Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Yes we can lose again.

oops hoo.

It is like when people respond to a direct question with
" Whatever". He makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and good, isn't that enough? Why be specific when all your supporter just love the messenger and don't even know or care what the message is. I think Dr. Suess must have a book about this.

G.O.P. Bloggers Gird for Obama

"If you listen closely, you can already hear the test rounds exploding.

The target is Mr. Obama’s favorable but hazy persona, which Republican operatives must redefine in negative and even frightening terms. Assuming that the Republican nominee will be Senator John McCain, they will aim to contrast his tough, aggressive stance against Islamist terrorism with his opponent’s alleged weakness and naïveté. But as usual they will do worse, spreading slurs and smears that depict Mr. Obama as a dupe or even a sympathizer of Islamic radicals.

As usual, the right-wing narrative melds half-truths and lies with facts to create a seamless indictment."

http://www.observer.com/2008/g-o-p-bloggers-gird-obama

Obama should have defined himself, before the Republican's have a chance. Now they are going to drop the hammer and Obama is going to be wondering why they are so mean. And his current tactics of being above all the "politics" are going to fail as the portrait is painted by political artists that will make it a very troubling picture that will scare the silent majority away. I am pretty sure that it will end up as Bye, Bye, Bama.

bowman....well if history is any guide at all, that is what has happened every time since LBJ except for Clinton and Carter. Clinton because Ross Perot took out Bush1 for him, and Carter because Nixon was such a fuggup.....

Obama's speeches tell me........OH THATS RIGHT NOTHING.!!!! It is a SAD thing that AMERICANS CAN believe in a person that basically says the same thing over and over!!!! I think people are voting on " FEELINGS" instead of " REALNESS" . Seriously if you are just wanting to FEEL GOOD find a motavational seminar to listen to and let us AMERICANS VOTE FOR SOMEONE THAT CAN HELP SOLVE REAL ISSUES IN THIS COUNTRY!!! HE seems to be a nice man, but I really HOPE for someone that can SOLVE PROBLEMS.
HILLARY IS SMART AND COMMITTED TO THE BELIEFS OF DEMOCRATS.. JUST WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH FOR OUR COUNTRY AT THIS TIME WHEN THERE IS SO MANY PROBLEMS TO SOLVE....I

Obama will be brought down by the same media that now glorifies him. Morning Joe has just spent the last 45 minutes dissecting the Non-story that is Bill Clinton and a heckler. Nothing so far on the Obama-Edwards meeting, the WI polls (one showing Hillary ahead) and nothing whatsover on the Patrick/Obama "word" sharing controversy. The Repug attack machine will define the talking points of the election and that is a fact. If Obama wins the Nom, he will no longer have the MSM hatred of Bill Clinton blind them to his lack of definition when it comes to policies.

Once the Repug attack machine starts pointing out the deficiencies in Obama the media will follow along and by then it will be too late for Obama to right the ship. It would have been better if Obama would have used the primaries to define his policies because it will be too late in the GE.

Hey tan......you got your wick set too high, youre sooting up your chimney......

Obama supporter. “I think he even hit me in the face with his hand,”

LOL, Well lord man he either did or didn't.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/17/673670.aspx

Barack Obama's Presidential Con

"Rhetorical flourishes are inspiring, especially when they're authentic. The problem comes when they're canned. Jake Tapper has a good run down on Obama's convenient oratory. It would be one thing if they came from the heart, or if what he was saying was actually original. Unfortunately, they don't and they aren't. They've all been said before.

Cons eventually catch up with you. Obama's played his supporters for suckers. They bought into the hope hype, sucking up this stuff with a straw, only to find out Obama's not an original, he's a knock off, of a governor, no less. Siphoning off of a winning campaign to try to win the presidency with a formula. Hey, it's politics. One campaign model fits 'em all. Put your twenty bucks in the bucket and shut the hell up!"

http://www.taylormarsh.com/

lol

lol to Mr Fry, that is......

Typical anti-Obama rhetoric! I expect more from you , Craig! *Yawn* How's THAT for a Brian impression?! *Runs and ducks for cover*

If Obama thinks the Clintons are negartive, wait until the neocon slime machine gets a hold of him.

lol @fry

The man is lucky that the secret service bounce him on the ground. Clinton took time to talk to him that is more than anyone should expect when you are harrassing them.

Jack

Well Craig smoked the Obama doubters out early this morning. Out in force.

Good morning all.

And go Obama!

I'd just figured that obama supporters all sleep late.....
lol

Craig - Bless you for the headline & the story.

I had to laugh at Obama's "pretty words" speech which was filled with the words of others who actually had the goods to back them up. From the sound of his audience (did they pull soccer moms straight off of the Oprah set?), it sounds like they bought his comparison of himself with Thomas Jefferson, etc.

How does the saying go? People get the government they deserve. (sigh)

bowman - "Obama should have defined himself..." But that would mean alienating some people; everyone looks better with that soft, Barbara Wawa-esque fuzzy lighting. Shame on the media for not pushing him.

corey - If you hadn't signed your post, I would've thought it was B'rye.

Corey likes his ice mighty thin for a michigan guy.......

