Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Well aware Dude!

Romney is Republican personimfied. Last night he said all the right things, Very importatly LOOKED the right way, and his family values (After a lot of primary practice) are conservative ones.

Who care if he is manufactured.

OH! and BTW WooWoo!

Listen,

This guy is not....I repeat, IS NOT unbeatable. If the three campaigns are any indication and this BLOG, Romney is going to stand for Ground meat.

I think its a blessing that Obama is VETTED now. There were a lot of subtle lies and half truths coming out ot the gate.

However, all three campaigns now know what may be ahead. They can built a defense and offense accordingly.

And no, until Super Tuesday is over, I don't think Obama or Edwards is thru.

The Only Thing To Fear Is Fear Itself.

Sheila -- I've noticed that in the MSM, plus some major online places like Salon, there are big John Edwards pieces or interviews or commentary. They all revolve around -- in almost sorrowful tones -- his important message that got lost between the two "rock stars" and how sad, how sad.....Unbelievable considering that the media hype is what got his candidacy "lost."

Huckabee kept pointing out something that is being ignored.

The invisable impact this NON-recession is making on "Poor, Middle class and Faux Rich Repoublicans".

The veil has come off and i believe we are going to see it in smaller numbers voting for the republican nominee and or crossing over in the general.

I agree Patsi, but its not over till its over. I think Edwards is going to carry this until he has a lot of bargaining power. Its interesting and kind of exciting.

We might have a convention to remember, Indeed!

I'd say Varmitt is a much easier mark than McCain. Personally, I would prefer the GOP puts up the person (among the frontrunners) who would be best for the country. Now, while I wouldnt vote for him the general, to me that would be McCain.

I think Varmitt is untrustworthy- a changling....

Just my 2 cents

-Hipster

The Comment From Romney;

"I can't imagine Bill Cliton in the White House with nothing to do."

That is the sleeping giant of the Campaign.

That has legs.

Sheila,

I'm sure the little GOP supporters fell all over themselves laughing about that one. I think they kind of opened themselves up to that one when he started making himself so important to her campaign.

On the other hand, its just more proof that a billionaire who thinks he can buy the White House can be a jerk.

Gotta hit and run troops, life calls. may check in this morning later

Hip

Hip.

Pleasure as always!

BTW,

Not just little Repub Supporters laughing, but many many many people in the Country will wince, and many will also get their dander up again.

Yep, if the Reps keeping the legs on it, its a winner for at least another two weeks and then it will pop up in 527's and email for the rest of the General season.

I agree, Sheila, that Monica will be dragged out over and over....unbelievable...because I want every accusor, including the media types -- to have THEIR sex lives dragged out.

The bigger problem for Hillary, and I've seen it in full force recently, is that she'd be running against the media. Just like Al Gore. I'm still so pissed about how the press misrepresented and distorted his image that I could spit. Of course, he still won....not that the actual votes made any difference.

Romney is the smiling face of multinational corporate capitalism, outsourcing jobs, letting illegal immigrants into the U.S. to keep ages low, and giving tax breaks to the rich. Never served in the military, and doesn't want any of kids to do that either. (Let the lower classes do that.)

Craig: you're right. How could this guy possibly lose?

Romney is NOT Ward Cleaver. He's Eddie Haskell.

Turning point of the 2008 campaign... when one of Clinton's surrogates asks if Romney wears Mormon sacred underwear, known as the "temple garment."

Just google "Mormon underwear" if you want to see what I'm talking about.

But the Clintons wouldn't do that, would they? That would be religious intolerance. They would NEVER run a dirty campaign...

If Hillary is the nominee, I think Dems want to run against Romney... This is the year that the Reps are on the wrong side of all the issues.. bring it on..

Once again the Dems in Congress have caved into Bush. The "stimulus package" ignores the lower & middle class and gives major benefits to corporations & the rich.

The Dems don't even PRETEND to have principles anymore. It's all about winning more seats in 2008.

They also know that this stimulus package is too small to have any significant effect on the coming recession. They can say, "It's not our fault."

tylenol: I agree. Romney is MUCH more beatable than McCain.

Romney will be the Kerry of 2008, swiftboated into oblivion by the Clinton slime machine.

this coming from the resident socialist...the country could do worse than Romney. Remember, he was a liberal before he was a conservative. And he cares about health care because his wife has MS. And she claims his hair gets mussed sometimes. I'm afraid Clinton (pick one) and Obama will destroy each other, leaving an open field for the Republicans to pick up the pieces. That said, I'm still hoping for a John Edwards surge. And hey, at least Romney's hair threw Edwards' hair off the radar screen.

Maybe Romney will ask Obama to be his VP.

Nash... I have watched this entire campaign unfold, from the first volly -- when -- as a matter of fact -- I heard about Obama's staffers asking the Atlantic to investigate Bill's sex life once again. The media is in love with racist charges. I saw some cheap shots like the cocaine comments -- of course, Bill was tagged as a drug runner in his own campaigns.... was that racist, aimed at a Cracker?

But a lot of the other stuff -- MLK/LBJ, voting record fairy tale....those were ginned up by the media. They were in no way racist. As far as the Reagan comments went....I almost fell off my chair when I saw the interview Barack gave.

Things have got out of hand. I have a young black friend who is a waitress -- single mother, great lady -- during the Imus mess I walked in the restaurant where she works and she'd straightened her hair. I went "Whoa!" She laughed, pointed to my very curly hair, and said "I did this so YOU would be the only nappy headed ho in this place." We yukked it up. God help us if any of the current race war seeking types would've heard the exchange.

