Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

"I hate the war......need some more money for it? " yep....tough sell.....

Maybe even more of a reason to vote for Nader...

waste of time like voting for McCain....just furthers the bush agenda.......democrats the only choice there is.

Well Before I go to work.

Even Clinton and Obama cannot be blamed for voting to support the troups when a LOON is in the White House and will not pull out no matter what.....

My Son and others would be caught in the middle and they know. For this, I am willing to wait for November 2008 to kicking the !@#$%^& out.

Have a great people

Ralph Nader on the charge that he is just a "spoiler"... tough stuff:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23321310#23320410

Ralph Nader on Barack Obama

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23321310#23320428

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/18349197/the_chicken_doves

Quietly, while Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have been inspiring Democrats everywhere with their rolling bitchfest, congressional superduo Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have completed one of the most awesome political collapses since Neville Chamberlain. At long last, the Democratic leaders of Congress have publicly surrendered on the Iraq War, just one year after being swept into power with a firm mandate to end it.

Matt Taibbi

one more excerpt:
The story of how the Democrats finally betrayed the voters who handed them both houses of Congress a year ago is a depressing preview of what's to come if they win the White House. And if we don't pay attention to this sorry tale now, while there's still time to change our minds about whom to nominate, we might be stuck with this same bunch of spineless creeps for four more years. With no one but ourselves to blame.

Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone

I think it's perfect - nobody can take a phony high road with this in people's faces saying they have nothing to do with the mess we're in, not McCain, not Hillary, not even 'Mr. I was opposed to the war, even though I wasn't there and was only running against freak show Alan Keyes, and I fell in line after getting there, and I said 'I wasn't in the senate at the time and can't say how I'd have voted..', and I totally ditched the Irananian National Guard vote 'cause I'm a giant pussy, but at least I have a penis Obama. - wow, guess that statement makes me an Atheist hugh?

This morning on Imus, Col. Jack Jacobs jumped with both feet on top of the Obama myth.

All popularity and no substance.

Sheila,

I suspect your son will not be re-enlisting?

Listened to Jack Jacobs on Imus this morning.

Never one to hold back his feelings, he indicated that Mr Obama is nothing more than an empty bag surrounded by a self-serving machine. He said that Obama has absolutely no knowledge of foreign affairs or the defense mechanism that serves to protect our country.

He opined that if he and McCain were the candidates, that it would be a most boring campaign with McCain most assuredly the winner.

In McCain's case, he thought the choice of VP running mate would be pivotal.

He was slightly more supportive of Mrs Clinton.

jack "road rage" jacobs astute political observer?

not so much.

He, econsmed, don''t badmouth Keys; his father was an Army NCO!

Sturgeone, it's nice hearing an intelligent person speaking in something other than code.

Well, this is what happens when the media get to decide for us who the nominees will be. They closed the door on Kucinich and Edwards, the 2 who might have gotten us out of this mess. And we waste our time talking about personalities and temperament and who leaked what. Talk about taking our eyes off the ball.

Would Obak's people have floated the photo of him in Somali garb? I know they are concerned about how some Americans might see it, but wouldn't now be (a) the best time to deal with it rather than the general and i(b) in a way that would take the air out of Hil'ry successfully slamming him all weekend, as well as deflating her SNL bounce?

If it wasn't Borama's folks, then maybe the GOP? I just think Hil'ry's people would see that was a pointless move.

Oh, and as for all of the poll numbers Willie & Mika were showing this morning, do we still believe in poll numbers or have they gone the way of the Easter Bunny?

Polls don't equate to a democratic mandate.

Flatus said that Jack J said, "...he indicated that Mr Obama is nothing more than an empty bag surrounded by a self-serving machine. He said that Obama has absolutely no knowledge of foreign affairs..."

And that, for all the world, sounds like W. I'm telling you, Obama is just Shrub 2.0.

Blue, whether Senator Clinton's behavior over the weekend was "successful" is way open for opinion. And there seem to be some who believe that the Clinton campaign has been surrepticiously using Drudge to distribute information for a while now.

Hillary Clinton Campaign Connection to Drudge Report Detailed by International Herald Tribune (NYT) in October of 2007

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/editorblog/054

Wasn't the last mid-term a mandate for change? Yep, the Dems were gonna show up for work every, single day & stop to the war-mongering Bush admin. Yep, they were gonna.

The original article from the International Herald Tribune:

The Drudge Report warms to the Clinton camp, or is it vice versa?

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/22/america/drudge.1-156891.php

Flatus - Keyes was an NCO too, No Chance Option.
I wonder if Mika is going to kick Jacobs in the shin next time he's on Morning Jo - or did he move on to something above morning cartoon shows?

Each candidate will do whatever it takes to win if they want it bad enough. Wait till October and see what crap comes out of whatever candidate is trailing in the polls. It mabe a lot worse than what's going on now.

colleen - I don't doubt that all media outlets are used & abused by all parties. However, I'm just not sure that Barak didn't have more to gain by this after Hil'ry called his flyer a dirty, political trick.