No worries , Sturg. Expecting 6-9 inches of snow here by tomorrow afternoon.

Corey....we're pretty sure that we will see some snowflakes by 2015 or so........

"Shame on the media..." Is it in poor taste to ATM before elevensies?

And let us not forget all of the pretty words that have led nations down the path of destruction. Perhaps identifying himself with some of those leaders would have been just as appopriate. Who knows? Nobody knows. He'd have to clarify his stance on issues & back it all up with a plan before anyone can know for sure.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080218/ap_on_el_pr/obama_edwards

People who post here are really the exception. 95% of the electorate's eyes glaze over when policy details are enumerated. People want inspiration, and Barack Obama is giving it to them. And, as an aside, don't we know that only a small percentage of campaign promises reach fruition?

That was sneaky , eh Blue?

Im not overly concerned with promises coming to fruition or what plans a candidate has except as it might affect whether or not a Democrat wins the next election.....instead of the norm: Losing........

Why "in secret"? In case he doesn't get the endorsement? So the Clinton's wouldn't have tabs on him for a little while?

"Although reporters normally travel everywhere with Obama, he left them behind to fly down in secret from his hometown."

I'd like to say that Hil'ry's stance seems closer to Edward's stance than Obak's, but who in the heck knows where he stands?

I guess he can stand anywhere he wants in private without getting pidgeonholed.

I stopped watching msnbc when they were praising barack and downing hillary. I will not watch them now that they have switched. I am glad though that they are finally reporting the lack of any plans to actually put "hope and change" to work. Barack has used his borrowed inspirational words to con as many voters as possible. At the caucus I attended it was clear his supporters had no information about how his "hope and change" would be implemented. His speeches and lack of plans remind me of the "compassionate conservatism" swill from not so long ago.
Shame on you Obama.

Don't you mess with my man Obama or you mess with me.

Well the south side of chicago
Is the baddest part of town
And if you go down there
You better just beware
Of a man named leroy brown

Now leroy more than trouble
You see he stand bout six foot four
All the downtown ladies call him treetop lover
All the mens just call him sir

And its bad, bad leroy brown
The baddest man in the whole damn town
Badder than old king kong
And meaner than a junkyard dog

colleen - Obak is "giving it to them" alright.

Is he promising them all ponies that will never manifest? No, nothing even that tangible.

Hope comes from within; he's not giving them anything.

What this country needs is a specific goal and a plan to reach it. He hasn't shown that he has either.

mornin' all.

Craig, I can't believe how pro Clinton you are. Wait, that's not right, is it? ;-{)

I listened to Obama quote Lincoln, JFK and MLK in the span of 10 seconds this morning then say if his words get thepublic to "Believe" the public will make things happen. Then why in the hell would I consider voting for him? I wonder if Jackson & Sharpton might take humbrage at that? Colleen, dog - one question - inspired to do what? Lincoln inspired the North to defeat the South and maintain the union, JFK inspired Americans to get involved in their chosen causes and provided avenues to do that, MLK inspired the American people to seek racial equality and not settle for anything less. What in the hell is Obama trying to inspire Americans to do? Hope for change? I really don't get it, and I've listened to more than a few of his speeches.

Plagiarism killed Biden's 1987 campaign. No such luck with Obama--he's held to a different standard.

BTW, the rehabilitated Biden would have made a really exciting president!

Just watched Sunday's Meet the Press and Senator Schumer, a Clinton supporter, spoke quite effectively where this democratic primary is heading. This has been the concern that I've been raising for several weeks... we are going to be divided into two camps that will be very difficult to join together for the general election. I, too, am very concerned about obama's lack of true understanding of the issues and his own beliefs about those issues.

Obama stole from another black guy so it doesn't count

To answer Craig's question, "Yes We Can WHAT". Yes we can deliver a swooning heart throb, starry eyed female supporter falling out at an Obama rally.

http://www.breitbart.tv/html/48404.html

If Obama takes the nomination it won't take the GOP thirty seconds (trial balloons going up now) to dredge up every quote by his minister of 20 years which has been very anti-semitic at times. Tie that to the Black Muslims he worked with on the streets of Chicago (A group that does good things re identity and self respect but has also preached anti-semitism). Add in Barak's middle name, ties to Kenyan mass murders blah blah blah ... None of it will have to be true, but the same brainless crowd that does nothing to analyze him now will either attack him or flee from the ugliness then.

One of the reasons that a lot of the old line Civil Rights folks are more comfortable with Hillary is that they know how much of their support came from the American Jewish community 40 years ago.

blue,
The reason the meeting was "in secret" was Edwards requested it. Same thing for the meeting with Hillary.

We had to cancel the original meeting with Obama because he is such a big blabber mouth, He is lucky we agreed to meet with him at all. His campaign should be called the sieve.

The credentials committee? Anyone know anything about who they are, or what they do? Seems like they might have a big role to play in deciding who on the D side receives the nomination.

dnd, of course that meeting was secret like clinton's was. JE obviously has not decided to back either of them yet, so why would he, or they for that matter, want a public meeting? But just as the meeting was leaked, let's sit back and see if an endorsement is leaked.

