Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Jumping the shark.

Congrats, AP - youbedafirst.

How about that, I'm first.

Now I can go back to enjoying all my second place finishes.

Continuing our health plan discussion from previous thread (and thanks for the thread change head's up, Craig. Very thoughtful.):

Yeah, Big Pharma and Big Insurance are going to be as hard as Al Qaeda. Going to take a lot of political capital, but do not see how the next president -- if a Democrat, please God -- puts off tackling the subject.

Harry and Louise might not be as effective this time around, when you are in rental housing and your kid is still crying over leaving Fido at the humane society.

Or when you are stuck in a home you cannot sell, miles from your job which requires tanksful of $4/gallon gas for commute.

America is people, not profits.

pogo...

I was 62 last week so I guess I'm officially a dirty old man now.

Hello there AP. Good to see you.

The best has yet to come with this Obama "bittergate."

There is a video clip circulating from the SF fundraiser. It is on YouTube.

This clip shows Obama saying that white people are more resistant to his message because "he is a black man named Barack Obama."

Translation: white people do not like me because they are black.

This falls nicely into his statement that people are bitter and that they cling to antipathy toward people who are not like them among other reasons.

Ouch! So much for post-racial.

Correction

The best has yet to come with this Obama "bittergate."

There is a video clip circulating from the SF fundraiser. It is on YouTube.

This clip shows Obama saying that white people are more resistant to his message because "he is a black man named Barack Obama."

Translation: white people do not like me because I am black.

This falls nicely into his statement that people are bitter and that they cling to antipathy toward people who are not like them among other reasons.

Ouch! So much for post-racial.

Apparently "the truth" of Obama's statement is not perceived as true by over half the people he wants to vote for him. But he seems to have done a decent job of explaining it away. (See Craig's 2nd link, above). People are so stupid. :-)

well hell's bells, this is a good topic...

Polls are all over the place...

I would have liked a topic about the damn professional political consultants and handlers whom I think damage candidates, the real debate, and leave, regardless of winning or losing, with MILLIONS of dollars in their bank accounts.

Damn, AP, you're even older than I am (and I am decidedly a dirty old man). I would have never thunk it. Your posts have a certain youthiness to them.

Jan: I think there is some truth to having to get over he's a black man named Barack Obama. He is not a familiar presence or a known quantity to most people.

That sounds like a factual statement to me.

PS: you might check your translation: "white people do not like me because they are black." Uh huh.

Also, beware the Youtube clip without context. The full remarksl, or as much as was captured, is another story.

Hi dog...

I still try to read, but don't comment too much anymore. I really don't want to get into the middle of the current mess over who's the best nominee.

I just feel to old to argue about the dangers we are all facing and how its important that we should be talking about how we will rid ourselves of the new Nazi's that have taken over the Republican Party and Our Country instead of who's the best candidate to lead us.

I leave that to all of you here to do.

Got to run as its time to get ready to go home.

I will look for another link on the War Crimes issue and if I can find it I'll post it later tonight.

Take care and ...

God Bless.

Youthiness! I love that, pogo.

A repost with a little added...

pogo,

Yeah, the drug patent game has become too similar to Sonny Bono's Copyright 4 Evah laws, both his own and his memorialists.

How to fight this in a funny and direct way?

I've been looking to see who would be willing to draft and sponsor legislation banning ALL consumer prescription drug advertising in all media.

My thought (very peccable) is that this is where they throw their money to make their patents more valuable over more time.

Take away the advertising...

And the value of the patent ain't so great.

Which will reduce marketing costs. Which will reduce drug prices.

And which will lead to a more reasonable turnaround to generic drugmakers.

Plus, it may bring on a silver age of physicial drug samples and get more of The Most Indispensable People Ever -- Pharma Reps! -- hired.

Given the disasters in recent cholesterol drug marketing -- and the cringe factor in ED drug ads (whose pioneer was Bob "This check's gonna clear, right?" Dole)...

It might not be that hard to at least propose.