I am totally fed up with politics... REALLY... I have left the democratic party and I am going to vote for Nader in November... and I don't care if it matters or not. One vote doesn't make hardly a fucking difference anyway and I've grown tired to all the "tit for tat" bullshit online (not just here). I just am not going to support a candidate who is presented as the new messiah and APPARENTLY walks on water... I am off for a well deserved nap.

NADER 2008

If Obama was trailing he would be going after Hillary with everything he had, that's the way the game is played. What would you do if you were them and running for President?

Flatus,

Col. Jack Jacobs, being a CMH recipient, said he would much rather see a McCain-Hillary election than McCain-Obama election. Although not a news reporter Jacobs commands a lot of respect and his words are taken very seriously by the MSM. All Obama is, is an empty box wrapped up in pretty paper. A lot of people I am afraid are going to be so very disappointed when that pretty paper is removed, the box is finally opened, and find the box empty.

I just find it incredible how so many Ds and Indies are blindly following this Obama parade. Based on what? Certainly not based on experience, or substance to back-up his campaign rhetoric of endless promises, or any sense of economics, national security. Here is my hope and change. I hope the D's get some sense real quick and change over to HRC.

It sure helps your chances if you got the press on your side.

Craig....
unfortunately..... you're right..... the Democrats cannot really take the high road on the moneys appropriated for the Iraq War.... no matter how they try to spin it....

as I see it..... the general election is shaping up to be....

Oh Hosanna vs the Old Fart

It's been getting bad for years, but this season has been so horrid that a truism is really thrown in your face.

Politicians are sold exactly like soap and the commentators and spokespeople are the salespeople in the campaign.

Just think of Barack Obama as a new box of Cheer.

I hope HRC keeps her cool tonight and doesn't go all "Peter Finch" on us!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMBZDwf9dok&feature=related

Jamie,
Just think of Barack Obama as a new box of Cheer

At least the contents in Cheer works.

Interesting that the networks ratings are very high why and the world would they want it to end on March 4th. What are they going to do between March 5th and the conventions. It will be boring period of time after all this excitement since January.

or "Howard Beale"...LOL

VAdaryl

"It sure helps your chances if you got the press on your side."

Hillary Clinton did something yesterday that I have my doubts Obama could have done. She made a major foreign policy speech filled with detail.

Heard any news about it other than an offhand, "Hillary was in Washington making a speech"? NO we get did she or didn't she put out a photograph?

It has been a constant negative drumbeat. For whatever reason, the powers that be prefer someone with one year's active experience in the Senate with no major committees and unable to call together the one subcommittee he chairs to a woman experienced in world government and international relations.

The networks don't care about what's good for the different parties, they just want high ratings and outdue each other. They want to get out the story first.

FD

"At least the contents in Cheer works"

Well my first thought was New Coke

Why would they want to give Hillary any credit on a speech, the photo was the storyline for the day. Ratings, Ratings, Ratings. Their big thing today is to find out who leaked the picture. Who cares!!!

Over the weekend their was one reporter for CNN that discussed what was true and false in Obama's flyer and other issues. For once there was someone who was really looking into the issues. But his segments were very short.

The networks don't care about what's good for the different parties, they just want high ratings and outdue each other. They want to get out the story first.

Posted by: vadaryl | February 26, 2008 7:47 AM

the networks' owners, however, are a different story.

General Electric......progress used to be our most important product......

HRC needs to keep her cool but retain her fire. She needs to press her points and disassemble Obama's. The MSM made it a big deal how she was booed in the last debate, but 15 seconds before that she was cheered on virtually the very same issue of Obama using other people's words. The only real difference was in the segment of her speech where she was booed, she used the word, xerox copy. And maybe the MSM didn't remember but, Elizabeth Edwards said very similar thing about Obama back in Dec. 2007. The MSM has a very convenient memory when it best suits there guy.

Econsmed, I don't understand the phrase, "No Chance Option." But, then, I was, and am, an NCO, too.

"General Electric......progress used to be our most important product....."

And now it's the war machine....

Huh, good god, y'all......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48KVZXroyjA

that's right, Patsi....
now it's the war machine.....

and guess which candidate GE would prefer to see elected to keep that money flowin'....

bet it's CEO had an orgasm when McCain uttered his "100 years in Iraq" line....

Sturgeone

Thanks loads for making me feel aged and decrepit because I knew what was going to be playing on that link before I clicked to listen. lol

IMHO, HRC needs to be very careful tonight. She needs to be calm and in control.

As a woman, HRC cannot afford to come across as a crazed woman, while BHO sits there being cool and "above it all".

BTW, Pat Buchanan is hilarious on Morning Joe, this morning!!

Jamie,

Hillary Clinton did something yesterday that I have my doubts Obama could have done. She made a major foreign policy speech filled with detail.

The key words there is "details. Lets not confused the issue with details. The star struck Obama supporters are to spellbound with the Obama mystique to be bothered with something as meaningless as details. This is so sad.

mornin' all.

