Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

race ya to the start!

Vast right-wing conspiracy:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20080320/us_time/cangopvotersspoilthedemrace

Whoo Hooo?

And the winner is Ty.....

And Hey Warren.... Old Story first run by Dems in early states crossing the line to vote for who??? John McCain.....

It is always important to note the role of Colin Powell in making the case for war.

Rez..Thanks for correct info. about Portland tickets..

FOX Noise has done every warped, distorted, convoluted take on Obama's speech that one could think of. They're working on coming up with more as we speak. Anything for them to keep race and class relations incendiary.

McCain is a war monger. He's in favor of keeping this war going and going and going. A big NO to that dude. He also doesn't know the difference between extremists and al Qaeda. It's a Freudian slip, IMHO.

"For the second day in a row, Sen. John McCain’s campaign linked al Qaeda in Iraq to Iran"

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/03/19/mccain-camp-again-links-al-qaeda-to-iran/?mod=googlenews_wsj

It time for the War Mongers to GO AWAY!

tt

Clinton & NAFTA:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20080320/cm_thenation/1300860_1

Now that we know from official records of her time as First Lady that Clinton was the featured speaker at a closed-door session where 120 women opinion leaders were hectored to pressure their congressional representatives to approve NAFTA; now that we know from ABC News reporting on the session that "her remarks were totally pro-NAFTA" and that "there was no equivocation for her support for NAFTA at the time;" now that we have these details confirmed, what should we make of Clinton's campaign claim that she was never comfortable with the militant free-trade agenda that has cost the United States hundreds of thousands of union jobs, that has idled entire industries, that has saddled this country with record trade deficits, undermined the security of working families in the US and abroad, and has forced Mexican farmers off their land into an economic refugee status that ultimately forces them to cross the Rio Grande River in search of work?

As she campaigns now, Clinton says, "I have been a critic of NAFTA from the very beginning."

But the White House records confirm that this is not true.

Her statement is, to be precise, a lie.

When it comes to the essential test of the trade debate, Clinton has been identified as a liar -- a put-in-boldface-type "L-I-A-R" liar.

"FOX Noise has done every warped, distorted, convoluted take on Obama's speech. . . They're working on . . . Anything for them to keep race and class relations incendiary."

You're right tt. Next they'll be calling him subversive because he once read Marcus Garvey and Eldridge Cleaver

Bear and Warren,

CNN just covered this with two people who sat in on the meetings about NAFTA where she firmly expressed her opposition to NAFTA. After that, kindly remember she was first lady. In public, she was supportive of her husband.

Call her a liar if you want, but not more than any other cabinet member who expresses reservations in private and then "serves at the will of the president" in public.

Maybe Michelle Obama doesn't agree with 100% of everything said by Sen Obama. She isn't about to come out and tell the public, my husband is an idiot for even suggesting that.

NYTimes Letters to the Editor today; readers' reactions to Obama speech. "Obama Challenges the Racial Divide"

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/opinion/lweb20obama.html?pagewanted=all
=======

Craig: my condolences for how slowly the blog comments update. Is that happening throughout CQ blogs, or just on yours, which seems to experience more traffic?

Teaching us patience.

Saw a magazine ad from the early 1950s for long distance operator assistance; copy along lines of "You might even be connected with your party while you are still on the line." (Imagine that.)

Think we used to be a humbler sort.

I think NAFTA's basically OK as long as the trade agreement is equal both ways. That means including the US in the benefits.

tt

Craig,

Can we do anything about the hang up in the comment posts?

The following is a transcript from Special Report Panel with Britt Hume
Wed. Mar 19, 2008

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A speech worthy of Abraham Lincoln.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was daring.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: An extraordinary speech.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was striking.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In many ways an act of honor.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The best speech ever given on race in this country.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Remarkable exploration of race from both sides of the color divide, from both sides of himself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUME: Well, those are pretty good reviews for Barack Obama's speech from some of our colleagues in the media.
Back with our panel on this subject. Charles, we haven't heard you on this. You weren't in here yesterday -- your thoughts about the speech and the reaction to it.
KRAUTHAMMER: The reaction was rubbish that we just saw. His speech was nothing more than less than apologia, an explaining away of Jeremiah Wright's rants done with elegance, nuance, and complexity.
Essentially, it said that -- if you look at his remarks, this is what Obama was saying -- he explained it away in two ways -- moral equivalence, and white racism.
The moral equivalence is on the one hand you have Jeremiah Wright, and on the other hand you have Geraldine Ferraro --
HUME: And his grandmother.
KRAUTHAMMER: -- and grandma, who occasionally would utter a private, racist epithet, as if she had shouted these in a crowded church or a crowded theater as a way to arouse and envenom the audience as Wright did.
Obama is a guy who glories in his capacity for intellectual distinctions. There is a huge distinction between a woman of the generation of a Truman, who also uttered epithets about Jews and blacks in private, and the propagation of race hatred in a congregation on behalf of a pastor
And the second element of that speech was extenuating, and explaining in a way as a reaction to white racism. He says, look, you have to put Wright in context, context is history, and the history he gave is a history of racism starting with slavery and ending at Jeremiah Wright and his anger and frustration.
This kind of extenuation is what you used to hear from Jesse Jackson, except in Obama's case, dressed up in Ivy League language and Harvard Law School nuance. And that's why the commentary that we saw on this was so rhapsodic. It touched two erogenous zones -- white guilt and intellectual flattery. And that's all it was. I think it was a brilliantly conceived failure.

That last paragraph pretty much echoes what I posted a few days earlier Charles Krauthammer’s rebuttal of Obama’s speech was brilliant in its simplicity and accuracy and most importantly honesty because it is reflective of the greater majority Americans and how they feel about Obama’s speech.

Now I will give my analysis of excerpts of Obama’s speech:

OBAMA: “It was stained by this nation's original sin of slavery” <<< referring to the declaration of independence. Designed to evoke white guilt over slavery. I am sorry Senator Obama as a Catholic I see that as demeaning God. You do not in your arrogance; supersede the sin of slavery as equal to Original sin. A sin against humankind is not the equal to the sin against God.

Obama: “I am married to a black American who carries within her the blood of slaves and slave owners, an inheritance we pass on to our two precious daughters.”
That sentence is designed to evoke white liberal guilt. Why does he refer to that as an inheritance?

OBAMA: It's a story that hasn't made me the most conventional of candidates. But it is a story that has seared into my genetic makeup the idea that this nation is more than the sum of its parts -- that out of many, we are truly one. <<<<< If that is the case that you believe “we are truly one then why have you attended a Black Separatist Church that preaches derisive homilies by Reverend Wright?

Obama: “Throughout the first year of this campaign, against all predictions to the contrary, we saw how hungry the American people were for this message of unity.”

Yet Senator Obama you were still attending Sunday services from a Pastor that preached hate and division but you claim a message of “unity”?

Obama: “This is not to say that race has not been an issue in this campaign. At various stages in the campaign, some commentators have deemed me either "too black" or "not black enough." We saw racial tensions bubble to the surface during the week before the South Carolina primary. The press has scoured every single exit poll for the latest evidence of racial polarization, not just in terms of white and black, but black and brown as well.”

Senator Obama race has been an issue only because you and your campaign sought to make it so.

Obama: “On one end of the spectrum, we've heard the implication that my candidacy is somehow an exercise in affirmative action; that it's based solely on the desire of wild- and wide-eyed liberals to purchase racial reconciliation on the cheap.”

Senator Obama are you denying that you did not benefit from affirmative action? You claim you heard “implication” from whom, from where, what source?

Obama: “For some, nagging questions remain: Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in the church? Yes. Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views? Absolutely, just as I'm sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests or rabbis with which you strongly disagree.”

Senator Obama only two days earlier you denied hearing him make controversial remarks while you attended in church. I think use of the word “controversial” is far too clinical a word for hatemongering.