*looks around*.. did she just call me the resident socialist? or nash? either way, I'm happy to wear the crown and sash. Romney is everything a Dem wants to run against.. notwithstanding the swiftboat experts.. I'm talking issues.. those things polsters ask about when people are on the way into the polls.. the economy, healthcare, eyerack, any issue, the Dems come out on top.. THIS year.. I hope there's some group of bug-eyed foaming-at-the-mouth operatives who are working on just how they're going to get at Romney.. but I also hope there's a group working on effective governance.. Matter of fact, I hope there's a group working along the lines of "after 8 years, you do NOT want to trust them again.."

I kinda miss applause at the debates.. no applause makes it feel like everyone's sleeping..

TY,

Colleen called herself the resident Socialist and she really is. But you can join the frey!

actually, tylenol, I was calling myself the resident socialist, but I'm proud to share that bill with the likes of you, and nash, if he chooses to join us.

The Huck should not allow himself to be filmed running in gym shorts.

And Mika should be ashamed of herself for her role in the Bickersons

ahhh.. damn.. I dont get to wear the crown???

Romney is just a smarter version of Bush. Same ideas, but without the incredible incompetence.

So we'll have bad policies, well executed.

ya know.. more often than not, I watch cable news and think "what makes THEM think they're qualified to analyze?" then I realize.. *sheepish grin* that THAT's what we do every day here.. oh well..

Ty,

You can be the resident Canadian Liberal? Or you can be the snarky Theology Student. I like that one better.

I am not a socialist. I'm a Groucho Marxist.

damn... i've got six minutes before I have to go..and it's cold.. and snowy..and windy.. anyone feel sorry for me yet?

hahaha.. canadian liberal..that's redundant..

Cyburn just said the Hucksterbee brought race into the race...and dipwad Mika completely ignored him and tried to blame Clinton

and fortunately Shuster asked him about it

but he lays it very clearly at the feet of Huckabee
and is telling the maroons at msgop to STFU

I'm in Michigan with a fire going....so sorry. ;0)

The sun is barely up and we already have a quote of the day:

Nash: "I am not a socialist. I'm a Groucho Marxist."

All Canadians are socialists.

The SOBs think that health care should be provided to everyone, at government expense.

What madness. Don't they understand how wonderful the free market is?

*shows off her medicare card*

Nash: Our Resident Snark ;0) I have missed you.

Fort Fairfield, Maine, this AM. 40 degree below zero.

It's called Fort Fairfield because it's right on the Canadian border and we once wooden fort there during the "Aroostook County War" when the USA was at war with Canada.

If we had lost, I'd be a Canadian.

On MJ, there was a discussion of how Romney does not perform well under pressure. I have noticed that numerous times. We all know Hillary can handle pressure. The general campaign will be all-out war. If the Dems can push Romney 'over the edge' just once into a meltdown, that could be the end of Mitt. People want a President who can deal with the pressures of the office.

um.. nash? you DID lose..

and sorry about burning down your whitehouse

Meat Cleaver? I mean , MITT Cleaver!

ok.. I've put it off as long as I can.. pass me my parka, scarf, polar gloves, my russian hat, when it's this cold, fashion goes OUT the window..

Not that simple GORDO. The way in which Romney is pushed over the edge will be more important. If he melts down over an issue that is dear to a republican's heart, it will endear and solidify Romney.

If he melts down over an issue or find that makes him look dirty or incompetent, then we may have legs.

All depends.

Sheila: When are you going to write a Crawfordslist cookbook?
With such recipes as...
-Colleen Cuisine
-Sweet and sour tylenol soup
-Hamburger Patsis
-Katherine Graham Cracker Cobbler
-Corned beef Nash
-Fry-ed Gordo
and for Craig...
Fried Baloney sandwiches

LOLL Wa Wa!

Nash, thats cute!

Except for Craig;

Fried Baloney Sammich!

" The way in which Romney is pushed over the edge will be more important. If he melts down over an issue that is dear to a republican's heart, it will endear and solidify Romney. "

Very smart thinking Sheila. Something I hadn't considered....

Why Thank you Patsi,

just thinking strategy, passions, and Tactical response. Always a good indicator of the possible scenarios.

The Clinton attack machine will eviscerate a smarmy flip-flopper like Romney.

And they'll be able to do it even more effectively since Romney won't be able to play the race card like Obama has.

Robert Reich is my hero.

Even HE has something to say about his old boss.

Bill Clinton's Old Politics.

http://robertreich.blogspot.com/2008/01/bill-clintons-old-politics.html

Tiptoe is in the comments section!

You may not like the Drudge Report, but who else is reporting this story?

http://www.drudgereport.com/

**INTERNET EXCLUSIVE Photo surfaces of smiling Clintons with Tony Rezko... MORE... Clinton injected the indicted developer's name this week in heated debate with Obama: 'I was fighting against those ideas when you were practicing law and representing your contributor, Rezko, in his slum landlord business in inner city Chicago'... Clinton tells NBC 'TODAY' show on Friday: 'I probably have taken hundreds of thousands of pictures. I don't know the man. I wouldn't know him if he walked in the door'... Developing...

Horse Race!!!!

Taegan Goddard's Political Wire

Reuters/Zogby Poll: Edwards Making Gains in South Carolina

Yesterday, we noted a couple polls that showed John Edwards surging in South Carolina. Today's Reuters/C-Span/Zogby poll finds even more proof.

The survey finds Sen. Barack Obama leading with 38%, followed by Sen. Hillary Clinton at 25% and John Edwards at 21%.