Yep that's one thorny issue - Let's see how the golden one responds to this - hopefully better than he has with his I've been on the right side of the war from the beginning (BS). The same line will be answered with "I know what your answer is, but listen to my question this time." Of course, Hillary has no answer. At one level, I guess you could ask WTF is the point since all 3 remaining candidates have voted the same way on the issue. But here's the deal - it doesn't matter. What we are faced with is a choice between a party who wants to get us the hell out and a party that wants us to stay the hell put. This is nothing more than a misguided attempt to frame the election issue on the war so that the Dems can't win the argument on that issue. Or it could just be serving up a hanging curve for the dems to knock out of the park by changing the issue to what to do going forward since they haven't been able to do that themselves, but I am skeptical.

ET, WADR, there is NO reason to vote for Nadir.

Sturg - depressing, isn't it? How in thehell did Reid & Pelosi move into those positions of power?

Lush, I hope she comes out with all guns blazing - at least it might be interesting - unlike the last debate.

jamie - yep... Sigh.

HarborW....

I'm sure you're still in bed on the west coast..... but I want to tell you I clicked on your link about the government quietly admitting that a case of autism was caused by a vaccine with mercury in it....

that admission is huge.... it will be interesting to see what happens from this point.....

and I am so glad for you that it happened!

now.... just for you
GO DEMOCRATS!

Mika on MSNBC needs to grow up and become a real broadcaster. Now Hillary is being scorned for being strong and standing up for herself on the flier that Obama sent out. Gloria on Anderson360 is the same. Hillary has never moved off her issuses and her belief in her solutions. These women have a real problem with Hillary and show their bias everytime they open their mouths.
Yes Linda, I like Pat at least he tries to start the facts instead of getting into pettiness.
Ohio will support Hillary!!!

Lush, I hope she comes out with all guns blazing - at least it might be interesting - unlike the last debate.
--pogo
______

I agree!! I just want her to aim carefully, before she takes a shot!!
____

TR and BW better ask some "hardball" questions tonight!!

frydaddy, I listened to here that speech and it was excellent.
Now MSNBC are saying Hillary camp put out that picture of Obams. THAT IS LIE and Hillary camp denied it. YET MSNCB said they admitted to it.
This is yellow jouralism.

sturg - me, too - I can't open it, but I know what the link is to - absolutely nuthin'.

renee & HW, being in the toxic torts biz - not as much as you might think. As they say, one robin does not a spring make. The official from the gov't won't be testifying in any court as long as he (she) is still in the government, and the two sides will put experts up who will respectively adopt and discount whatever studies the government relied on to come to that conclusion. Oh, and the Law Firm of James Sokoloff will run a new ad directed toward parents of autistic kids, shich you will be able to watch as long as you watch cable channels in the evening.

Carol, Clinton is a strong woman; Mika is merely glib.

good for Willie...he is holding Michael Eric Dyson's feet to the fire, with his questions!!

pogo,

Isn't Law Firm of James Sokoloff the same group you see on TV suing on behalf of asbestos related illnesses?

ohhhh...Mika must've been twisting Willie's ballz under the table...'cause the MED interview ended with a big, wet "Willie/Mika slurp"...very disappointing.

flatus, I know but it is making me so upset. I have decided to get involved political and run for a state office in two years. I have never been political but seeing what has been going on over the last 3 month it has turned my stomach. I have several degrees, a psychologist and now I am ready.
Hillary is a very strong lady and I have complete confidence in her. Just have to listen to her words.
You know she could have gotten nasty but "shame on you" is hardly nasty. I thought it was well said. I am so excited about tonight.

LL,

Is that the same Michael Eric Dyson professor at Georgetown?
What was he doing on MSNBC for this morning?

Fry, yep, and nursing home cases and any other personal injury and mass torts that are the flavor of the day. They are a weird bunch - sort of an advertising clearinghouse. I had a nursing home case once with an attorney who got the case from them - he was sort of a subcontractor who got a smaller cut than he would have.

Renee & HW - I went back and opened the link - yep, that's quite an admission for the govenrnment, but note the questions posed by Kirby - they just scratch the surface of the issues in those cases. What cases like this point out is how advanced the science is on the one hand and how limited it is on the other.

FryDaddy

Yes...he was there to slurp BHO!! 8D

If the debate is run like the last one and you were Hillary and you won the coin flipp would you want to make the opening statement first or go 2nd. After that would you want to get the questions first or have the follow up question.

Here's the NYT take on the current Clinton campaign tactical moves. Kind of reminds me of a Rohrshach test.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/us/politics/26clinton.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

And this is not good news for Hillary - Dodd to endorse Obama.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Obama-Dodd.html

IMO,there should be a coin flip, but, just to keep it fair, I think it should only be for the first question. Then, for the remainder of the questions, they should switch, who answers first.

.oO(does that make sense?)

Pogo,

I was once part of a class action law suit once, which cost me $25 to join. I think there were about 10,000 of us and the average settlement was roughly $75k. The suit took 9 years to travel through all the various courts, and this was a pretty much a straight forward case from the very beginning favoring the plaintiffs. So cases involving different theories where both sides have a number creditable experts contradicting one another, you have to wonder if they'll ever reach a conclusion.

