Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

yo soy aqui.

K Harris>>>>Hey, check it out......from this angle it looks just like Bush.......

this certainly bears repeating:

don't kid yourself....HRC knew what she was doing...there are no "peace candidates" who are successful, America is bloodthirsty and wants warmongers at 1600 .
2/3 of Americans want the war over? Maybe, but how many will vote on that issue?
I posted this earlier, maybe a week ago, but I'll say it again:
If HRC runs against McCain , McCain can bluster all he wants about "100 years more in Iraq", but HRC can throw it right back at him...she voted for the war and every funding call...they're both war-lovers, and everything Hillary has said about ending the war has trap doors...she can easily spin out of it and her record puts her on even-tilt with McCain on the war.
Just look how far out true peace candidates got! Gravel and Kucinich were ridiculed and dismissed early!
Bill Richardson should have the nomination all locked up if people wanted peace...and he's long gone.
Woman, African American, Hispanic...but the true peace candidate of those three never had a chance, and I believe he was drummed out was because they knew he meant business about getting out of Iraq...and this is unacceptable to the powers who install these people we have to choose from.
McCain and Romney trading barbs tonight really bored me...
McCain's putdowns of Romney were mildly entertaining, but were just repeats of earlier statements.
McCain was just rude when Paul spoke, batting his eyes and grinning like a madman.
McCain does seem confident...Romney seemed too eager.

Posted by: Dexter | January 31, 2008 12:56 AM

Katherine Harris: "You think this is something? Hell, I once had the entire country by the tail."

For more than five weeks during the brutal winter of 1997, tenants shivered without heat in a government-subsidized apartment building on Chicago's South Side. Obama, who has worked as a lawyer and a legislator to improve living conditions for the poor, took campaign donations from Rezko even as Rezko's low-income housing empire was collapsing, leaving many African-American families in buildings riddled with problems -- including squalid living conditions, vacant apartments, lack of heat, squatters and drug dealers http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/353829,CST-NWS-rez23.article

Does anyone share my terror that in a country of over 300 million people these are our choices of who will be our next commander in chief? Horror!

Did I just correctly hear Joe Scarborough say "the Taliban aren't afraid of the Canadians?" or something like that???

Are you effin kidding me? Who does this guy think he is? How dare he say something like about those brave guys that are over there, helping us fight against the people who attacked us? They dont even have to be over there. This really isnt even their fight. What the hell is wrong with this guy???

-Hipster

Hope you guys have a good day, and remember i have a Georgia update:

http://theaginghipster.blogspot.com/2008/01/georgia-presidential-primary-5-days-out.html

Hipster

And Mine from the last trhead. Now time to get ready for work too.

Morning Everybody,

Morning Joe with "Roadhouse Joe" coffee. Nothing better.

I just could not watch another debate. The Edwards end was depressing. Even if I was for Obama, I thought Edwards was doing an awesome job at redirecting both Clinton and Obama from so much sniping. AND then at that point rediscoverd exactly why I liked Edwards so much.

He is a little to left for me fiscally, but his compassion AND passion for the impoverished is inspiring.

He is more and more looking like the Sargent Shriver of our generation. I hope the future shows another Cabinet position, in the same venue as Shriver, is created to Iradicate Poverty in America.

However, as in Shriver's fight for the poor, the same road block is looming before us. A WAR. A war that is sucking every cent out of the pockets of every american. Especially that poor.

Sargent Shriver was forced to give up after a long winded fight with congress and eventually his programs like Job Corps and Vista were drained and sidelined.

I wonder how much longer we will have to wait before this very programs are streamlined for the present and reintroduced....

Just my meandering this morning.

Ghost Hunters and UFO Hunters was a perfect subistute to last night's Debate. ;0) I'm not sure how I feel about tonights. We'll see.

Craig,
You were actually your old self and quite sharp and funny here on the blog last night.

A pleasure to see our Cahoona enjoying himself!

Posted by: Sheila Stone | January 31, 2008 6:29 AM

Hip:

But when we play the fool, how wide
The theatre expands! beside,
How long the audience sits before us!
How many prompters! what a chorus!

