Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Hats off to SNL for being the first(that I've seen) to have some fun with "Obamamania". I'll be watching Reliable Sources this morning to see if CNN can laugh at themselves.

All hat, not cattle? heheheheheh

It's such an uphill fight for Hillary now, but the more I listen and watch Obama, the less confident I am that he can carry off a general election win. He keeps on opening doors for criticism by the retarded-right. And really, any Presidential candidate who refuses to wear an American flag pin, no matter what reasoning they see -- it's going to be fodder all the way through the election I fear.

I still hope for Hillary. Larry Sabato puts her chance now at only 20% to get the nomination. We can hold off a bit longer.

Glad I DVR'd SNL last night!!
The problem is double edge - when Obama starts to share his policy speech - this also may drive voters away. The naivety of Barack is refreshing but the real world will take more then a wish and fantasy to bring audacity of hope to reality. Having young voter in my house – I wonder if Barack can give any better answers to the difficult question? Barack Policy - if you can find it will be a concern to most once understood.

CRAIG – you set yourself up as some will read this as anti Obama, which clearly you have laid the facts and guidance. He should hire you. However I am sure you want to be with a winner.

Good morning all.

Dex: don't you have any neighbors you could persuade to drive you to UT for Obama speech? Maybe they can be bribed with coffee and sweets or one of your late night sandwiches?

It's a shame to miss the event due to car trouble. Maybe have a reunion of ppl who miss the mom and pop grocery that closed up, in the car on the way to the event? (Forget its name, but sounded like a nightclub or ladies shoes line or chic cafe.)
======

EuroTom: I don't think you've called Obama's supporters a cult (and thank you for that)! Plz give him a fresh look. Plz also realize that general election voters are going to be looking at him and McCain in the light of 8 years of failed govt. and a war that should never have been fought. Our troops were commanded into harm's way without enough materiel and troopstrength to win their mission.

And yes, the economy will likely be rough, which sometimes favors GOP, sometimes not.

Somebody needs to start the "McCain as Herbert Hoover" meme, although it might cheer up his own party since many are still horrified at FDR programs.

Obama Comedown Syndrome - David Brooks

"The afflicted had already been through the phases of Obama-mania — fainting at rallies, weeping over their touch screens while watching Obama videos, spending hours making folk crafts featuring Michelle Obama’s face. These patients had experienced intense surges of hope-amine, the brain chemical that fuels euphoric sensations of historic change and personal salvation.

... .. Up until now The Chosen One’s speeches had seemed to them less like stretches of words and more like soul sensations that transcended time and space. But those in the grips of Obama Comedown Syndrome began to wonder if His stuff actually made sense. For example, His Hopeness tells rallies that we are the change we have been waiting for, but if we are the change we have been waiting for then why have we been waiting since we’ve been here all along? ... "

TM - "What the media has ignored, then built up, they now are salivating to tear down. This is going to get ugly. Just wait until the GOP starts defining Mr. Obama, something he should have done himself a long time ago."

http://www.taylormarsh.com/

Morn'n dog,
How about HRC - Coming out with passion. So maybe the "Famous ending" of the last debate was more like a kiss from the God Father?

The clips I have seen of HRC in the last 24 hours are the first I have seen in awhile that she appears Presidential.
Lets see if BO flinches

Good Morning. You go Craig go!!! You are right on and finally the media is figuring things out. I watched the SOSBU speech she gave and it was wonderful.
Cleveland's Debate should be awesome.
Go Hillary!! Ohio is here for you!!!

David Brooks is not a reliable guide to ANYTHING, although he is a graceful and frequently amusing writer.

Liked him for years; enjoyed his books, but realized about 18 months ago that he is wrong on just about everything. His powers of observation are good -- he has a writer's eye, but then he twists and turns his conclusion to keep it within GOP orthodoxy.

Read some of his columns on the Iraq war. Sad stuff.

Sad for me too, because I used to really enjoy reading him.

However, his stuff may be a good guide to what upper middle class journalists residing in Chevy Chase, Maryland (desirable location) think.

Benchley he's not......

However, his stuff may be a good guide to what upper middle class journalists residing in Chevy Chase, Maryland (desirable location) think.
....
left out my last sentence: because if he ever talks to the man (or woman) on the street, it's as a journalistic exercise, and they might as well be aboriginals.

Ping you are right on Though I looked at it as a diplomatic way of saying bye bye Obama.

FRANK RICH SPOTS A BIGOTED LIAR

"The pattern has been clear for some time; you can trash Big Dems any damn way you please. If Gore can be the world’s biggest liar, why can’t the Clintons both be major racists? Liberals barely uttered a peep while Gore was endlessly trashed that way. Today, many liberals are deeply involved in pushing the race claims RE Clinton."

http://dailyhowler.com/

Ping: "How about HRC - Coming out with passion. So maybe the "Famous ending" of the last debate was more like a kiss from the God Father?"

I think the realization she might actually lose this thing is freeing to her. She's got one last shot at winning the nomination, and she's going for it and perhaps showing some real passion in the process.