Obama: That has been my experience at Trinity. Like other predominantly black churches across the country, Trinity embodies the black community in its entirety -- the doctor and the welfare mom, the model student and the former gang-banger.

Senator Obama for a man that preaches unity and made it such a strong part of your campaign, why did you limit yourself to the “black community” what happened to the white side of your heritage.

Obama: “The church contains in full the kindness and cruelty, the fierce intelligence and the shocking ignorance, the struggles and successes, the love and, yes, the bitterness and biases that make up the black experience in America.”

Senator Obama is that last paragraph to justify the divisive rantings of your Pastor Reverend Wright.

Obama: “I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can disown my white grandmother, a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed her by on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.

Senator Obama I see this as a simple ploy to once again evoke guilt from white liberals. What ever your grandmother was or faults she had is between you her and your God, why put that out for public consumption other than to evoke white guilt?
Oh and by the way, were there any prejudices on the black side of your family? Why only mention the flaws and faults of the white side?

OBAMA: “And I suppose the politically safe thing to do would be to move on from this episode and just hope that it fades into the woodwork. We can dismiss Reverend Wright as a crank or a demagogue, just as some have dismissed Geraldine Ferraro in the aftermath of her recent statements as harboring some deep-seated bias. “

Senator why bring up Geraldine Ferraro? You make this speech sound like a plea for votes and superdelegates.

OBAMA: “And the lack of basic services in so many urban black neighborhoods -- parks for kids to play in, police walking the beat, regular garbage pick-up, building code enforcement -- all help create a cycle of violence, blight and neglect that continues to haunt us.
This is the reality in which Reverend Wright and other African- Americans of his generation grew up. They came of age in the late '50s and early '60s, a time when segregation was still the law of the land and opportunity was systematically constricted.”

So being poor and living in abject squalor justifies the rhetoric that Reverend Wright preaches.

Sir what makes great people are people whose love, charity, humanity, compassion persevere despite, evils, temptations, inhumanity, that’s what makes them exceptional and great, not men that use that as an excuse to be divisive Senator Obama.

Obama:
Anger over welfare and affirmative action helped forge the Reagan Coalition. Politicians routinely exploited fears of crime for their own electoral ends.

Senator what are you trying to say? It makes for great political theater but lacks substance.

Obama: For the African-American community, that path means embracing the burdens of our past without becoming victims of our past. It means continuing to insist on a full measure of justice in every aspect of American life.
But it also means binding our particular grievances, for better health care and better schools and better jobs, to the larger aspirations of all Americans -- the white woman struggling to break the glass ceiling, the white man who's been laid off, the immigrant trying to feed his family.
OBAMA: And it means also taking full responsibility for own lives -- by demanding more from our fathers, and spending more time with our children, and reading to them, and teaching them that while they may face challenges and discrimination in their own lives, they must never succumb to despair or cynicism; they must always believe...

That is the first statement we both see eye to eye on Senator Obama.

OBAMA: America can change. That is true genius of this nation. What we have already achieved gives us hope -- the audacity to hope -- for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
Now, in the white community, the path to a more perfect union means acknowledging that what ails the African-American community does not just exist in the minds of black people; that the legacy of discrimination -- and current incidents of discrimination, while less overt than in the past -- that these things are real and must be addressed.
Not just with words, but with deeds -- by investing in our schools and our communities; by enforcing our civil rights laws and ensuring fairness in our criminal justice system; by providing this generation with ladders of opportunity that were unavailable for previous generations.
It requires all Americans to realize that your dreams do not have to come at the expense of my dreams, that investing in the health, welfare, and education of black and brown and white children will ultimately help all of America prosper.

That is the second statement we both see eye to eye on Senator Obama.

OBAMA: In the end, then, what is called for is nothing more and nothing less than what all the world's great religions demand: that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

Third statement I totally agree and see eye to eye with you on.

Obama: Let us be our brother's keeper, Scripture tells us. Let us be our sister's keeper. Let us find that common stake we all have in one another, and let our politics reflect that spirit as well.

Again, I totally agree Senator Obama.

Obama: The children of America are not those kids; they are our kids, and we will not let them fall behind in a 21st-century economy. Not this time.
This time we want to talk about how the lines in the emergency room are filled with whites and blacks and Hispanics who do not have health care, who don't have the power on their own to overcome the special interests in Washington, but who can take them on if we do it together.
This time we want to talk about the shuttered mills that once provided a decent life for men and women of every race, and the homes for sale that once belonged to Americans from every religion, every region, every walk of life.
This time we want to talk about the fact that the real problem is not that someone who doesn't look like you might take your job; it's that the corporation you work for will ship it overseas for nothing more than a profit

Once more I totally agree Senator.

This time we want to talk about the men and women of every color and creed who serve together, and fight together, and bleed together under the same proud flag. We want to talk about how to bring them home from a war that should've never been authorized and should've never been waged

Again we are in total agreement Senator

There's one story in particular that I'd like to leave you with today, a story I told when I had the great honor of speaking on Dr. King's birthday at his home church, Ebenezer Baptist, in Atlanta.
There is a young, 23-year-old woman, a white woman named Ashley Baia, who organized for our campaign in Florence, South Carolina.
OBAMA: She'd been working to organize a mostly African-American community since the beginning of this campaign, and one day she was at a roundtable discussion where everyone went around telling their story and why they were there.
And Ashley said that when she was 9 years old, her mother got cancer. And because she had to miss days of work, she was let go and lost her health care. They had to file for bankruptcy, and that's when Ashley decided that she had to do something to help her mom.
She knew that food was one of their most expensive costs, and so Ashley convinced her mother that what she really liked and really wanted to eat more than anything else was mustard and relish sandwiches. Because that was the cheapest way to eat. That's the mind of a 9 year old.
She did this for a year until her mom got better. And so Ashley told everyone at the roundtable that the reason she had joined our campaign was so that she could help the millions of other children in the country who want and need to help their parents too.
Now, Ashley might have made a different choice. Perhaps somebody told her along the way that the source of her mother's problems were blacks who were on welfare and too lazy to work, or Hispanics who were coming into the country illegally. But she didn't. She sought out allies in her fight against injustice.
Anyway, Ashley finishes her story and then goes around the room and asks everyone else why they're supporting the campaign.
OBAMA: They all have different stories and different reasons. Many bring up a specific issue.
And finally they come to this elderly black man who's been sitting there quietly the entire time. And Ashley asks him why he's there.
And he doesn't bring up a specific issue. He does not say health care or the economy. He does not say education or the war. He does not say that he was there because of Barack Obama.
He simply says to everyone in the room, "I am here because of Ashley."

"I'm here because of Ashley."
Now, by itself, that single moment of recognition between that young white girl and that old black man is not enough. It is not enough to give health care to the sick, or jobs to the jobless, or education to our children. But it is where we start. It is where our union grows stronger.
And as so many generations have come to realize over the course of the 221 years since a band of patriots signed that document right here in Philadelphia, that is where perfection begins.
Thank you very much, everyone. Thank you.

Very touching and heartwarming. That touched my very soul and pierced my hear with joy Senator Obama

I know I will take a lot of flak for this, but it is an honest assessment of how I feel about Senator Obama’s speech on Racism in America. I tried to be as fair as I could without compromising my honesty

Sorry for such a long post Craig, everyone but I felt it of great importance.

Sincerely,

Heather

WTF??

"Former aide to Cheney disbarred after conviction"

"Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was stripped of his ability to practice law on Thursday as a result of his conviction in the CIA leak case."

GOOD!!

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN2039157920080320

tt

Dog,

"Saw a magazine ad from the early 1950s for long distance operator assistance; copy along lines of "You might even be connected with your party while you are still on the line." (Imagine that.)"