Said pollster John Zogby: "The real movement here is by John Edwards, who is the only one who continues to gain ground in our three-day tracking poll. His increase appears to be coming from African American voters who are slowly making up their minds."

The State: "Watch John Edwards. With only a day left before Saturday’s S.C. Democratic presidential primary, the former U.S. senator from North Carolina and S.C. native is making a move."

Fry,

Link it! How long have you been a member here? ;0)

lolol Sorry! Not enough coffee!

Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and Beaufort SC have a 30 to 40% chance of rain for Saturday. The rest of the state will experience a partly cloudy day. Average temperatures will range from, low of 28 to a high of 49. This should benefit Hillary.

Well my dear,

You have the scoop of the day! It may be innocent, but so was Obama....

Sheila,

You are so eager to jump now aren't you. lol As to the linking thing that all depends on who is posting. I have taken the jamie approach to things, I post it you prove it is wrong. lol Really that is what she told me several months ago. Don't know where you were, probably out on a secret mission ;-), or jet setting somewhere with the rich and famous.

A a matter of fact, I'd say that Clinton Rezko picture would be on the same line as Bush/Abramhoff. Could have been innocent, but will definitely slime Clinton to a certain degree.

Fry my dear, I was slaving away at a hot stove in Palm Beach for the last two months. before that I was slaving away at a hot stove in Detroit. Before that I was taken by a cute guy for a ride. lol I have a week off. Let me bungle, I'm tired. ;0)

Sheila,

No, I was thinking more like Jorge Cabrera, a drug smuggler who has emerged as one of the most notorious supporters of President Clinton's re-election campaign.

http://www.redicecreations.com/article.php?id=390

LOL. Just typical politics.

Wow.....talk about Karma.

Slimed by Rezko picture and Mocked by Rmoney in 24 hours. What a horse race.....

Whoever said pictures were worth a thousand words really underestimated their wealth.

LOL I don't want to laugh, but wow. Fry......what a Friday on Trail Mix.....Its time to VETT Clinton again I think.

If you found this, then Obama's people have had it for a while and have chosen not to use it.

That's a thought.

Sheila, I have given up cigarettes and tracking polls for this campaign. Don't forget Zogby's last prediction in a primary (NH): Obama +13.0.

Craig,

This going to be the weekend of Legs. what is going to carry over into next week and what is going to die a death of "Been There Done That.

We'll see. But Fry, thanks for the heads up. We all can ingest this and put it in perspective before the first srtike. ;0)

In case you didn't get an answer about the Kansas Caucus Rules, here is a site that might help. Today appears to be the last day to register, but at least you will have a contact for questions.

http://www.hutchnews.com/Todaystop/caucuses2008_01_21T21_33_26

{Chuckle} Ok Craig, just don't give up food for now! Enjoy. ;0)

Repuglicans are the party of hate.... They hate gays, they hate the poor, they hate the minorities. They hate anyone who doesn't follow their doctrinaire right wing, fundamentalist agenda. They are anti-privacy, anti-choice and anti-worker. The Repugs often like to say they are "pro life"... Sure they are from the moment of conception to the moment of birth. Then you're on your own... baby... and don't think of asking for welfare, and don't get a job. Women belong in the home taking care of their babies.

Repugs are POD PEOPLE. They talk and talk, but have no soul.

Just go to Google and query Jorge Cabrera under images. You'll find all sorts of pictures the Clinton's I know they just as soon forget ever existed. There is also a picture of Gore with Cabrera. They really mean very little other than they donated to the cause and had their picture taken with the principals. Obama's picture is a little different in that the law firm he was working for represented Rezko.

Brilliant, Craig!!

If I can't have Rudy which is looking more and more like it, then I will have to cringe and accept Romney - unless Obama gets the nomination and then I will go with him. I guess I am just a sunshine patriot but then things are so discombobulated this election round that if I want to vote at all I have to choose a side.....any side - how many folks are on the Titanic with me?

One thing to remember. Both Romney and McCain are very bad debaters while all three potential Dem nominees are excellent. Whoever the nominee for the Dems, they will almost have to be careful not to look as if they are dining on Republican red meat so as to not stir up sympathy.

Obviously Thomas doesn't recall the early years of segregations, and what party lead the way to end it. It sure as hell wasn't the D party.

Sheila...The Repubs would probably stay with Romney, even after a 'Mitt-meltdown'. But maybe the "soft" Repub-leaning Indies would just sit out the election'.

Jamie,

All 3 D nominees? You mean 2 don't you. Edwards is done, as in finishes, as in kaput, as in yesterday's leftovers.

Paul Krugman on the "bi-partisan" stimulus package...

"Specifically, the Democrats appear to have buckled in the face of the Bush administration’s ideological rigidity, dropping demands for provisions that would have helped those most in need. And those happen to be the same provisions that might actually have made the stimulus plan effective."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/opinion/25krugman.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

Blah.... there was a time Repugs stood for high ideals yes. lately they stand for greed. They are the power junkies, the money junkies, the judge and jurors of everyone who aren't them.

And actually the party that lead the way to end segregation, as I recall, and I am sure I am MUCH younger than you, are the Democrats... Wasn't it President KENNEDY who pushed enforced anti-segregation measures? Wasn't it the student movements and the civil rights movements that demanded these changes? I may be wrong, but I doubt Rosa Parks was a card carrying Repug...

Patsi
on the Kansas caucus from the Lawrence Journal world

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/politics/elections/2008/president/kansas_caucuses/

jack

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls/
has McCain leading in every major poll.

Thomas,

The first act of Equality in this country was the Emancipation Proclamation and the was Abraham Lincoln. The First Republican President.