---Landor

Only in America would television executives give programs to Joe Scarborough and Tucker Carlson.

BTW,

Sargent Shriver was founder of Peace Corps during Kennedy's time. Husband of Eunice Kennedy Shriver. failed run for President.

But his poignant but basically unremembered acts was his Position in the Johnson Adminstration to iradicate Poverty.

Because he was clueless and basically from privelege. He spent and entire year emersing himself in the poorest regions of the US in order to understand what was needed to help the poor help themselves out of their circumstances.

Thus the founding of Job Corps, Vista, Head Start, Youth Corps,....and other ground breaking programs that lifted countless people. Until they are wittled away by conservative ideals of small government and finally deleted all together in the early 1990's.

.....so much for the "Great Society"

Has this been discussed?

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/01/hot-button-medi.html?loc=interstitialskip

Just one more reason for me to hate morningload... Canadian soldiers are dying in Afghanistan, every single day, because the Admin took their eyes off the ball and decided Iraq was more important...

JS is going off the deep end...seriously.

I think the "little woman", Mika with all her opinions is starting to get under his skin.

IMHO, it's only a matter of time for JS. :)

caption

He saw his sahdow...six more weeks of vote counting

Katharine: "Mommy's got plans for you!"

2 nights in a row working between 2 women who are hellbent on working me to death. I'm too tired to do anything now.

and, Sheila, then their daughter went on to marry Armold. Go figure. Thanks for the memories of Shriver.

Matt Taibbi on Imus......

Craig - Today's column was my all-time fave!

From left to right: Chad (hanging) & Katherine Harris

Patsi - Your caption was better.

Actually, the pic also reminds me of a line from "The Simpsons Movie" -

"Look at all those angry eyes and pointy teeth! It's like Christmas at the Kennedy Compound!"

blue
I like yours but I agree Patsi's is great.

I think McCain is more like Major Kong than Dr. Strangelove

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

hmmm......maybe I should have opted for dick cheney.......

ahhhhhhhh...Willie has cute feet :)

I, (like rush limbo) think this is a more accurate depiction of McCain:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnHq08W9_nI&feature=related

Hum... Maybe McCain is a cross between Dr. Strangelove and Major Kong.

Dr. Bozo Konglove ...now there's an image
dnd
what's the media story in Denver

Last night in Denver, Bill Clinton told the crowd how Hillary differed from Bush. Interesting approach as Bush isn't running. Not sure I understand it.

One more thing KGC, there was a pretty decent crowd for Clinton, given that it was snowing last night.

RFD-TV signs on with Comcast Cable......

Millions prepare to watch one more cow.......

dnd
I think Bill Clinton isn't allowed to talk about other Democrats anymore because it gets everyone in trouble. Taling about Shrub is an unifying theme
everyone hates him.

And for the fall no matter how they try..the Republicans can not run away from their support of Shrub and all his failed policies.

Republicans = Shrub's third term

Imus' soundtrack prompted me to look for this video.

I love this song!!

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

As I watch this clip...two thoughts come to mind...

--The announcer could be introducing Barack Obama

--Adam Sandler must be a clone of BD...LOL!!

dnd -- Why shouldn't Clinton run aganst Bush? It's the only option left. It's considered poor taste to actually try and campaign against Elmer Gan--- uh, Barack Obama.

And before anybody starts emoting....I'm not talking specifics, just referring to style and the quasi-religion this campaign has become.

Just saw an ad for Obama, he was doing John Edwards' shtick, seemed very narrow focused. I remarked on the production quality to my wife and she pointed out it was trying to fit in as a local news item.

It was followed by an interesting ad for HRC. It has a vidio of someone tumbling in freefall. The voice over is talking about the economy. Hillarys name comes up at the end when the parachute is released. Message: her experience will save us. The helplesly falling scene was effective at least to me (shudder).