When I was in college and then for a while after my two children I was a telephone operator in the 1960s. We blame NAFTA for a loss of jobs, but technology has eliminated a lot more.

We now take it for granted that we can call nationally and for many countries internationally in just a minute or two without any assistance at all.

When I was sitting at that big board there were 25 - 100 women sitting with me depending on the day and shift. You couldn't call long distance or mobile or a naval ship or even to party lines in the mountains without me. That single office in one small part of Los Angeles employed at least 200 women. There were probably 10,000 or more jobs in the county by the time you added in equipment offices, linemen, and operators. Multiply that nationwide and there go the jobs.

bear you are wrong. Hillary questioned NAFTA as noted by a white house staff. He mentioned it on TV a week or so ago. Also she NOW says that it needs to be revisited because it is not working as it should. Give her some credit. SHE did not LIE.
It was working in the mid 90's but like most everything it has to be updated because thing change.
Please get it straight.

I think there is a Clintonite working at Yahoo. Everytime I see a negative article about her - it lasts like 15-20 minutes and then dissappears. Strange.

I am one who is taking a break. ;0)

But for Cbob, I will make this statement. He and I spent many an early morning discussing Global Warming, trading head liners from the newspapers, and laughing at Colleen's political jokes.

We all had a morning coffee together and frequently we would all take turns describing what kind of coffee was brewing and the pastry or bisquit we brought to the morning Coffee Clutch.

Bob was GREAT for a story of his life. It was addictive.

You guys just can't understand the magic of Crawfordslist back in the day of "Agree to Disagree". We all came together talked, disected, and debated each and every subject presented.

Many many times we would spend the mornings feeding on Craig's posts and finding common ground with each other.

AND the Biggest delight of all was, ALL were Welcome and included with kindness and a sense of community.

I'm sorry none of you have experienced it here now. My wish for you all is that you get to experience it someday. I can safely say, that even though most of us had never met, we ARE still real live friends.

My prayer is for Cbob, who I have missed terribly to have found peace and be watching this with delight! He KNOWS whos going to win and is delighting in this drama. ;0)

I love you CBOB.

Anon-P.

Contact me at chefstonesheila at gee mail dot com. We HAVE started an email thread to keep in touch. WE would LOVE to have you email with us.

This is over and above any posting you want to do anywhere else. We just don't want to lose you too. ;0)

OH! NASH.

The same, I have tried a couple of times to let you know about emailing my friend!

Jamie,

Mine was just a cut and paste job from that Nation article. It would seem suspicious to me that people in the meeting would have 2 different accounts of her attitude towards it then. Why would you work so hard to pass something you didn't support?

Heather, I got carpal tunnel syndrome scrolling down your last post. I would suggest a hyperlink in the future, otherwise you will be hearing from my lawyer Pogo...lol

LardassLiberal

Of course, I clicked the link...duh!! You are hilarious!!

Jamie: you are so right about the loss of jobs through technology. Which has its good and bad sides.

I always found John McCain very disconnected when he would tell folks, "well, your kids are going to college and won't want to do those jobs anyway." Because that is dishonest, and not everyone is a number cruncher and there are millions of people whose skills and inclinations fall between manual labor and college degree requiring work.

Technology enhances our lives in many ways, but it makes equipment and people obsolete too quickly in others.

....lost a post......

Nash, have been trying to find you too. If you see this, the same goes. Would love to add you to our email thread.

We are friends and don't want to miss your sense of snarky humor!

Posting an email received from a friend today:

TOPIC: Do you see the parallels?

Let's turn the clock back to 1992. What did we have? A young couple, relatively politically inexperienced on the national front. Prominent in their home state. Both lawyers. Both policy wonks.

He's the charming orator who's learned how to build an invincible campaign to challenge the establishment Democrat political machine, she a rising star at a prominent law firm, who is the breadwinner so that he can chase his political aspirations.

Now fast forward to 2008. What do we have? A young relatively politically inexperienced couple, etc, etc.

In other words, the Obamas ARE the Clintons of 1992. With a better tan. And he's a faithful husband, as far as I know (to paraphrase Sen. Clinton).

They stole the Clintons' play book, and now the Clinton's are the establishment Democrat political machine. And the Clintons are none too pleased with this turn of events.

....lost a post into CQ cyberspace.....

Jamie, the site is screwy.

tt

ROTFLMAO...seriously!!!!

Open Mouth Insert Foot

"Yesterday former Democratic nominee and Obama supporter John Kerry confirmed everything that Geraldine Ferraro said. Not only that, he took it a few steps further, In an interview with the New Bedford Standard Times Senator Kerry stated that:

"the color of Obama’s skin makes him uniquely qualified for president and even reach out to the moderate Islam world. "

Please take note that John Kerry used the phrase the color of Obama’s skin makes him uniquely qualified for president.

Now excuse me if I belabor the point but didn’t Geraldine Ferraro say basically the exact same thing when she stated:

“If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position,” she continued. “And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.”

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/03/20/open-mouth-insert-foot/

Heather, please post a link to such a long item instead of copying and pasting the whole thing. Exceprts and links always best.

Heather
I'm sure that several people have already said this but just in case.

Next time pull out a few juicy quotes and post a link. Please!
It is a pain to have to scroll through that much stuff.
:-)

Jack

Good Grief, folks...can we please stop the dramatic parade of martyrs here? I mean...if you want to leave, then leave. If you want to stay, then stay. Just don't make such a production out of it all.

Please don't "leave" and then just use this board to constantly pop back in to remind everyone that you've "left" and then invite others to also "leave" to go off to whatever secret cool-people place you've created to commiserate and nurse each other's supposed cyber-wounds.

Please don't alternate between defending and mourning the loss of the biggest, self-professed bully on this board...who actually created and reveled in that role...and getting all misty-eyed and nostalgic about one of our founding spirits, who turns out to be one of the selfsame bully's earliest victims.

We're all grownups, I think. Obama has had a bad week or 10 days...just like Hillary had in her turn a month or so a go. That doesn't mean whichever side happens to be down at any given moment has to pick up its toys and go play somewhere else.

Christ on a freakin' Crutch. Spare us all the drama....please?

And just put a little Bactine on those skinned knees and elbows. They'll get better. I promise.

(Lush...glad you liked the Clockwork Orange montage. One of the funniest things about that movie is when it makes you actually feel sorry for Alex, and then realize how stupid that is)

In other words, the Obamas ARE the Clintons of 1992. With a better tan. And he's a faithful husband, as far as I know (to paraphrase Sen. Clinton).

They stole the Clintons' play book, and now the Clinton's are the establishment Democrat political machine. And the Clintons are none too pleased with this turn of events.

Posted by: dog hussein dog

Obama didn't steal the Clinton's playbook, Obama trashed the Clinton's reputation in the black commuity.
and tried to dimish the achievements of the Clinton administration.

First Obama doesn't want anything to do with President Clnton and now he wants to be him?

Obama is more like Kerry than Clinton including being against the war before he voted for it.

Isn't the Ivy lovely today. That is what my grandmother used to say when she wanted to redirect the conversation.

So, Isn't the Ivy lovely today. The air is fresh with the coming of Spring.

Her other advantage was that as her age advanced her hearing got worse, but we always thought she heard what she wanted to and the rest just passed on by. And that may be the key to serenity.

This is for Oregon Democrat. Never let information go uncovered. ;0)

Free in Portland http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/portland

No money given for Eugene....Everything is free. ;0)

By KATU Web Staff
Video PORTLAND, Ore. - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will hold rallies in Portland and Eugene this week, his campaign announced Tuesday.

The Illinois senator will hold a rally Friday morning at Memorial Coliseum in Portland and a rally in Eugene at McArthur Court Friday evening. There may be more events on Saturday.

Both events are free and open to the public, but those interested in attending must get a ticket to enter.