Obama has a good record in the US and IL Senates, and a pretty detailed series of policy proposals (as does Clinton, as did Edwards).
http://obsidianwings.blogs.com/obsidian_wings/2008/02/obama-actually.html

Craig, you were eager to attack the media when Clinton was being unfairly criticized. And I was grateful for it.

Now, Obama is unfairly criticized, and you... quote a McCain advisor like he's some sort of impartial third party, and blame Obama for the unfair criticism.

See if you can spot the double standard.

*removes RSS feed*

Pogo... I totally agree with your feelings with Obama. I've listened to several of his speeches and at the beginning I was enthralled by the "message of hope" and doing something different. After a while, that begins to wear thin and you start saying okay, I get the hope part, but I start asking... "how is that hope going to happen"... or in the famous lines of American politics..WHERE'S THE BEEF? There is also an "air of arrogance" that concerns me in that I'm not sure that the democratic party can take an "elitist" mentality that doesn't help the real democratic base!!!

You go Craig, I am so proud of you! It is about time someone point out the obvious. He is a good speaker but then so is she. The difference is she talks about the "solutions". He has just TALKS!
I have two Clinton Staffers staying with me the next two weeks. I will do whatever, though little, to help her get elected. I believe in her with my whole heart.
Go Hillary, in Ohio.

Elvis, sorry, but learn to read what Craig'swritten before you accuse him of applying a double standard. You are simply wrong about (1) Craig's eagerness to attack the media for Clinton's unfair criticism by it and (2) Obama's unfair criticism by the media. In both instances, Craig has criticized the media for spending its time covering silly shit instead of the substantive issues inthe campaigns and has both praised and criticized both dem candidates. Craig covers politics and the media. You want to provide links to Craig'spieces that you feelevidence the double standard? Then we can discuss it.

"elitist" = code word for "uppity"

Nash, why don't you provide us with the current list of code words. We certainly don't mean to inadvertently offend.

Barack Obama: Yes We Con!

People want to believe that they do not have to do anything but "hope" and everything will change.

Maybe they should start by getting an education, and follow that up by getting a job, they add in some common sense. Sure they can carry hope along the way, but HOPE by itself will never get any job accomplished.

Credentials Committee

http://www.demconvention.com/dnc-elects-standing-committee-leadership-for-2008-democratic-national-convention-2/

They are the folks who examine the applications from each state to have their delegates legally recognized for the purposes of the convention.

flatus, sorry, i'm just a nash surrogate. he has listed all the code words here several times. we will either need to wait for him to arrive or dig back through the old threads for the definitive list. will work on that.

Oh Goodie! Are we back to being uppity again? Can I put down the baby and come out of the kitchen?

LOL at nash surrogate. Come on, channel nash and give up the code words.. BTW is elitist only a code word if it's in quotation marks? Do we need to set off all our code words in quotation marks or risk having them interpreted in their usual and normal meanings?

Thanks Jamie for the info.

From the online dictionary

elitist

noun
someone who believes in rule by an elite group; uppity [ant: egalitarian]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.

Actually, I added uppity, but maybe they'll see it and add it.

jamie, isn't your baby a liittle big to be holding in the kitchen? :-{)

Unlikely, you have it right. As a high school counselor I see parent (s) living off our welfare when they could be working somewhere I also see kids who cannot get psycholgical help because there is no insurance. It is very sad.

liberal
elitist
secular
educated
white collar
Starbucks
Volvo
Prius
hybrid
limousine
latte
soccer
uppity
trial lawyers
northeastern
ivory tower
academic
intellectual
NY Times
NPR listeners

add your own- forgot to add:

Hollywood
Michael Moore
left coast
San Fransisco
Massachusetts

kathy, thanks for the elitist code word list. with Volvo, hybrid, Prius, AND limosine as part of the list, what the hell is aregular guy to drive? G/S

Jesus, Crawford -- could you POSSIBLY be any more pro-Republican in your "commentary"?

If I EVER saw a column from you doing anything other than bashing and attempting to discourage Democrats, I'd keel over from profound disbelief.

Kathy/pogo hey, thanks so much! My education never stops.

Our daily driver is a 91 Suzuki Sidekick, love it!

Kathy....
nice list....
you forgot : wind surfer....

Obama bama bama
Mo mama
Fi fie fo fama
Obama

wrath is right, Craig's a republican commentator dispatched to discourage the dem vote. Brilliant. And it's working - I think I'll sit this election out. Not.

Flatus, is the Sidekick the Suzuki best known for seeking it's natural position, tires up? (kidding)

Craig, you hit the nail on the head ,again.

I, too, was watching part of MSNBC this AM.

They seemed to dismiss, only with a sarcastic, "Clinton people would love for this to get around" the clips showing Obama at the Wisconsin Founders Day event giving part of a speech that Deval Patrick had already given.. It was about "words matter", I think they do. My question is whose words are coming out of Barack's mouth?

At least with HRC we know they are hers, even if somewhat wonky. Yes, she understands and gets what she is saying.

Lets see if press give him a free ride on this, they sure side lined Biden years ago with something similar.

renee, G/S.

"you forgot : wind surfer...."