Jack

Northern California ad report
The only Obama ad running is the Caroline Kennedy ad which is great the first eight or so times but they are running a very heavy rotation and after the 10th time not so much. Before the start of the Republican debate on CNN in a space of five minutes it ran three times.

Caroline Kennedy is going to appear for Obama in Oakland on Saturday for a big rally. The Chronicle suggested they leave Ted home.

Photo Caption

Which twin is the turkey?

I wonder if Bobby Kennedy Jr. and his siblings will appear for their endorsed candidate, Hillary.

I really enjoy Bobby on his weekend Air America show. He is very intelligent and very committed to liberal causes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoU41UwL5LI

How's this video of Romney?

Sheila,

"Job Corps and Vista were drained and sidelined.
I wonder how much longer we will have to wait before this very programs are streamlined for the present and reintroduced...."

What I don't understand is why with economics being the way they are, these actions aren't funded immediately. This is the perfect way to get money back into that economy FAST!! It creates good paying jobs, provides training where needed, rebuilds infrastructure, and reduces the expense of crime.

Or if you prefer John McCain...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTD7FP1mAYk

Craig, now we know what a marvelous comedian you are!!

First off, Ms. Harris needs to let that opposum go. I have a lot of them on my farm and they are very honored guests and let me tell you when they want to hang upside down like that, they will do it themselves.

Secondly, the debate was so telling last night.. All McCain can do is constantly remind us what a hero he is - and we probably need to be constantly reminded - but he comes off like John Kerry did last election: reporting for duty.

On the other hand, Romney was so cool. This is a man who must be really a tough dealer in business. I would love to see him up against Hillary but I don't think he is going to get the chance. Instead, Senator McCain will spew and insist on defending his right to tell you what you didn't say. He will also be prickley about it. And I thought this was going to be an exciting election.

Governor Huckaby had all the best lines and original thoughts. If only he wasn't a pastor.......

SPIKE

If you show up. You asked for a biography on George Mason. One of the more recent is "Forgotten Founder". You can take a look at reviews etc.

http://www.amazon.com/George-Mason-Forgotten-Founder-Broadwater/dp/0807830534/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201787176&sr=8-1

Here's the turnout totals from Obama & Clinton's appearances at DU's Magness Arena yesterday.

Obama: 14,000
Clinton: 3,000

Magness holds 8,000 so Obama was late because he spent an hour greeting the overflow crowd in the gym and lacross field. Nice weather. Started snowing by the time the Clinton rally began.

mornin' all.

Craig, thank you, thank you, thank you. I got a great laugh out of the last paragraph of your analysis of Romney's inability to understand his own words.

Caption - "What do you think is prettier - this possum, my radaint smile, or my magnificent breasts (which for about 5 grand you can have, too)?"

dnd, why shouldn't Clinton run against Bush? With McCain now the clear repug frontrunner, she should. There isn't enough daylight between Bush and McCain to tell one from the other, at least on the war., and he'll support Bush's economic policies and soft approach to border security - it's a trifecta. i guess she should wrap up the nomination before coming out hard against them, but she may be thinking that showing dems what she will do in the general is a better approach than trying to tear down Obama.

tuned in for the end of morning load and standing up you can see that he is quite the wide load and blue jeans are not his friend

dnd -- that turnout doesn't surprise me. If Colorado voters are as I remember them the Dems will vote overwhelmingly for Obama. I'm not sure about his chances in the general. Denver would be a lock. But Colorado Springs will salivate over McCain. The rural areas likewise. Ski towns probably to Obama.

Oh, and dnd....here's Lakoff supporting your guy Obama:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-lakoff/what-counts-as-an-issue_b_84177.html

KGC -- as much as Scarborough irritates me, referring to his weight puzzles me. He doesn't look fat to me -- a fat head, maybe.

http://www.coloradodems.org/

Colorado is a caucus state and the caucuses are closed --no independents

Patsi

have you seen him standing up and he has staring wearing an overblouse (fleece sweatshirt) cuz when he wears a jacket his profile is well bludging

and I generally don't care but the load spent a lot of time making fun of Al Gore's weight.

