Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Greetings from the desert:

I haven't been able to read the more than 500 posts here yesterday and today so if this is redundant, I apologize in advance. If you're looking ahead to Super Tuesday to speculate on each of the 22 states participating, here is a list all in one place with a delegate count.

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

As KO and others have pointed out, the country may wind up on the morning of Feb. 6th and still not know who is the favorite to take the convention nominations.

Have a great day!

to dnd, from the last thread

hi, dnd...well, nobody's perfect. Dictator? Hmmmm. I would think a dictator would have a better wardrobe, beyond that red shirt.

Hillary on CNN speaking at a Memphis Church

CNN is starting off with its Ballot Bowl 08 coverage of all the candidates.

Maxtrue...
I took the time to read it...... excellent and very well thought out....
and I see someone has already corrected your mistake..... "turd blossom" referred to KKKarl Rove....

Colleen..... you made a great post lamenting the fact that we're not talking about the issues..... Maxtrue may not be supporting your candidate of choice, but his post is very much worth reading....

Nash.... you're a rascal!..... :0)

Craig...
despite the media's efforts..... so far they haven't been able to make anyone on either side a frontrunner..... I LOVE it!

I especially love to see McCain doing as well as he's doing despite Rush Limpball's efforts.....

even the thought that that blowhard may finally become irrelevant is priceless!

Renee you are so right, I did not practice what I preached. I am going back to read Max's post to assuage my guilt.

Colleen,
"hi, dnd...well, nobody's perfect. Dictator? Hmmmm. I would think a dictator would have a better wardrobe, beyond that red shirt."

So do you think Castro's military fatigues are a fashion statement? ;-)

eprof2,
"If you're looking ahead to Super Tuesday "

I'm looking forward to SuperBowl Sunday. And after that, when pitchers and catchers report to spring training.

I'm starting to overdose on all the campaigns. But then, that's just what they wanted.... (I've got my tinfoil hat on today ;0)

A potential title of Craig's next book....

"Polls and Cigarettes: How the Media Turns You Against the Politicians"

ok, Renee and Max, I read the whole thing. As we psycho-therapists say: "thanks for sharing."

Max,
I read your long post, thanks to Renee. Us old-timers have developed a degree of trust and respect for each other's opinions. You bring up some interesting issues. But in order for you not to be a "turd blossom", it would be interesting to hear your concerns about your candidate on the same or similar issues.

Spike,
I may have missed it, but did the intrade (or some other poll) get the dems SC results right?

DND, don't blame you. College baseball started here on Friday, so spring training is just around the corner. Living in AZ, we're saturated with Super Bowl hype.

Renee,
"Nash.... you're a rascal!..'

Um, isn't that a requirement to be a card carrying Crawfordlister?

Kudos to Craig for appearing in the opinion section of the Des Moines Register today. I would link it but can't find anything using their search function on the online version. The short article is in a section called "From the Blogosphere" and the title is "Don't Underestimate Shape-Shifting Romney." It is credited as coming from the huffingtionpost.

Craig, I was kind of thinking about the very subject of this blog the other day. I wonder if the news media is building up Obama so they can tear him down later. "It sells newspapers," as they used to say in the business.

zoey----I am thinking you are from IA. as I am

Yes Chickadee, I am. So is Spike.

Oh, I see it's recipe time...

Easy Super Bowl Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

1 large onion chopped (about 1 cup)
1 clove garlic finely chopped
1/4 cup margarine or butter
4 cups chicken breast, 1/2" cubes
3 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons snipped cilantro or parsley
1 tablespoon dried basil leaves
2 teaspoons ground red chilies
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 cans (16 oz. each) great northern beans
1 can white shoe peg corn, drained

Saute onion and garlic in margarine over low heat, stirring
until lightly browned. Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer 1 hour. Stir occasionally.

zoey,
Of course the media will go after Obama, but they can't do it just yet. And when it happens it will be about "issues" not race. It will be the right wing media that leads the charge, and then the rest will follow, not to be left out from feeding on the carcas.

dnd -- here's a repost from last night (about three threads ago -- boy, people are chatty around here lately...)

Quick answer to your question....Intrade correctly predicted win, place, and show and indicated the size of Obama's lead over Clinton and Edwards...

Update: Edwards did not do well enough to get any delegates in the SC fifth Congressional District. His level of support will probably only get him 1-2 delegates at the most in all other districts and approximately the same number of at-large delegates.

----------------------
from Saturday night...

Well, SC Democratic primary was a snoozer, so let's see what's in the future...Since the Clinton campaign pulled one of the greatest political Hudini's in recent memory (you see the delegates...now you don't...oh look, there they are again!), Florida is back in play...Therefore, I'll be adding the Democratic FL futures market onto the Intrade Presidential Futures market graphs starting tomorrow.

The latest Intrade Presidential Futures Market data:

http://www.central.edu/publicdocs/01%2D26%2D08FuturesMarketGraphs.pdf

REPUBLICANS: Both at the national level and in FL, McCain took a sharp upward turn today. Also, Romney took downward turns at the national and in FL today.

Nationally, McCain has had a steady, upward trend since the first week in December. In Florida, his strength actually peaked on January 5th, but after trending downward continuously since January 18th, McCain gathered enough support today to bypass Romney today for the first time since January 23rd.

DEMOCRATS: Nothing really new today...Clinton maintains her national lead at about the same level over Obama since January 20th. As expected, Obama won big over Clinton in SC, with Edwards coming dangerously close to not getting enough votes to claim delegates.

Because it had been assumed for sometime that the Democratic primary would not be contested in FL, the market has been trading overwhelming for a Clinton win.

With her campaign putting the state back in play, we should know in about 36 hours to what extent the market thinks Obama can successfully challenge her in such a short amount of time.

For those who are not familar with political futures markets, I have written a quick tutorial at:

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

"Craig, I was kind of thinking about the very subject of this blog the other day. I wonder if the news media is building up Obama so they can tear him down later. "It sells newspapers," as they used to say in the business. -- Posted by: zoey"

They don't do it conciously, Zoey, but i've seen it happen so many times that i'll bet on it happening again. It is also happening with McCain, so maybe it cancels itself out if Obama is nominated.

Craig

Your point is well taken. Just wondering, should Obama be the Dem. nominee & McCain the Rep. which one would be the darling of the MSM?

well..ya know how it is craig.. had you said something about Bill's racism, your piece would have been insightful!

the media (MSNBC)....is trying to ram obama down the throats of voters.....i used to like him but they have turned me off him and their network .....poor craig crawford tries to state facts and gets ridiculed by morning joe crew......i wouldnt be surprised if hes not invited to comment on their shows in the future.........the race card has been media driven when chris matthews couldnt accept obama losing NH and started the bradley effect excuse....they are idiots if they think race will win him the nomination......all they are doing is splitting the dem party and give the GOP the general when we have a year when a potted plant could beat the GOP......why can news media discuss issues and records with out putting racial twist to everything

that'll help in November

"Your point is well taken. Just wondering, should Obama be the Dem. nominee & McCain the Rep. which one would be the darling of the MSM? -- Posted by: Coreen"

It'll be tough for them, Coreen, but guessin the RFK heart strings win the day

Iowans----Zoey and Spike

Why do you think that so many from IA voted for Obama and not Hilliary.

NSN goes with the underdog..until he/she isnt the underdog anymore..

Barack Obama: "The Audacity Of Hope"
Ted Kennedy: "The Propensity To Grope"

What a team!

In case anyone wants to send a card, today is Keith Olbermann's birthday. He has a few famous companions on the date:

1948 Mikhail Baryshnikov
1936 Troy Donahue
1921 Donna Reed
1908 William Randolph Hearst Jr
1885 Jerome Kern
1850 Samuel Gompers
1832 Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson)
1756 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Jamie

As to your earlier post, I agree that Obama's impressive win should be attributed to the fact that he very successfully got his voters (both black & young voters) out. But that does not fit the MSM agenda to keep controversy brewing.