Have to say, I admire HRC for staying out there and trying her best. She is not my preferred candidate, but she is very strong and I admire that about her.

GORDO: since it's Sunday, the Lord's Day for many, could you only post GOOD things about people for a change?

And I don't buy that you are only doing oppo research for this blog, so we will know what Republicans think.

As Jamie has ably pointed out, we already have many avenues to learn their views, care of the public interest and airwaves.

Gordo, I got lost in the link? I have been traveling and do not have the time to post here to my FAVORITE place - Fav for many reasons.

Do DOG, I shall self declare to you and all that read and do not read this little declaration, that I the Ping will be the official Red Dot filter for all things as such related to the title on Crawfordslist.

Did you get that ?

http://www.allhatnocattle.net/2-15-08_bush_pardons_roger_clemens.htm

speaking of All hat no cattle.......

This is one of those, "I wish I hadn't been right" columns. Way back at the beginning of the debates, I commented that he sounded as if he had swallowed his briefing books. There seemed to be no real knowledge, world experience, or empathy behind his answers only a regurgitation like a star student on a test.

The other day when dealing with direct questions from newspeople about a minor issue that didn't fit in with the spiel he was all stop and stutter. Not because he isn't bright but because he is only comfortable with what he has memorized not what he knows.

Paul Krugman Says He Was "Censored" By New York Times

"Over on his blog, Paul Krugman reveals today that the paper told him he couldn't use the following lede on his column on last year's State of the Union Address:"

“Before the State of the Union address, there had been hints and hopes that President Bush would offer a serious plan to reduce our dependence on imported oil. Instead, however, he took refuge in alcohol."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/horsesmouth/

"good guide to what upper middle class journalists residing in Chevy Chase, Maryland (desirable location) think"

Since these are the members of the media who have been leading the charge against Senator Clinton, any change in their attitudes might be worth investigation.

Yes Craig this is the Prozac et. al. generation. People don't want to hear any bad stuff, what the problems are and how you are going to try and solve them. That has been Clinton's problem. She just isn't shallow enough and she can't dumb herself down enough. People don't have the attention span for details. They want their leader to just be happy and tell them "Yes We Can!"

Yall, have a good day
Am I still the lone red dot?
Hey to Brian and KCG... Hipster...

Will check in later
Off to Worship

McCain / Romney 08
thats a winner

CT: I disagree.

Look at campaigns' emphasis: Hillary Clinton: Yes I CAN solve your problems for you. I've spent 35 years studying them. Experience. I am your girl.

Obama: Yes WE CAN solve them together. I think he realizes the solutions to all ills do not reside with the federal govt. The man was a community organizer. There is plenty an involved civic and business community can do, in some cases much better than govt. (Who was first on the scene with meaningful relief in Katrina aftermath? Military first and church-led groups second.)

Jamie I watched that and I almost felt bad for him. I am psychologist and I also noticed is eyes and his lack of feeling when talking about it. I question whether he has any affect. You are exactly right, if it is not scripted he is lost.
I sure hope,Ohio realizes that by March 4. I have confidence she will win. Bill did not win until June.

Ping: many thanks for being our official Red Dot filter. Since you have a Red Dot, and frydaddy at last glance has refused, you get the assignment there! Good to see you here and hope your schedule permits lots of posting in coming weeks.

I watched the replay of HC's SOTBU speech via C-Span this morning. I thought she was pretty good, and there was good audience response during the Q&A.

I was disappointed by the demeanor of many in the audience, mostly the younger people, who, through their body language demeaned the historical significance of what they were experiencing.

I think that every one of us when attending a lecture from a professor that we had to suffer through, would have behaved with more civility.

I thought Tavis asked the right questions allowing her to expand on her platform and to speak about her historical commitments.

I was pleased at the opportunity of being there through the courtesy of C-Span's lens.

"As Alexander Cockburn wrote about Obama: “I used to think Sen. Joe Lieberman was the man whose words I’d least like to be force fed top volume if I was chained next to a loudspeaker in Camp Gitmo, but I think Obama, who picked Lieberman as his mentor when he first entered the U.S. Senate, is worse. I’ve never heard a politician so desperate not to offend conventional elite opinion while pretending to be fearless and forthright.”

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/

"David Brooks is not a reliable guide to ANYTHING"

Isn't that the truth, dog's eye! I've half-way followed him over the past few years and noticed that he often takes completely different positions depending on whether he's writing a column or appearing on various shows. And his positions are so often so flawed.

By the way, Gordo....wean yourself away from Taylor. I read her sometimes, and sometimes she makes good points. But she is VERY partisan, to the point of HER being cultish.

Now I have to find that article about George Bush being drunk! :)

dog's eye

I'm not putting down his community organization because you are right that most of the uplift in poor areas comes not so much from government, but rather people joining together to pull themselves up. What I wish was that someone had taken a close look at this period in his life to determine how many of his activities were as the "public image" of the activities and how much had been the "on the street" grunt work necessary to make things happen.