Morning Load --baby's got back

Patsi,

Interesting link.

ps. Obama's not my guy.

dnd & Patsi, the Denver Post's latest poll - done last week, has the dems in a stat dead heat. In fact, Obama has his work cut out for him - while the polls are nothing if not unreliable, the only states that Obama is leading in of the 2/5 states are Illinois and Georgia (having lost a big lead there) and there is a stat tie in about 3 others.

what about obama's biggest snub'''the half million people who voted for him in florida'' he said did't count' did'nt matter'turned his back on them because he would have to say he was beaten in florida if he said anything else'''

McBush got a big boost this week

http://www.intrade.com/

finally.burroughs is beginning to kick in.

Lakoff is a linguist, a rhetoritician and a sophist. In his world anything that was not listed by the Times is not important. Apply his rationale to Caroline's speech, and none of the things he lists as being unimportant to the Times is important to her - save "leadership" qualities that are unspecified by her but laid out in detail by him, as if those are the qualities that Caroline was thinking of or that Obama has.

Lakoff clearly supports Obama, yearns for another JFK in the white house, and believes that Reagan's recognition of the middle as the key to winning elections is best - only - reflected in Obama's JFK-like appeal. Of course he is being dishonest - instead of comparing the endorsement of Obama by Caroline and Ted to the endorsement of Hillary by Bobby and his sister, he compares a personal endorsement to an institutional one. Interesting read, yes - but what's interesting is what it says about Lakoff, not about Kennedy, Obama, Clinton or the Times.

Someone online speculated this yesterday: Wouldn't it have been funny if, after getting the press to New Orleans, Edwards had said, "Just kidding about getting out of the race. This was the only way I could get you to listen to anything I said."

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/foreign/tobyharnden/jan08/didobamapinchtheclintonline.htm

Schwarzenegger endorsing McCain..

The Brothers Romney probably regret making him look like a drunk dialer now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nAKMlKgvPQ

So, Obama only wants a bridge back to the '60's...not the '90's?

Can he really have it both ways?

Caption:

"ohhhh a capon..they dont have balls either???"

pogo -- Agreed. I like Lakoff's examination of frames a lot....but he's doing it himself in this piece.

Caption for K Harris photo

"Now that's a hanging Chad"

Craig, please send this photo to PETA

McCain reminds me of Hannibal Lecter.

"Senator. Love the suit."

comment to---Katharine: "Mommy's got plans for you!"

Hummmmm.........the old tailspin worked last time!

Patsi,
"Edwards had said, "Just kidding about getting out of the race. This was the only way I could get you to listen to anything I said.""

LOL! I would have loved that.

It's clear that Lackoff is in the tank for Obama, but he does present some interesting ideas. But I don't think his reasoning goes far enough. E.g., he doesn't explain what attracts people to Hillary, nor anybody else that is/was in the race.

Craig, when will you get your own show?

I agree with Clemmieo, all McCain can do is talk about himself and throw up the fear card here and there.

A potential Clinton v. McCain election....see a lot of people just not voting

Joke of the day...

Q: Why did Rudy's campiagn fail?
A: Problems with the radios.

blueINdallas

I didn't mean to step on your caption....I should read the comments thoroughly before I type.

Still early here...

Now where have I heard something like this before? Oh, yeah, from Hillary.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/01/obama-in-2001-r.html

Pogo posted an abc piece on Obama having no serious objections to Rumsfeld's selection as SecDef. Rumsfeld sailed through his confirmation hearings.

If memory serves, neither did many who knew him best -- Brent Scowcroft, James Baker, etc. -- who came to regret his appointment.

Recall also that in 2001, Cheney may have looked like a steadying hand on a new president those who knew him knew was not up to the task.

Caption: Katherine Harris finally defeats someone!

Jamie --"Forgotten Founder". You can take a look at reviews etc."

Thanks! Like I don't have enough reading to do...

PS; think computer ate my earlier post:

So far, I like Patsi's caption best, but you are all good.

Blonde wino: love your moniker. Did we ever figure out your gender (as if it matters) or where you hail from (general geographic)?