I find it astonishing that suddenly Bill Clinton is now portrayed as public enemy #1, a true villain scheming to destroy a rival. This is politics isn't it, they are all in this to win.

It remains to be seen if the Democratic voters demographics continues to play out as it apparently did in SC. Don't know for sure, but if women, latinos show up for Hillary, if blacks align predominantly with Obama, if white men are divided between Hillary/Edwards/Obama, which candidate will be left standing--my instincts suggest Hillary will be the victor when the dust settles.

ut oh.. like a "brother"??? :)

i think the DNC and the whole party is way off base .......caucus and proportioned delegates instead of winner take all states prolong the primary season and cause a lot of tension in the party....in 1980 the candidates beat on each other so much they were wounded and reagan won the election.....in this election with one winning the pop vote and only getting a portion of the delagtes will keep these 3 pounding each other possibly til may or june and in a year when a potted plant can beat the GOP..we could possibly end up losing because of this stupid DNC decision to strip delegates and trying to have 4 states get all the advantage of picking our candidate.....its not helping the party or the candidates or for that matter the voters ....obama wins iowa and is only 1 delegate up......hillary wins NH and the D's are tied ....she wins nevada obama get one more D....this is stupid....he wins SC and wont gain anything ......that means they have to get meaner and meaner to try to separate themselves and all we do is give the GOP ammo to beat either one of them

Colleen,

Thank you for reading my post. With the MSM baying at the moon screaching bias and racism, I was hoping to bring it back to the pure political arena. The candidates are all political animals. They measure every little shift in the body politic

It is the extremes represented by the 527s and the more agitated followers who rant and rave. The MSM then features them because noise is more interesting than the peaceful resolution found in issues and positions.

It is rarely the candidate that is playing in the mud, but they frequently do get splashed when something big hits the muck.

"...for those who love Ronald Reagan, they have Kennedy to thank."

Craig, would you mind explaining this, please? I'm interested in hearing your thoughts here.

They have the "October Surprise" to thank!

"...for those who love Ronald Reagan, they have Kennedy to thank." -- "Craig, would you mind explaining this, please? I'm interested in hearing your thoughts here. -- Posted by: Julia"

Julia, here's how I see it -- when Ted decided in 1980 that it would be a great idea to run against his own party's sitting president (Jimmy Carter), and then, once soundly beaten in the primaries, peevishly refuse to back that president, we got one of the great ironies of all presidential history: the "liberal lion" paves the way for Ronald Reagan -- if I were HRC i would not want such poltiical genius on my side

Craig,

I honestly don't think Kennedy's endorsement of Obama is comparable to his run against and later refusal to support a sitting president of his party back in 1980. First of all, this is a competitive, open race in which lots of Dems are choosing sides within the party.

But more importantly I think -- for now anyway -- there is still plenty of room for Teddy to support Obama at this time and all the way through to November should that be the case. Or, in the alternative, to support and campaign hard for Hillary should she win the nomination. I may be wrong, but I don't think there is huge bad blood between the two. And after all, he IS the original LardAss Liberal.

SO TRUE. And you can bet that the media love fest will end as soon as Obama is running against a Republican. Then, the pampered and adored Obama will have a real battle on his hands, one that he has never seen before, what with being a media darling and running against the likes of Alan Keys for the Senate in Illinois.

I'm so much more comfortable with Hillary Clinton as a fighter than the overly protected Obama.

LardAss: "First of all, this is a competitive, open race in which lots of Dems are choosing sides within the party"

Yeah, Lard, like 2004 when Ted's political genius surfaced again -- to put John Kerry over the top in the Iowa caucuses.

If this guy has his way, Republicans really will own the White House for a generation

HRC is a centrist .....not liberal enough for teddy

Hello chrisc, zumper and other fresh faces. The Trail Mix Welcome Wagon gets a bit caught up in our little squabbles sometimes and forgets to offer a proper Howdy. Hope you stick around.

Hey...no one is trying to say Hillary should accept a ride home from a post-convention party with Teddy. That truly would be dangerous.
(Okay..if I didn't say it, Rush would have)

Man y'all, I can't keep up, remimd me not to take a day away from the computer.
Just bought Newt's book the other day, I wonder if I can write in his name on the ballot on Tuesday.

My thought on this bruhaha about BC and HRC is that most people will vote for the person that they percieve as disliked by the MSM.

On lighter note, my family seems to very popular with Romney, McCain, Huckabee and Gulianni, as I had 12 voicemails from them yesterday. Fubbyiest call came from the Huckabee camp where he stated that Gullianni was for abortion all nine months. Oh the perills of being a Florida "Super" voter.

Still standing by my prediction that Hillary will break the rule and show up in Florida before the close of polls on Tuesday.

So Craig,
What happens if Carter comes out and endorses Obama?

If this guy has his way, Republicans really will own the White House for a generation

Posted by: Craig Crawford

That works for me!!!LOL!

lol carter endorsement would be the kiss of death for obama

because unlike 1980, liberals want to win WH bad enough to hold their noses and close ranks if HRC the nominee

Orlando Magic won, for those who care. Time for a sandwich.

craig,, what does the media do if HRC wins the nomination ??? slit their wrists........especially joe scarbourough and chris matthews

Craig,
"because unlike 1980, liberals want to win WH bad enough to hold their noses and close ranks if HRC the nominee"

Agreed. Now what about independents?

What? Bill Clinton was a failure? He was one of the finest presidents of the 20th century.

Okay, speaking of Ted Kennedy, Mitt just called politely reminded me that you can tell a lot about people by the company they keep. Then proceeded to tell what good friends John McCain an Ted are.

it is dangerous for any one party to feel like they're the "natural governing party.." that's what happened here... essentially 20 years of Liberal Gov't..which wasnt so bad policy wise, but eventually, too many pigs are at the trough...

independents must decide between more neo-con country busting and the nearest democrat......if they cant see it, more neo-con fun and games......

With apologies to Santayana: Those who remember history are destined to be skeptical. And some of us recall with distaste the self-serving behavior of Ted Kennedy on more than a few occasions. There has been bad blood between the (post John) Kennedys and Clintons for years and now it seems is the time for retribution. I strongly doubt it will hurt HRC, except possibly in Massachusetts, since many Democrats over 45 have long memories.

if dems turn out in numbers like they've been turning out in primaries, they wont need independents..

ty,
"it is dangerous for any one party to feel like they're the "natural governing party.." that's what happened here... essentially 20 years of Liberal Gov't..which wasnt so bad policy wise, but eventually, too many pigs are at the trough..."

Amen!

Amy Sedaris & Dolly Parton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKeulwZ3sGE

I'm old enough to remember JFK and RFK and Obama doesn't match up to either. So how people close to those two can think he does,esp. the Kennedys, baffles me.

Ted Widmer wrote a superb article in the Washington Monthly which does a better job of skewing Obama's likeness to JFK. I can't do better.

But with respect to RFK, the main difference, as I see it, is "heart and soul". Obama crafts flowery speeches that disappear upon any close reading of them. He is a politician first and foremost who uses his rhetorical skills to win elections.

RFK was not a great orator, but he was a youngish man who grew in stature in front of our eyes. He was, perhaps, the only politician in recent history who underwent a profound personal transformation. And in his last years, one knew that he spoke from the heart, from a place deep within him.

Obama is all surface polish. RFK was real.

Don't believe me? Look for a video of his speech upon learning of the murder of MLK.

Just what the country would need... another religious freak in the white house. Mitt Romney is an example of everything that is wrong in America. Money buys elections and he has a fortune to squander. And he sure isn't a candidate of change, but then none of the Repugs are.

Same dance, different hall.

"Republicans really will own the White House for a generation"

Just as the far right overplayed it's hand to the point that now the middle class is trying to desert them in droves, the far left of the spectrum could well scare them back again before giving the moderates a chance to clean up the Bush mess, fix the Supreme court, and slowly slide left to make the gains the party desires.