You can get a ticket for the Portland event by clicking here or by visiting Obama's Portland campaign headquarters at 3016 Division St. from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Doors for the Portland rally will open at 7:30 a.m. with the program beginning at 9:30 a.m.

There are no tickets required for the Eugene event but the campaign is asking people to RSVP by clicking here.

Space is limited for both events, and admission is on a first-come, first-served basis, the campaign said.

For security reasons, no bags are allowed. No signs or banners are permitted either.

Obama collected about $200,000 during a Portland fundraiser and rally in September. His rival, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, hasn't yet been to Oregon during her presidential campaign.

Ballots for the mail-in primary go out in six weeks. The results are tallied on May 20.

- The Associated Press contributed to this report

LL,

I love the smell of Bactine in the morning... it smells like...

Bactine!!!!

Lard,

if i want to keep in touch with people, If I want to monitor before I finally leave so I can get in touch with people who are dear to me,

Well then I have a right. Just ignore me.....

If Harbor wants to defend someone she considers a friend, then she has a right to state it.

Now YOU CHILL and allow us a little bit of leverage.

We'll be out of here soon enough.

KGC--

I suspect that Gen Powell is more than mortified that his gullibility allowed him to be an unwitting accomplice to Bush's War.

In my past life I was an intelligence professional. I was one of the few AF intelligence operations and exploitation chief enlisted managers. In my last assignment, at Ft Leavenworth, I was the senior AF intelligence representative charged with interpreting and defining how our potential adversaries would employ their air forces against us and our allies.

Gen Powell was the Army officer who was the ultimate consumer of my intelligence products. In having him buy into my interpretations I had to defend my positions against challenges from a plethora of Army intelligence officers intent on making the most of their face time with the boss.

In those 'negotiations' Gen Powell accepted my interpretations because I was the expert the AF provided him, I was the one charged with the responsibility of providing him the most accurate picture, and I was the one who was putting my professional reputation on the line.

He realized that he wasn't an intelligence professional. He knew that he was a consumer of intelligence products just as any other recipient of finished intelligence is a consumer.

He was never a participant in the process of developing the finished products he received. The same is true of any other consumer including other military members, congress, the President and his staff, etc.

In vetting the information he provided the Security Council, he went to the nation's top intelligence experts. They told him that the information he held was accurate and reflected reality to a high degree of certainty.

Based on that, he, in turn, placed his credibility on the line. And, he lost.

To suggest that he would knowingly partake in a deception of the magnitude that was perpetrated is to not know the man. Quite simply, he's not capable of such guile.

Bear,

"Why would you work so hard to pass something you didn't support?"

I gave up mind reading a long time ago. All I know is that several people who were in planning sessions about NAFTA say that she had reservations about it. When she was out supporting administration policy she wasn't in a position to "pass" anything, it was at a time when NAFTA actually appeared to be working. Both of those conditions could be absolutely true.

On top of that during the time she has been in the Senate and representing her state there have been areas that benefitted from NAFTA but she still spoke out against aspects of it that she thought needed renegotiation because she could see it was doing damage elsewhere. That is the mark of someone who can see a larger picture of a whole issues.

How 'bout everyone just post their personal contact info and people can do with it what they will.

lushislinda 52 at yahoo dot com

703-730-1622(H)
703-772-9550(C)

Lardass

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPyq4iqt6Go

It is really funny, that I am now reflecting on some corporate training that I went through when I worked for NYNEX. It was called Winning Ways, and at the time it seemed pretty silly. It was a series of exercises designed to open up communication, establish trust and be open to diverse points of view. It included a 360 evaluation where all your peers, bosses & reports could evaluate you. What an eye opener for many people, myself included. Silly me thought everybody would like me since I am such a nice guy.

In retrospect it did help me try to understand the point of view of the person I was interacting with. I have found that if you are paying attention, and you choose to, you can tone down confrontational situations.

Then there was the the cynical part of me that summed up the training in this way: You can't call someone an a**hole, but you can say, "You would be much more effective if you weren't an a**hole"

But no matter, people still get pissed off at me for being an insensitive brute. Can't win them all...

Lush Linda

Just for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRyKg5xMaXA

Proposals to end the Shrubbian war on us
This is the work of Blue America candidates and is
well worth the read and I hope you wil sign on.

Our plan will:
End U.S. Military Action in Iraq
Use U.S. diplomatic power
Address humanitarian concerns
Restore our Constitution
Restore our military
Restore independence to the media
Create a new, U.S.-centered energy policy

http://www.responsibleplan.com/

LL:

Glad to hear you are back to your senses.

You sounded a little melo-dramatic yourself yesterday ; )

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/03/obama-ducks-race-policy-questi.html#comment-55103

Lush

Just realized that beautiful song is really appropriate for funerals. No evil intention meant. It is just beautiful with lots of closeups for a stalker in training.

Bowman,

I've always followed the three remark rule

If one person calls you an ass, they are probably wrong.

If two people call you an ass, there is room for doubt.

If three people call you an ass, buy a saddle.

Obama Supporters Exodus From Trailmix!!!

Oh the drama!
Oh the martyrdom!

Click here for the "original film as millions thriled to it."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt0quE2Fcrc

Well , the Ivy is looking a bit rough, it has been a long winter. But the crocuses are up and blooming, very lovely this spring. The naked ladies and the tulips are both coming up. I think the extra moisture has been good for the bulbs. I did get my rental house rented, he not only gave me the deposite but paid the first months rent, even though it is not due till the first of the month. I think its going to be a good relationship. I'm already more optimistic about the economy.
I got my renter by placing an on line ad on the local liberal weekly's web site , cost me three bucks. I got a good response and am very satified. A print ad in the paper would have cost me $30.
It's been a good day over all.

Jack

LAL - 6:02 Youtube

ROFLMAO

Flatus

Thanks for the response. What an interesting career.
So the shorter version if you can, but what the heck happened with the intelligence leading up to going to war. And given your job, how many times have you been askd that :)

Jamie and LushIs...right back at you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx1CcSnUjMc

"AND the Biggest delight of all was, ALL were Welcome and included with kindness and a sense of community.

I'm sorry none of you have experienced it here now."

That's strange you would say that - because i actually do feel as if I experience that here. I find most comments interesting, I like it when people post links, videos are funny. So much better here than in the rest of the blog world.

Heather

I really liked your post and your posts in general. I would definitely encourage you to start a blog of your own - Craig can put you on the blogroll and I would be very happy to subscribe to your rss feed as I do Jamie's.

Jamie...

Re: your 7:52...If we all follow your rule, this crowd's gonna' cause a run on saddles....

Thanks Jamie....that is one of the saddest Vince Gill songs....a tribute to his good friend and his brother...they both died... 8~(

ummmmmm...what are you trying to say???

LMAO!!

LL, Jamie, Lush

Would you three get a room, its embarrrassing to a bashful boy like me.

Jack

mmmm...nice song, LaL..thanks!!! 8~P

Jamie,

What if they call you a Lardass?

Holy Cow, I just realized it is Maundy Thursday.

L Bent:

"Obama didn't steal the Clinton's playbook, Obama trashed the Clinton's reputation in the black commuity."

Bullshit. I saw Tucker Carlson read all kinds of innuendo to a very straight-forward statement from the Obama campaign. And plenty of jackasses in the media did the same thing. There are people that hate the Clintons - and they jumped on the chance to trash the Clintons. Obama did not pile on. As you may remember - the LA Debate followed SC.

"and tried to dimish the achievements of the Clinton administration."

Don't get me started. This has been the Clinton's MO for this entire race. Empty suit, no experience, too young, what has he done, he lacks substance, Jesse Jackson (THIS is what I believe Clinton was doing - Bill wasn't being racist. He was saying this was SC - and he won with a strong black vote - and we will take him out in the rest of the states - another incorrect assumption) - and of course he would make a great VP - then he can get some "seasoning" - learn the ways of Washington. No thanks. And finally, when her back was against the wall - Obama has not passed Howard Wolfson's Commander-in-Cheif test. Give me a freaking break....