...and French.

press mantra "Must not touchthe golden one, Must not touch the golden one."

welfare caddilacs

my god, sturg, that's soooo 60s. (It's not coming back is it? Tell me it's not coming back. PLEASE TELL ME IT'S NOT COMING BACK!!!)

renee, my R&B is a little rusty, but I think it's

bama, bama,Obama
banana fama Mo mama
Fee Fi Fo fama
Obama

I was trying to just get a list of the "elitist" variety code words - if we are going to do all liberals we will be here all day- and have to include all the interest groups.....

From Armstrong Williams:

"The word on the street is that the Obama campaign and New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg have already met and devised an incredible plan if Clinton wins the nominee. Mayor Bloomberg would give nearly $1 billion to Obama's campaign after which Obama would bolt from the Democratic Party and run as an Independent candidate with king-maker Bloomberg as his running mate."

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=25021

Great post today Craig - everything is starting to bubble up to the surface - I hope it's not too late - then we can have two highly experienced candidates with differing POVs to choose from in the general election. Hillary v. McCain,

If not - the Dems will have to be satisfied sitting around and waiting for another 4 years because Obama will be taken down very quickly by the same media that propped him up.

Remember...the gaps really closed between mid Jan and Feb - his rise was very very fast. His fall will be just as fast - if he gets the nomination, by November, he'll be just a faint memory of what he once was.

Pogo...
I knew it was wrong when I didn't see banana....

so I'm an uppity French woman NPR listener who sips wine and can't even get the goddamn name game song right...... guess I should take up wind surfing or become a trial lawyer.......

elaine of tampa

What's the word on the streets where you are about the votes in Florida? How is everyone feeling about BOs position on disenfranchising all of you?

"isn't your baby a liittle big"

Why do you think I wanted to put him down? Six one and 180 pounds is a bit much.

Gordo - Armstrong Williams is a long time republican mouthpiece who has openly hated Clinton for years. His "word on the street" stuff is bullshit, fed up by the RNC - what he's suggesting would of course violate just about all election campaign finance laws known to man, which he, Obama and Bloomberg all well know.

Renee-

wine drinker most definetely

I love it renee, you have now had a rare moment of insight and self-enlightenment coupled with a new career plan. Your life is now on track. Tell Rick. :-{)

GORDO: Did Armstrong Williams mention how much he was paid to promulgate that Bloomberg-Obama spiel?

Because you realize A. Williams WAS one of the conservative journalists taking PAYOLA from the GWBush campaign, don't you?

jamie, now maybe you can quit buying Doan's pills.

"Bloomberg aides have studied the process for starting independent campaigns, which formally begins March 5, when third-party candidates can begin circulating nominating petitions in Texas. If Democrats and Republicans have settled on their presumptive nominees at that point, Mr. Bloomberg will have to decide whether he believes those candidates are vulnerable to a challenge from a pragmatic, progressive centrist, which is how he would promote himself.

The filing deadline for the petitions, which must be signed by approximately 74,000 Texas voters who did not participate in the state’s Democratic or Republican primaries, is May 12."

If Obama loses on March 4 will March 5th bring about a third party?

Gordo,

Believing anything from Armstrong Williams is right up there with expecting a trust fund from the tooth fairy.

Pogo

I don't have a little liver

come to think of it, I don't have much of a little anything.

sturg, is Krugman's column what prompted your welfare cadillac reference?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/18/opinion/18krugman.html?hp

Wonder if Bloomberg will have charts and graphs like Perot? In any case he'd be nothing more than a spoiler depriving the winning candidate of a clear majority/mandate. Bad on him if he does it.

Jamie, a little liver? Wha?? Maybe I'm a bit dense this morning.

http://home.intekom.com/pharm/menthola/doans.html

new poll from ARG shows clinton leading in wisconsin 49 to 43 with 7 undecided ......no mention from MSM ,,,,,if obama was ahead in new poll we woulf be hearing it every half hour

He's young, handsome and black... He doesn't need any more substance than that... or so think a large number of potential voters.

zumper, polls must be ratified by Matthews and Olbermann

Typical anti-Obama rhetoric! I expect more from you , Craig! *Yawn* How's THAT for a Brian impression?! *Runs and ducks for cover*

Posted by: Corey | February 18, 2008 7:22 AM

Corey if I hadn't know better I would have thought you and Brian were the same person. Now it's time for me to run and duck for cover.... ;-)

dog's eye -- " Did Armstrong Williams mention how much he was paid to promulgate that Bloomberg-Obama spiel?
Because you realize A. Williams WAS one of the conservative journalists taking PAYOLA from the GWBush campaign, don't you?"

Exactly. Armstrong Williams is a complete crook. And a complete crock, now that I think about it. I wouldn't believe him if he told me the earth was round.

Pogo,

whenever you talk about poverty, you have so many causes that perpetuate generational status, that it can seem to be an insurmountable problem. Then there is the truth that the Republicans actually have some pieces of the cure and the Democrats other pieces, but they talk past each other and the children suffer.

In order to thrive, children require security and a stable family (of any composition) that sees to their needs and encourages their development. Drugs, alcohol, and violence cripple any child that must live with them, and a balanced, not just filling, diet to enhance brain development is a good thing. It doesn't hurt to have adults who respect education and participate in the schools. I'm sure everyone could add more criteria to the list.