I do not agree that Hillary was/is a war lover. I believe SHE believed the intelligence with trumped up information on it.

dog

For the longest time, based on your ID, I thought you were a guy.
____

Oh, look...another person from NOVA!! Hey Mike!!

A site that has become part of my daily read

http://www.gallup.com/poll/election2008.aspx

gallop polling
every day they do an interesting article
Yesterday age and the republican vote
Today the ethnic split in the Democratic party.

Jack

Sources say Kennedy was privately furious at Clinton for her praise of President Lyndon Baines Johnson for getting the 1964 Civil Rights Act accomplished. Jealously guarding the legacy of the Kennedy family dynasty, Senator Kennedy felt Clinton's LBJ comments were an implicit slight of his brother, President John F. Kennedy, who first proposed the landmark civil rights initiative in a famous televised civil rights address in June 1963. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2008/01/post_11.html

"After McCain had read aloud a typically vague Romney statement, the former Massachusetts governor offered this remarkable response to his own quote: "What does that mean?"
_____

Craig....I had a different response to that line. I took Romney to mean, "McCain, you dolt -- listen to the words. You don't even understand what was being said." And truth be known, either McCain didn't get it or he specifically misrepresented the words.

Hello everyone!

Craig, great article, your analogy is right on point. However, I would like to add one thing. McCain might have rid the "neighborhood of a bully," but he appeared to be un-presidential in the process. His posture, his demeanor and his inability to listen to his opponents without making those stupid faces is not the type of president our country needs. Boy, it will be scary if McCain wins the presidency.

EuroTom, hope you are right. Just cannot get pass Hillary’s vote on the war, especially with the hindsight and knowledge of the former president available to her.

kc, the lawsuit I mentioned yesterday was old news - it was the one by Nelson & Hastings that was dismissed in Dec.

Rezdog - Edwards suspended his campaign - it's what he stated in his statement.

dog, lots of people have changed their minds about things that were going on in 2001, Obama being one. Point is, things like this aren't being examined as to him. They will be if he wins the nomination - and it might not be pretty for him to have to defend them on the fly in debates when he is confronted with them for the first time.

watched some of that debate last night...... I can sum up what I thought of it in one word....... boooooooooooring.....

just couldn't get into the dimwitted pissing contest for the rights of which old white guy gets to play with the shiny big new toy similar to the one in the background.....

and.... my vote is on Patsi's caption....

Caption:

One is a frightening, furry, furtive nocturnal animal that plays dead when faced with dangerous opposition.

The other is a possum.

So of the regulars who participate here, can we have an informal poll? The question is which candidate did you initially support for the Democratic (or Republican) Presidential nomination? And whom do you support now?

Just curious to read about what others are thinking about re: candidates.

Tom

Ok since it's my question, I have supported Hillary since Day 1 and still support her today. I felt I got to know a lot about her while reading her autobiographical book "Living History". She came across as a passionate, creative, caring, hardworking woman trying to help those who need it the most.

That is all from me...
ET OUT!

OK, WACPAC's caption gets my vote. LOL

Tom, as for me - I was undecided but leaning toward Hillary until a couple months ago, and then decided to back Hillary.

Thx Pogo, right after i posted i ran across a good AP article that explained the whatnots and wherefores of the JE campaign; particularly about the delegates.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-edwards,0,5346604.story

AP: Obama raised $32 in the month of January

Obama then, Obama now. However, there is no loosing with either choice.

I am off for a nap, rough day at work... Will probably be on later. xoxoxoxo

Sorry, I am slow today...I am a bit over hung (dyslexic, too.) To clear the gender confusion, I am female. Maybe should have used Blonde Wina as my nik.

I love how Craig thinks...Mitt Romney and Ward Cleaver...how clever. There are so many look-a-likes in the media. Especially on MSNBC...Obermann looks like Steve Allen and Chuck Todd looks like Murray on Flight of the Conchords. : ) Yes, business time, but I have to head to work.