Jamie:

to add to your 7:47 post regarding Hillary's foreign policy speech. She was very impressive. Also, I don't see BO giving a major policy speech with what was it 5 retired generals standing PROUDLY behind him as they were Hillary.

And...no...not a word about the speech anywhere but CSPAN.

This makes me suspect that the Obama campaign was behind the photo so that their screaming bloody murder over it would distract from the speech itself. I'm sure they calculated whether the negative they would get out of being so outraged would be worth it against the non coverage of her policy speech.

Some BO supporters would call this a brilliant tactical move...well...unless Hillary had done it then it would be slimy...but since Obama will NEVER give a speech like that...

At any rate - watching MoJo this morning - had a Baptist Minister on there supporting Obama. Did anyone see it? I give the guy credit - when asked if Obama was ready to be president and the whole what has he achieved...he completely blew off the question and made an eloquent speech about why experience doesn't matter ("George Bush had experience and we see where that got us!" - Yes he said those exact words. ROFL). His non-answer to the question and speech about experience being overrated was so eloquent you could hear Mika go..."MMhmmmm" at the end of it. Can I get and AMEN Mika...AMEN. I LMAO - then I realized I wasn't watching another episode of SNL but the real news...then I started to cry.

;-)

And for the morning's economic news -

Wholesale inflation up by 1% in January (double what analysts expected, and highest in 16 years). Oops. Not what the Fed wanted.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Economy.html

And the inflationary pressures aren't limited to wholesale prices - the PPI (highest increase in 26 years) and core inflation (highest since last February) numbers were up also.

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/business/business-usa-economy-prices.html

Oh, and the Dow responds - it's up 189 points. As they say WTF?

Jamie wrote: "Well my first thought was New Coke"

ROFLMAO

Yes!

Wendy,
"then I realized I wasn't watching another episode of SNL but the real news...then I started to cry."

You may have a lot of company should Obama win.

where is this debate being held? Last time it was a Obama crowd to make things fair it should be a Hillary crowd this time around.

this time I think they both should be given time for closing statements just to be fair.

Fry, that must have been one hell of a class action - what was it about if you don't mind my asking? If you don't want to muck up the blog with it - larry dot chafin at steptoe hyphen johnson dot com. And $75k is unusually high as the average take for CA plaintiffs. They often result in minimal recovery for each plaintiff and huge fees for the attorneys - which (pardon my cynicism) is why attorneys bring them.

Brian and Tim could make this a very interesting debate depending on their line of questioning.

vadaryl - I'd want to give the first opening and take the questions as the second.

a little morning humor...

http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/bldailyfeed3.htm

Vadaryl wrote: "this time I think they both should be given time for closing statements just to be fair."

Ummm... Vadaryl - they were both given time for closing remarks...Obama's was forgettable...that's all.

I would want to do the same thing. Set the tone right away.

I most of zoned out when he closed, I just remember hers.

I just remember he tried to say something but time ran out.

Actually I think he was just asking: Can I go now?

I wish they would publish their notes they took during the debate. Would be interesting to see.

If the Dems are dumb enough to put Obama in the presidential election, then they are looking at either a defeat in Nov or a do nothing presidency. If Obama gets the nomination I really hope Hillary backs away and doesn't try for the VP job. The Dems will need her in 2012 to pull the party back together again. I can't wait for the MSM to turn on Obama, it will be exciting.

At the very end he was looking to see if it was done but just before that he had that finger going like he wanted to say something.

I don't trust Brian Williams to ask the tough questions. He was the hard-nosed journalist who asked Obama what he was going to be for Halloween. Anybody remember that little slurp fest?

Yeah...I think BHO wanted to get up, while HRO was getting her standing "O"...and he must have been told to sit still... 8D

Vadaryl: Obama was writing before Hillary even gave her opening statement. He was doodling...just like Jerry Lundegaard doodling on the golf notepad in Fargo.

I don't have much faith in either Brian or Tim but this could be their last debate for a long time and they are going up against American Idol and if it get's interesting they could keep the viewers from switching.

Oh , Brian Williams! I thought you meant Brian as in Brian in NYC was gonna be asking the debate questions tonight! Whew!

Steve - they are testing the turn on Obama waters a little bit but want to probably wait until after TX and OH to go full force...they also want to be careful not to give Hillary new life.

I'm also looking forward to it.

Looking forward to HRC running in 2012

I've also switched to Independent like ET and hope that more high profile Indie candidates throw their hats into the ring so we can have a real choice and a real discussion.

Just watched the Nader clips...he makes some good points...perhaps I need to get over my "he cost Al Gore the election and gave us George Bush" grudge and give him another look...perhaps.

GWB maybe did not have much experience but look who he surrounded himself with. Very experienced guys like Cheney and Rumsfeld. How did that work out?

yo soy Horsedooty!

But he was trying so hard to get in a point before the Standing O. He knew that was going to be played over and over but the clock ran out.