Now how do you make all that happen? As with any war, it is very, very expensive and the various bureaucracies have to be more interested in putting themselves out of a job than they are in providing middle class incomes, and they have to come up with a way to do it that doesn't step on any Constitutional rights even if they are interfering with getting the job done.

Kathy,

add this to your list of code words

racist = Republican
sexist = Republiican
blowhard = Republican
wrong on nearly everything = Republican

yo soy Horsedooty!

BREAKING NEWS..........OBAMA'S PERFECT

media cant find anything wrong with obama......gene robinson says monica lewinsky is hillarys main problem (MSNBC).......MSM promises to keep looking for Obama's faults

did everone forget Armstrong Williams was paid 100.000 to push bush agenda on his radio program

And go Obama!

Posted by: dog's eye view | February 18, 2008 7:27 AM

I agree... Go Obama... Go somewhere else...

I'm one of the worst offenders, though I did swear off during Mika to move to CNN. Watching MSNBC is almost obsessive. You keep wondering just how many possible ways and repetitions there are to slander, abuse, and lie about HIllary Clinton and any rep of the Clinton campaign.

The stats show that Obama gets 85% favorable and Clinton 51% favorable. They don't tell you that MSNBC is 95% Clinton unfavorable and the stats are only brought down by adding up every other radio and TV station to every blog and newspaper that says something nice about her.

It's a slaughter of commentary raised almost to the level of high art.

You see, zumper, mentioning that Clinton leads in a recent poll there might suggest that Obama's momentum in Wisconsin may not be as strong and compelling as the MSM wants it to be, so why mention it?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/18/us/politics/p18caucus.html?hp

It's sort of like their reporting that Clinton cancelled campaign stops in the state yesterday, suggesting that she's blowing Wisconsin off, but not mentioning that she stayed in Wisconsin and made improptu campaign appearances but Obama cancelled campaign stops because of the weather, but could fly out to meet with Edwards in NC and seek his endorsement.

Must not touch the golden one, must not touch the golden one.

I posted the Armstrong Williams piece to get your reaction. Armstrong is really reaching with this one. Did I say it is believeable? Of course, I'm aware of his history. Does not hurt to see what the other side is putting out.

Isn't that sweet. President George H. W. Bush passing the torch to a new generation.

jamie, you bet that poverty is a tough nut to crack - it requires a huge effort and commitment of resources. I only linked Krugman's column because of the welfare cadillac references in it and in sturg's earlier comment. The one thing worth noting is its refutation through the studies Krugman cites of the mainly republican screed that all it takes to get ahead in the USofA is hard work.

Gordo, thank god. I thought for a minute there that you had LOST YOUR MIND.

Actually jamie, George is just trying to get the torch into someone else's hands 'cuz he's screwed up so badly while he's held it.

Pogo
"all it takes to get ahead in the USofA is hard work."

But a job is the first step.

Jack

the reason i mentioned the poll because it really is news .......hillary is supposed to be all washed up and all of a sudden a poll shows her leading when she was supposed to give up on wisconsin...and was not going to stay there ..i think thats mews...the MSM ignores news when it favors her........... without MSM driving his campaign......he would have to get specific and he has no specifics

Did any of you folks read my friend Nancy Sigafoos' piece called "If Barack Was Brenda"? It's on my blog: http://eurotom.blogspot.com/ reposted with permission. PLEASE DO!!! I thinks he brings up great points.

USELESS BIT OF INFORMATION: For each Presidential candidate, I am sure things come u that most of us don't really care about or don't want to know. This is a bit old, but it's new to me:

"In an interview with Glamour magazine, Michelle Obama reveals that her husband, Barack, is so “snore-y and stinky” when he wakes up in the morning that their daughters won’t crawl into bed with him."

Does this qualify as TMI ? I mean... next thing we'll hear is his farting habits.

Jack, that is true - having the opportunity to get that job is what effective poverty programs focus on IMHO. There aren't as many jobs in the poor parts of town and the obstacles to taking the jobs that folks who would otherwise do so but for those obstacles are legion.

Actually, Jack, there are now a lot of steps before you get to the job stage unless you are talking about some huge WPA program.

Jobs that used to employ the unskilled or those with minimal education levels no longer exist in this country. Without even considering the good paying jobs that have been outsourced: No more telephone operators. No more train porters. Fewer mail carriers. existing assembly lines much more automated ... There is lots that needs to be done on infrastructure, massive clean up of our parks, clean up of slums (broken window projects) scads of stuff, but just try to get the money for it.

Regular jobs? There aren't that many McDonalds even in the U.S.

Clinton is only winning in Wisconsin because it is ...well you know.

zumper
Wasn't that an ARG poll?

If so you have to remember like the weather man they are notorious liars.

Jack

When will Brian, Alpha et al arrive to brighten up our day?

yes, zumper, and I appreciate that. Wisconsin has been close for the past couple of weeks, but you'd never know it from the news coverage.