The body politic prefers that the pendulum swings in a lazy fashion back and forth without enough extreme to break the mainspring. They rarely dash madly right or left in any one election unless very frightened. Now if Bush manages to get us into a full blown economic crash, the Dems will have nothing to worry about as they will just open the gate for the shivering sheep to come in just as they did in 1932

If, OTOH, it is just a downturn and the war appears to be muddling on, then they could move either way depending on which viewpoint looks the safest.

Didnt RFK stab Eugene McCarthy in the back, so to speak?

Corey,
Thank you for cutting through all the crap.

Dolly Parton '08!

My best friend in Washington state, a serious politico, says that the Clintons are what the Republicans used to be before they were co-opted by the likes of Reagan, Bush and the far right hate squad. It's his opinion that they are basically Republicans of yesteryear but with a bit more sensitivity.

I wonder if anyone has a thought on this. I'm still for Hillary but the Clintons being classical Repugs never occurred to me. Interesting theory though. It is certain that Nixon, in comparison to the vast right wing cultural assassination squad, was a LIBERAL. A paranoid and power hungry person, but he certainly did things that the pugs would consider sacrilege these days. One that pops in my mind is his directive on "prize freezes" to control inflation. I was pretty young at this time.

Speaking of Dolly Parton, her new song is AWESOME... With all the crap going on in the world today, much of it the fault of USA foreign policy, we could use a song that's uplifting and positive.

Better Get to Livin'

Corey, you know how I feel about Amy Sedaris!

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<3

*squee!*

Thomas

Clintons are more like the classic Liberals of the 1950s and early 60s - Check out ones such as Hubert Humphrey. Even JFK was hardly a liberal by today's standard though RFK ended up farther left, particularly in the area of civil rights and individual freedoms. Today all would probably be left wing Republicans or Independents with progressive tendencies.

Thomas,
Nixon's wage/price freeze was due to the misguided approach by Fed Chair Aurthur Burns. Didn't work. Carter gets props for appointing Paul Volcker who cleaned up the mess.

Nixon did go to China, and under pressure started the EPA. But by no means could be construed as a liberal.

Dolly Parton '08!

Good night all.. it's 10 pm here and I open my shop at 6:30 in the morning and I am exhausted. I'd love to keep reading but I'll check in again tomorrow (I hope)

Thanks for the replies.

Goedenavond en tot ziens.

Good night Thomas.

It's just that there is too much negativity in this world sometimes. Maybe I don't believe in anything passionately enough to get over-involved emotionally with it. I watched a show on Andre Agassi this afternoon. It was mainly on his school in Las Vegas and how he cares deeply about children. He has become a great man. Politicians could learn a lot from him.

I certainly do , Julia! :)

As much as I love Bill Clinton and the 8 years he gave me to raise my kiddos, he should STFU and write another book or something.

tt

Sam Gompers?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/01/how-the-media-destroys-obama.html#comment-20856

Old Mr. Gompers always gets laughed at when i bring his name up to 8th graders! I always get pissed when they do it!

Hips

Even Art Schlieshinger (forgive my spelling) said in his 1000+ book about RFK that there were two RFKs. A"good one and a bad one.". I think he was a good man, and lord knows we would have been better off if he had actually won in 1968 but let's not get carried away here. He was just a regular human like any of us.

-Hip

should have read 1000+ page book on RFK

-Hips

Craig:

Someone else above alluded to McCain in the thread. If you are right about Obama getting good ink, it will be interesting to see how they cover an Obama -McCain race since they think the old man can do no wrong.

At least if it is those two we will get to see old Lou Dobbs mouth pucker up 2 more centimeters.

I'm out of here for now.

-Hipster
C-lister Darling of the C-list Elite

I think Craig's next opinion will be if Obama wins the Democratic nomination, then this is evidence that the media sabotaged the Clinton campaign. They just loved Obama too much for the Clintons to overcome. LOL Aren't we straying a bit from the Attack the Messenger philosophy?

Look Craig, I don't mind that you support Clinton. But I would like if instead of giving the obligatory jokey comment after Keith introduces you, that you let viewers know that your comments are not unbiased, and that you support Hillary Clinton. Sort of like how CNBC commentators have to reveal if they have stock in a company they're analyzing. That will give people the grain of salt they need before making decisions.

Obama is going to be reeling the day the media ever gets tired of the lovefest and begins hitting him hard. He has yet to show he can take any punches at all. The few half-hearted swats at him to date have left him stammering and obviously uncomfortable when confronted, and that does not bode well. For those who think the media worm will never turn regarding Obama, you are mistaken.

Just Like Her Daddy and Worse

The Princess Royal of the Kennedy clan, who has herself accomplished nothing in life except being born to wealth and privilege, has draped her father's moth-eaten cloak on Barack Obama, who, in her father's White House, would have been a footman or cook. Say what you will about Obama, he got there himself without the benefit of a rich daddy or corrupt political machine. He may be more unprepared to be president and more disastrous for this country than was JFK, but we hope, at least, that he will be impervious to "love notes" from middle-aged political camp followers who are still trying to be influential without ever being relevant.

http://reviewofcuban-americanblogs.blogspot.com

Dnd,
I posted a reply and pointed out what Hillary's positions would be in relation to Obama. I checked to see if it was posted. It was. Then just now I see it was removed. Why?

It was a bit long and I can't repeat it now. When I have a chance.

Max

NYC

In response to the below-----did I understand correctly that Craig should have to profess that he is for Hillary. Wouldn't that be a stupid thing to do? Who with a brain does that?

Alpha1906 4:34---- Look Craig, I don't mind that you support Clinton. But I would like if instead of giving the obligatory jokey comment after Keith introduces you, that you let viewers know that your comments are not unbiased, and that you support Hillary Clinton. Sort of like how CNBC commentators have to reveal if they have stock in a company they're analyzing. That will give people the grain of salt they need before making decisions.

I would like to draw attention to day's posting and the following... the Publisher's Weekly Review of "Attack the Messenger" by Craig Crawford.

In 1988, Vice President George H.W. Bush successfully evaded Dan Rather's questions about his Iran-Contra affair involvement by going on the attack in a live interview on CBS. Crawford, a TV pundit and Congressional Quarterly columnist, identifies this event as the turning point in the media's relationship to both politicians and the nation. In this impassioned dissection of the rapid devolution of the media's power in today's political environment, he asserts that the public's distrust of the news media has reached at a high point, an issue he considers one of "the most hazardous political challenges now facing Americans." Politicians—liberals and conservatives alike (though Republicans bear the brunt of Crawford's ire)—have deflected criticism and convinced the public to blame the media.

To all the drive-by posters.. we're not idiots.. i know you think we are but we're not.. it doesnt really matter which candidate you're smearing.. the C-listers are passionate about their advocacy, but the talking-point opines you cut and paste are see-thru

So is today the "attack the host of this board" day? Problem with breeding or upbringing.....

"The few half-hearted swats at him to date have left him stammering and obviously uncomfortable when confronted, and that does not bode well." MP

uhm, I would say it boded pretty well in South Carolina yesterday.

-Hipster

boded.. great word :)

I dont think patsi was referring to you, bri..some of these posts are plants

speaking of the real lame ass media....there was Howard the Duck Fineman opining that Ted Kennedy will not endorse in the primary....that's what you get when tape the news for replay later. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

I love it when they are wrong as they speak.

there's another factor in low country SC voting this past weekend.......Bill Clinton as president closed the Charleston Naval Shipyard......that was a big deal here.....never heard anyone mention it but there are those who remember......

Anyone know the history of Howard Fineman.. i know i could wiki it, but its so much more fun reading on here..

Sturg,

Bill Clinton did not close it. Bush Administration had the list finalized before Clinton took office.....

Craig's Wikipedia Entry:

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

Did any one here write this?

-Hipster

Nash Babe!

Sharp and a thinker.

Sheila.....thank you for that.....nice to know, but most thrown out blamed it on the Clintons......

all the gender and race talk and commentary had tired me out...time for a nap on the "vagina couch", from Craigslist:

http://www.bestweekever.tv/2008/01/16/for-sale-one-large-vagina-couch-well-worn-600-bones-or-best-offer/

boded

well, Tylenol, the living Hipster (the real one outside of this computer) is known for making up words.