Did you see the closing of the Tavis Smiley event yesterday? He closed it by thanking the people on his staff who had actually pulled the event together, made the arrangements, and moved people from point A to point B. What I want to know about Senator Obama is did he climb the ladder to become the leader or did some person/group put him up on the pinacle because he spoke and looked like the image they wanted.

For the people who did not watch SNL...

The Tina Fey commentary on HRC being president is hysterical!!!

"B*tch is the new black"...ROTFLMAO!!!

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/#mea=221773

Patsi: 3 cheers for everything in your 9:05 post. Agree throughout (although have not personally checked out Taylor Marsh site. With GORDO here, why waste the keystrokes?)

Ralph Nader's hat is forcefully tossed into the ring. We await the towel being next.....

Lush: did see the Tina Fey commentary. B__ is the new black is a great slogan!

Lush

Thank you for that clip. I don't stay up late enough for Saturday Night Live.

Montpellier

"Ralph Nader's hat is forcefully tossed into the ring."

Shame his head didn't go with it. He is right about so much. Couldn't he find another way to get the message across without screwing with the election.

lennon / yoko......"woman is the Nword of the World"

Charlie Crist is on Washington Journal this AM on cspan. He reinforced his position that the Democratic delegates from Florida (and Michigan) should be seated at the Convention and backed off from the idea of caucuses to obtain new results. He believes that the people have already spoken and they should be heard.

Not saying that Crist ruled out a caucus...just didn't commit one way or the other...

OHIO is for HILLARY. She has so much KNOWLEDGE and GREAT PLANS to help ALL AMERICANS! Yesterday as I watched her during the state of the black union....I thought once again she shows ACTION! You know it is one thing to say they will stop how AMERICANS feel INVISIBLE. Well yesterday...I guess we can all agree she showed she is not just all words..she follows her words by ACTION. Where was Obama ....I bet he was out inspiring VOTERS...didn't he say he wasn't for the same old politics doing the same old things.....WOW then he declines to show up for the state of the black union.

Jamie, You said what I have been thinking. I agree I believe there is a group behind him because of his presence and speaking ability and a nice guy.
That is scary I think. Michele even said she would not back Hillary if Barack does not win. That is terrible.

Stand away from the Upper Case with your HANDS above your HEAD......

Last night's SNL was great!!

Jamie, watch the clips that reference the Oscar nominated movies!!

Also, the BHO/HRC opening is hilarious!!

Has everyone seen all the Best Movie Nominees?

Here's Tina Fey's opening monologue last night on SNL, with surprise guest. It plays a little on the Yes we can theme.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBIO4mw9KLY

Did not see early part of show -- just caught Weekend Update. Was there a Barack Obama skit re press gaggle? Can someone put that one up?

Not saying that Crist ruled out a caucus...just didn't commit one way or the other...

Oh yeah, Craig referred to the sketch: "And one that got a start last night on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" with an opening sketch portraying Obama as a shallow smooth-talker mesmerizing gullible reporters."

Thanks for the link to the Tina Fey clip Linda. Loved loved loved it! And she is right about the nuns...I'm a Catholic school girl myself. Some of the meanest women I ever met were nuns but also some of the sweetest.

dog...all the clips are on the link I posted

When I lived in Pinellas County in Florida Crist came to talk with my city commission. That was when he was running for, I think, state senate.

There were two of us who were mightily impressed. Both of us were long-term Democrats. Go figure.

I think Crist, if push came to shove, would give strong support to the results of the existing primary.

egad......Russert confused Wendell Wilkie and Harold Stassen........

Thanks Linda. Will check them out now.

lush

From what I've see by people getting into the Oscar contest, most people haven't seen any of them. We are all just guessing.

I've seen some of the movies up for minor awards, but few of the majors.

Did you see the instructions for joining the Trailmixers group on the Oscar site? I think the entries have to be in no later than 1:00 p.m.

IMO, the Obama/Clinton skit would have been funnier if they had made-up the media people to be Chris, Joe and Mika!!!

"Some of the meanest women I ever met were nuns but also some of the sweetest"

The one thing I've always noted about nuns is that they rarely look their age. Always thought it was absolute proof that men may be incredibly wonderful, but living with one can sure wear on you. :-)

John McCain as Herbert Hoover?

o/' Mister , we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again...o/'

Wasn't that a line from the theme from "All in the Family"? And TT , I posted a entry on my blog about the top 10 rejected candy hearts sentiments back on Valentines Day.

Corey.....that was a great list......

Of the movies nominated...I have seen:

No Country for Old Men
There Will be Blood
Michael Clayton

I love the Coen Brothers movies, but I do not think No Country should get the award.

My list is

1)There Will be Blood
2) Michael clayton
3)No Country

Thanks Sturg! It was all in the "One More Cow".

Jamie

I didn't see an Oscar contest. Where is it?

So Nader announced he's launching a third party candidacy....

lets face it the media picked the candidates for this election........thats a shame because the country is in a mess after the last 8 years and we shouldnt be gambling on someone who is a con artist .......i just hope for the sake of my grandchildren this country straightens itself out

What's Nader's slogan? YES WE CAN...But NOT in a Corvair!