Vadaryl:

I didn't see that - that's funny - of course he wanted to rebut her closing statement. He knew she hit a home run with that one...what an Obama thing to do. Shocked they didn't let him.

Steve, I agree with you. They are all republican and will turn on the democrat contender. At least Hillary is use to it. haha
I wonder why Obama has NOT be scrutized? Who is behind him? Please, people listen to the WORDS tonight, they say a lot.
What ever happened to Richardson and Edwards? They are waiting to long and their endorsement will be worthless. Are they waiting for March 4th? By then it will be too late for either of them for it to mean anything. Such game playing

The longer Edwards holds out the more I think he has not bought into Obama ideas. Richardson is holding out because he wants to be VP on either ticket, and why piss off one of them if the other wins.

Hillary needs some good news so an Edwards endorsement before March 4th would be a good start.

Mika soooooo hott...want to touch her hiney

kay bailey hutchinson (R) TX waxing fatuously on why McCain should be elected President this time on MSNBC now. She is another one that is running out her string and will probably contest with Gov Good Hair (Rick Perry) for Gov of Texas. Her main accomplishment in her life was she was a cheerleader at the University of Texas back in the early 60's

yo soy Horsedooty!

pogo,
The increase in the PPI were due to higher energy prices and the biggest increase in food prices in more than three years. Energy prices over the last 50 years have average an increase 5% a year. Gas in 1957 cost roughly $.20 cents a gallon, and today today you're paying roughly $3.10 per gallon for much better and cleaner burning grade of gas. Gas is only high because we, Americans, have become so use to low gas prices, and too because of the sudden price run up. Actually gas has stayed pretty much kept pace with inflation. Had the oil companies adjusted the prices of their by-products to meet inflation, $3.10 a gallon wouldn't have the same impact on us as it is having. And food is understandably higher because so much corn has been converted over to fuel. The increase in corn prices haves pulled all the other grains up with. Grains are up and so are beef and cattle prices are up, milk is higher. So we better hope for a bunker busting harvest of corn this year, or next year will be even worse than it is today. We love lower interest rates, but the Fed sees lowering interest rates as inflationary. Sort of the old catch-22 syndrome don't you think?

Lush, G/S. TYVM for the comedy link.

"look who he surrounded himself with. Very experienced guys like Cheney and Rumsfeld. How did that work out?"

And Obama has Zbigniew Brzezinski.

"Yer doin' a heck of a job, Ziggy." Jimmy Carter

"Edwards endorsement before March 4th would be a good start."

Given that Dodd is endorsing Obama today, an Edwards' endorsement would be so much more believable as sincere.

Sincerity is not something Dodd does well.

Yeah, I know Fry, It's all related to supply and demand - for oil and grain. And I also know that gas is about where it was 30 years ago when it is inflation adjusted - but it still feels bad when it costs $60 to fill the tank. What those numbers do point out is that eventually, the fiction of core inflation dissolves as the costs of transportation spread to affect the non-food and non-energy segments of the economy. I wish the government would drop the core inflation BS and supplant it with a "real inflation" index that takes into account weighted spending patterns so that the numbers would actually tie to the economy that voters live in - they know how prices hit them, so the gov't should publish an index that actually means something to its citizens.

"And food is understandably higher because so much corn has been converted over to fuel."

This is all well and good for Iowa etc., but there is no way we can grow enough to provide the needed bio fuels. It is why if we are going to continue to rely on individual transportation, the way to go is fuel cell and/or electric. Never should have given up the old electric cars in the first place. :-)

Carol:

Richardson is hedging his bets

The Edwards "non-endorsement" is more interesting. I think he wants to endorse Hillary because she's more experienced and tougher but can't because everyone around him is telling him he can't. But...he obviously finds himself in a situation where he CAN'T endorse Obama either. Why is that? Hmmmmm....makes one wonder. We all know why he CAN'T endorse Hillary but Obama seems like a better fit...yet...no endorsement.

Perhaps he is just timing it better - sometime this weekend perhaps he will endorse Obama - then all my speculation wil be wrong...but if he doesn't...that says more about Obama than anything.

pogo....
I don't have a dog to hunt in the autism battle.... HaborW does.....
and no matter what..... it's probably good news to her.... and I was merely congratulating her on that.....

so no more Spanish Inquisition on that point..... or I'll have to go get the puffy cushion...... :0}

Dooty..... you bring up a very good point.... a president surrounding himself with "experienced" people doesn't necessarily mean success...... one must get competent experienced people.....

Fry, sorry, I posted before I read the last line in your post - yep, that's what I meant to suggest with my Fed crack. Have the latest consumption figures been reported yet?

YW, pogo 8)

I think the site is hilarious, especially the cartoons!!

http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/barackobama/ig/Barack-Obama-Cartoons/Race-Card-vs-Gender-Gard.htm

I have never viewed a presidential campaign where both surviving candidates for the dem nomination worked within the same chamber... this being the Senate. I would really love to know why so many senators have endorsed the man who walks on water? Does anyone know? We know Ted Kennedy hates her, and Dick Durbin is from Obama's home state, but some of the others surprise me. Is it tactical as in, "oh he's the winning ticket, it'll help me politically if I jump on board?"