I am so over this though. Its ham and eggs. Both parties have flip flopped so much over the years, that the point is just moot!

The important point is who is going to save our country from total ruin.

"THAT's what we do every day here"

Tylenol,

We do it better.

Hey Fry
the leader in your party is a hedge fund manage

nash there was a time when DEMS were DEMS... they stood for something. They are so afraid anymore of doing anything really significant to help the common people that they are pretty close to the Repugs now, except on social issues. It should be noted that the United States after WWII devised a way to strengthen social harmony. Basically the reds were tossed out and the two CAPITALIST parties were the ones that would co-exist as "loyal opposition" to each other. The formula for post-war America was a simple formula:

Expansion abroad + growth at home = unified interests.

Unions were finally recognized but they had to purge communist and socialist members. Instead of debating what America would be in the post world war era, the unions were recognized only so far as discussing wages, hours and working conditions. Of course once Vietnam was lost, American capital panicked as they could no longer count on creating little juntas through military excursions in order to ensure "expansion abroad" Thus, the deal was DONE and since then we have witnessed the attacks on labor unions and the working classes.

So basically, Repugs and Dems economically speaking, followed a similar model. The Dems mostly wanted to redistribute wealth to the lower classes and the Pugs wanted to redistribute wealth to the upper classes.

Does any of this matter?

Back in my more radical days we had this saying... What's the difference between a radical, a conservative and a liberal?

Say there was a concentration camp in your "neck of the woods.".

The RADICAL would do EVERYTHING possible to destroy it.

The CONSERVATIVE would "stay the course" and let things evolve ever so slowly.

The LIBERAL would make sure the prisoners could get Starbucks coffee.

Cheerio...

Oh and this is a free write, so .... so what? I don't know... I am tired.

How's this for a house rule, Sheila? Every time someone cites a poll, they must include at least the leader's astrology reading for that day. So, for you're Zogyy SC reading:

Barack Obama's -- (Leo, August 4, 1961) astrology report For January 24: "Check your bank account, or any other financial instruments make sense -- you need a top-down inventory of your fiscal health and you've got the right mind-set to take care of it without raising your blood pressure."

-- Source HuffPollstrology
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/24/candidates-huffpollstrol_n_83038.html

SC Report

Last night in Oconee County, SC (which is the next county over from me- about 10 miles), John Edwards made an appearance at a hospital and talked about health care. he drew a big and enthusiastic crowd.

This is in the upstate, which is where Edwards is from.

I'm Aging Hipster for Trailmix.

Back to you, Craig.

Yes Sheila I agree about Reconstruction and Abraham Lincoln. It is telling that the "Dixiecrats" abandoned the Democratic Party after Kennedy and Johnson's work on ending segregation and Johnson's "Great Society".... But in modern times, the REPUGS truly have been nothing but repugnant. Bringing the Moral Majority types into government was a defining moment for me. Anyone remember that idiot James Watt? He was the Interior Secretary under Reagan I believe. Anyway, his thought was, facilitate as quickly as possible, the demise of natural resources and clean air, as it would cause the Rapture to come sooner and the followers would be back with Jesus.

after a little surge in the polls Shrub and the goopers who enable him have returned to their rightful place in the opinon polls. Americans have only contempt for
Bush and the republicans who love him

On Cabrera,

The money was given to the Dem Nat Party not the Clintons. Part went to the Bill Clinton and Part to Gore.

Once the source was determined, the money was returned. It won't keep the Republican slime machine from using the old bucket of goo they keep in the basement.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D05EEDA1331F93BA35756C0A96E958260

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07E3D8123DF937A35757C0A961958260

Craig, I am also a LEO, 6 August... and that horoscope is AWESOME! LOL! Hmmmm Obama is a Leo... I might have to .. oh never mind.

and to balance your McCain poll report, Fry Daddy:

John McCain's -- (Virgo, August 29, 1936) astrology report for January 24th:

"You may not have been expecting it, but you get noticed by the right people for your recent hard work. There's no telling exactly what will come of it, but it really can't be anything but positive."

WOW Craig Thats a little spooky!

I think horoscope watching would be a great way to follow the last weeks of the primaries. ;0)

Sheila...There might be nothing more than a Rezko/Clinton photo. This could force the Clinton campaign into describing the long term relationship between Rezko and Obama. House, etc. Could be bad news for Obama.

Craig, congrats on not smoking. It's hard to stop, but it's worth it. Don't go back!

Oh My!!!

Romney and I are both Pisces. Don't let that man anywhere near the White House ... no no no

Fishy is squishy.

He isn't flip flopping on issues. He believes both of them, together at the same time, while changing his mind so that he can believe in three things at once.

following the huffopo example of polls and horoscopes.. and the Keith number is pretty funny too.

I am glad the media can make fun of itself.

Funny you mention greed and Kennedy in the same post. Old Joe, there was none greedier.

Rosa Parks. Now lets see Rosa Parks, was from Alabama. The governor of Alabama in 1955 when she wouldn't give up her seat on the bus was who? Lets see, oh yes, Gordon Persons or James E. Folsom, both were Democrats. Now just so you'll know, most states in the South from the Civil War onward to the to the 1980's all had D governors.

But GORDO if you go and read my posts on fact checking the REZKO nothing with Obama, you would know that its a non story. He's innocent.

But thats a moot point too. He's already tainted and its an up hill battle to peel the lie back when so many people don't want the truth.

They want to deliver a blow to injure for their candidate.

I'm afraid, Clinton's Karma may suffer the same fate. That is why its so sad. Neither one of them deserve this.