Jack, jamie - forget what I said - jamie was much more thorough and eloquent.

jack

all pollsters are liars .......my point is if it were reversed and obama was leading the MSM would have it repeated every half hour

if 4 polls come out today and 3 are for clinton and one for obama MSNBC only talks about the one obama is ahead in.....same thing for the last 2 months

I thought "welfare caddilacs" was a Reagan thing......either way, they will use every weapon in their arsenal of slime and subterfuge.....they (gop) can really not afford to lose........but I was just striving to think of a code word which wasnt on the list......will have to read the Krugman, now.......

ET - just read your friends post - very good - she should send it to HuffPo - see if they publish it.

Since "Welfare Cadillac" came up, I am going to break the "not long" rule and post something I wrote for a project last year. Hope nobody cares.....

In 1970 President Richard M. Nixon asked Johnny to perform at the White House. Johnny accepted the invitation, even though he disagreed with Nixon on many things.
Johnny believed in respecting the office of the President, even if you didn’t go along with the policies. But that opinion did not extend to compromising his own principles.
Nixon had a song request for Johnny. He wanted the White House show to open with a song titled "Welfare Cadillac," written by someone named Guy Drake. Johnny had never heard of it and wanted to see the lyrics.
"Welfare Cadillac" starts out with the singer bragging about having a new Cadillac even though he seldom works and is raising ten kids in a shack. He continues to gloat about getting subsidized housing, a monthly allotment of government cheese, his kids’ free school lunches and Salvation Army clothes. But, he reminds the listener, he’s doing okay because he can spend his welfare check on a brand new Cadillac.
Whatever the writer’s intentions, the song came off like a slap at former President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty, and performing it at the White House for Richard Nixon would have been a major statement.
Johnny Cash didn’t like being used for anybody’s political agenda. He especially didn’t like the idea of putting down poor folks. The night of the White House performance, he began his show as he always did. Following the band’s intro, he said:
"Hello, I’m Johnny Cash."
Then he was silent. The band kept playing for a minute, wondering what was going on. It wasn’t unusual for Johnny to change the song list on them, so they were always on their toes. Finally Johnny spoke.
"For my second song, Mr. President."

ET: I also read your friend's post and really enjoyed it. Sent the link to several friends as well...

Wendy, great idea, I will suggest to her. She wrote this great book "Dear Violet: Letter From a Desert Grave" . Check it out on amazon.

Jack, Why do you say they are notorious liars? They aren't any more liars than the rest of the polling outfits that I can tell - they have not, however had the best track record of the pollsters out there, although they have been closer in some states than some of the bigger pollsters (e.g. VA, CA and NV) but then again they have missed hugely in some state, usually on the basis of very old polling data.

It's Obama's, "Yes we can...." without finishing the sentence that's causing me to lean AWAY from him.

I still say that with her White House experience + Senate experience, Hillary is more experienced.

Obama's the #1 liberal senator and Clinton #16. So it's not a matter of who's more liberal, even though I mostly am.

tt

Fact of the day:

The number of 18-29 year-olds who cast ballots in this year's New Hampshire primary --84,230 -- shot up 271 percent from 2004

Actually sturg, I believe you are right - that's sooo 80s. :-{).

which democrat has won their second term election since LBJ...........William Jefferson Clinton. the only one........I say in this coming GE we'd be better served by going with a winner.......Barack so far on national level has beaten Alan Keyes. This is not a time nor an election to experiment......this one is for keeps and all the marbles.......and Barack of all people should know this......pride goes before a fall......and that young man is as proud as a peacock, to utilize a common simile.......

How politically bizarre it is that the Republicans are absolutely NOT mentioning Bush 43 and then Bush 41 endorses McCain who falls all over him.

tt

The Bushco welfare cadillac.

http://www.cartoonwork.com/archive/uspoliticscartoons/welfarecadillac.htm

"they have not, however had the best track record of the pollsters out there"

as I said, "like the weather man".

Jack

Once time more at the Skunk Fest:

http://bloggernista.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/bush-mccain-hug.jpg

Good article on the Hope and Inspiration theme. Believe it or not...it's not pro-Clinton - just pro waking up and smelling the coffee.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-foster-altschul/lets-all-take-a-deep-bre_b_87161.html

Actually, sturg, I take that back - that's sooo 70s. Guy Drake wrote Welfare Cadillac and released it in Jan., 1970. Had to be written in the 60s - Reagan stole the phrase.

http://www.top40db.net/Lyrics/?SongID=70279&By=Year&Match=

News in Dallas: NEW Kennedy assassination information found in DA's office after, what, 45 years?

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-jackruby_17met.ART.North.Edition1.456340c.html

tt

pogo, good cartoon.

sturge, yucky pic.

Get out your tin-foil beanies to ward off the flood of conspiracy theorists.

tt

great link, Wendy - if you all out there haveb't clicked on Altschul's column, you should.

Jack, I get you. Wrong = liar - no intent necessary (at least for pollsters and meterologists).

Breaking News:
Edwards to endorse Clinton in Ohio....
Clinton will then sweep to the nomination and the Presidency....
All the problems will be solved......

From the AP Nedra Pickler
"Edwards insiders say that the Clinton camp has been more attentive since the candidate dropped out, and that Obama has even annoyed him."

pogo....yup.......I remember the song from back then, but Reagan was the one who incorporated it into his campaign.....the phrase, I think without the song along..........
between us we gottem covered.........