I've tossed in the towel... I don't care what happens now. I've gone from passionate supporter to resigned to be issue a protest vote. And I am no longer a Democrat. If people want this charlatan, it's fine with me. I am convinced that someone who refuses to even wear an American flag on his lapel is going to really go over big with the mainstream, sarcasm on.

I don't like Raph Nader, but I am willing to look at him as a way to expressed disapproval with this nominating circus, without having to plug my nose and vote Repug... I am back to taking a nap. As you can tell, my mood has soured greatly in the last 24 hours, and it isn't just from here... :-) Although irritated, I am also resolute. This lifelong Democrat is one NO MORE...

Cheers.

Senor Horsedooty

Molly Ivins thought Sen Hutchinson was a minor possbility in 2004. She might think now is the time for another run. Of course, we might get lucky. Texans could come to their senses and elect Kinky.

ET,

I think your diaper needs changed.

thanks Brian

FD/Pogo

"gas is about where it was 30 years ago when it is inflation adjusted"

If middle class wages had done the same, it wouldn't be any problem. Unfortunately, they have stagnated or declined while these core COL indexes continue to climb.

I take that back, Brian is more cogent with the one-liners...

Renee, not meant to be the inquisition - just an observation. :-{)

jamie, you are right about personal transportation - corn as a fuel source solves some pollution problems, but it doesn't appreciably lower carbon emissons, which is what ADM and the corn industry would have you believe. It's a problem in search of a technology to solve it. Hell, for the past 2 years all we've heard in WV is liquified coal as a source of (primarily) diesel fuel - only it's been done before - Hitler's armies ran on the stuff. One thing is certain - corn ain't gonna be the answer.

ET

"American flag on his lapel is going to really go over big with the mainstream, sarcasm on."

Not quite enough change. I think the flag worn as a James Brown cape after another "hopeful" speech would be so much more impressive. Done right he might get groups of fainters and need to stock in cases of bottled water.

I just got the Chis Dodd Obama endorsement e-mail. I don't know a way to link it, but for the benefit of you Obama fans out there, I will (reluctantly) edit the chaff out and post the reasons he cites for endorsing Obama if you want me to.

Fry Hunny Bunny,

My Son is a Navy lifer like his mother, father, and grandfather before him.

He is also a card carrying Democrat. He understands from his mother that he can vote his concience and still be serving his country too.

hmmm my 9:41 post is like one i did earlier. Oh well, consider it a repeat for emphasis...

Just like Ralph Nader, another bad penny turns up:

Journal -Gennifer Flowers is putting the tapes of her recorded conversations with Bill Clinton during their 12-year affair on the auction block, Vegas Confidential learned Monday.

Flowers, who came forward during Clinton's 1992 Presidential election campaign with details of the relationship, said she decided to part with the tapes after renewed interest surfaced. She was offered $5 million by a Japanese collector in the 1990s, she said.

Not to say he wasn't excited to get back at Bin Laden and didn't' vote Republican the first time, but he saw the light very soon after. Smart young man. He knows that if he votes for his countries welfare and that is against the Commander In Chief, he is still a patriot.

Pogo

Bill Mahar actually made a good point about greenhouse gasses. If we all became vegetarians, they would substantially decrease.

Trying to get the American public to give up or substantially reduce meat consumption is harder than getting them to buy a Prius.

Because they share something in common...

jamie, yep, that is true.

Signed,

One of the worst offenders.

ET to answer your question about endorsements from the senate.

Because they share something in common with Barack.

HALPERIN’S TAKE: Things McCain Can Do to Try to Beat Obama That Clinton Cannot

"4. Encourage interest groups, bloggers, and right-leaning media to explore Obama’s past.

5. Make an issue of Obama’s acknowledged drug use.

6. Allow some supporters to risk being accused of using the race card when criticizing Obama.

7. Exploit Michelle Obama’s mistakes and address her controversial remarks with unrestricted censure.

11. Emphasize Barack Hussein Obama’s unusual name and exotic background through a Manchurian Candidate prism."

( The Repub Attack/Smear machine would have lots of "FUN" with these attack lines.)

http://thepage.time.com/halperin’s-take-ways-mccain-can-beat-obama-that-clinton-cannot/

ET to answer your question about endorsements from the senate.

Because they share something in common with Barack.

Posted by: Wendy! | February 26, 2008 10:01 AM

You mean, they think THEY walk on water too? ....

ET

ROFL

Easier to walk on water with 3 legs

:-D

OK, here's the edited Dodd endorsement of Obama- I only took out the stuff that was boilerplate.

"Dear Pogo,

We have been through a lot in this past year and your friendship and support have meant so much to me. That is why I wanted to let you know of my decision to endorse a Democratic candidate for President - and that I have decided to support Barack Obama.

And while both of our Party's remaining candidates are extremely talented and would make excellent commanders-in-chief, I am throwing my support to the candidate who I believe will open the most eyes to our shared Democratic vision.