:-)

Hip

Sheila......the slant was that BClinton closed it in revenge for SC going bad for him at some election etc.....

Yeah....no reason to go ugly on Caroline. She can support who she wants.

Howard Fineman is a newsweek reporter and enabler of Tweety...here the boyz are a year ago.

Open Left Front Page - Thu, 12/27/2007 - 9:42am
In response to my question last night about why the national, established media likes Obama more than they like Clinton, quite a few commenters offered up some very compelling reasons. One concept I would like to think more about is the notion that sexism is more acceptable than racism in our contemporary political discourse. Or, to give a more precise thesis, long-standing sexist narratives that macho pundits have often used to denigrate not only female candidates, but also Democrats in general, are more acceptable in our national political discourse than crass, barely coded racism against African-Americans. Crass, barely coded racism against Muslims and Mexican immigrants is a different story. Talk of deporting the tens of millions of people in America who falls into these categories is quite acceptable, for example. Fascist states bent on maintaining national racial purity would be proud.

However, let's return to the original thesis. Consider, for example, that while Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi have faced countless articles about their hair, suits, and necklines this year, the Lieber-punditry produces quotes like these:
"Does he have sex appeal? . . . Can you smell the English leather on this guy, the Aqua Velva, the sort of mature man's shaving cream, or whatever, you know, after he shaved? Do you smell that sort of, a little bit of cigar smoke?"
--Chris Matthews, fantasizing about the pleasing, manly body smells of Fred Thompson.

"There is a hierarchical, there is, dare I say it, male, there is an old-line quality to them that some voters, indeed a lot of voters, find reassuring. And this is something that the Democrats need to understand"
--Newsweek's Howard Fineman, admiring the calming masculinity of the GOP presidential candidates and warning Democrats to take heed.

"What's appealing about Rudy Giuliani is not the generous side, what's appealing about him is the tough cop side.

Right. You just wait until daddy gets home.

Yes, that part...

That Daddy.

... of the daddy. It's the tough cop side, so...

Yes. Yes" -
--Chris Matthews and Howard Fineman, breathlessly sharing their excitement over the firmness of their Daddy, Rudy Giuliani.

hey tweety how's that working out for the Plunger

That plant closing sounds like "Black Hawk Down" where GHWB sent the troops in to Somalia and then Clinton took the blame when they 18 guys got killed.

-Hip

I know for a fact that in my last years in Washington, The military was already out to get him with little attacks. Because of his Don't Ask Don't Tell policy.

The military and the extreme right of the time blamed quite a bit on him.

Base closures across the board for that time were made even before we had left Kuwait.

The Draw Down had begun even before we left the borders of Iraq

http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:zrcofaIej8MJ:www.uppitywis.org/aggregator/2006/10/27/firedoglake.com%3Fpage%3D653+Howard+Fineman+bush+apologist&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=14&gl=us

The Obama campaign should be very concerned about creating the idea that he is the second coming of JFK/MLK.
From that height the only to go is down.
When people find out youre only just a politician they are going to be very disappointed.
Kennedy and MLK earned their stature. It ballsy to craft yourself as a JFK before you are even elected.

Not even the Kennedys are in agreement.
While Caroline and Teddy are for Obama Bobbys clan support HRC

Quote
"“I respect Caroline and Teddy's decision but I have made a different choice. While I admire Senator Obama greatly, I have known Hillary Clinton for over 25 years and have seen first hand how she gets results. As a woman, leader, and person of deep convictions, I believe Hillary Clinton would make the best possible choice for president. She shares so many of the concerns of my father. Hillary has spent a lifetime speaking out on behalf of the powerless and working to alleviate poverty, in our country and around the world. I have seen her work up close and know she will be a great President. At this moment when so much is at stake at home and overseas, I urge our fellow Americans to support Hillary Clinton. That is why my brother Bobby, my sister Kerry, and I are supporting Hillary Clinton."

From
http://time-blog.com/swampland/

Jack

TSL said;

""The Obama campaign should be very concerned about creating the idea that he is the second coming of JFK/MLK""

I believe you are the only ones who are swallowing that one whole. YOu are the only ones spreading it too.

Another messenger of the MSM....

((Sheila))

Hip

They set Clinton up with the fiasco at Waco as well......ATF cyborgs alerting the media that they were making a big bust out at the BDavidian Plywood compound

{{{HIP}}}

Sheila

I never understood how the Clinton Admin go the blame for Waco.. they had 53 days to come outta there..

got*

Sturg,

If Bush had been the recipiant of WACO, we would have been all over him as another Katrina.. :0)

WACO was just sad and I can't think of any other way to stop someone from buring up a whole load of unfortunate people who drank his koolaid.

So...let me see if I understand this....the naive liberal media made Obama into the black candidate and and the resulting backlash drove white voters away. But is that because the white voters hate the media, or just hate blacks?

And....the media misinterprets perfectly innocent and accurate remarks (when taken in context) by the Clintons. So, when the Clintons said Obama supported Reagan's policies, these were innocent and accurate remarks (when taken in context.)

I hope people aren't thinking that Hillary Clinton is the second coming of MLK because Andrew Young endorsed her. That would be sooo dangerous.

Craig,

Your Wikipedia entry now has a bit under "Controversy" about the Morning Joe event. You need to review it unless you were the one who put it in as you may wish to delete or expand.

LOLOLOL @ Nash! Gotta Love It

Nash.....was that you re-arranging my patio furniture?

Well, you know Waco was a disaster and Clinton made himself look bad when he let reno take the fall. One of the things i recall about Waco was there were some Republicans who were going to church with me (back when i used to go to church) and they were standing around talking about how what needed to be done was to storm the place blah blah blah

Then of course one week later they did go in and then ta-da
Suddenly the same set of old geezers were standing around talking about what a jerk Clinton was for storming in there.
Hip

Let's pick the least experience, youngest guy we can find and have him as our nominee. Great idea.
Yeah but he got a great JFK/MLK shtick going.
His act is going to wear thin very quickly.

(he meant carter)?

exactly.. and it's not like they didnt have any warning.. jeeze.. 53 days

Dex,

Bill Clinton had a failed attempt at the presidency once before he actually suceeded I believe.

Nash,

I detected more than a little bit of satisfaction in Senator Obama's speech last night when he brought up his bringing up of Reagan as a transforming figure. I thought it was more than just a good line, I thought it was a nice gesture towards folks on the other side....

Hip

TSL

Been doing the so called Shtick since 2004, I guess its catching on now...

LOL nash

Manuel

I may not agree with Caroline Schlossburg's endorsement of Obama, but she is hardly an empty fur coat. She is fortunate enough to be the heiress to wealth, but she has used that and a wonderful education to good in the world while maintaining a career, a marriage, and motherhood. We should all do half as well with the talents we are given.

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

Laugh @ Nash!

I think Clinton improved Dramatically after 1994-1995. Thats why the real liberals like Stephanopolus and Reich booked out of there and the centrists took over. He got more cautious.

Really he could have beaten Dole by more than he did in 1996 if he wouldnt have played it so safe.

Dole didnt help himself either.

Hip

You talk about the numbers of new white voters, new black voters, probably even new old voters, which way they are leaning, etc., but does anyone really believe that all of these new voters actually are coming out this year to vote and doing so because of Hilliary “Thunder Thighs” Clinton or BJ Clinton? I don’t think so. I despise the assumption from HRD from the very beginning that “this was her turn”. It was evident from day one that was her attitude, then when Obama, who is actually inspirational to not just young people but some old folks as well, got involved she got all riled up and became an attack dog (with the help of BJ). I like it when she is that attack dog because it makes her look her true colors and does not go over well with everyone. It does not make her look strong, just like a b*t*h, which I believe she really is.

that sounds kind of bitchy to me, Karo

Karolenna,

Now I a get that this is a pretty dvisive time and I believe you have seen me mix it up when Clinton supporters are nasty and mean.