Here's some sobering economic news.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/business/31cnd-econ.html?hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1201795352-8crDK2UEYky4ksBEf+jKyQ

Folks, this is NOT good news and can't be spun to appear to be.

Good morning peeps.

Something that occurred to me last night when listening to Jonathan alter last night on KO. He said Edwards was holding off endorsing Obama because he wanted to make sure Obama is tough enough to go up against the repugs. I'm wondering if Obama's tough victory speech in SC had something to do with Edwards decision to suspend his campaign yesterday.

EuroTom....

I really thought and still think the best candidate on the Democratic side was/is Bill Richardson..... because of his diplomatic experience, being Sec. of Energy, and for his executive experience as a governor..... unfortunately he wasn't a very exciting campaigner....

when I awoke the morning of the NH primary.... I decided I wanted my vote to count for something and made the decision to vote for one of the top 3..... I chose Clinton based on the fact that regaining our reputation on the world stage is the #1 issue for me..... as a former first Lady she's already met a lot of the world's leaders and the world loved the Clintons.....

I just want a Democrat to win the WH...... if Obama wins the nomination, I will proudly support him.....

gotta run...... have a luncheon date....

My vote is for Hillary----although I would change to Obama if it meant keeping a Republican out of office. Obama is a fine candidate, but I think Hillary is a better candidate.

Obama articulates hope and change----Hillary articulates a thorough plan that will get change done.

Like WACPAC's entry too. And it was clever enough to stop me from trying to come up with something better!

Patsi vs. WACPAC.

A better choice than any of the GOP voters have.

Lush, apparently Obam's idea is that a bridge to the 90's is looking backward and a bridge to the 60s is looking to the future. And yes, he can have it both ways, apparently. I personally like the idea of going forward back to both.

"which candidate did you initially support for the Democratic "

Tom, I started off waffling between Richardson and Biden for the reason that they were both experienced in the area that was important to me: Diplomacy and International expertise.

My backup candidate has always been Clinton, because I trust her brilliance as well as her personality as a "worker" . Those two qualities seem to indicate someone who can solve the Middle East mess whatever her vote history might have been on any transitory vote.

Obama still seems to much sass without enough substance. He's intelligent, charismatic, and interesting, but I want more than another hopeful audacity.

"OK, WACPAC's caption gets my vote. LOL"

Ditto...I vote for WACPAC's line...hilarious!

Gail Collins is an interesting read today.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/opinion/31collins.html?hp

Craig,

My entrant for the caption is as follows:

See, this has no balls...this posum must be a congressional Democrat

Spike

"Like I don't have enough reading to do..." Ha!! You think you have problems. I just did a blog article on books http://jdurward.blogspot.com

It is mildly depressing when you get to the age where you know you will never read everything you still want to read, see all the movies you have ever wanted to see, listen to all the music you really want to hear, and learn about all the things that have interested you. You just get to slog away at the list, loving every minute, but knowing the job will never be completed.

Oh oh. Bear in contention.

To my friends who enjoy a glass of wine (or beer or a martini) ... and those who don't.

As Ben Franklin said: In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom,
in water there is bacteria. In a number of carefully controlled trials,
scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 liter of water each day,
at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia
coli, (E. coli) - bacteria found in feces. In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop.

However, we do NOT run that risk when drinking wine & beer (or tequila, rum,
whiskey or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of
boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.

Remember: Water = Poop, Wine (beer, martini) = Health.
Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid, than to drink water and be full of shit.

There is no need to thank me for this valuable information: I'm doing it as a public service

Jamie----I too liked Biden----he called a spade a spade.

As the Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee he was an expert on national security and foreign policy.

Actually I glad to see him leave the presidential race and go back to where he could serve this country in these times.

Obama. 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, doesn't appear to have any true passion, and her core principles are to gain power and then maintain power. She's the past and it ain't happening.