The Republicans gain of of The DEMS stupidity....and that goes for surrogates and supporters alke.

front page in the Bay area

Obama urged to renounce groups' ads
Carla Marinucci,Joe Garofoli, Chronicle Political Writers

Friday, January 25, 2008

(01-24) 18:18 PST -- Illinois Sen. Barack Obama - who has criticized Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards for benefiting from "independent expenditure" and political action committees - is taking heat because some of the same kind of organizations are now spending money, organizing and putting up TV ads on his behalf in the Bay Area.

Another history lesson from Fry....

such utter non-sense.

Tell me Fry, why did all those segregationists start leaving the Democratic Party in the mid-60's???

....and what party did they run to???

So silly, Fry. You are smarter than that.

-Hipster
Lived in Mississippi for 33 years

Thanks for the Kansas info, Jamie and Jack!

You know Fry, we all love our country, and I know you do to. I really do mean that. When you take history and come up with disingenuous nonsense like that, you really are doing a disservice to people, especially younger people who don’t know.

C-Listers aren’t stupid, and you aren’t either. We all know about Nixon’s 1968 Southern Strategy and how LBJ laid it on the line for civil rights, saying, when he signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, “Well, I just lost the South for the Democratic Party for the next generation.”

That’s just shameless to pull that stuff.

-Hipster

JoeCHI Says ---
"The Clinton attack machine will eviscerate a smarmy flip-flopper like Romney.

And they'll be able to do it even more effectively since Romney won't be able to play the race card like Obama has"

And HRC does not Flip Flop... Oh My.. Do not throw stones in glass house..

" I have taken the jamie approach to things, I post it you prove it is wrong. lol Really that is what she told me several months ago."

Fry,

I have never said any such thing in my life. I've scolded you for cut and paste rather than providing links. I've requested mainstream sources or provided them myself when what you posted was from some right wing garbage screed.

Hip,

Fry was reacting to a charge by one of our other people that basically only the DEM Party was civil rights through Kennedy.

But really, the way that both parties have flip flopped by neccecity and by choice, makes the whole arguement moot.

So, everyone go to their corners. There really is no defense when the injustices and the courage displayed by both parties are really a tie game.

Ping Pong,

When are you coming back to the hills? Got a candidate over on the GOP side?

-Hip

And My Statement goes for the entire history of both parties.

Now that Grandpa Fred is out of the race
where are all those bottom feeders like Mary Matalin going to work

Barbara Comstock Scooter Libby fundraiser and
sleazoid speaking about what a great guy Romney\
is

aren't people known by the company they keep

Fry,

"Thomas doesn't recall the early years of segregations, and what party lead the way to end it. It sure as hell wasn't the D party."

1850 - 1900 Whigs and Republicans

Philosophical turn over involving Progressives

1930 to Present Democrats

You will get to 21st Century eventually.

LOL Point to Jamie for Snark!

I have given up polls too.. but not cigarettes.. how can I see myself in one of those smokey backrooms practicing my arm-twisting techniques if i give it up??

Ty,,

YOu could always suck on a Telly Savalas Tootsie Pop.....Besides that flavor becomes intense once your taste buds and nose receptors heal. lol

um.. I'm not suckin on NOTHIN in one of those rooms!

Obviously Hispster is a product of he public school system. You can't "f"ing read. Mississippi. Lets see what are they famous for in the 50's and 60's. Mississippi burning comes to mind. Good old boys, real red neck types, KKK. apparently no one went anywhere as the red neck racist types retained control of most Southern states until the 80's. The red neck D governors hated JFK. Who was that "f"ing moron from Georgia who use to carry a ax handle, oh yes how can we forget the always lovable Lester "The Ax Handle" Maddox. Governor in the mid 60's, well for one thing this segregationist stayed in the D party as did most Southern Governors.

Actually Fry
they were jus early Reagan Democrats..the folks you are so proud of welcoming into the party
We don't want them...you can have them

Fry
According to McCain he has not changed his position on immigration.

Corey,

That show is on the Canadian Channel. I get it on Comcast and may have to check it out.

Sheila..It can be guilt by "association". Obama has much more "association" with Rezko than the Clintons ( maybe only a photo ) - unless there is something we do not know about.

heh heh

Cool down daddy-o

If I were from SC, I wouldnt be slinging mud around about school systems.

-Hip

A fun with polls observation from my morning readings
Over a TPM In their general news headlines
"SurveyUsa: Obama Winning Latinos in SC"

When I read it I had a little chuckle and muttered to myself "sure all 3 of them"

I followed the links through to the Poll
http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=b85d0bd9-8207-4256-a67c-9a31b002b0b0&q=44162

and looked in the numbers.
Turns out I was close to right.
Of the 685 likely democrats 1% were Hispanic.

So he got 4 instead of 3
I am sure this is a major trend across the nation:-P

Jack

Watch out for Romney?

Craig is always one step ahead of other political analysts.

95% of MSM "analysis" is just repetition of the same conventional wisdom talking points.

It is Friday, time for the eagle to fly. Time to pay the staff. opps I'm late. No telling what damage they'll do if I don't get there before 12. Can't expect much as they are all products of a public education. Go figure.

Gordo

On one of yesterday's threads I laid out the reason for the Obama relationship to Rezco and the Clinton relationship to Wal Mart.

They both made mistakes in order to have power and money behind social activities in which they believed. Obama for low income housing and Clinton for Childrens health care and education.

When it comes to politicians, there is always more than enough mud to go around. I doubt any of us could withstand a microscope examining every aspect of our lives.