However, the lobbying comedy that followed could lead to the first Judd Apatow directed documentary --

And Judd Apatow's first (and only) Oscar.

dog, I liked the ring to it.

The facts are still the same. Obama thinks, whether rightly or not, that the people who do not vote for him are racists. This is an inflammatory statement.

Only liberal Dems would see this as truth telling and not recognize it for what it is: that Obama's words are a major turn off for the general electorate.

He is a flawed candidate. However, the most liberal part of the Dem. party has their heads stuck up their asses because he espouses their ideas.

Once again, the Dems will get stuck with a guy who will be painted as too far to the left on every issue.

For the general, that spells LOSER!

"Once again, the Dems will get stuck with a guy who will be painted as too far to the left on every issue."

Give me a break Jan. This would be the GOP's strategy is Check Hagel was the Dem. nominee.

It is all they got since the GOP and McCain are "out of touch" with most of America on almost every major issue - e.g., Iraq, the economy, healthcare, etc.

They are forced to rely on slogans and distractions. Well guess what - the Clinton campaign has been doing the same thing for months - and they are getting their butts kicked!!

Bring on McCain - who does not have the kinda of nation-wide loyal support group that Hillary Clinton has.

Damn - "if Chuck Hagel"

"Are Obama’s comments worth discussing? On the merits, we’d have to say they pretty much aren’t—like 90 percent of what gets discussed in our political discourse. But here comes a fact about electoral politics, a fact which often escapes liberal observers: Elections aren’t about what we at THE HOWLER may think. Elections are about the values, views, outlooks and reactions of 100 million-plus voters—people who may not see the world in the way we do.

What will voters think about this flap? We have no way of knowing. But it’s depressing to see how many liberals seem to have no earthly idea what issues may be at play in this matter. This cluelessness has badly harmed progressive interests since the late 1960s. It’s depressing to see how widespread it is around the liberal web."

http://dailyhowler.com/

I the Obama vs. McCain debates will do a lot to elevate the current conversation in Washington.

(and "conversation" is being kind)

EuroTom,

Just to split a hair or two on your post on President Clinton being the only re-elected Democrat since FDR, even though Harry Truman and LBJ only got elected to the Presidency one time, I'd consider them re-elected.

I'll confess I'm really defending HST here because he served almost the entire four years of FDR's last term, but I can't include him without also counting LBJ, who, faced re-election less than a year after President Kennedy's death.

I'll acknowledge that there's a contrary semantic argument, but I like my version better, especially where President Truman is involved.

My campaigning for Hillary has made something very clear to me.

Whether it is on the telephone or talking to people on the streets, their is a deep, deep resentment at what people see as unwarranted, vicious attacks on Senator Clinton and on the record of President Clinton.

We see this nonsense on this blog on a daily basis. I don't think the Obama campaign and SOME of its supporters get it.

McCain: More conservative than his image

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080414/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_the_conservative

McCain/Obama Debate?

Do you really think McCain would accept the Vice-Presidential nomination of the GOP?

you are right 9/11, it really is all in the advertising - and in the marketing to MDs. You want a good example - TYlenol. It's the #1 pain med used in hospitals, despite it being better than aspirin and ibuprofen in only one major respect - it is not as corrosive in the stomach from what I understand. Of course it is inferior as an antiinflammatory, most people I've ever talked to about the big three OTC painkillers get better results from ibuprofen and acetaminophen is widely available in generic equivalent form.

ED drugs - I have to admit that the ED commercials get a rise (sorry) out of me. I like the other "Bob" commercials - you know, the ones with the proud Bob and the happy Mrs. Bob.

OD:

This is happening on both sides of the fence. And calling this race unfair will get you nowhere.

The Dems need to realize their problem. They like their candidates TOO much. In other words, people personally identify with their candidate and they take all these attacks to heart - as if they themselves were being attacked.

The Democratics need to make sure that they are not so overcome with emotion that they lose site of the real prize - the White House.

It is always good to show a little passion when debating issues - but inevitably - you can have too much of a good thing...