Question for Craig--

Has the press agreed that it's off-limits to inquire about the candidate's alcohol, tobacco, and drug use?

Lush

Here is the Oscar site: http://predict.oscar.go.com/predict/frontpage

Register

fill out your ballot and save then off to the left you will see "join group"

Click on that and enter Trailmixers in the search window

Click on the trailmixer button

It will ask for a password

enter durward

once you are in it will ask fif you want to edit your picks.

reply to Jamies 9:40 post: I had never really thought about it but I bet that some of those old bitties were were probably...my age now.

But seriously, one of my best memories was loading into Sister Karen's olive green Chevy Nova in the 4th grade as we traveled around the state of Oregon to Spelling Bees. When you go to Catholic school you can't imagine nuns driving a car so the first time we got behind the wheel I remember thinking: Wow...nuns are just regular people (kind of!)

ubns

one thing the press has agred to is not to go after obama

Not long after Nader tilted the 2000 election, I received a fund raising letter from one of the non-profits his name was connected to. I wrote back and asked them t take me off the mailing list and told them why. I got a long personal letter from the head of the charity in which he basically disavowed connection to Saint Ralph.

Golly, Nader is such an insufferable, self-important, selfish little man.

all nader proves is how ignorant a lot of the voting public really is .....he will get his 3 percent and have enough money to live on for the next 4 years......this is how he makes his living

re nuns: taught by several in primary school. A few good ones; one so pyschotic with small children my mother got her transferred to teaching high school.

They are indeed people; some strange ones occasionally, but have to say I was so comforted to see a pair of nuns in traditional garb waiting in the departure lounge for my overseas flight during the first Gulf War. Nuns and Tony Cordesman, then the ABC security expert go to guy.

Thoroughly enjoyed that flight, with its rows of empty seats, and felt very safe. Bad for airline; good for travelers.

I dont think I've ever even so much as MET a nun......I liked "Sister Act" though......

EuroTom: I don't think you've called Obama's supporters a cult (and thank you for that)! Plz give him a fresh look.

Posted by: dog's eye view | February 24, 2008 8:00 AM

I've come close, but it's hard when most of my friends support him :-) ... I want to like Obama but I just can't, for myself, seal the deal yet, if you get what I mean. Wait let me re-state that. I was soooo inspired and mesmerized by his 2004 Keynote speech at the national convention. I will be the first to admit that I so admire Hillary that it is hard for me to open up to another possibility. Time will tell.

A song I like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NSXxHCGdUs

Clever post this morning Craig,

I'm reading it as "All Hat No Cattle" Meets "One More Cow".

Who knew all those weeks ago, that you were building a case for Obama to defend himself against his attackers?

One time when I was in college I flew down to Arizona to visit my then boyfriend. I bought the latest issue of Cosmo and sat down at the gate. Right across from me was a nun in full garb. I thought to myself: I am going to be seated right next to that nun and I am not going to be able to read my new Cosmo. Sure enough, she was on the aisle, I was in the middle. Nothing to read the entire flight. Some of you may have been able to indulge in the various sex surveys etc. Cosmo has to offer while seated next to a nun. Not this Catholic school girl.

{BTW: Before you judge my reading choices, I was in college.}

If anyone has any trouble getting in to the Oscar site to compete for the diamonds. CNN has a super easy spot to use to win a hi def TV

http://www.cnn.com/ite

Simply register then click on the pictures of the nominees and then log out.

During the show, you will be able to watch live to see if you agree with the experts and who wins.

Official Show starts 5:00/8:00

Whole bunch of stuff to bore the beejeesus out of you before the kick off :-)

euro tom

believe me your feelings are correct ....this country got conned by George W and are getting conned by obama

The New York Times takes itsself to the woodshed over the McCain article

The Public Editor slams the article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/opinion/24pubed.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&ref=politics&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin

"lets face it the media picked the candidates for this election........"

They gave us Bush in 2000 and being incredibly proud of themselves they did it again in 2004. Flushed with their successful actions 2008 will be their grandest exercise to date.

It wrote an article about MSNBC this time around

http://jdurward.blogspot.com/2008/02/betrayal.html

I'm not Catholic, but there was a cloistered nunnery in Alhambra, CA (I don't know if it is still there) where I used to go on three or four day retreats.

There is a lot to be said for separating from the world and listening to silence. Would love to find something similar up here in Washington.

jamie ---------------

"What I want to know about Senator Obama is did he climb the ladder to become the leader or did some person/group put him up on the pinacle because he spoke and looked like the image they wanted."

Maybe it's the "Brzezinski Clan". Who else? Seems like something big ( in addition to Zbig ) is pulling his strings.

(Now begin screaming at me, everyone.)

good article

I have a helluva nun story. One of my older sisters (I had a bunch of 'em) was something else....an Ava Gardiner lookalike, with Ava's personality as well. Definitely larger than life for such a petite woman. She died of a brain anuerism in her early fifties....her husband was so distraught he started drinking and ended up going to rehab. His "contact" was a nun -- don't know what they call the people who stick by each person when they get sprung....