However, you are that too. Clinton does not deserve the slam you just directed at her either.

AND Obama would not appreciate it either. His politics are higher than that. No matter what, be dignified when you are representing Obama. ;0) OK?

the only reason voters are turning out and there is plenty of evidence is because they hate bush and hate the war.

In Az that is what voters told the register.. none of them mentioned other candidates by name.

Since obama refuses to discuss specifics I guess he expects people to take him on faith

and my my my ....fling insults in the form of attacks on the way a person physical appearance.that certainly raises the discourse

I'm out of here for the night troops.

I have a busy, busy week ahead with two road games to coach and lots more going on at work but i am going to try to do a post about Georgia's Presidential Primary every day and i will send a link to it. Look for it early in the morning and if it comes after one of Craig's 6 O'Clockers I will repost it up top of the thread.

Its good to be back C-Listing and I hope we can all come back together and keep our passions in check. I am definitely looking in the mirror when i say that, as i have been guilty too.

I think if we long timers will take a step back and look at whats been going down we can see that quite a bit of this is being stirred by drive byers and newbies. New blood is good, maybe we can ease people in somehow by setting the good example.

I am going to try harder.

Later
Hipster
Media Darling

I don't remember saying I wasn't "bitchy"!

Craig's comments about the press are on target.
Last night's MSNBC coverage was laughable.
Although I often disagreewith him, Pat Buchanon was correct in his harsh comments about the others on the panel. I lost
lots of respect for Margaret Carlson as she castigated Hillary for not being gractious before she even spoke. Seconds later,Hillary began her speech and congratulagted Obama. The panel, then broke into the speech and criticized the length of the congratulation. MSNBC is severly tarnishing
the image of NBC News!.

Hipster
Media Darling.......LOL MY MY Think a lot of yourself?

I agree and I will try myself.

Craig-

Nice to see you on the board!

I have a question: Is there a divide in the Democractic party between, for instance, Kerry/Kennedy and the Clintons?

To me, it seems that there is one. It seems to be a difference between the elitists section of the party and the middle class section of it.

Obama certainly seems to fit in with the MA Dems such as Kerry.

Also, have you heard any rumors that Kerry may want to get back into the presidential run if Obama were to fail as the Dem nominee?

Karo
come to think of it, you didnt say you werent bitchy......you also didnt say you werent rude or goofy......

because unlike 1980, liberals want to win WH bad enough to hold their noses and close ranks if HRC the nominee

Posted by: Craig Crawford Author Profile Page | January 27, 2008 3:30 PM

truer words never written...matter of fact, almost exact words some of my liberal and half-a-commie friends are saying. And ...even I am leaning to joining HRC's camp if and when Edwards quits. Oldtimers will recall my rants how I posted ad finitum how I could never vote for Hillary Hawk, but now that the media has ended the Iraq occupation , I can stop using the war as basis of consideration. Of course I am clownin'...and I urge everyone to dig up Bob Scieffer's closing comments today to understand that the war is NOT over, no matter what "they" want us to believe.
The damn repuggs don't even want to acknowledge their OWN MAN, Bush43! They go back to invoking Ronald Reagan.
That, my friends, is old news...tell us about BUSH, how great a goddam job BUSH has done! Only Crazy Insane McCain has the fortitude to stand behind his man, the President. And if you want more of Bush, vote McCain!! DOUBLE the Gitmo capacity! Stay in Iraq FOREVER!! Borrow from China and ship 757's full of pallets of cash to Iraq to divvy-up amongst the wonderful al-Maliki and his thugs! Yea! More Bush! Return to Reaganomics! HEY! didjas see Rudy today on with Tim?? He presented his view...it's TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS revisited!!! What a bunch of GOOBERS they have running! And Romney? GUNG HO to Iraq!!! But that sonofabitch sure as hell used his bag of tricks to stay out of Vietnam when he had the chance, and certainly kept his 4 sons out of Iraq! Do I hear the faint ghostly voice of Holden Caufield??"PHONIES!!!!!"

Give it up Nash. We've been given the rules -- it's all peace and hope now. Unless, of course, that only applies to....never mind.

Hi Oregan Dem-

I completely agree with your comment on MSNBC's treatment of Hillary's speech. It was her stump speech, for sure. As you mentioned, she did congratulate Obama. What did they want, for goodness sake? Did they want her to get emotional? Did they want to see her despondent?

I liked the fact that she continued on. She came across as tough. Isn't that what we would expect from a president? Wouldn't we want the president to continue to fight while acknowledging the loss?

Karolenna,
"I don't remember saying I wasn't "bitchy"!"

Me neither!

Dexter...don't hold back, man. I sense that you're just trying to be polite in that last post. :)

Dex,
Are you and me the only ones who watch Face the Nation. Schieffer's commentary is alway on target. Especially today.

Hi Katherine,

I agree with your comment that Obama wants voters to take it on faith that he will create change.

Here is the thing that bothers me about voters who do this. Since Obama offers very little in the form of substanence, what kind of change will he bring about?

Will it be the change that I want? I do not know because he has not been specific. Furthermore, even of he can answer that question, how will he bring that change?

I do not buy into this argument that we can change based solely on inspiration.

Change occurs when a leader has the guts to fight the system. Yes, the system that is currently in place. He or she must know it inside and out because with all of the problems, there is not enough time to change the system.

In the end, he was probably the most electable. But he just had the bad fortune of getting mashed up between the gears of two historic candidacies. I thought he kind of got dissed in the last debate on that point -- like he was just the token, cookie-cutter white male, with nothing "groundbreaking" to show for himself. That was pretty freakin' insulting.

"He does syphon off votes"

Thems Politics!

Some of work, or are retired form jobs we worked at.
Ronald Reagan was an enemy to anyone who made a wage in a closed union shop. It was a difficult struggle during the Reagan years...he did all he could to demean union labor, and any power unions had. It went much deeper that the cruel PATCO firings, believe me.
And Mitt Romney is the new Reagan. Downsize, anything goes that will increase profits at all costs...people thrown out of work is de riguer in Romney's worldview.
He made a fortune in hedge funds ..so out of touch with working America it's just typical of repuggs to have a repugg candidate like him to be a favorite.
Even though we may have out differences with Obama or Clinton over hawkish war positions, they are infinitely more in-tune with Joe Sixpack and John Lunchbucket and Mary Q. Public than any of these money-grubbing repuggs running this year.
Circle the wagons, hold yer noses, whatever ya gotta do, I guess, to return the WH to sanity.
Yeah, I probably could even really vote for Hillary Clinton despite my differences on the war with her.
The Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton "dynasty " is a non-factor with me.

The registrar of voters in az is quoted as saying independents are registering to voter because they hate bush and they hate the war

and to think ti has anything to do with one candidte over another is just so miuch horse pucky. And any candidate who thinks voters only care about him or her and not getting rid of Shrubco and their enablers and thinks "their voters" will stay home doesn't understand what is happening

People are rushing to the polls because of obama.,edwards or Clinton they are rushing to the polls to get rid of Republicans.

talk about looking at everything from a prejudiced point of view.

Jan,
"the Dems who like Clinton want a meat and potatoe type of person"

Hillary is a meat an potato type of person? Really? Hard to believe.

If the dems wanted a meat and potato type of person, they shoulda picked Richardson. Or should I say a carne y patata kind of hombre ;-)

Dems need to call in Dr. Frankenstein, so they can have him create an undefeatable hybrid with Hillary's skill and command of the issues, Obama's likeability and integrity, and Edwards' basic ideology. Then they could take on all comers.

In the end, he was probably the most electable. But he just had the bad fortune of getting mashed up between the gears of two historic candidacies. I thought he kind of got dissed in the last debate on that point -- like he was just the token, cookie-cutter white male, with nothing "groundbreaking" to show for himself. That was pretty freakin' insulting.

Posted by: LardassLiberal Author Profile Page | January 27, 2008 6:09 PM
AMEN Lardass Liberal! Case of wrong time, maybe, in the end...
But John is vowing to take this to the convention, and disavowing all "kingmaker" talk.
I wish him well and certainly am for him, first and foremost.