Speaking of getting your guns.... ( I know it was the last post but I read it too late to post there) Yesterday I was out fishing with a friend on a river down here in southern Louisiana. A couple of guys rounded the bend in their bass boat and when they got into view and I heard one say " hey let me get my gun". I remembered I was wearing my pink Hillary ,Madame President , T-shirt that a friend brought me back when she recently visited WashingtonDC

I thought Oh shit, and told my friend they must have seen my T-shirt. Then I noticed that his friend had duck sounds as a ring tone on his cellphone that was ringing. Whew! You just can't be too careful these days.

pogo,

THAT Bob is no hired actor -- he owns the company!

Tylenol is not only the least effective of all OTC anti-inflammatories (aspirin and NSAIDS are better) it creates serious liver damage.

I can't take anything except it because my platelets are down to 24K again (and those anti-inflammatories make my counts collapse)..

However --

The Tylenol supremacy has its roots in something else, I think.

It is the huge inertial wave which followed the Tylenol tampering poisoning back in 1982.

J & J banned capsules and created triple wrap packaging (which probably created more cases of arthritis than Tylenol would help) --

And people began going out of their way to use Tylenol as a show of good faith.

Jan:

What his statement does not do is change McCain's stance on the major issues.

So you still have a problem even though you may be feeling a bit giddy today.

(Also, Jan do you know how many people left the Republican party in PA to switch parties to vote for Obama - the number escapes me right now...)

Hi EdVB ,

I didn't post that originally... I can't remember who did... :)

9/11, pogo, anon...

I whole-heartedly agree that pharmaceutical ads should be banned...not simply to reduce costs, but to reduce the undue influence they have over people seeking medical care. Really, our doctors should be able to tell us what drugs we need. They don't need us coming in prompting them to offer drugs we've heard about on TV. Makes me crazier than I already was! Are you seriously trying to get someone to introduce legislation banning the ads, 9/11? And, if yes, how are you approaching this effort?

warren, gallup doesn't agree with your assessment of McCain being out of touch and Obama being in touch with the voters, at least assuming that voter perception of agreement with their issues translates into preference for a candidate. the Gallup daily tracker has McCain and Obama within its 2% margin of error, with 5% unsure.

http://www.pollingreport.com/wh08gen.htm

Looks like McCain is gonna have a tough time against whichever "elitist" he faces in November:

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/3/25/15744/0765

pogo:

My assessment is not based on polls. It is based on listening to the candidates themselves as well as talking to real live Americans.

Unelectable

"The message coming out of the Clinton campaign on Sunday is that Obama has rendered himself unelectable.

On Sunday, Obama said Hillary should be ashamed for bringing up Snob-gate.

Sen. Clinton does know better — she knows better than to condescend and talk down to voters like Senator Obama did. Senator Obama’s outburst won’t change the fact that he has embraced his characterization of the millions of Americans who live in small towns.

This is a powerful argument for three reasons. First, it reminds Democrats who are hungry for victory that Obama is not fully vetted. Second, it sends a message to the superdelegates that Obama is now fatally wounded against McCain in November. And third, it speaks most immediately to blue collar Democrats in Pennsylvania that Obama is the elites’ choice.

...the legendary expert on rural politics, Mudcat Saunders. He deserves to be listened to closely: “David Saunders, a Democratic strategist and rural advocate, advised John Edwards’s presidential campaign but is now neutral. He said he believed that Mr. Obama’s comments would offend rural voters…It could mean he’s rendered himself unelectable,” Mr. Saunders said. “This is a perfect example of why Democrats lose elections.”

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/04/14/unelectable/

Once again, the Dems will get stuck with a guy who will be painted as too far to the left on every issue.

For the general, that spells LOSER!

Posted by: Jan

I agree but I still have hope BO will implode and this jejune novice might make it happen before he wraps up the nomination.

toast

harborwoman,

I started with a call to the Medicare expert on my local Congresswoman's staff.

His peers started looking into it.