The two ended up having a long and very secret affair that only ended when he died 15 years later....

I asked one of my other sisters what she thought about it, and she said, "Well, after Barbara, I guess a nun was the only way to go."

GORDO: no screaming from me. It was refreshing to see something in your own words, and not excerpt of something posted on Taylor Marsh.

You get another 3 cheers for being yourself today.

gordo

how can anyone scream when your 'right on '....some one has to ask those questions

Miss M singing one of my favorite songs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCRjAa2EW4c

Jamie: Have you ever been to Shaw Island? The Nuns left the island in 2004 (for nearly 30 years they ran the ferry landing and general store) but Shaw Island is about as close to complete silence and serenity as you will ever see. Very few amenities but many opportunities to decompress.

Zumper saying media picked our candidates, and that "this country got conned by George W and are getting conned by obama."

Maybe not. Can understand how people would be worried about going on "trust" this time around -- and they absolutely should not, but there is plenty of daylight between George W and Obama.

And George W had family connections that pulled him out of the fire throughout.

The great difficulty with analogies is knowing when you are responding to a false one.

Ally

Never heard of it. I'll see what I can find out. Thanks.

dogs eye view

not trying to be redundent .....what has this guy got besides written speechs that he memorizes......the press conference yesterday he stutters when answering .........hes done nothing and will put us anoter 2 trillion in debt .....although i think congress will make him a do nothing president

Flatus wrote: "I watched the replay of HC's SOTBU speech via C-Span this morning."

Flatus:

I have been searching all morning for this - can you send the link where you found it. So far what I found on CSPAN was only half of the SOTBU and not the part with Hillary.

If you could post the path...I would be very grateful.

BTW - played with Craig's map this morning - the one you were all playing with yesterday. Came up with scenario where your guy might actually win. NM and Ohio are up in the air for me. NM there is the McCain in AZ factor but then their is the Richardson is governor factor and given how close it was in '04 - given the failures of republicans...edge might go to BO.

Ohio is my swing state...again. Just don't know how that will go - but I think Brian posted that there will be no Blackwell in charge to pull his shenanigans ... so...BO might actually win it.

I even factored in Obama fatigue, 20% of Hillary voters that won't vote for Obama, and a peppering of republican's who have no intention of voting for him in the general but voted for him in the primary. Still came up with a scenario where Obama wins. Nader's announcement on Meet the Press this morning might add another little factor in there but i believe he's less and less effective in these presidential runs. If he does announce, I'd like to see Craig's perspective on how he thinks that might effect the race.

Jamie, our prayer wheel gets some pretty good workouts during campaign season. It helps.

Our across the street neighbors had three kids. One boy went to West Point, the other to the Coast Guard Academy, and the daughter became a nun.

zumper: If you cannot see more to Obama than written speeches that he memorizes, the fault is in you, my friend.

dog
tell me what hes done ....you obama people are dreamers

dog
even JFK was bad in is first year due to inexperience ....almost got us into a nuclear war over his bay of pigs mistake

Patsi: Wow! That is a good nun story! Oy.

Wendy, we watched really early this morning before 6-a.m.

I just looked on their website and they don't have another repeat scheduled that I can find. Perhaps they'll do a podcast of it next week.

Watching Sunday Morning. Nice reminder that once more Elton John will be raising a few more million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation with his Oscar Party

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/24/wuspols124.xml

Was this announced earlier and I missed it?

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/02/nader-enters-pr.html

Zumper: there is plenty of information out there.

I have to say, if I run into someone like you when I'm canvassing or phoning -- who cannot see a single good thing about Obama, I just pleasantly bid them good day and thank them for their time and move on.

No point spending the time or energy.

Lush Did you note that the Telegraph is helping with your Oscar picks?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/02/22/bfoscars122.xml&DCMP=ILC-traffdrv07053100

I'll be watching Reliable Sources this morning to see if CNN can laugh at themselves.

Posted by: ubns | February 24, 2008 6:37 AM

....and that would be a great big 'nope!'

Craig -"I watched his own supporters yawn as he plowed the issue weeds."

Last night in Cleveland, Obama supporters left before he was finished. At one point he lost his place in his speech, it was really awkward from a speaking point of view. It was during the "hope" rift, and it fell flat.

I came away thinking he could be replace by any other young successful community organizer, who graduated Harvard Law, etc. That is what he does best. But there are so many people in the USA, who could fill those shoes. Meaning, I do not see that Obama, personally, brings anything of great value, character, knowledge or unique experience to the position of the President of the US.

I tried to like him, I went with an open mind, I came away, thinking I could never vote for him....I hope I do not have to.

Wendy:

http://www.necn.com/category/32/3852

SOTBU: I know you can catch the entire replay Friday (C-Span said something about it at the end of the broadcast yesterday and I am almost positive it was Friday evening.)

and you still havent told me what hes done .....because he hasnt done anything ......change ??? he isnt going to change congress who have all comittee chairs in their 60's anf 70's ......who wouldnt change when 75 percent of this country wanted out of this war .....you think hes going to change them ,,,,,,i dont hate the guy like obamaniacs hate hillary ....im 67 years old and know a con artist when i hear one

Jamie

I can't log into the Oscar vote site. 8(

The media pick the winners
by Bill Press

"Nonetheless, even though no one candidate has yet locked up their party's nomination, we might as well cancel the rest of the primaries or caucuses. The media have already decided that this year's standard bearers will be John McCain and Barack Obama.