Edwards endorsing Hillary..........that should keep Brian occupied for awhile if it's true.....lol.......

Curses! Foiled again.............

Morning peeps,
Craig the only response to today's thread, "if it works, don't fix it". People aren't showing up by the 10 of thousands to be read a white paper on the details.

but is it true? WHo is "Vivian"? The intrigue builds... as does my red nose and my nasty cold. Have all the Obama supporters boycotted this particular blog or have there been a few too many bong hits to get up and go? Hey, early to bed, early to rise...

I read that Pickler about Edwards being annoyed at Obama, but I can't find anything to suggest that an announcement is planned for an endorsement. Is there something out there I've missed or are we just engaged in wild speculation?

And here he is almost on cue..

Here's Talking Points Memo, including Nedra Pickler's 18 hour old AP story on Edwards camp thinking Hillary has been more attentive.

Absolutely no word about an endorsement, one way or another, in this story.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/report_edwards_thinks_hillary.php

Vivian: did you see anything more recent? Checked NYTimes and their AP link, and nothing as of about 3 minutes ago.

Thanks.

I think there is a chance Edwards might not endorse at all and may decide he might prefer the role of neutral broker if there is no clear cut winner by the time we get to Denver.

oh well....it was fun while it lasted......

Where's the Substance?
By Scott Galindez
t r u t h o u t | Perspective

Madison, Wisconsin - Many pundits and the Clinton campaign keep asking where the substance is to Obama's campaign. There's a simple answer: in his plans.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/021808Z.shtml

Does anyone remember an article about Ted Kennedy where Hillary and Bill campaigned for him vigorously when his senate seat was at risk? I need the link.

It was something about how Ted gushed about standing shoulder to shoulder with the Clintons and the betrayal of them in his endorsement of Obama

Sturgeone! you crack me up... LOL.. you and corey... heheheh

This is the guy who supplies the words for It's Only Words..

His motto when running for governer was "together we can" how cool is that?

http://www.bostonnow.com/blogs/tiredofmedia/2008/02/04/gov-duval-patrick-on-the-campaign-trail

Gov. Duval Patrick on the campaign trail
Posted February 4th, 2008 by TiredOfMedia

Too bad Governor Duval has not put as much effort on fixing the state problems as he promised while campaigning for office. The governor is putting more effort on electing Sen. Barack Obama as he did in his own campaign for office. But like both efforts, little progress in bringing the promised benefits has not and will not occur. The governor’s budget reflects monies from the proposed casinos that may or may not occur. Sen. Obama offers more of the highly unlikely public programs that voters want but the Congress refuses to provide. Most individuals in Congress are funded by special interest groups including Sen. Obama. Sen. Obama stated that he only accepts monies from the special interest employees and not the special interest groups themselves are allot of hog wash. The two groups are the same and their monies come from the same banks. Like the petroleum executives, Sen. Obama must think that American’s are a bunch of idiots. Nearly eight years ago another candidate promised to unite the Democrats and Republican parties in Congress and history reflects that then Governor Bush did the opposite. At least Sen. Obama is smart enough to offer possibilities once he or his staff become aware of Sen. Clinton’s proposed programs. Each time, Sen. Obama comes up with a similar program once Sen. Clinton offers a proposed program. One has to wonder what Sen. Obama has promised Govenor Duval for his assistance?

I thought Al Gore was in line to be the broker at the convention.

I think Edwards had waited too long to
make an impact. If he does endorse, he will be the last person from his campaign to do so.

here's the last paragraph from the excellent article linked by Wendy....
the article is by Andrew Altschul..... and IMO,.... note worthy enough to be posted here.....

"I've got news for you: If you think this is dirty, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

This kind of huffiness is just blood in the water for the Republicans, and "compromise" to them is a synonym for "sucker." The sooner we all get over the fantasy of the group hug, the sooner we can nominate someone who will step into the ring ready to fight the crucial battles that need to be fought. So let's stop and reconsider what we want out of the next four years: a friendlier atmosphere, or a better country. Because we're not going to get both."

Amen Craig!

I am so tired of hearing from Obama and his supporters that the details are on his website. Give me a break! He need to be able to articulate this.

One of the most revealing things to me today was this issue of ripping off Deval Patrick's speech from a few years ago.

Yes, I can already hear the Obama supporters saying "But Patrick said it was ok."

Really, the issue of whether he has plagiarized is not the important point, although it should be examined.

The important point is that Obama's appeal has been that his rhetoric is genuine and the "real thing." Now, one has to wonder how many of his other words are not his own original thought.

How is inspirational is this?

ET: Here is one column from Joan Vennochi (Boston Globe) the day after Super Tuesday:

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/02/06/a_loss_for_kennedy/

I'll be very surprised if Edwards endorses anyone. Can't think why he would.

This is defeatist:

"So let's stop and reconsider what we want out of the next four years: a friendlier atmosphere, or a better country. Because we're not going to get both."

Renee-

Great quote!

I completely agree! The Dems need a candidate who will fight the good fight.

I do not want my Dem president to compromise on health care so that we have something similar to the prescription drug plan. That is Repubs version.