(btw, the GOP would eat Wolfson for breakfast)

"First Obama doesn't want anything to do with President Clnton and now he wants to be him?"

Bill has been the attack dog. Bill sure hasn't played nice with Ted Kennedy...has he?

"Obama is more like Kerry than Clinton including being against the war before he voted for it."

This my friend is where you are fatally wrong. People will reject BS 527's about Obama's preacher (we all have a crazy uncle), ONE indicted donor (how many do the Clintons have - that we know of....), and his kindergarten papers.

What America will listen to is that Hillary Clinton voted FOR the War BEFORE she was against it.

(what else happened - the polls shifted. This is why I think HRC is going to have a tough time in the general. McCain ran the exact campaign to perfect against Romney. And he is busy amassing his bona fides on National Security - while HRC is busy telling America that "experience" matters....)

Dear Craig:

I apologize for the long post. I will suppose the best thing is to post it to my blog site then link it here?

I wanted to use a scroll box like i see on some other post but when I tried it did not go through, perhaps I did not use the html code properly. Please Forgive me Craig and everyone, I am very sorry :-((
It won't happen again

Sincerely,
Heather

Sheila's 7:26 post made me think of this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LvtDb0ZPwQ

Jack

Are the jonquils blooming yet and can I expect a bouquet of snapdragons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0lbfEb8MMk

Wendy
That is my feeling about the place.

But then I've battled it out on usenet, with libertarians.

now there is a thread that can quickly boil over into flames.

I think some people need to experience a good usenet flame war. LOL makes everything in here mild and peaceful.

I know talking about usenet is old timey stuff

You want to hear me tell how I had to walk to school barefoot through the snow, up hill both ways?
Jack

Here is the song Vince sings to me, in my stalker dreamz...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2wPVVjFv4w

"Empty suit, no experience, too young, what has he done, he lacks substance"

sounds right to me

;-)

Jack...

Nearness of You is one of my faves. There's a version with Cannonball Adderley and his brother Nat that just sends you into orbit, even though it's totally instrumental. To me, that's the ultimate mark of a great song. It has unbelievably beautiful lyrics, but is almost even more beautiful when it is played without those lyrics.

Well somebody ought to kick Ted Kennedy's ass around. He hasn't had a serious challenge in Massachusetts in ages. Maybe that would be a good place for some change. He ought to let the dynasty go instead of treating Massachusetts as his own grand estate.

Heather:

It better not happen again!!

(I did that shit all the time when I first got here. Didn't stop when they told me to at first either. That pissed off EuroTom to no end...)

Anyways, here are some of my thoughts on the race. It is not really a blog - just a page:

http://www.dailykos.com/user/Warrentowers13

(and don't mind some of the earlier ones - I was much rougher on Hillary supporters before I came here ; )

Heather,

Just copy the html link for your blog and then come here and paste it. No code needed.

Just as a sample, here is mine

http://jdurward.blogspot.com/

Good brisket recipe

Craig,

And the Modern Machiaveli's take on this would be...?

A) Mike don't wanna be the GOP VP nominee.

B) Mike just figured out how to be the PERFECT GOP VP nominee.

Any takers?

Mike Huckabee stood up bravely for Obama and even Rev. Wright. He doesn't hold the candidate responsible for Wright's words and made it clear that Obama renounced the incendiary remarks. He acknowledged the emotional fervor that can lead a preacher into inflammatory rhetoric from time to time. And he went further, "I'm gonna probably be the only Conservative in America who's gonna say...we've got to cut some slack to people who grew up being called names, being told 'you have to sit in the balcony...or use the back door...' Sometimes people do have a chip on their shoulder and resentment. I probably would to. In fact, I may have had more of a chip on my shoulder had it been me."

Bowmanc...

When confronted by a Lardass
One needs not a saddle
So much as a paddle

How's that for a quick-and-dirty haiku? :)

New MN GE numbers out (SurveyUSA)

MN: Clinton (D) 49%, McCain (R) 46%

MN: McCain (R) 47%, Obama (D) 46%

[scratches chin]

hmmmmm...didn't Obama win the caucus there?

Too bad general election isn't a caucus...I'm sure O' would be doing much better.

Dear Wendy:

Thank you so much...I do have a blog and I did send Craig an email about it earlier today. I thought about doing that but felt awkward doing that until Craig approved it to his blog roll.

Honestly, if I get five visits a month it's alot. I'm sort of in the process of moving from one blog to this new one at blogger.com. I need to work out some bugs so the rss and atom feeds work or more honestly my daughter.

It is embarassing to be college educated computer/html challenged.

Once again I sincerely apologize for any inconvience I put Craig or any of the commenters here through.

Sincerely,
Heather

OMG

My post posted immediately!!!!

R we fixed?

guess not...[sign]

Jack

ROFLMAO

I remember the ole usenet days LOL

Go over to TPM and say something nice about Hillary - see if they don't threaten to come over and shoot your dog. This place is perfectly lovely!

aren't we boycotting dailykos

;-)

OK...if anyone needs me...I'll be here...drinkin' wine and watchin' Vince Gill videos on youtube.

OHHHHH..THEY JUST HAD VINCE ON TV... Belmont must be givin' Duke a run for their money!!!

YIKES..THEY JUST SHOWED HIM AGAIN...AND HE IS NOT WITH AMY...ROTFLMAO!!!

BRB...

http://truthabouttrinity.blogspot.com/

here is some info on jeremiah wright that paints a different view than the media distortion of a religious leader. also check out the photos of him with bill clinton and assisting in prez lyndon johnson surgery. there is a interesting video clip of rod parsley and mr cahill talking about racism, what was so different in what they said and jeremiah wright? whoever is behind this character assasination of jeremiah wright in the media is nothing more than a dirty low down dog!

Exactly Wendy. I noticed you did not have much of a response to the rest of my post.

That is the Clinton MO. Deflect hard questions and fillibuster on talking points prepared by the Campaign (which btw is excellent - except for their lack of humor).

Obama on the other hand takes things head on. Even if it isn't that way politicians are supposed to act.
(I am proud he had the courage to make that speech - and it will pay dividends in the long run. You Clintonites are too concerned with the news cycle.)

The way politicians act is exactly what needs to CHANGE. And the Clintons are Ex. 2. (Bush is still Ex. 1).

Whee All sorts of fecal matter hitting the fan.

Apparently Senator Obama's passport records were accessed on three separate ocassions and two have been fired and a third is suspended with disposition pending.

Edwards is gonna be on Leno tonight.

Obama on Larry King if you didn't already know.

LushIs...

I promise not to tell Dan Abrams about your new Cougar Crush on Vince!!!

OMG..Jim just told me that this game is being played at the Verizon Center....so Vince is in DC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh...so close and yet so far...be still my heart!!

Jamie
I just went out and looked at the jonquils.

They will bloom in a couple of weeks

It has been a rough winter, I need to do a lot of yard work.
I will take a fork to the garden patch , not much just enough to give me some tomatos and a variety of chilis, maybe some okra and some cucumbers, then maybe..................
damn there I go again.

Jack

McCain Aide Suspended for Relaying Video

Thursday, March 20, 2008

(03-20) 14:53 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

Republican John McCain's campaign suspended a staffer who sent out a provocative video linking Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama to the comments of his spiritual mentor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

The staffer, a low-level aide named Soren Dayton, sent out a link Thursday to the YouTube video, titled "Is Obama Wright?" on the social messaging Web site Twitter.

uhhhhhhhhh....LaL....Vince is not a "cougar" crush, as I am not even 2 years older than he is. I think to be a "cougar"crush, the guy has to be at least 10 years younger. So, actually, Chuck Todd is my only "legit" "cougar" crush... ;)

BTW, have you ever mentioned your age?