Well I haven't napped yet... LOL... I have to comment on the "stagnation" article that Pogo provided. I firmly believe that the "economic recovery" Ronald Reagan touted when he became president was a combination of good luck ... a sudden oil glut that set energy prices tumbling, coupled with the remarkable expansion of personal consumer credit in the form of Mastercard and Visa (and later Discover). This "you can have it now" promise sold a lot of us on the use, and overuse of the cards. It isn't surprising that someday Americans would have to "pay the piper". One of the disgusting factors of the national credit cards was the exemption they received from following Usury laws. Clearly this had led to unspeakable interest rate gouging and people not savvy enough to realize what was going on, continued to accumulate new cards. America, by the way, has the lowest savings percentage per capita of all Westernized countries.

Because we are not savers, and are generally speaking, massively in high interest debt, we have often found ourselves in an out of control situation where we are required to borrow money from one card to pay the payments of the other. When things because so unmanageable, we were able to file for bankruptcy. One of the concerns raised when the Bush/financiers bankruptcy tightening bill became law, was that people who have been able to begin again with a clean slate will no longer have this option and because of the massive debt, will be paying on their existing credit leaving little, if anything for discretionary purchasing. In other words, money is so tightly "spoken for" in terms of debt that there isn't near as much un-obligated money available to keep the economy churning. Result? consumer spending drops. (And this doesn't even factor in higher energy and food costs).

It is never to late Jamie to experience all the things you dream. Conversely, I understand the reading point, which is why I watch Book Notes on C-Span on Saturdays and Sundays. I can relate, I still want to read all the books and travel to every corner of the earth.

Craig, I loved today's column. Mc Cain shows his ge and limited concentration, it is all about war.

Wonder why it is ok for Obama to send brabs such as Bridge to ..., Clinton polarizing ...... " Oh, I forgot he's so positive. That is a bunch of cow poop or possum whatever you prefer.

Brian, I hope not. Rather suspect John's thinking runs deeper than that. Strong speeches do not a strong president make. They don't hurt, but I sure as hell hope he and we are not basing our decisions on who has the best speechwriters and who best delivers what the speechwriters write.

Patsi, that was a very gracious concession speech.

EuroTom -- My support for Hillary comes from my belief that we will face more harsh realities than we even suspect when Bush is finally pried out of that office. I think she's tough as nails and can govern during what I consider perilous times.

I always loved John Edwards' message. Just wondered if he had the "political" toughness necessary. However, I felt he never even had a fair shot with the press and was saddened when he bowed out. I'd love to see him as Attorney General and unleashed on the powers that are ruining the country.

I liked Obama a lot more before his speeches starting sounding like he saw himself as a modern day prophet. I've since heard his campaign say he was advised some months back to stop sounding like a university professor. I liked the prof better than the prophet. Plus, I don't believe for a minute that this bipartisan, let's just get along approach will work. The Republicans are incapable of it. As Grover Norquist once said, bipartisanship is another word for date rape.

I think we're getting giddy at the thought of Bush being gone and the sun coming out. But whoever gets this job, if it's a Democrat, will face the tenth circle of Hell. If it's McCain....well, get used to Hades

However, and it pains me to say it, I doubt Hillary can win a general unless it's against Romney. The press loves McCain and hates her. As I said some threads back, she can't run against NBC, CNN and Fox.

Katherine Harris: "I've got your tax relief program right here, pal!"

Bear

you sound like WC Fields "I never drink water..fish fu-k
in it."

pogo,
Thanks for the NYT economy news. Not good. Stagflation here we come. Somebody please fire Bernanke. The Fed's interest rate cuts to prop up the market are surely gonna fuel inflationary pressures.

Julia: I do not understand your caption. Probably me and not enough coffee yet. Wha??

Tom, I have supported Hillary since the beginning. She is my senator and I'm very impressed with her. Contrary to popular opinion, she is not cold and distant, She is warm, caring, and quite funny. She is extremely hard working and able to work well with others, even repugs. With her knowlege, personality, work ethic, and ability to deliver, I think she will make an excellent president.

I agree Hillary is tough as nails and she is more than qualified to be president. I do not have a problem voting for her. What worries me is that our country will remain divided if she wins. Then there is the obsession with Bill's sex life. Just do not want to relive those days.

alpha1906-11:25 AM----referring to Hillary---"Her health care initiative"?