Yes, somewhere along the line, the role of the media has changed from reporting on the primaries to deciding the primaries. They pick their favorites, they give them preferential treatment, they tear down their opponents, and they anoint their winning candidates even before voters have a chance to go to the polls."

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=55807

Similar to the Ali-Foreman fight most people thought Ali was going to get soundly beaten up by Foreman. Ali had a plan to big the much bigger, tougher fighter. he would stay on the ropes and take the hard shots, while taunting him with, "Is that all you got". Ali won the fight, and he won the fight with what would become know as the ropea-dope technique. Ali won by keeping his reserves in-check until Foreman got tired and then Ali unloaded on him

Obama is winning, Hillary seemed to some to almost be throwing in the towel during this last debate, she looks tired, she appears to be beaten, but I got a feeling HRC is taking a page out of the Ali playbook and is doing a ropea-dope of her own making. I think today's news is proof of that.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080223223512.k2z54xvc&show_article=1

Lush

Wait a bit. I'm going to the CNN site. Let me see if I can set up a group there.

OK...bbl...I'll try then 8)

Mr. Fry......from your keyboard to god's monitor......

dog

i am still waiting for an answer to what hes done
and you still havent told me what hes done .....because he hasnt done anything ......change ??? he isnt going to change congress who have all comittee chairs in their 60's anf 70's ......who wouldnt change when 75 percent of this country wanted out of this war .....you think hes going to change them ,,,,,,i dont hate the guy like obamaniacs hate hillary ....im 67 years old and know a con artist when i hear one

Good Bill Press article, Gordo. I liked this part:

"No doubt, McCain's an attractive candidate. After interviewing him on the Straight Talk Express in 2000, I became somewhat of a McCainiac myself. He's accessible, funny and irreverent: all the qualities reporters like in a candidate, which is why he gets a free ride from his friends in the media, compared to Mitt Romney. Everybody knows about Romney's flip-flops, yet McCain has changed positions on tax cuts, immigration, the Confederate flag, repeal of Roe v. Wade and the role of evangelicals in politics. Read about any of those in the press? Of course not."

Jamie said:

"What I wish was that someone had taken a close look at this period in his life to determine how many of his activities were as the "public image" of the activities and how much had been the "on the street" grunt work necessary to make things happen."

Jamie
As someone who has done community organizing on the block level(even have a couple of success stories I brag about) I was sceptical of the community organizer banner.
In the non-profit/ CDC world many call themselves community organizers. Most of them are better described as , grant writers, seminar providers, management. They never get in the neighborhood and knock on doors.
However, I believe that Obama (or one of his speech writers) has been out in the trenches, knocking on doors, personally trying to persuade people to help themselves make their life better.
There is a story he has in one of his speeches, a story only someone who has been in the trenches can tell.
I think anyone who does door to door organizing has the same story, I do.
It is the first time story.
You have done all your work contacted everybody on the block , they all seemed excited and interested. They all agree to meet to organize. You find a place to meet arrange everything ,soft drink, little snack cakes , door prizes,
Then you and your fellow organizers wait for the people to come. Then you wait some more and more and more. Nobody shows.

When Obama told this story I knew he was a fellow organizer.

Jack

Two ways to go folks. You can enter as an individual to go for the prizes and/or you can enter the pool but there are no prizes just bragging rights.

http://www.cnn.com/ite

Register. Click on your picks and submit as an individual. If you want to play in the group

Group Name: One More Cow
Password: Crawford

click on picks and submit

jack

too bad being president isnt going door to door ......because the people he has to change are the lifetime congress chairs who give a dam less about this country and only care about themselves

It's like organizing anything, it's a lot of work and the more people you enlist the quicker things get accomplish. This is exactly how he has run his campaign....

I do not think there is any question on his civic organizational skills...

Jack,

That is the sort of thing I would want to know preferrably from a source who can testify they actually saw him in action.

As to the open the doors and no one comes story: Been there, done that :-)

I agree zumper

I like the "b* tch" is the new "black"on SNL...that was funny.

who can organize those baboons in congress ......no one

Burrito

"This is exactly how he has run his campaign"

This is what is at the heart of my question. Who is doing the running? It's all well and good that the engine is humming along in perfect tune. Who is the mechanic?

jamie

THE MEDIA IS HIS ENGINE

remember the media helped get us into this war ,,,,because they would rather have ratings

Oh Wow! The Oscar nominated animated shorts are on You Tube. For the Beatles fans and animated interview with John Lennon

I Met The Walrus

http://youtube.com/watch?v=poLVBz1iKnU&feature=related

Well I don't know, who is behind it, but it has worked thus far. I do not even know how one would find out the details, as to when "they" sat down and made the plans. Or just who"they " are.