"Deflect hard questions and fillibuster on talking points prepared"

Warren Warren Warren [she says shaking her head slowly from side to side]

I watched her roundtable discussion this morning where she opened questions up to more than just the folks at the table. Not only did she listen to their stories...she would then ask follow-up questions of them to get clarification or more detail before answering. I encouraged you to watch...but you refused. [sigh] I know you've made up your mind so you make these blanket statements w/o actually knowing what you're talking about.

I on the other hand tune into Obama speeches...how ever will I criticize him if I don't know what he's up to?

;-D

Interesting:

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oew-meyers20mar20,0,3898931.story

Heather...

Don't sweat it, babe. It was still a really good post. And you'll figure out the rules just like the rest of us had to.

:)

John R
From the web site you posted.

[According to Hopkins, that was theological wordplay — because the word "damn" is straight out of the Bible and has a specific meaning in the original Hebrew.

"It means a sacred condemnation by God to a wayward nation who has strayed from issues of justice, strayed from issues of peace, strayed from issues of reconciliation," Hopkins says]

If that is true and the meaning that Wright meant then what he said is nothing that most conservative preachers arn't saying every day in the pulpit. I know I heard my share of it growing up.

Jack

How great would it be if Duke lost in the first round!!

(those bastards rejected me TWICE)

Warren wrote: "Obama on the other hand takes things head on."

Is this what you call taking things head on?:

"Beyond the rhetoric, how would he translate that balancing act into policy?

Good luck getting answers. Media inquiries to the Obama campaign about affirmative action specifics produce responses that are at least as vague as the candidate’s speeches. . .The Globe’s request to a spokesperson for more concrete answers got no response." - From Craig Crawford's Trailmix.

Wendy:

Roundtables usually are not hardball.

That Hallmark special looked like canned questions with canned answers to me.

Well, it's been over 20 years since this was recorded and the composer's last name means 13...

And Barbara Hendricks has since morphed from a wonderful voice of Carroll's Alice into a scary enough Red Queen...

But I finally found a copy of David Del Tredici's funny, charming, outsized and, finally, haunting setting of the Alice In Wonderland trial, Final Alice.

Kind of seemed appropriate to share it here today as we are all different faces to different Alices here as well as Alices ourselves.

Cover art included, you iTunes lovahs.

Part 1
http://www.mediafire.com/?atzswzzyd5y

Part 2
http://www.mediafire.com/?ntnwp3xn5ym

I am gonna go get Lost...

How great would it be if Duke lost and Belmont played at the Verizon Center on Saturday...and I got to go see Vince Gill?????

LushIs..

I'm only about two years younger than Vince...probably not enough to qualify me as Cougar Prey.

Warren...that was interesting.

Jack, that word damned is throughout the holy scriptures, maybe most people dont read the bible lol, the media was distoting it making it seem like he was denuciating america which was nit the case. is preaching is typical of the fire brimstone preaching, that focus on the negatives and ills of society.

Wendy:

I know enough about Senator Clinton to know that I would support her in the general election.

Until this fight is over - I doubt either of us will be taking that "second look."

KGC

I retired from the AF in 83. I think the Wilsons are probably able and willing to give you the most accurate picture of what happened. Although if I was going to do it I would...

I am never asked what happened. Which, when you think about it, is fine with me.

Warren...your 8:57 post and link.

Wow. Amazing. Thanks.

warren,

First you no likee Harvard... now Duke?

Ah, you're young. One day you will need their Disque Deane funded Gerontology Department...

"I don't know if you recognize your own role in your dust-ups with others. You have at times been very offensive yourself, Patsi"

I absolutely do know it, harbor. I don't appreciate abusers nor abuser enablers. And I don't take a slap on the face kindly. So yes, I can be damned offensive. There's not a passive aggressive bone in my body.

"she is a typical white person".........what does that mean?

Hi , I haven't read the entire thread but Happy Spring Break Eve!
I saw a few comments about asses and saddles....yeah I need a saddle...but other then that- thread was interesting.

Don't know if I posted this today or not.

No Country for Old (Black) Men
http://www.washingtonindependent.com/view/no-country-for-old

Jack

See that's just the problem Warren...it was my second look that caused me to have SERIOUS doubts about Obama. I'm not sure that even when this "fight"--as you call it--is over that I will feel any different about him.

I am glad, however, that you will be supporting Hillary in the general when she gets the nomination.

:-D

Hey Duke is my choice for the finals.

LaL...no, not "cougar" prey...but you are definitely in the Dan Abrams category... 8~P

Warren:

The Hallmark special was...I'm not talking about the Hallmark special...I'm talking about the Roundtable today...the one you missed.

OMG....Belmont down by 1 with 1.7 left!!!

GO BELMONT GO!!!

Hi Burrito:

Haven't heard from you in a while - glad to see you!!!

John R, Jack...

I'll spot you "God Damn America," even though I don't really have to.

Now explain AIDS injection or chickens coming home to roost after 9/11 or Harry Truman was worse than bin Laden or all the other stuff..

The guy is a nutball, who happens to be black. And who also happens to be dumb enough to allow his sermons to be videotaped. Had he not heard of YouTube?

The whole idea of "parsing" his words to find some sort of weird meaning or excuse or explanation for what he said is about as interesting and relevant to me as trying to picki corn kernels out of horseshit to make supper.

I'm not interested in doing either.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh...the guy barely missed the shot!!

Cheer up, Warren, something tells me Duke will be gone after Saturday. 8~)

Warren,

"That Hallmark special looked like canned questions with canned answers to me."

The questions were canned. Her responses were less so as she seemed really comfortable with the answers (no second thoughts as if trying to remember a briefing)

The roundtable today (losing track of time, I think it was today) was totally open and she really fielded all the questions easily. Almost no indication of self censorship on wording. It was quite a performance.

Oh...those poor kids...such a heartbreaking loss... 8~(

This is also interesting:

"But when questioned about what made Obama so capable of such a large task, Kerry pointed to a surprisingly thin qualification -- "because he's African-American," the Massachusetts senator said. "Because he's a black man. Who has come from a place of oppression and repression through the years in our own country.'"

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/Story?id=4491851&page=1

Hi Burrito

What have you been up to?

For unlikely_burrito

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6dx8AfTmQk

Hey Jamie
I was an operator in a small town in Ill.in 1958.My favorite job I ever had.I started working while in high school.At the time was sorry to see phones going dial.It eliminated a lot of jobs.But with technology we can expect losses.

John R

The problem is there is very little context given in any of the clips and to be honest he sounds like I do when I hit my thumb with a hammer. It sounds like a curse and a wish to damn America. I would venture to say ,knowing some blacks as I do , that many blacks out there are uncomfortable with what the Reverend Wright said and how he said it.

Jack

Heather - BTW - let me know if you need any help with your blog - I'm a Web developer so I have a pretty good grasp of these things.

Flatus

Thanks. Boy the Wilson's sure took unfortunate and irrelevant personal attacks from the sclm. I was happy to see Scootie boy lose his license to practice in DC not that it will affect his life in any material way.

This is an interesting posting from a British newspaper

On the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, there's an American proposal to destroy the Victory Monument in Baghdad. The triumphal arches, made out of two pairs of hands (modelled on Saddam's) holding swords, commemorate the Iran-Iraq war.

As well as being rather good - and cast by the British foundry Morris Singer - the monument raises the tricky question of what you do with art commissioned by monsters. When does it stop being wicked and start becoming historically or artistically interesting?