Since then I've drafted a PR campaign. The staff -- particularly after the recent FDA disasters with cholesterol drugs (which will probably get reversed as the weather changes less fast than medical studies do) -- has started pitching it to the Congresswoman.

Yes -- the advertising is shameless, misleading and abusive and rarely helps anyone at all. (Same with the commercial websites.)

And Reagan's dismantling of the FDA is nothing compared to what this Bush has undone -- including letting the pharmaceutical company which developed any drug under clinical trial fund and even influence the trial.

Please note how few clinical trials which are NOT funded by Big Pharma actually get approved.

The Clintons have made that same argument every weekend.

And it is based on....the opinion of the Clinton campaign.

Thus, their argument rests on "facts" that have even less validity than polls conducted 6 months before the general election.

Another point re: today's prescription meds that many are unaware of is that the companies will take their major $ producers and, near the end of their patents, will tweak them just a bit in order to produce a new and more expensive prescription drug. The newer drugs are often less effective than what they've replaced. But...big pharma sends it's reps out in droves to bribe docs into prescribing the newer, patented, much more expensive drug.

"Nearly a quarter of voters say they have been turned off by Obama’s “excessive” advertising campaign which the Philadelphia Inquirer says today has broken records."

As i suspected...I think I brought this up last week...too much advertising could hurt. I think I said something like...just because you can outspend your opponent 4-1 in advertising doesn't mean you should. I think I got a smart remark back from an Obama supporter (I won't call you out Warren...oops sorry). Looks like I was right.

;-)

Warren,

I am not giddy. Actually, I feel screwed over because I am convinced Obama (assuming his is the nom)cannot win the general, which means that my family will have another 4 years of NO Health care insurance.

Its statements like the ones he gave that lead me to this conclusion along with the fact that he has no experience, Rezko will probably hurt him, and oh yes, in the general, the pastor issue will rear its ugly head again.

harborwoman,

Again, you have it.

That includes the lovely spin of "timed release" versions.

Woohoo Wendy.

Feel free to put a gold star on your fridge.

(And I never disgreed with the point that over-adverstising could hurt Obama. Instead I pointed to something more important that underlies you statement. The fact that Obama is in a position to outspend his opponent 4-1 is a direct result from there being more enthusiasim for his campaign nationwide.)

Ouch...IN by 16% now...Clinton up by 3%...so the old theory of give Obama time he catches up doesn't seem to be holding true in IN...more like give Obama time and he falls behind

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=d8b46eaa-c463-408e-98d2-b830eb122d39

HRC: 55% (+3% since last poll)
BHO: 39% (-4% since last poll)
Undecided: 3%
Other: 3%

The most important factor to note is:

"In greater Indianapolis, Obama had led by 12, now trails by 1, a 13-point swing to Clinton."

I'll give him that he has 3 weeks to turn this one around...but it's not looking good in IN and things are trending in the wrong direction for ole Obomie.

I'm impressed, 9/11. A lot of us talk about what we'd like to see changed; you're taking action. Please keep me posted as you make progress.

I agree totally that the current administration has done enormous damage...to all government agencies, though, not just the health care related ones. Just look at who they've appointed to run these agencies. To a person, they're people who come from the very industries they're now assigned to provide oversight on (lousy sentence structure, I know!). FDA, CDC, IOM, FAA, Dept. of Justice...and on and on and on. They deregulate, then they put their shills in place and either politicize or destroy everything they touch.

Thanks, Warren I will

Did you see how badly Obomie is losing in IN now? I hope he's learned his lesson about over-saturating a market with advertising.

9/11...

It's interesting that we've come to so many of the same conclusions about the pharmaceutical industry and our government. At least medically, I think we are currently 'trapped' (not meant in any negative sense) on opposite sides of the treatment divide. I believe you are very involved in conventional, even experimental, treatments, whereas I have been operating primarily in the world of complementary medicine for the past 17 years. My son has autism, for which conventional medicine has virtually nothing to offer other than trying to drug him into submission, so I've sought alternative treatments and therapies that have him very functional today...not healed, which is what I truly want, but doing very well.