For me, I also MUST project the likelihood that HRC or B.O. will be running against Romney.

I just cannot throw away my franchise by voting for someone like Cynthia McKinney (likely Green Party candiate) .

I cannot deal with a President Romney. I'll canvas house-to-house to stop that. Anything to prevent THAT!

...funny, in the last three months....probably even more, I have heard Obama talk a lot about health care and the economy. I'm very satisfied.

And Jan, most of us have families and are your age and above. We pay taxes. We have been near homeless because of unemployment. We have had out good times and bad. We understand your fears and we respect them.

But I believe in Barack Obama and the next Generation. There comes a time in a countries history when they change ideals because its time for new and fresh, in order to suceed.

Its time and whether its a woman or a man, I don't care. But the Vision and Ideals, I think trumps this time....and so do so many others.

respectfully,
Me

I want to add that in my opinion, Obama does not speak eloquently on these issues in the debate because he does not have experience. Experience gives people knowledge to draw from.

A perfect example was in the debate where he talked about the interest rate for credit cards. According to a Chicago newspaper, at the last minute, he was persuaded to change his vote. They say that this was a rookie mistake.

He tries to explain his vote that 30% is too high. Ok, so instead, Americans have no cap on it. Great! This is an example of where inexperience leads to bad decision making.

This will probably occur IF he is elected. He does not have the experience to avoid bad decisions when posed by elder statemen.

Dex...I have a feeling that whomever you throw your energy behind will come out a winner. And heaven help the fool that gets in your way.

A little moment for a great man.
Lee Sherman Dreyfuss served one term as gov of Wisconsin in the late 70's. The only republican politician I ever liked.
(and my college advisor)

Jan,
"I suspect that the Dems who support Hillary do not frequent these blogs because they are too busy taking care of these kitchen table issues."

I'd suspect you are incorrect, given the number of drop-in's for Hill we've seen here lately.

I'm with you that health care and the economy are paramount. I'll throw in the war too. I just don't think Hillary's plans cut the mustard. She's a corporatist. BTW, I don't like Obama's plans either. All sizzle and no steak.

I'm an independent. I understand your concerns as you present them, and respect your opinion. I just don't happen to agree that Sen. Clinton has the answers.

dnd: Schieffer kept it real at the end...his 12 minutes each with HRC and Rudy were merely a "look-at" the candidates for those without cable...but his zingers at 10:27 A.M. are priceless!!

Sheila,

I respect your opinion.

So, what do you like about Obama's health care plan? How will he help get jobs in America?

Dr. Dreyfuss died in early jan..
it posted before I could finish.

DND-

Who do you support? Who do you think comes close to answering these issues?

dnd -- "should I say a carne y patata kind of hombre "

Snort!

Jan: "I suspect that the Dems who support Hillary do not frequent these blogs because they are too busy taking care of these kitchen table issues."

Bingo. Most of the base not only doesn't read this stuff, they don't work at home or whatever so they don't see cable all day long. I've raised my kids, but things like pre-school and education are sttill very serious issues with me. First of all, I have some real problems with how children are being educated these days. Very little attention to history, civics, anything that leads to critical thinking.

Jan and others...I also think we need to broaden the perspective a bit with a reminder that any president really doesn't have the power to "get this" or "do that" without Congress. That's one of the biggest recurring jokes, I think, of how our media cover politics and elections in this country.

Fact is, the Dems control Congress right now and they're gridlocked with themselves (circa the Tom Foley 1993 era when Bill Clinton got elected). How are any of the candidates going to deal with Congress? That's what I'd like to know.

To put it more succinctly, when is John Dingell just going to go away? He symbolizes everything that's screwed up about what happens when Dems take the levers up on Capitol Hill.

its within a few sentances like CLinton's. I think both are just about on the money. I'd like a little more of Edwards. But I have a feeling Edwards will be added too.

Don't think that every thing any of the candidates give you now is written in stone. It never is, because a year from now the situation will cause if to be different.

You should be considering the wat in which these candidates are going to acheive what we need then to acieve and all three are going to be working together with the best the country has to give, no matter who is in the White House.

Its just not a one man/one woman Office anymore. That is why I am not as fearful as most. I understand that as long as a DEM gets in, the best of the best will follow.

Dex old buddy,
"I just cannot throw away my franchise by voting for someone like Cynthia McKinney (likely Green Party candiate) ."

You wouldn't be throwing away your franchise by that vote. The most important thing you can do is vote for who you think is the best candidate. Voting for the lesser of two evils is throwing away your vote, as you still wind up with evil. Allow me to quote someone who said it much more eloquently than I.

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
– John Quincy Adams

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
– John Quincy Adams

that and not being embarassed later on.

ooo LL We are on the same plain....could be scary ;0)

Jan,
"Who do you support? Who do you think comes close to answering these issues?"

Bill Richardson.

John Quincy Adams? Wasn't he into animals?

LardassLiberal: TO THE REPUGG:
When the DexterExpress is on your track, you better move your gondola, cuz we're pickin' up steam, and we're on the right track and headed for you, and we will derail the Repugg and knock him off the mountain.
"Drivin' that train
High on cocaine
Barack Obama
Don't have to watch his speed!
Trouble behind,
White House ahead
And Hillary Clinton
Just crossed my mind
Yes Hillary Clinton
Just crossed my mi-i-i- nd."
...with apologies to The Grateful Dead and with liberties taken in regard to Barack's teenage foibles...

LL,

Paleeze! he was into Dollys!

Sheila...I was sitting in DC at the time and saw firsthand how Tom Foley and his pals were literally kick-boxing their time away in the House gym while Newt Gingrich was rounding up the peasants and handing out the torches and pitchforks. And the first alignment of Dem White House and Dem Congress since 1980 just burned to the ground.

They just frittered it away.

Hey, I was on the Hill, where were you?

Dex...after reading those lyrics, I'm going to go tie-dye my white boxer shorts. Rock on!

I mean, could we have been two ships passing in the night?

I was looking for Al Gore's lockbox. Never found it.

I was the hot guy winking at you in that appropriations subcommittee hearing. You just ignored me.

I met Al Gore in the bowls of studio @ Chris' first year on TV in 1995....so long ago. I was camera #2 ;0) Pre-employment for ABC

I was busy taking notes....HEY! Were you there when Bohner pinched my bum then? ;0)

Wait. There was a typo in my last post. I meant SUPER hot guy.

Sooooo it was YOU!

once you said SUPER hot guy, I remembered very clearly. ;0)

Sheila...we should probably just go get a room and let the other posters have the blog back. :)

dnd...I posted that emotion and old horsedooty sent that Yellow Dog to bite me in the ass!
In my heart I believe in the romance of voting for a Barry Commoner or a lesser-known candidate, which I did in the past, but Horsedooty and jamie kind of turned me around on this , this election anyway, and ONLY recently.
I got chewed up pretty good here on Crawfordslist with my Don Quixote point of view and I have taken hits all over the blogosphere .

I got clobbered when I supported those who stood their ground and voted for Nader..to the point of people calling Nader voters "Judas" and swinging the thing for Bush43.
So going back to Craig's 3:30 PM post...now I am for rallying the romantics , at least this year, and sending them all to Senor Horsedooty's Yellow Dog school of Democrat Party Victory At All Cost, 2008 Election.

Jan,
You made me think (damn you!!!). Here's my revised answer, and it's sure to get all the hard left here pissed off at me. I think the best next president would be a moderate Republican. Why? Because by divvying up power, it would assure the checks that would prevent the Democrats from doing anything stupid when they are drunk on power (think of the early Bush years). My candidate: Chuck Hagel. I don't agree with him on much, other than getting the hell out of Iraq, but he's honest and works well in a bipartisan manner. And his tour of duty in VietNam has got him convinced that going to war on a whim is not a good idea.

LOLOL.....sigh....OK......LOL

dnd,

I would have had to think hard if Hagel had run....I agreed with his integrity. many on the Hill could get a clue and take a lesson from him.