But it appears to be very calculated.

Someone knows.

unlikely burrito

he has 18 ex clinton workers running his campaign

Zumper - your last two points re: Media - very good - very true.

Was Senator Clinton channeling George W. Bush using the "Fool me once...fool me twice..." phrasing?

(To her credit, she didn't mangle the phrase, but why align herself more with Mr. Bush?)

thanks wendy ......the truth is easy to write about

maybe hillary with the "fool me once" wanted to show a presidential candidate who could actually articulate thoughts......as opposed to one who wanted to put food on people's families, etc......

its a known fact that there is more sexism than racism in this country........FACT: blacks were allowed to vote before women...........im a 67 year old male who is embarrassed by the sexism in this election...HRC is qualified and intelligent ...i dont see any woman superstar on the horizon so i will probably go to my grave never seeing a woman president

There is more sexism then racism globally.

I nominate Chuck Hagel for new conductor on the Straight Talk Express.......McCain is a cartoon character compared to Mr. Hagel.....

I have regular nun customers at my gas station... I have to stop saying "Madam" and say "zuster" I mix that up.

I was in Lucca Italy in November and saw two old Italian nuns walking down the street so I couldn't help but snap a picture...

Herbert Hoover has been greatly revered in Belgium... He led a food drive for Belgium in WW I when there was no food. You will still find streets named after Hoover and a museum in his honor. http://www.hoover.nara.gov/exhibits/collections/flour%20sacks/index.html

Was Senator Clinton channeling George W. Bush using the "Fool me once...fool me twice..." phrasing?

(To her credit, she didn't mangle the phrase, but why align herself more with Mr. Bush?)

Posted by: benjaminblue | February 24, 2008

Maybe she was channeling Mr. Scott from Star Trek

Look at Richardson's beard....

He needs to make a decision. He is playing games It is not that hard to make a decision.

He needs to make a decision. He is playing games It is not that hard to make a decision.

"I nominate Chuck Hagel for new conductor on the Straight Talk Express....."

I second the nomination. He's way too conservative for me, but I think he's honest.

Zumper: I will work up an extended comment on why I support Obama and try to answer your question, but plz bear with me as I am not one of the blog's policy wonks! May take a little while; thinking on it now. (We are talking, may take a day or so, because I am NOT an essayist. But this would be good exercise and one usually learns by writing.)

Will give you an email address or maybe we can correspond c/o the ever useful Jamie. Will share it with whomever is interested.

Out of sheer curiosity: what state do you live in?

From what I read, and where I did I don't exactly remember, Hillary has to win Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania and still have the punished delegate states seated in order to win the nomination.

Something caught my interest yesterday... someone pointed out that the early primary in Florida was the doing of the Republican governor and legislature. Is it possible that the gov knew that the Dems would penalize the entire delegation, but the repugs only 1/2 resulting in Floridians feeling more "in favor" with the pugs? Just a thought.

We've been pretty cordial today, but the day is young ;-)

Good morning peeps.
So I see Ralph is running, does anyone care?

dog
im from ny .......i cant believe its going to take a day or two to come up with something obama has done ...but ill be looking forward to hearing it .......i know one thing in the 2 1/2 years in the senate he has not once worked accross the aisle ,,,,,,,,HRC has many times ....whos the uniter

EuroTom: suspect you hit on the thinking about Florida and its party delegations.

I am wondering if we might see FL gov Charlie Crist as McCain running mate. Time will tell.

for once I totally agree with Brian... Nader is a shit... Who da fck cares?

No, that is not what I said I would do. Zumper. And if your reading skills are of that level, should I bother?

euro tom

the florida republican legislature moved the primary up and the govenor signed it into law.....the dem voters had no choive in the matter ,,,,but they are being punished for their vote through no fult of their own .....1.7 million of them

dog
its been 2 hours and you havent come up with one thing obama has done .....lay off the kool aid

"I nominate Chuck Hagel for new conductor on the Straight Talk Express....."

Richardson/Hagel '08!

dog
excuse me 3 hours

Just finished watching Hillary at SOTBU yestereday. Here is link to full clip:

http://www.c-span.org/Politics/Default.aspx

Great speech.

I noticed that the younger folks in the audience were not very interested or enthusiastic but OK.

What I did love was Tavis Smiley with several little swipes at Barack Obama by coming out and telling them to get on their feet and thank Hillary for "showing up" after her speech then doing it again after the Q & A saying - thank HRC for "showing up". I believe he was making a point to some of the younger voters that refused to even show any appreciation...basically saying that no matter how you feel about her, at least she showed up to talk to us and was willing to answer questions - you can at least acknowledge that - takes a lot of guts to walk into a hostile environment like that. BO would have brought the place down and he didn't even bother to show up - taking their support for granted ...so she did deserve a lot of credit...even if it was just out of politeness.

Listen closely to what Chuck said.

Zumper: "dog its been 2 hours and you havent come up with one thing obama has done .....lay off the kool aid"

Bet you get good neighbor of the year award constantly.

PS: Luxury Yacht had an interesting posting, and there has been plenty of info on this blog.