"Well duh! Look at many on this list Jan."

This is why they believe Obama...his supporters also think that anyone that won't vote for him or buy his crap is a bigot. This is why if the superDs don't have the sense to get off the Obama bandwagon and he does does get the nomination, he'll lose the election because his leftist radical supporters are actually so full of hate for the rest of the country they are out of touch. You guys might steal another primary but you'll lose the election...as usual.

Wendy:

You may want to hold off on the gold star until PA actually votes.

But to tell you the truth - I suspect Clinton will do just fine. They are masters at managing expectations. And I have a sneaking suspicion that there is a silent effort by the Clinton campaign to encourage some of her supporters to claim they are undecided in polls - so that it appears that she has won a huge percentage of late deciders.

Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney on Monday endorsed Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's presidential bid.

In a statement, the 75-year-old Rooney said endorsing political candidates is not something he regularly does.

"As a grandfather and a citizen of this community, I think Barack Obama's thoughtful, strategic approach is important to America," Rooney said. "When I hear how excited young people seem to be when they talk about this man, I believe he will do what is best for them, which is to inspire them to be great Americans."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080414/ap_on_el_pr/obama_rooney

harborwoman,

You both love and honor your son. (Also yourself.)

I spent many years with a boy (now a teenager) who was autistic and borderline retarded. Things like Concerta did make a difference. But you're right -- they are not all that made the world a less frightening, more understandable place.

My goal was to help him find ways to process that weren't his mother or my own.

Many people became involved. And now as he lives he thrives.

I cannot begin to tell you the respect both you and he deserve.

I will a few things. I work with healers -- including another ex-girlfriend whose work with me led to only brief period in which I was abruptly cancer-free.

I also work with many different nutrients and, of course, meditation.

What's interesting is how it all came together over the past few months.

A couple I know -- divorced but still partners in their practice -- are among the pioneers in the LA autistic research and treatment community. (The woman is the one who did the melatonin level research.)

They came to NYC because their youngest had a brutal sarcoma.

So the young man and I spent many days together.

Yes, he had a lot of severe treatment. But that only worked when I convinced him to let his very brilliantly constructed persona get atomized.

In doing so.... he got out of his own way.

And with that a lot of remarkable creative energy was created and released and created again.

So, yes -- I do go for conventional treatment because this thing is a mess.

But I pursue other things... not necessarily in search of any fait accompli... but a balance here and there and (very occasionally) everywhere.

What matters here is everything you have given your son on so many currents of love (no matter how you may have hurt) --

And how much more of it he has grown to receive --

And give back to you and others.

Nothing inflamatory about saying people who have lost their faith in government have turned to guns and religion....duh and are doing it because they are bitter?

Sounds like the bitter dregs are all in Obama land...
sometimes when you run a marathon and aren't really ready, you hit the wall. Looks like that's what has happened to Obama. Gee and just last week Obama was allegedly within a point of Clinton in Pennsyvania
I guess The Casey constituency didn't like being patronized after all. The only bitter one in that group is Bob still trying to avenge his ridiculous father the first Zell Miller.

"My assessment is not based on polls. It is based on listening to the candidates themselves as well as talking to real live Americans."

Yes Warren has been traveling all over the country talking to "real live Americans" in order to find out what they really think. Or is that just traveling around NYC talking to "real live New Yorkers". Talk about out of touch...

"I feel screwed over because I am convinced Obama (assuming his is the nom)cannot win the general, which means that my family will have another 4 years of NO Health care insurance."

Jan...even if Obama does win the nom and the election your family will still spend another 4 years with NO Health care.