I'm deeply proud to be the first 2008 Democratic presidential candidate to endorse Barack Obama. He is ready to be President.

Put simply, I believe Barack Obama is uniquely qualified to help us face this housing crisis, create good jobs, strengthen America's families in this 21st century global economy, unite the world against terrorism and end the war in Iraq - and perhaps most importantly, call the American people to shared service and sacrifice. In this campaign, he has drawn millions of voters into politics for the first time in their lives and shown us that we are united by so much more than that which divides us.

More than ever, we need a President who will inspire us to take part in the political process and change our country's path.

Today, when we need it most, we are hearing a new call from Barack Obama.

Sincerely,

Chris Dodd

Paid for by Chris Dodd for [Vice] President, Inc., PO Box 51882, Washington, DC 20091"

I find it interesting that this was paid for by Dodd's presidential campaign (I added the [VICE] part.

funny...

http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/hillaryclinton/ig/Hillary-Clinton-Cartoons/Audacity-of-Nope.-1Gk.htm

Yes Wendy, I thought of that... hahahah but then Claire Mc. from Missouri popped into mind...

Maybe she wants to be under Obama too... don't flip this is a joke but I find it sooo funny:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xb3bDwE9jQ

Paid for by Chris Dodd for [Vice] President, Inc., PO Box 51882, Washington, DC 20091"

LOL ... you wouldn't be suggesting there was an ulterior motive?

So he ALSO wants to get under Barack Obama? WOW.... now we're talkin' !

OK, Lush, you inspired me, but rather than be an equal opportunity poster, here's a link to jokes about McCain only.

http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/johnmccain/a/johnmccainjokes.htm

ET, now would I ever suggest such a thing?

Bank failures? Oh my.
http://calculatedrisk.blogspot.com/2008/02/fdic-bracing-for-bank-failures.html

I just tried to post the links for all the candidates...but I got a message that it is being held... 8(

HRC jokes...

http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/hillaryclinton/Hillary_Clinton_Jokes.htm

BHO jokes...

http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/barackobama/Barack_Obama_Jokes.htm

For those of You who think the election will be a cake walk for the Dems. Look at the states that are currently in Rasmussen's tossup list.

"These are likely to be the early battleground states of Election 2008: Florida (27), Ohio (20), Virginia (13), Missouri (11), Colorado (9), Iowa (7), Nevada (5), New Mexico (5), New Hampshire (4), and Wisconsin (10). "

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/election_2008_electoral_college_update

Jack

It means you have put more than 2 links on your message.. I got that too before...

Lush, you broached the 3 link threshold.

Lush. REmember the two link rule.

Any more than that in one post and it gets held. You either need to repost or wait for Craig to release it from never never land

JSM jokes(please see pogo's 10:15am post)... 8)

Oh, I didn't know that, but I do now!!

Thanks, Jamie!! 8)

Well I guess Lil got enough answers to that remark. :-)

For those of you who hate war and love history, I put up a great anti-war ballad and a bit of history about another war that was totally screwed up by the leaders and resulted in thousands of deaths and permanent injuries.

http://jdurward.blogspot.com/

Oh, and thanks EuroTom 8)

and thanks, pogo, too!! LOLOLOL!!!

they never get released.... I am having coffee before I return to work...

Flatus - No Chance Option wasn't a swipe at your or Army NCO's - was at the no win chance of Alan Keyes.

Obama donations may surface in political fund-raiser's trial

"There’s a strong chance the name of presidential contender Barack Obama will surface at indicted political fund-raiser Tony Rezko’s trial, which begins next week.

She also ruled that prosecutors can ask questions about how money from that fee allegedly was used “to make a political contribution” in Aramanda’s name “because Rezko had already donated the maximum amount by law and he could not make the contribution himself.”

The ruling does not identify Obama as the recipient of that contribution. But sources have identified Obama as the “political candidate” who prosecutors say received a $10,000 contribution from Aramanda — at Rezko’s direction — during his 2004 run for U.S. Senate. Obama has donated that contribution to charity.

Rezko was once part of Obama’s senatorial finance committee."

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/812207,morerez022508.article

Jack, 7 of those states went Repug in '00 and '04. If any one of the states had gone Dem in '00, Gore would have been president; if any of the states with more than 9 electoral votes would have flipped to dem in '04, John Kerry would be president. Not a cakewalk, but over twice as many states that went red in the past 2 elections are in play for dems than states that went blue are for Repugs. It says something about the mood of the country, I think. This is where the moronic punative action of Howie Dean against MI & FL could come into play and deny the Dems FL.

Did any of you ever hear this song? Wasteland of the Free by Iris DeMent... I used to play it on my radio show in Olympia Washington... KAOS Olympia Community Radio... Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuEWBlChry4

One more cow...or I guess this would be a load of bull

http://img149.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mcmaverickbrandedxv8.jpg

Wendy:

I posted some (ridiculously) long responses to you over on the last thread. Too big to cut and paste over.

