit and run style that is probably cathartic for the posters, but not really engaging - here, it's more engaged. Hit & run is not suffered lightly here, and we old timers like to thnk we can disagree and still respect each others' opinions, no matter how stupid we think those opinions are. People get called asses for being asses here, but don't get called asses for holding one opinion or another - unless of course they think Dumya, Cheney or those of that ilk are just swell, then they are asses and deserving of being called asses.

I think Hillary will win, perhaps after Tuesday it will be clearer. Never underestimate the Clintons and beating them down makes them all the more underdog. Hispanics cancel out the black vote and the media bashing has made many women think twice. Just look at Florida and it will counted.

Not only do I think she will pull this off and be ComeBack Kid 2, but she has the ability to be the ameoba Bill was and actually pull together agreements that can pass the Floor.

Attacks will come from abroad and the Thacher Side will ignite. The Bitch in her is a national asset as her husband can be on the global stage (Please not SCOTUS).

Obama will be carrying far more pressure on him to succeed with the divisiveness in the voting demographics a real burden. Much of this not his fault. It would have made far more sense for him to have been VP and avoid the rancor of this election. His choice and now his bed. If he does win, much of the damage will have already been done and personally, I think McCain makes him more toast than Hillary.

We shall see.

Brain: "Folks don't forget we're highly engaged. You're lucky if you can get the average voter to read a pamphlet much less take it from your hands when you are passing them out on the street. "

Sad but all too true.

And max,

May the most fortunate candidate win!

P.S. Barack, after you win the democratic election make a hard dash to the middle and center of politics. You will never win the general being a lefty liberal....

New caption:

"Coming to FOX News Channel in Spring of 2008..."The Possum and the Shrew". Weeknights after the O'Reilly Factor!