Aging Hipster, thanks for the SC Trailspotting: http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/01/romney-is-no-joke.html#comment-19144

Is McCain broke or does he think it's funny to use the old 527 Kerry windsurfing ad and put Romney's head in its place?

Romney is no joke.
But the Goopers support for a war people hate isn't going to help him

especially a guy with five sons who equate patriotism with riding around with the Mitt mobile

also these lame jokes..obiviously released for remaking his image...the phone call to Schwarzenegger --wonder on Ahhnold feels about being portrayed as a drunk

and if a Democrat has done that who let the dogs out
on MLK day we would still be hearing about the horror of it,

Fry,

Read what I wrote. You just proved my point.

You have no idea what you are talking about- starting in 1973 with Bill Waller and right down through William F Winter and Ray Mabus, the governors were more and more progressive until the old guard took back over under Kirk Fordice, a reactionary Republican with White Citizen Council ties.

Now just calm down there. I know all that KP duty you did in the service trained you to turn all hostile….

And no I didn’t read the earlier thread that apparently provoked you. I just know you don’t know very much about analyzing history.

Hipster
Honors Graduate
University of Southern Mississippi, 1994

Im sorry fry left. I was wondering if was

"Home Skeweled"

You are welcome Craig

-Hip

Romney wanted to know what Bill would be doing if Hillary wins.

That's easy...supervisor of White House Interns.

Text message: SLMBR PRTY TONIT AT BLLS CRB

BTW

Any of you who might be near Dowagiac, Michigan, there is a lovely little lady on my blog page who needs a home.

http://jdurward.blogspot.com

LOLOLOL Gosh Hip...

Shoot from the Hip way don't you....Wa Wa!

mornin' all.

Craig, great column this morning. We dems need to be reminded that we don't have a monopoly on knowing what the electorate will do.

nash, Eddie Haskell? He just looks like Ward. Great characterization - you've got me LOL.

It was apparent to me last night that the Repugsfear Clinton and don't want to run against her. I imagine theirinternals tell them that Obama isan easier target in Nov., sothey've decided to run against he now in the hopes that she will lose on SDT and they will have Obama as their opponent in Nov. Or not.

Oh, and oh please, oh please, oh please, may the polls be right and Rudi's campaign is dying a slow death in FL. The weasel needs to be out of the race.

Well, I've got a lot to do- check in later when I need a break from real work.

Sheila,

:-)

C-Listers

If Paul has money left, does he become a factor in the race once Huckabee and Rudi are gone?

-Hipster

KCG,
I think McCain has not changed is feeling about the Individual Illegals, but has changed his agreement to enforce the laws. I think this shows a soft side for McCain.....

Hip,

Paul has not delegates....does he have endorsements? I think not.

The only advanatage he has is a growing passionate group of supporters. he could endorse one candidate, but I don't think so. ;0)

Good morning all, I agree Jamie. Okay Clintons, let those without sin cast the first stone. Unfortunately, when one rises to power in local or federal politics the money interest and the private power brokers always exert power by making campaign contributes. This is the ugly side of American politics. The rich and other interest groups donate money in order to become power brokers. There is no other way to eliminate this influence unless there is public financing of presidential campaigns.

Since we the people own the airways, allow the candidates free access. Secondly, require a minimum deduction on tax returns. Unless we are serious, we will continue to have power brokers like Tony Rezko and that person name Jack. In fact, NBC news is reporting there is a picture of Hillary and Tony Rezko. Obama understands this, which is why he is in favor of publicly financing presidential campaigns.

Cheryl,

There is a copy of the picture on Drudge right now.

McCain Says He Has Not Changed His Position On Immigration

Earlier today Victor Davis Hanson wrote that conservatives are starting to warm up to John McCain due to his "changed views on closing the border," etc., via Instapundit:

McCain is starting to show a certain attraction to many bedrock conservatives that must be based on his war record and service, and this trumps their worries about his less than conservative fides — or at least allows them to accept McCain's won't-make-that-mistake-again changed views on closing the border, tax cuts, etc. Privately many conservative voters have looked at the polls and know McCain does best against the Democrats.
But, Victor Davis Hanson must have missed the John McCain interview last night after his big win in South Carolina.
This is what Senator McCain told Sean Hannity:

Sean Hannity: (To Senator McCain) Do you think your willingness to change your position towards securing the border first helped a lot?

John McCain: Actually, I didn't change my position...

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/01/mccain-says-he-has-not-changed-his.html

you can hear him in his own words

The MSNBC politics page is better than their coverage. About the middle of the page is a nice candidate's positions matrix you can play with

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032553/

Thanks Shelia for the tip. Interesting picture. Looks likes a fund raising photo to me. The only way to eliminate the Tony Rezkos’ of the world is publicly financing presidential campaigns.

'scuse me, a quick rejoinder. Fry, you ignoramous, the south is not living in the 50s & 60s. The southern Dems of the 50s - 80s WERE racist as hell. They were the southern "states rights" (read - pro segregation) governors in the states and the Dixiecrats in DC, and fought federal influence in the states tooth and nail. It had nothing to do with federal control and everything to do with maintaining segregation, and they were Democrats of convenience, right up ountil the Dems got all socially liberal. But they did go somewhere - to the GOP. Now the ignorant rednecks that supported them have viable Repug governors, reps and sens. behind whom to throw their support, and they do so. The Jeff Sessions, Haley Barbours, Trent Lotts and their ilk are the direct political descendants of the George Wallaces and Lester Madduxes of the south during desegregation, put into office by the same voters and their redneck kids who became the Southern Republican support base in the late 60s and thereafter. It's a wonderful legacy for the GOP to claim. And before you get too smug, remember that Birmingham and Atlanta have both elected black mayors multiple times since the early 80s, and they were all Dems.