I think Hillary's health care disaster-----shows that she has been concerned about health care in America for a LONG TIME and that concern hasn't changed.

It shows that she had the incentive to ATTEMPT a health care plan!

Even though she tried and failed---she has a situation that she was able to LEARN FROM and IMPROVE.

To my way of thinking that gives her a high qualification to serve as president.

Chickadee,

I also liked Biden, but part of his problem was that he would call a spade a spade, or a Dunkin Donuts owner an Indian...lol

Can you just picture a McCain-Hillary debate? If he stands there with that absurd grim and makes faces he'll look like an idiot. And he can't compete with her on the issues. Her knowlege of the issues overwhelms his. While he presses 100yrs of war, she'll be talking about health care, education, and regaining respect for this counrty. He looks old and tired while she will represent the future.

Cheryl S.

I too don't lookf forward to media assault on Hillary if she is elected.

We can't let the insane media win!

We can't let the media fatigue wear us down and direct our vote to someone else.

I have to say a lot of my friends in Olympia and elsewhere are supporting Obama, including a former boss of mine.

Patsi I think your comment about Obama's stump speeches sounding like a "modern day prophet" very interesting. I used to love his sidekick Oprah but over the years she has presented herself as a sort of black Dali Lama. She always has all the answers, she is so spiritual, she is this, she is that, and it's like Whoopi says "She does NOT walk on water" but it seems that she acts like she does. I hope Obama can campaign just as a "guy", a Senator, running for President and not like a reincarnation of President Kennedy !! They were and are very different people.

I am voting for Hillary, but I love Oprah and always will. She's a strong woman and I respect her for getting out and making a stand for the man she thinks is best for the position.

How could she not.

Katherine, fish FUNK in water? Where are my old Parliment records?

Cheryl, aside from the odd issue, the only thing that has ever gotten America to be anything other than divided has been war. We have a bicameral federal legislature - government based on separation of powers - federalist form of government (central gov. vs. states) - strong state and regional identifications - strong 2 party system with fundamental differences between the base of each party. We will remain divided - it is how our government was designed. If Bill keeps it in his pants, we shouldn't have to relive that particular unpleasant past - plus, I don't think the first lad is subject to impeachment.

If Hillary can withstand the insane MEDIA then we as supporters can too!

We should not let the MEDIA make us weak and leave her to stand alone!

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 ..."

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!

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

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.

How about this for a caption?

"Oh I see we both have the same plastic surgeons"!

that caption should have been Katherine saying:

"OH ! I see we both have the same plastic surgeon!"

photo caption

"I don't know, they grabbed my legs, flepped me over like this, next thing I knew I was Secretary of State"

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Tom,

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

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!

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.

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.

"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.

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

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

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.

NEW THREAD pals. Update your pageview.

Plz post on "Captioning Kate."

Someone just sent this to me....Tweety on the chopping block?

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

Obama's started more attacks talking about Hillary not being a winnablw/electable candidate.

She can handle McCain much beter, what is wrong with the thinking public.

Clinton is a good candidate, stong, knowlegable ready to win and serve. It is the media and predjudice that is at work.

Craig,

The quote McCain read didn't support his false argument that Romney supported a time-table for troopo w/drawal. So yes "what does that mean" (how is that quote proof that I, Mitt Romney, supported a time-table for w/drawal). McCain lied - not the conduct one expects from an officer and a gentleman. You take cheap shots. You're not much of an officer or a gentleman eitehr, but you're a heck of a shill for the Dems.

Craig,

The quote McCain read didn't support his false argument that Romney supported a time-table for troopo w/drawal. So yes "what does that mean" (how is that quote proof that I, Mitt Romney, supported a time-table for w/drawal). McCain lied - not the conduct one expects from an officer and a gentleman. You take cheap shots. You're not much of an officer or a gentleman eitehr, but you're a heck of a shill for the Dems.

Caption; Now if I can find some dried newts ear I'll start the brew.