During the invasion, damage was done to several monuments built by Nebuchadnezzar in the sixth century BC. Nebuchadnezzar was a bit of a Saddam himself, invading Jerusalem, Tyre and Egypt. But he was also responsible for one of the seven wonders of the world - the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Should we demolish his staggering Ziggurat - still standing in Babylon today - because he wasn't very nice?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/03/21/do2103.xml

I'm in the mood for Doris Day - think i'll go pop in a DVD

"And who also happens to be dumb enough to allow his sermons to be videotaped. "
--LaL

And not only be dumb enough to allow his sermons to be videotaped...but to KNOW that his sermons were being videotaped(to later be sold in a boxed set)and yet say the things he said anyway.

Such arrogance...

Well, had a little family trauma, nothing big just time consuming.

This race has almost made me believe that there are no intelligent leaders, only people who think they are intelligent leaders.

what a freakin mess!

something isn't working here

Lush,,,thanks I needed that...lol

Cable at its worst. Keith O and Dan Abrahms are going balistic over Ohama/StateDept. story..Without more than a couple minutes of facts they are going on and on about what could be an important story.

Loved it when crusty Lawerence Eigleberger told Abrams to stop the hystarical reporting.

I wish they would report the facts as they know them..

I have always believed that there isn't enough news to fill 24 hours. This explains why the likes of Abrams and Olberman have television programs.

KGC

Shelley obviously pondered the same question:

OZYMANDIAS

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shatter'd visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamp'd on these lifeless things,
The hand that mock'd them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains: round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

Jamie/Wendy:

"It was quite a performance."

Exactly.

"The Democrats flocked to this Pied Piper and now he’s going to lead them over the proverbial cliff."

How true.

http://pajamasmedia.com/xpress/victordavishanson/2008/03/20/the_obamastrophe.php

lardass, a lot of blacks who remmeber the govt injecting syphiliss in black men to determine the effects, which the u.s. govt acknowledge and apologized for, it is not difficult to make the leap in thinking that the aids virus which a lot of whites and blacks believe was man made, has been used by the govt to bring about the destruction of a particular race.

the chicken coming home to roost is a phrase in the black community that whatever u do especially bad eventually it will come back to u. what goes around comes around. if our govt has used it powers to prop up brutal dictators like saddam, if our govt has involved itself in the affairs of another country that has led to civil war and death and destruction, why would u think eventually something bad wouldnt hit our shores? now the people on 911 didnt deserve what happened to them but neither did the innocent iraqi citizens deeserve their deaths due to bombs because of the stupidity of saddam. my point is govt do things that hurt it citizens and in this case i believe he has a point that we need not to just dismiss.

lastly, do u think it was right for us to drop a nuclear bomb on japan? yes japan attacked us but they attacked the military, we dropped a bomb on civilians, women and children. is there any real justification of dropping a nuclear bomb on women and kids?

OD:

PBS is where its at.

I watch cable news just to get the gossip for the day - and for Norah of course....

Jack, u are right a lot are, he is the relative that u love but u dont want ur friends to meet if u bring hem over to the house. u know he gonna say something stupid or off the wall but u still love him.

It's Olberman's turn to be outraged without knowing anything concrete.

It seems the three searches were the day after "significant dates in the election cycle". Nefarious things afoot. It couldn't just be that the previous days events made the clerks curios and all perfectly silly.

All conspiratorial and terribly post hoc ergo propter hoc

What mant people do not realize Reverend Wright by taking God's Holy Name in vain has caused a ripple effect of others doing the same, causing others to do the same driectly or indirectly in and of itself is a sin.

It is sad to see this indifference to God's holy name.
It is ironic to me that when our name is slandered we run to court to demand recompense and have our reputation restored, yet we abuse God's holy name feel not guilt whatsoever?

"Because of this God greatly exalted Him
and bestowed upon Him the name thats above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and evey tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

I'm surprised Reverened Wright seems not to have learned that lesson.
Look what one Pastor has wrought

--Heather

The Media’s Race Problem
By: David Neiwert Thursday March 20, 2008 6:00 pm

Probably the most remarkable aspect of the recent feeding frenzy about Barack Obama's so-called "pastor problem" -- besides the agility and smarts that Obama has displayed in handling it -- is not as much what it reveals about the state of race in America as what it reveals about the state of the American media.

The Washington Post's report on Obama's speech observed that this was a controversy that "threatens to engulf his presidential candidacy." Yet as far as anyone can tell, it was having only a marginal effect on the polls in the race before it blew up on the networks, and it was not generated by either of Obama's political opponents, or by any particular interest groups.

http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/20/the-medias-race-problem/#comments

Burrito

We have a major time delay. If you submit and then click on "preview" you can see later messages but they won't show up on the blog for about ten minutes.

Update of the Electoral College map using new Survey USA numbers

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/3/20/175348/733

John R

Your points are exactly why I wasn't all that scandalized by Rev. Wright's sermon. Of course I've been in black churches and heard some pretty good call and response :-)

What bothered me was that Sen. Obama first denied ever hearing anything such as this in 20 years of attendance, totally missed an opportunity to introduce the nation to identity theology and community activism, and then made the speech throwing the Rev Wright under the bus while saying yes he had heard similar sermons. It was a form of moral cowardice not the great unifier.

Now KO is going to go off on McCain comparing Purim to Halloween.

It's a common comparison. Sure there is a religious connection with the story of Esther (reading the whole Megillah in synagogue), but it is a big cookies and costume event for the kids.

jamie...

They thought it was serious enough when it happened to Bill Clinton.

This was three different people at three different times. It was a serious breach of Private Records of a U.S. Senator and Presidential Candidate.

If it was HIllary's records would you think it was nothing?

I don't think so.

If this isn't a bit like Halloween I don't know what is

http://www.torahtots.com/holidays/purim/purim.htm

KO will now be artificially outraged.

"New Poll: Americans Skeptical of Obama's Race Speech"

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/3/20/181758/262

BTW - on that updated Electoral College map, traditional red and blue are reversed.

Dear Wendy:
That is so sweet of you and I greatly appreciate it. I feel awkward burdening you with my problems, yet do not have too much pride and more then enough humility to accept your kind offer. My email addy is in my typekey profile if you need more just let me know sweetheart.

Thank you so much.
Sincerely
Heather

Night night all

Be good to each other.

Warren..Yes PBS is great..Thanks for the suggestion.
Also, I apologize for my "billable hours" comment a couple of days ago..Not one of my better moments.

jamie, thats fair, he did blow it and should have waited and thought through his response to the situation instead of hurriedly appearing on news shows. when attended that black church did u jump up and hollar amen or hallelujah when u heard something u like? heheheh lol

In fact, if it was Hillary's Records everyone here would be accusing and blaming the Obama Campaign.

Flatus

Quoting Shelley certainly elevated the level of posting here. Skoal!

AP: so far what I've read, they suspect it is Republican shenanigans...

LL

chickens coming home to roost = the common term "blowback" Are you saying 9-11 wasn't blowback?

Maybe you had better change your name because liberals often call Truman immoral for dropping the bomb

AIDS injection --how outlandish is this conspiracy theory when you were an adult went they stopped doing this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_Study_of_Untreated_Syphilis_in_the_Negro_Male.

And have you even seen the whole sermons to give the short edited clips any context.

Jack

Wendy...

They don't know who, what, where, when {oops they know that} or why.

Low level managers didn't report it for investigation.

And now there saying Laura Hardy who was made an ambassador to Paraguay by President Clinton was involved it seems.

Like I said if they were Hillary's Records you all would be screaming for the hang man.

I bought myself a brand new bike (bicycle) today which I am going to keep in my parent's garage since my shed is a safehouse for bees. I'll be enjoying bike rides to the beach this summer , just like I used to do.

Guys, I love it here! I've learned a ton from everyone and have become even more open minded. Though my chief concern will always be "Cut My Taxes" cuz frankly my family pays too much. LOL! But anyways I love the discussions y'all have and hate to see anyone leave.