Already, Obama has a watered down version of health care. This, along with the economy, is the most important issue to my family.

Ally, that's the one.

what ARE you talking about dog's?

Oh dear! Is Obama the James Frey of political candidates?

Wendy - Thanks for the article on Huff Post. That article states very clearly the reality of dealing with Repugs.

There is a problem with that "solution" for colleges. A tax credit for people who pay little to no taxes, is nothing but air. There was a time when going to Community College was virtually free. You paid a nominal fee per class and bought your books. That was it. The State junior colleges were directly supported by state and federal funds out of general tax monies. If you were a resident of the state who had graduated from an in state high school, that was the only requirement.

The states actually had this rather strange idea that a population of people educated for various occupations or prepared to go on to graduate from a four year institution was a good plan.

Craig also brings up the point that Obama, according to Repubs, has essentially ripped off Clinton's economic plan.

I am curious, which policies are his own original ones? Please Obama supporters, do not refer me to his website.

Jamie,
Gov. Strickland, of Ohio, has a suggestion, senior to sophomore. It was in his state of the state.
I am hs guidance counselor who works with financial aid and the money is there just have to look for it and do the paperwork. Families who have a limited income DO get financial aid and students who decide to do well in school and have a good GPA is also a benefit.

I think it will be really interesting to see the results from the Washington primary tomorrow. It will be interesting to see who wins when 100s of thousands of Dems can actually vote and not be disenfranchised.

Actually, the reality of a "friendlier atmosphere" is what is defeatist. For the Democrats. Because to this crowd of Republicans and Joe Lieberman, "friendlier atmosphere" means "bend over and drop your pants, and let us stick it to you dumb Dems."

ET

Here's a recent article that mentions the 1994 Globe article you are seeking with a quote

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/02/06/a_loss_for_kennedy/

I am watching Ballot Bowl on CNN.

Huck is on. While I am not a huge fan, I like his idea about getting rid if the IRS and replacing it will a "fair tax."

Jan what bothers me is that there have been no commercials or announcements to directly encourage people to participate in the primary. Luckily my polling place is real close (unlike the caucusing location)

Patsi,

LOL! That is a great comment. I too agree that this "let's all love one another" and not ask questions is a HUGE mistake for the Dems.

If Obama is the nom, I foresee some major buyer's remorse.

I have been making calls for Hill. I can tell you that there are plenty of people who are not buying into his rhetoric. They want to know how he will help them. He simply does not tell people this consistently. This is a real problem in the general.

the only fair about the "fair tax" is it's name.

Jan

A "fair tax" is anything but fair. It is extremely regressive and as a percentage of income falls hardest on those with the least funds.

Thanks Jamie...

Oh and I voted in the Washington state primary.

The results of the WA state primary for Dems will be so skewed as to be MEANINGLESS! Between the many voters who will simply discard their ballots because the vote doesn't count, those who refuse to select a party out of protest (failure to select a party means your ballot will be discarded without being counted), and those voters (like me) who selected a party but took the opportunity to vote for the candidate they REALLY wanted (Edwards in my case), there is less than no chance the results will have any true meaning.

Jamie,

I am not sure I agree. Huck has said that for the poor, he would give vouchers so that they would not be taxed on necessities such as food and clothing.

The way I look at it is that if you are poor, then you are not buying much anyway. If you get these vouchers, then you are not paying anything.

On the other hand, the rich are always finding loopholes in the current tax system. It would be great if they had to pay for whatever they buy.

You know, I am Dem through and through. But, my knowledge is that the current tax system is relatively new. It was not until the mid 20th century that Congress devised this current system. Before that, it was basically a consumotion tax. Now, that seems fair.

but it will be interesting to see how the votes split in comparison to the caucus results.

well everyone, I really am sick so I am off to bed... cheers, and good evening

EuroTom,

I agree! It would be interesting to see that when voters have more time to vote that Hillary may get more votes.

If this happens, I hope the Dems seriously rethink the caucus system. I doubt they will though bc insider activists like having more power. It doesn't seem very democratic.

Lincoln was the first president to call for an income tax to pay for the Civil War.

The Revenue Act of 1862 (July 1, 1862, Ch. 119, 12 Stat. 432), was passed by the United States Congress during the American Civil War and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenue_Act_of_1862

EuroTom: hope you feel better.

Jan

How would he determine who was poor enough to get the vouchers? You would still need a bureaucracy to determine that condition. Enforcement at the retail level would mean complete retooling of all equipment to levy or not levy a tax. The details go on and on . Now you might have a point if we returned to the basic tax as envisioned by the founders "Property, tarriffs and certain "excise" taxes on luxuries".

Tarriffs are difficult with all sorts of complications re level and enforcement in a global economy but actually the one considered fairest by Adam Smith in Wealth of Nations.

Property Taxes again have various levels and how are the proceeds distributed fairly from wealthy neighborhoods to poorer neighborhoods.

Excise? Which industries do you encourage and which discourage.

The whole field of taxation makes most people go crosseyed while reaching for the Advil. The one thing to remember if trying to do it fairly. Tax what you want to get rid of and don't tax what you want to encourage ... watch out for unintended consequences, they can kill you. :-)