I do not get drawn into extended discussions with ppl who do not appear capable of listening.

Decided to make an exception for you since you mentioned being a service veteran and, being a military brat, I respect that.

Bottom line: if you are a dyed in the wool Democrat, you probably like Hillary. A lot.

If you are an independent or moderate Dem or GOP, you probably are taking a good long look at Obama.

They are speaking to different audiences.

Looks Ralph Nader has morphed into Lyndon LaRouche

OH let us stop with expecting one supporter here to provide all the information people seek on a candidate. If you want info on Obama, google him... I am sure there is a campaign website... you can also find criticisms and then make an informed decision...

zumper wrote: "so i will probably go to my grave never seeing a woman president"

Let's hope you are not right on this one. 1) hopefully Hillary's candidacy inspires more women to give it a shot (would be nice to have multiple female candidates going forward instead of just 1 if at all from cycle to cycle and 2) you just hang in there!

My god, is LaRouche still alive?

when I said nominate Chuck Hagel for the STE I was mainly addressing his thoughts on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.......but no way I'd ever vote for a republican ....ANY republican......

Zumper

Take it easy on Dog's Eye. She may not be used to researching on the web and she wants to be clear about the reasons for her support of Obama. I'm willing to wait for both her reasoning and writing. Questions can start once she has stated her case.

Thanks EuroTom. But I actually do intend to work up that post, and will share it with you too.

Did not mean to blow Zumper off, but neither am I someone who follows legislation closely. Further, I REALLY need to read Audacity of Hope for my own edification, and might as well throw some of that in too.

Jamie hit it well with her Apollo vs whoever post a while back.

But I think party identification carries a clue too.

Craig I gotta agree with your thread today. I thought Obama was rather wonkish in the last debate. I found it very interesting how he rarely disagreed with Clinton but frequently just expanded on her answers, it was a pretty neat trick!

It'd be something to think about however, if Hagel ran with Richardson.....i must admit.....

ET wrote: "for once I totally agree with Brian... Nader is a shit... Who da fck cares?"

Me too - I believe this means we can put it to a vote and carry the motion!!!

Nader drove me out of the Green Party.

Biden on This Week ... talk about feeling as if the voters made a mistake

i changed to independent in 1984 after being a democrat all my life ......when they put up mondale (lost 49 states) tjhen dukakis (bush lanslide ) and before those 2 idiots carter (nice guy bad president ) and mC govern (lost 48 states to nixon)....and of course kerry the wimp......and now a fantasy candidate......who will probably win in nov because a potted plant will beat the republicans ......i am clad im an independent because i would be embarrassed to say im a democrat

Jamie is right on the research skills being rusty! And I was one of those horrible students who was always late finishing a college paper (although did well once the damn thing was in).

dog
see 12:12 post

Jamie,
"Biden on This Week ... talk about feeling as if the voters made a mistake"

Biden was great on This Week. Too bad the media wouldn't give him the time of day when he was running.

how so Jamie? re: Biden? I don't get these shows.

The SNL opening said it all..

I am off.. this is too much time online

cheers all

I'm with Jamie. I'd like to hear a little bit of people's personal stories - bring up things BO has done and why that makes them believe he'll be a good president. I also don't mind waiting for someone to put it together.

zumper,

up your meds as your short term memory seems to be failing you as you have mentioned how you used to be a dem and now an indpend many times in the short time you have infested this blog. Do your own research and quit asking Dog to do it for you. You are as big a bore as Gordo and that one is world class.

yo soy Horsedooty!

Senator Joseph Biden is probably the single best foreign relations expert in the Senate. He is extremely pleasant but about as wonkish as you can get simply because he knows so darn much. He was my first choice for the Democratic nomination even though I knew he had a snowball's chance, and, after running in in the early primaries, hedropped out due to lack of votes.

This morning he just quietly sat down with Stephanopoulis and analyzed the world, principally Cuba, the middle east and Kosovo.

Here's the "This Week" site. You can get podcasts. I've never investigated if you can watch on line

http://abcnews.go.com/thisweek

Horsedooty, be nice...

Horsedooty!
why do need research i asked dog a simple question what has obama done .......over 3 hrs ago and still no answer .....check out anything ive written and you will see its all true.....thats why we have had only one dem president in 27 years

I used to think he was ONE hot number when I was a teenager... I think that is when it was.. anyway a long time ago. Was Biden in the senate 30 years ago?

I don't understand how anyone can think that the USA will ever find, or make peace in this world, when the people of the USA can't even be civil to each other on a simple blog.

Think about it - then criticize me.

Zumber bottom line, you could cure cancer, if can't manage an effective run for prez it's worth a pitcher of warm spit. Many of our greatest presidents were accused of being light weights before taking the oath of office, FDR and Lincoln come to mind. It's fine and even admirable to vigorously support your candidate but if you can't do it with it rancor and only tearing down the opposition you're not going to get very far with the electorate, that has been Hillary's problem from the very beginning. Negative campaigns aren't flying with the voters this cycle. The first job in running for prez accurately gauge the mood of the people.