"Actually I dream of being David Geffen, if you're going to dream dream for the really big bucks!"

Can't argue with that....does this mean you have a crush on Cher?

What are the names of your animals? ANYBODY'S animals?

Mine are George Jones the dog, and cats: Faron Young, Minnie and Bill. My 2-year old granddaughter Maria Irina calls and asks to talk to George.

Lovebirds are so cute! Just like when they passed notes in the pre-texting age, when dinosaurs walked the earth. (or at least stood at Sinclair Gas stations!)

There is no problem with balancing things out..except we are trying to balance out the damage of the Shrub years and
too much hangs in the balance to permit power sharing

Too many possible openings on the Supreme Court to allow
a republican in the wh

I've got an idea for a new parlor game: Name the other times in American history when this country and its future prospects were as fucked up as they are right now.
The clock's ticking...

Patsi,
I use to have a dog I named "Lefty" for Lefty Frizzell. Everybody kept asking how I knew my dog was left-handed (or left pawed).

Hmmmmm....NEVER! Beep!!!

Ecept maybe the entrance to the Depression in the Roaring 20s....

Sheila, you've WON THE GAME!!!

(I guess that wasn't such an interesting parlor game after all)

and then of course, it took a DEM to clean up the mess...

Dex,

I wouldn't exactly say, "Lovebirds", But I would say birds of a feather for sure. ;0)

Sheila,

'Hey, I was on the Hill, where were you?"

I was with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 1984 - 1987

Where was everybody else wandering around on the Metro when? :-)

Right Sheila. FDR was absolutely the closest we have ever seen to the Frankenstein-fusion I referenced above -- Hillary's skill, Obama's appeal and Edwards' electability.

Maybe we should dig him back up.

"barry commoner"

I wrote in Barry Commoner's name in 1968. My first presidential vote.

I was in our nation's Capitol from 1989 to 1997 when I left one Washington for the other.

Christ!.... I go away for a few hours and I can barely keep up with this blog....

now Craig wonders why we aren't saying welcome to the newbies.,...

because, Craig..... a lot of these people are gonna post once or twice and say seeyalater.... just like what happened with all that blow-up with Imus....
if someone posts for a few days in a row.... I'll take them as staying and shout out a howdy....

I'm telling you, we will get all three anyway. We need a huge fix and one person is not going to make a difference. Jus tmy opinion.

Lardass

I put up the answer before you asked the question. See 3:39 above. Do I get points for Psychic ability?

I agree with Renee. If Craig wants to be so welcoming at this cheap little motel, he should just install one of those vibrating beds that the newbies can feed quarters into as they please.

Then if they just check out the next morning, who cares?

Christ, Jamie. I just looked. And you're absolutely right.

I bow down.

Patsi...
3 cats...... Ami (which is French for friend), Phoenix and Cookie....

Lardass..... think I'll tie-dye my bra......

if I can find it....... ;0)

jamie,

isn't it about time to new Robin Hoods to start again? Or did they can it before the King came back?

Renee!!! TMI TMI...... ;0)

Sheila,

You are going to love this and as yet I don't know the follow up

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/aug/28/broadcasting.bbc

Theives have stolen Robin Hood!

I wasn't planning to mention it, but since Jamie listed KO and other famous b-days for January 27th, I'll remind her that she forgot to list me.

No congrats or condolences necessary, I've finally made it to that plateau, where I could start getting those monthly SS direct deposits if I wanted them. I still enjoy going to work everyday, but it's nice to know I'll still be able to pay the rent and buy dog food, even if the company puts me out to pasture. With any luck, I'm hoping to hold out until I can get the full benefit.

oooooooooooooo The Pain the Pain! Pay the ransom!

EdVB,

No Congrats my EYE.....Congratulations and Happy Birthday Friend!

Happy Birthday EdB

you cutting edge boomer you....

Sheila Waves kerchiff as Lardass rides off into the sunset.

"Good Bye".........sniff sniff...... have a good night my friend.

Now that I've frightened you. It looks as if Robin Hood will be back next week. The last episode of the previous season is on tonight.

http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/195/index.jsp

hey EdVB.....
Happy Birthday..... you're most pleasant Yankee fan I've ever known....

Rick just called..... they gave him a 2-bedroom condo.....
man.... I should have gone out there with him.....

I've decided to go with him to his conference in Las Vegas in June....
maybe some of you would like to come out at that time too.....

Dear Lardass,

"I just looked. And you're absolutely right."

Now if everyone would just acknowledge this constant state, it would save so much sturm and drang. :-)

EdVB,
Happy Birthday! For your present, I'm getting you Renee's tie-dyed bra...

according to intrade Senator Clinton is going to win big in Florida

must be because of all the racists that live there

http://www.intrade.com/jsp/intrade/contractSearch/index.jsp?query=florida

Senor Horsedooty has two dogs and una gata. the big dog is named Rance (after the Jimmy Stewart character Ransom Stoddard if The Man who Shot Liberty Valance) then we have a family poodle mix and a cat named Candy who is about 17 now. And I need to go feed everyone now back later.

yo soy Horsedooty!

Oh I almost forgot, for all you bicycle enthusiasts out there, the 2008 Ragbrai route has been released.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080124/NEWS/80123031

just got through reading Melina's latest rant over at sweetjesusihatechrismatthews.....

it's excellent......... I especially recommend it to anyone who's upset about the fact that the Iraq war seems to have disappeared from media coverage....

Shoot Sheila,

I'm watchin Robin Hood right now and they just had an announcement that Season two would be coming in April, but the web site says next month. Maybe it shows in Britain before it comes here.

While I strongly disagree with Caroline Kennedy's support of Senator Obama, I recognize that she has conducted her life with dignity. She has worked hard for admirable causes that are important to her.

Personal attacks toward her reveal much about the character of those who write such remarks.

I know I saw that,

Do you suppose they have Dubs of the footage. They would have to be pretty stupid if they didn't. Gonna lose a lot of cash if they don't get the footage back.

Vewy vewy confusing.....aren't we a year behind or have we caught up?

Thanks all for the birthday wishes and kind words. Yes, KGC, I was on the leading edge of the boomers, but I've spent the rest of my life watching the parade passing by.

RR,

My youngest is the only one of my kids living close to me. She took me to breakfast this morning, and was telling me about being at a Yankee game and being embarassed by the actions of some Yankee fans. It was a proud moment for a dad, to realize she knows the difference.

Good luck to your Pats next week. I'll be among Giant fans, with at last one Boston transplant (huge Red Sox/Pats fan). I'll confess that my main interest will be on me winning some $$$ on Super Bowl squares, and hoping it's a good game either way. I'm on a roll. Won the last week of our office NFL pool, and picked up $300 last week on the squares for the Giant/Packer game. I had 3-0, which was the first quarter and final score.

EdVB

I am just six months behind you.

Sheila,

Here is the BBC America Robin Hood website. It shows the next episode February 3. It's the best I can come up with

http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/195/sheriffblog.jsp

for some very raw political commentary see

the guy from boston

on YouTube......."Youre all thinking it, but I have the balls to say it"
--the guy from boston

Sturgeone,

Are you recommending this guy?

damn! I missed the vibratin' bed!!

KGC, I'm glad you've got your name back.

I'm still miffed by the Super Delegates.

Why did hipster change his name?

tt

WHY DO REPUBLICANS WANT TO RUN AGAINST HILLARY?
"...Why? Because there exists a vault of information American voters are not aware of concerning the Clintons — information which should have been brought to the nation's attention well before the kickoff of the 2008 presidential campaign.

The bedeviling problem is that party leaders on both sides of the congressional aisle conspired two years ago to bury the telltale documents. I'm referring to the 120 missing pages of the Barrett Report which, by all accounts from Washington insiders, former press secretary Tony Snow among them, contain sufficient evidence of Clinton misdeeds not only to furl Mrs. Clinton's presidential flag but quite possibly to send her and her miscreant husband straight to the courtroom dock. Yet the papers have lain moldering in some deep Capitol Hill tomb with no one daring to dig them up though they can be exhumed on demand by any member of Congress..."

http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080124/EDITORIAL/774081954

GO OBAMA

YES WE CAN

Anne

ooops......might should've looked at a couple more first......