Hipster, It is to Darn cold up in them thar hills for a lil florida person !!
But maybe sneek up in a March !!!!

Of Course this has been a warming and lately hot sight !!

The problem i have with public financing of campaigns is that it is unfair to third parties and it means your tax dollars are going to go into the pockets of politicians you don’t agree with, whether you are Democratic or Republican. What about ….say…Libertarians or Greens? Don’t they end up getting shut out?

I’d like to know how it would work.

-Hip

Ping Pong,

It was 9 degrees this morning.

You are going to have to come up here and break bread with me. We can prove red staters and blue state minded people can be friends.

Lets shoot for this Summer.

-Hip

Tell it all Pogo, tell it allllllllllllllllll!!!

out for a bit

-Hip

Not really, Redst3, you could come up with a system that says anyone who gets a certain amount of signatures, say 15% qualifies. In fact, I think it would have the opposite affect. It would allow more Libertarians and Greens' voices to be heard. As for as contributing to those you do not agree with, I would say tolerance is what makes our system great.

I agree Hip.

The only problem is the lack of limits on the raising of monies.
If the country capped every aspect of where it could be spend and "WHEN" the illegal crap could be kept down to a minimum.

And while we are taling about it. Since the largest cost (besides pay for campaign staff) Is media time, lets cap the spending for that to ensure that All media outlets provide air time for free during a certain time span Only.

Lets get rid of 527s again or limit them to PSA's only.

then lets limit the campaign time completely.

the only ones that are really reapping the benefits are the Media outlets and they have lobbiests too......

msgop edits their web page to fit their notions of reality

http://www.wjno.com/pages/spotlight.html?feed=244038&article=3190174

well it certainly will be a new republican party

no one wants to run on the republican record

Weldon won't be seeking re-election

Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.) will be announcing his retirement today, according to a GOP operative, becoming the 25th House Republican not to run for re-election this election cycle.

Weldon, a physician, was elected in the Republican wave of 1994 and has maintained a solidly conservative voting record throughout his seven terms in Congress. Holding a seat on the House Appropriations Committee, he played a key role in securing funds for NASA’s budget – a major issue in a district that's home to the Kennedy Space Center.

His retirement is the second in as many days; Rep. James Walsh (R-N.Y.) announced his retirement yesterday, opening up a seat that Democrats are aggressively contesting.

Craig,

Here comes the 11th hour Save;

"Clinton seeks to smooth relations with Obama"

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/01/clinton_seeks_to_smooth_relati.php

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former President Bill Clinton said he might have gone too far in attacking Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton saidFriday, adding that both Democratic U.S. presidential campaigns should focus on issues

Obama took his negative ads off in SC too

Craig

Some compare and contrast

They both have purty hair.
But with Reagan one could always imagine a Cowboy hat on him and see him riding to the rescue.
Romney, so far has come across as an east coast used car salesman. Eddy Haskel in other words.
And the east coast image is a liability any points west.

They are both conservatives in a state with a reputation for lunatic left politics
Reagan had a reputation of confronting the Berkley liberals.
Romney has a reputation of working with Teddy Kennedy.

More later, as I think of them.

Jack

Sheila,

The only problem with the free air time is that often the only thing that keeps radio stations from going broke is regular election periods. They would need some form of compensation since by current law they cant reject political advertisement and must bump their paying advertisers in favor of the politicians.

Even in the largest of markets, there are usually only two or three majors that can demand huge sums for commercials based on their ratings. The rest hang on by their fingernails or get bought out by the majors.

One of the reasons programming has become so vanilla and top 40 is that U.S. law now allows one owner to have multiple outlets in a market with radio, TV and local cable. It really is a shutout of truly interesting programming and the sad decline of radio.

Jamie,

I agree with your analogy, but its limited when thinking of the power of the people.

What do you hate the most about campaign season? The commercials. Limit the the number of times a commercial can be aired.

And for the Radio stations. Allow them to reap benefits of the season, however not off our backs. There is a limit to what a person accepts as enough or too much.

Then cap the costs. I know for certain that TV adds for Candidates have soured to Super Bowl statis. its ballooned as much or more than 6 million for one add. That doesn't include the air time which has quadrupled in costs since 1999..

If you could nudge your colleague, Marie Horrigan, over at the article on "Kucinich to Drop Presidential Bid to Focus on House Primary," somehow you have been able to get 125 comments in this morning, while none have been published to her article. The reality is that morning traffic is the prime time to have reader conversations via comments, but not when comments are not published, or published hours after having been submitted. Thanks.

KGC

You have to wonder who did the whispering and who it was directed toward. I remember hearing it and wondering if it was a pick up from an ear piece. The question being whose?

Nevertheless, Jamie the radio stations and tv stations do not own the airways, we do. Stations are only granted licenses from the FCC for a certain amount of years. Why not require them to give a certain amount of hours for political debate as part of the license. This would eliminate the need for candidates to buy costly airtime. It is not about how much money they make. We the people through our government own the airways. It is not all about the free market Jamie.

Now I don't know what the average cost this year are. That figure was back when i was producing during the 1999 primaries. so it may be as much or more.

And what about the admission by Mr and Mrs Russert that they were receiving and readin emails from the campaigns during the debate

Katie,

Last election, in the General. One of the Debates was in Florida. The campaigns were passing notes to the Debate Hosts.

I don't know how long its been done, but it was present in the last cycle.