BTW, it seemed MSNBC got a little better with use of G.D. until David Gregory's show came on while we were eating dinner. As Patton (my son) pointed out, "Look mom that guy said it, why do I get in trouble when I say it?" F@#$, what's a mother to do.

For those that watch Lost, it rocked tonight!

Heather:

"What many people do not realize Reverend Wright by taking God's Holy Name in vain has caused a ripple effect of others doing the same . . . ."

The media is fully aware of this ripple effect and it is why they continue to play the video and repeat the worst of the worst.

Everyone has heard this stuff - and if they want to hear it again I am sure it is just a few clicks away.

I still haven't seen anyone play one of the man's other sermons - when he was not such a raving lunatic - but rather a man that has devoted himself to God and his church. I am sure there are a few decent and intelligent things in his twenty years of preaching - he sure had a lot of people listening to him.

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/local/stories/032008dnmettcuwrightfolo.30a601f.html

Free speech or not so much...

I got the first name wrong. I think he said Mora or perhaps it was Nora and she was in charge of Consular Affairs during the first two incidents.

How ironic, looks like there are some WJC and Wright photos surfacing. Apparently Wright was one of those at a WH prayer breakfast who ministered Bill during the Monica ordeal.

OD:

I am sure we are all guilty of spending too much time on this blog at some point or another.

But at least years from now - when we are reminiscing about this historic race...we will have a pretty good record of how we spent it.

(We should get Frankie Luntz to track the comments based on the polls and victories. I know around any primary or cacaus - we pretty much talk about the same thing - usually depending on who's winning. There were a couple of times when Obama got some big victories that I thought I had you people on the ropes....)

(Did he just say "you people" ; )

Who's going to Puerto Rico in June?

Si Se Puede!

jack,

You are a most exquisitely open-minded man.

I hope you'll try to be open to this.

Starting in the early 80's I worked on the ground level of three AIDS groups --

One was at the West Village Dispensary.

One was at -- with a lot of patience -- Larry Kramer and Act-Up.

One was fundraising work for Dr. Krim's AmFar.

(None of those three really got along. But you got to work -- right?)

In all those years, starting in the ARC days, working with men and women volunteers, administrators, researchers, clinicians, protestors of the most radical sort and patients of every age, gender and race in NYC -- I never heard that suggested, whispered, shouted, researched, authenticated theorized or vaunted by anyone.

And I heard a lot of things, Jack.

So all of a sudden... you are giving credence to a raging, paranoid, calculatedly manipulative utterance?

You are more generous than any of the donors or volunteers or researchers or clinicians or outraged activists I ever knew --

They were giving in passionate ways.

You are giving away the truth in the interest of "well... it happened that way once."

As for the WTC... hmmm. Let's see. Will you please pronounce what chickens Al Qaeda brings home to roost in DARFUR???

Blowback.

I spent a few months working on that blowback site of yours. Now I have an incurable cancer.

Hmm.

Blowback, blowback, blowback...

Context. It's a much better hobby for you!

It's always an honor meeting someone who talks just like the character Sam Eliot portrayed in The Big Lebowski.

Problem is... it happens all the time.

Someone tell the Clinton Machine to stop trying to get a re-vote in MI and FL - and start working on moving up the general.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20080320/wl_mcclatchy/2885810

I hope Biden is paying attention...

"when attended that black church did u jump up and hollar amen or hallelujah when u heard something u like? heheheh lol"

John,

When I moved off the farm and moved to Kansas City , I was looking for a teaching job.
The only one I could find was a small private school in the basement of this Black church.
I didn't stay long because they didn't pay much.
But while there I lead a fund rasing effort with several of the parents. When we first met we all stood in a circle and they all insisted I say the prayer.
Now, John at that point the only experience I had with church was the few times growing up when our mother decided that her childern were heathens and they need some religion. I could have counted the times I had been to church on both hands. So to say I was uncomfortable would have been an understatement.

I thought for a second and came up with 3or 4 sentences and with a quick amen.
I could do it.
I don't think I'd gotten through the first sentence when one of those women shouted out a loud "Praise Jesus".
I completely forgot what I was saying.
LOL

I got through it but it was an interesting experience.

Jack

You are a most exquisitely open-minded man

No but I know how to read and do basic research.
I don't get my exercise by jumping to conclusions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rncgG5Bic-0
http://www.tucc.org/hiv_aids.htm

Finally, I have enough contact with the African American community that it is not the first time I've heard the conspiracy theory expressed. It is right up there with the " The CIA sold crack cocaine in the black neighborhood"

Blow back is real
Blow back is ugly
and because of Iraq more is coming.

Jack

I hope the site is fixed.

"Obama Passport Data Breached; State Department Workers Fired"

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a6hU0XSBWjSw&refer=us

Bush 43 is doing just what Bush 41 did with candidate Bill Clinton. Those Bush people are just no good.

tt

For those of us who need a little break from the scene, here's an apropo game:

http://www.addictinggames.com/hidethefart.html

Enjoy!

Testing...testing...one two three...wtf, over...?

Lard Ass Liberal,

You need to realize that every other country in the world considers the US to be a bully. We are constantly using our military might, our economic might to get other country's to subjugate themselves to us. When 9/11 happened, one of my first thoughts was that it was payback for some shit we did to someone in the world.

With regards to AIDS, I'll admit I don't know anything about it's origins. From what I have heard, it seems that the consensus amongst my white friends is that it was started in Africa as an Ebola vaccine gone bad. Others tease me that it was started in Haiti. Either way, it was generally ignored until it hit gay white American icons like the Rock Hudsons or the Liberaces. Considering the syphilis testing, I can understand that comment as well.

There are many times I have been embarrassed by the actions of our government and it has gotten me to utter far worse than God Damn America...considering the shit we have endured for the past 8 years, it is my opinion that God has already done so.

corey: Happy pedalling! My brand new bike I just bought was a lemon...it had no grease in the rear hub and after one mile the hub started to loosen and grind itself to death.
Now it's all better.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Craig, thanks SO MUCH for linking the Madison Powers guest CQ column.

BRILLIANT observations...just basic facts we all should read.
I never forgot any of those facts but most have. Powers put it all together in a concise and informative style.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So far, 2 fired in Passportgate. Swiftboaters out early, eh?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And about C-Bob...when I first came to Crawfordslist I thought maybe he was some old curmudgeon only worried about global warming.
We would chat back and forth here late-nights quite frequently. I soon found out he was quite a character. He was a good fella.

Not good news for Clinton

Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico plans to endorse Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic race for president Friday, an Obama campaign spokesperson told CNN.
art.obamafay.gi.jpg

Sen. Barack Obama will receive the endorsement of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on Friday.

Richardson plans to join Obama at a rally in Portland, Oregon, at 12:30 p.m. Friday.

If it wasnt for bill and hillary clinton, richardson would be managing a taco stand in Albuquerque.....where's the loyalty?

--Imus

When I click on the Dexter's Views from the blogroll it leads me to Corey's blog..........

what make dat?

Jack, JohnR, Bear...

Sorry I had to duck out last night. Read your comments to me upthread on various interpretations of 9/11, AIDS, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, etc....

Most of those topics and the perspectives you raise aren't new subjects of debate. Some of the moral questions on that list have been fought over for decades by minds much greater than ours. And it looks like some of the other commenters joined in to treat some of them individually. So I won' wear out the carpet any more here.

The only thing I'll add is that it is just as much a logical fallacy to reflexively blame America for everything as it is to reflexively defend America. And being on either side of a fallaciously constructed false choice has nothing to do with being either liberal or conservative. So, while I may try to lose some weight someday, the "liberal" half of my nickname is there to stay.

--Lard

"Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico plans to endorse Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic race for president Friday"

This would have only helped in TX - this won't make a bit of difference to anyone.