Never Mind on the guy from boston......
lol

jamie.......NO

sturge, link??

tt

Quoting the Washington Moonie-owned Times? EXCELLENT.

thanks
hipster said he couldn't register under his old name
he tried but it wouldn't let him...
but glad to see him under any name
you gotta love a school teacher

ohhh the old vault story again..

I guess we should call Geraldo to open the tomb. He has such good luck with things like that.

craig..when you check in again.. any rep dustups today on Fla? Anything on the radar? I havent paid attention today..

lol zoey..and drawing warplans in the sand..

Thanks for the explanation KGC!

tt

TT.....no no a thousand times no.....a friend sent me one in email and it was kinda funny but I couldnt bring myself to put in the link because of the fouled language.....then I saw a couple more and ho boy.....and so NEVER MIND......lol

just wanted to check in Craig and say that I love your blogs today and Go Hillary '08!!!!!

I totally agree with Craig. The media has been in love with Obama since Day 1 - I have watched pretty much all of the debates and have constantly watched CNN and MSNBC coverage since the first caucus and could not believe how the media gushed over Obama and ripped Hillary! It got to the point that many of the commentators talked like Obama could walk on water! It reminded me of how the media slobbered over George W. so it scares me. Their insightfulness about what a "great guy" George W. was didn't quite pan out when he became President. And, of course, when Hillary won in New Hampshire, it was because she was calculating, used "fake tears" and, Chris Matthews' favorite, her husband messed around. (Which I guess Chris did retract.) Now, Obama's win in SC isn't because of the black vote - no, no, it's because of his appeal across racial lines. Huh? And as to who introduced race into the race, I'd say Michelle Obama's comment in her interview with Mika Brzezinski when she said, "It's time for black people to wake up and get it (that a black man can be President) . . . . " had something to do with it. And, yes, I'm a Hillary supporter. The coverage just seems to indicate that misogynists outweigh racists in the media.

Criag you were great Saturday morning. I wish they would of let you get a word in. You were right on!

Alrighty then, sturge. I trust your judgment.

tt

*comes running in at the last moment*

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EdVB!!! You're in great company...it's also my brother-in-law's b'day...though he's a bit older than you. Hope your day has been glorious!

Happy Birthday EdVB. 25 is a good age, I hear. ;-)

tt

You guys are chatty today! Over 600 posts in the last 14 hours!

I think its time for a musical interlude...

A tribute to our own Craig "Cowpoke" Crawford...

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

NEW THREAD

Interesting comments Craig.

it looks to me as if Obama has let himself be painted into a box.

It doesn't matter if press has made him a black candidate or if this has been political tricks by opponents. He has allowed it to happen. Mostly by the way he has let his people speak and the way he personally didn't step in and object to the "Clinton is racist" attacks.
Just because you have been attacked doesn't mean you don't have a choice as to how you respond.
How bad has he been hurt?
The uproar by his supporters about Bill Clinton's statement comparing him to Jesse Jackson is a good indication.
Since when did "Jesse Jackson" become a racial slur? He isn't, unless you're Rush Limbaugh or part of the 2%er on the left.
The sad fact is South Carolina politics are about race.( "who ud a thunk it") The reason Barak Obama won South Carolina is race, It is also the reason HRC came in second. Throw out the black vote and Edwards wins.

Here is Obama's box.
First, he has allowed himself to painted as the black candidate. It has happened in the last 3 weeks and he let it happen. He forgot that his message was I'm post racial and did not stop his people from engaging in good old fashion racial politics (dare i say Chicago style?)
The other Message he has lost in the noise is "I'm the candidate of the centrist independent and can work across the isle". he is now being championed by the liberal wing of the party.
That is his box. It is one that may get him the nomination but it will assure a Republican victory in the fall.

Jack

PILING-ON YET AGAIN

As happened after Iowa, Obama's expected win in South Carolina is being played by the press as a Second Coming.

The Huffington Post chortles that the big mo has passed to Obama. MSNBC anchors and panelists where giddy with excitement. The Post's Gene Robinson was hailing Obama as the nation's savior. Joe Scarborough gloated, Olbermann drooled. Russert smirked. The only one I heard frame things accurately was Craig Crawford, and Pat Buchanan.

The ultra partisan, Balz, Kornblut and Murray’s initial reports in the Washington Post were rapturous, and obviously went too far even for the Post's editor - they have since been turned down a notch. Yet they are ebullient compared to the treatment given Clinton's truly stunning and spectacular win in New Hampshire, or her merely unexpected win in Nevada.

We are seeing the same gloating and piling-on based on an expected and long predicted victory, as we experienced in the first caucus of this campaign. The palace-dwellers Balz, Kornblut and Murray, Rich, Dowd, Herbert, and the rest of the Clinton-haters, are playing this as they played Iowa. Don't be fooled.

The game is about humiliating the Clintons. All the serious people do it, after all. The Beltway millionaire palace-dwellers who write for the NYT and the Post have no concern about health care – they’re covered. Pensions? Hell, no, they’re covered. The mortgage crisis? No-no, they already own their mansions; I mean, as if!

No, the thing that concerns THEM most is that Bill Clinton, as the president’s spouse, might get to live in the White House! Now, that’s what’s really important, and that’s what’s worth the column inches.

These gadfly dilatants, consumed by irrelevances and self-regard, live a privileged insular existence, where Clinton-hating is a sport, and their promotion of a needless war, inconsequential. These vapid strutting blowhards raise a collective middle finger to a woman and a man who have dedicated their lives to social and racial justice. They bay from the safety of the peanut gallery, not a one with the gumption to enter the ring, themselves. Maybe the biggest scandal here is that an unprincipled pack of shills like this can write this defamatory bull and get away with it.

Let’s say it straight, the main threat to Clinton's nomination has never been Obama, and it is certainly not the result in South Carolina. Rather it is a rabid press core who hate her and who are willing to say anything at all to try to bring her down. So, a better tactic for Clinton supporters to peruse may be to go after the likes of Shailagh Murray, and Anne Kornblut, and Dan Balz, and Gene Robinson, at the Post. They are the ones who echo Obama's racial slurs, and write the hack pieces that infest the media discourse. And they are the one who will try to bring her down if the electorate has the temerity to go against their wishes and make her president. These are, after all, very serious people who feel entitled to make our decisions for us.

They pay no price for lying in article after article, day in and day out. Maybe it's time they did. I call upon all democrats who are tired of the hateful press coverage of Hillary to write to expose this shameless character assassination. Call the WaPo and NYT editors and publisher. Email Time Magazine. Post in comment blogs like this. Target these shills day in and day out as relentlessly as they target Senator Clinton.

After this past week watching the press covering the campaign, I've come to a remarkable conclusion about the American press. The love affair is not so much with Obama as there is a very obvious underlying distaste of the press for a female candidate. Originally, I though it was anti Clinton, but last week demonstrated a real love for Clinton...Bill Clinton that is. It is quite curious that Hillary Clinton did campaign all week as did John Edwards and Barack Obama. I'm sure Obama and Edward's wives were also campaigning as did Bill Clinton. However, the press NEVER played Mrs Edwards or Mrs Obama campaigning. They DID however, play a lot of Bill Clinton. The press chose to show Bill Clinton campaigning, rather than his wife, proclaiming he was in SC and leading the electorate to believe Hillary was doing nothing but letting her husband do the work for her. This is truly selective journalism (and I use the term journalism loosely). It reeks of gender bias. Again, it is more evidence that women in this society are not worth listening to....even when they are the candidate. Even in the debate Obama made the comment to Clinton that he didn't know who he was running against. Why, he was too busy listening to the guys talk about what the guys were saying. Hillary has succesfully been marginalized by the press...keeping this a good ole boys game, no ladies allowed. Pretty disgusting!