Everyone:

Hmmmm... Let's see - when the photos first come out - they are linked to Clinton staffers.

Now, every Clinton insider I see does the same old two-step.

1. Qualified denial
("I personally don't know..." - "This was not sanctioned by the campaign" - etc.)

2. Immediately into a fillibuster to prevent any follow-up questions
("Would the Clinton campaign be so stupid" - do you really want an answer? plus their desparate - "What is all the fuss about - Hillary wears funny hats too" - Hillary has not been the victim of a smear campaign to spread misinformation that she is a Muslim to the "great unwashed" as Patsi calls them)

I think Clinton realizes she will go on after this nomination process no matter what - I do not think all of her staffers get this.

RR, pogo, fry, and other interested parties...

I only have a 'dog in this fight' in the sense that my son has autism/Aspergers. We are not part of the case against vaccine makers. As is usually the case with anything in the legal system, and even moreso with things tangled in a legal/governmental system, the rules are truly stacked against the injured party. To be part of this group, you would have had to know that your child's autism was tied to vaccines and have filed your paperwork within two years of his receiving the vaccine in question. That historically happened with very few. It happens more frequently now, as parents are more aware of the need to watch for signs and symptoms, and of the filing requirements. The system was set up to protect the vaccine makers.

Another reason I have no dog in this particular fight is that I believe my son was born with whatever he has. Believing that, there is no money motive for me, as I couldn't have filed anyway. But I do want to know both the cause(s) and the cure. I believe that these kids have a genetic predisposition that is triggered by something in the environment. For my son, that environment was his prenatal environment, perhaps my body's toxic load. I may have exacerbated his condition every time I allowed him to receive a vaccination, but I will never know for sure. What I do know for sure is that neither he nor I will ever have another vaccine of any kind unless it is literally a life or death matter. That's not a decision I've made lightly. It is one based on a great deal of research that has led me to the conclusion that vaccines are NOT one of our greatest medical advances, but are in fact incredibly dangerous, as too little is known about the effects of the various vaccine components on the human body. And I DO believe that vaccine components (probably not just mercury, but also aluminum, formaldehyde, and other things that likely should never be injected into the human bloodstream) play a huge role in the current epidemic of regressive autism. I believe they also play a role in the neurological damage being done to many kids who are lucky enough NOT to end up on the autism spectrum. There are environmental reasons involved in the fact that 1 out of every 6 American children now receives some degree of special education services. Isn't it just possible that these genetically predisposed kids are 'canaries in a coal mine'?

My problem with the legal system is that it seems like a game to me. There are rules, and if you fit neatly into the framework of those rules, you win. If you do not fit neatly into that framework, you lose...and truth plays virtually no part in that system. I hate that. For me, truth is not relative. There is what is true, and there is what is not true.

My other problem has to do with politics...and that is a big part of the reason I care about this or any other election. The current administration has done incredible damage to science. They don't want to know the truth. They only want to know what is convenient for their corporate sponsors, so they simply make up their own truth. In this climate, we will NEVER know the cause of autism or countless other illnesses...and we will never know the truth behind many other legitimate scientific concerns, such as global climate change. Being permitted to make up truth and pass it off as knowledge is not a good thing. We MUST put people in office who hold scientific truth inviolable.

I believe the answers are all out there. We just have to come up with the right questions. Simplistic, yes, but true at its core. The right questions, answered with a heart for truth, will lead us to solve many of today's greatest problems.

Gordo, the prosecution will have to show that the donation went to Obama to prove that it was to avoid the limit on donations. And they will have a witness to prove that fact.

It is a tough sell when the Dems promised to end the war if we voted them in and then they continued the enthusiastic support for Bush. McCain knows this...and do the Dems really think we'll believe them anymore when they promise to end the war?
As State Senator Clay Davis , of "The Wire" HBO show says, '"Sheeeeee-it!"
Most anti-war sentiment is contained in long-forgotten peace groups far from the madding crowd of D.C.
Congress, by record, is much more in favor of McCain's views on Iraq than anything HRC or Obama are saying on the stump, with an invisible wink-and-a-nod, of course, because Obama and Hillary have been solidly for Bush ALL ALONG in his war effort. And Hillary sounds like Holler-ee when she disses Obama this week, especially in RI earlier.

Well said Horbor and worth the read!

Maybe someone from the Obama camp released the photo. It was reported that only a handful of people were with BHO, in the room, when he tried on the Somali garb. Someone with BHO had to take the pic.

Sorry....HARBOR..... ;0)

Harborwoman: You live on the West Sound, correct? Bremerton? Do you know if there has been any proof of a "cluster" of autism cases in the Puget Sound area? I had several friends on Bainbridge Island (where I used to live) who have children with autism (at various points on the spectrum including Asperger's.) I have now been in Iowa for 2.5 years and have not met one person who has a child with autism (this isn't saying too much as I don't get out all that often!) but I was just curious about the geographic trends.

warren, again..all you have to do is copy and paste the time stamp if you want to refer someone to a previous post.

bainbridge island! BELISSIMO!