Sheila,

Those exhorbitant costs might apply to TV, but not to radio. The way the law is structured, the station can charge only the lowest rate sold in a given time period during the previous (I think 60 days).

For radio the most expensive period would be drive time 6-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. That is rarely more than $100 per minute except in really large markets.

Jamie,

So radio is handled differantly. I would expect the public would understand that. Besides, I think what I was really concentrating on was TV Commericials and 527s

Fry said trying with all his might to be snarky, "Rosa Parks. Now lets see Rosa Parks, was from Alabama. The governor of Alabama in 1955 when she wouldn't give up her seat on the bus was who? Lets see, oh yes, Gordon Persons or James E. Folsom, both were Democrats. Now just so you'll know, most states in the South from the Civil War onward to the to the 1980's all had D governors."

While it is partly true that the southern Governors where DINO's (democrats in name only) they were actually Dixiecrats. There was a lot of party changing from the middle 50's to the middle 60's part of the 20th century. They claimed it was about States Rights but that is a code phrase for Segregation.

So, Fry if you are gonna try and float that boat you are gonna need more water.

yo soy Horsedooty!

I like the free debate time idea and so would the regular advertisers.

Of course, I would also like to see the communications law changed to limit number of outlets that can be owned by one entity.

welll.....I have to tear myself away and do some cleaning. See Ya later Alligators.

It's still rude an in my view and unprofessional
aren't they supposed to be listening to the answers
and are they so stupid and lazy that they take their marching orders from the campaigns

no matter how you spin it they look lame

oops forgot who I was talking bout there for a minute

I wouldn't mind corrupting the Romney sons...

TF

You're in love already, remember.

Jamie the FCC deregulation policy of the Bush administration led to loosening the regulation on station ownership. Good day everyone. Time to get some work done.

I love Tweety's commercial,

"People don't want to hear stupid political shots!"

So why is he still on the air?

rumors abound...
the source of the Clinton Rezko picture is Drudge
and it appears to be photo shopped

Willard Milton Romney.........what a pathetic cast of Republican losers.

Republican Theme for 2008.......Jesus loves you, but shares your deep hatred of homosexuals, liberals, Muslims, Bill and Hillary Clinton.

hd, you plagiarizing me? (See my 11:05 comment). ;-)

yep.. a 'photo' isnt proof of anything anymore..

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/INFO_SHT/b309.htm

thought you might want to see this...

Cheryl,

I know. One of the stupidest decisions ever made. Talk about limits on freedom of speech and expression.

gee.... I get super busy for one day and it feels like it's taken me forever to catch up on the posts...... good job gang!

I did manage to see some of the debate last night.... I was astounded at how much they all played nicey nice....

Craig.... I think no matter who the Republican nominee is the GOP is going to play very tough in the general election.....
can't wait til Feb 5th..... I wanna start fighting the good fight with the Repubs NOW!

sorry POGO, I guess I was. I am glad we agree with the real way that period of time went down. I have said that same thing for many years everytime I hear " yeah yeah but it was all about States Rights. No it wasn't it is about segregation. I like you grew up in the South but in Texas not Mississippi or Alabama.

I was dicharged from the USAF in Jan of 1970 in South Carolina if I remember correctly. A friend I was stationed with drove down to get me from Boston with his then girl friend later to be his wife and after that ex-wife. As we headed north out of S. Carolina and we drove into N. Carolina there was a billboard right on the side of the road that was of a KKK klansman on a big white horse that was rearing up. The sign said, "Welcome to Klan Kountry." I took some pictures but somewhere along the way I lost them and the sign has since been taken down. It was a very chilling sign. It was in the late 1970s that most public water drinking fountains still had white and green fountains.

One day two years ago I was driving down in Central Texas and found a little biz strip of buildings on the side of the road. One named Zippo's, maybe a bar, had a painted sign on it with an arrow pointing to the back of the building that said Negros. Indicating that black folk should assemble at the back of the building. Now that building is gone and probably had not been used in 25 years or more, but I got the point.

yo soy Horsedooty!

interesting article by E.J.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/01/bill_clinton_credited_reagan_i.html

hd, I was kidding about the plagiarism - folks who grew up in the 50s, 60s, 70s in the south and weren't supporters of the segregationist policies of the dixiecrats would probably mostly agree on what occurred back then. I remember going into a fruit stand on Rt 31 (I think) in Clanton, Chilton County, AL in '68 (middle of the black belt) when we were driving down to the Gulf Coast for summer vacation and seeing a license plate - back when they only put state plates on the rear in AL and people put all sorts of stuff in the front plate frame - that showed a farmer in straw hat and overalls and his kid standing behind a cow that had fart gass drawn coming out of his ass. The caption - "LBJ has spoken." I thought it was funny as a cartoon goes - and was a little too young to get the meaning, but my dad, a republican who was no supporter of LBJ, was not amused at it. I bet they sold lots of those in that fruit stand.

NEW THREAD

Craig, just wondering if you could respond quickly to my request here: "If you could nudge your colleague, Marie Horrigan, over at the article on "Kucinich to Drop Presidential Bid to Focus on House Primary," somehow you have been able to get 125 comments in this morning, while none have been published to her article. The reality is that morning traffic is the prime time to have reader conversations via comments, but not when comments are not published, or published hours after having been submitted. Thanks."

i'll alert them, hardison. thanks

Muchas gracias Craig!

Thanks Jamie... When Bush came to power I used to say "I want to get drunk with the Bush girls". I don't know, they seemed like fun party types. Then again, I don't drink much, nor smoke and at this point in my life, I am much more a settled homebody. :-)