There is supposed to be a good Frontline documentary on tomorrow comparing health care in various countries to the US. In the US, 700,000 people go bankrupt because of health related debt. In Japan, Germany, Great Britain and France, that number is 0. Good luck reducing that number with Obomie.

obama said he never met auchi........not according to testimony in the rezko trial

http://blogs.suntimes.com/rezko/2008/04/obama_bomb_dropped.html

Wendy! You don't think that the average New Yorker (assuming there is such a thing) is a good gauge of what the average American thinks is important? hah, hahah, hahaha, hahahahahahahahah. Oh god, sometimes I just kill myself.

you're accused of being some how emotional unstable

In you case your brhavior insists that people come to the conclusion that you are unstable

Once again you are projecting.

9/11...

I'm so glad to hear that you're seeking balance in your treatments. In your place, I certainly wouldn't avoid conventional treatments, but I've come to believe that alternative/complementary therapies have a great deal to offer. They often take longer to work, or for us to be able to see the healthy changes they're bringing about, but they seem to me to be more about healing, where many conventional treatments - particularly drugs - seem to be more about masking symptoms.

One of the most effective things I've done with my son is to remove all wheat and dairy from his diet. What we're really removing are the proteins gluten and casein, which enter the bloodstream through a permeable gut, and act like opiates in his system. This diet has proved effective for approximately 80 - 85% of people on the autism spectrum who've tried it. It usually shows up as improvements in both cognitive and behavioral function. I didn't know to try it until my son was 16, but even then, the changes were dramatic. If you're still in contact with the mom of the boy you mentioned, you might suggest she try it. If she's curious, I'd be happy to tell her everything I know that might be of help. Beyond the diet I mentioned, there's a long list of treatments and therapies that are worth a try...other diets, supplementaion based on lab testing, auditory integrative therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, Applied Behavioral Analysis, etc. These are all promoted by a group of very progressive doctors who are involved in the DAN! (Defeat Autism Now!) movement.

Needless to say, this is one of my passions.

"You may want to hold off on the gold star until PA actually votes."

Oh Warren...how many days leading up to OH did you say the same kind of crap to me...we'll see after OH...after OH it'll be over and we'll all get together and hold hands and sing...I'm not going to talk to you until after OH when Obomie wins.

Well...it didn't happen and here we are...and we'll be here after PA doin' the same dance.

If anyone you know needs Procrit or Neupogen injectibles and theco-pay per syringe has now gone up to hundreds of dollars...

See if your doctor's office will file the precription as MEDICAL rather than PHARMACEUTICAL.

It can work.

Wendy! If you persist in using Obomie, I suggest it's fair play for others to go with Hillwitch or Hillaryena or whatever they want. Which is rude and will further degrade the conversation. But sauce for the goose, no?

Otherwise, HRC, Hillary, Sen. or Mrs. Clinton would be fine. As would BO, BHO, Barack, Obama, or Sen. Obama.

Is Obomie a play on homie? Or what?

Harbor and 9/11: I think it's great how you educate us on topics that can make a real difference in others' lives. And you have no idea how far your ideas will travel or who lurks and can benefit.

No...other than one foul new yorker that posts on this blog and purposely misspells my name...I love New Yorkers but they are not representative of the entire US...if one looks at the entire US through the filter of New York...I consider them out of touch.

Now...if Warren did in fact go on a little bus tour around the US talking to average Americans to find out how they really feel about this election...I apologize for my remark.

The dance will eventually stop.

And remeber - PA is not about percentage points - it is about how many popular votes Clinton can get.

I don't care if a video comes out with Obama windsurfing with Farrakhan - HRC does not have a shot if she does not win the popular vote. Close won't cut it.

Btw, winning the popular vote only gives her a chance - and seals nothing for her. Since she will still need a super majority of the Super D's to ignore the fact that Obama won more states and more pledged delegates.

So - keep dancing...but make sure to maintain some contact with the concept of reality.

Hope others benefit, dog! Otherwise, please excuse our conversation in the midst of the political food fight....

Isn't Clinton an average New Yorker?

(oh, I forgot - she just plays one on TV...)

Dog...you can call Hillary whatever you'd like...that's up to you. I've seen her called worse than Hillwitch here...Bitch comes to mind - on several occasion. Do what you like. Have at it. I've spent this entire primary watching her called the most foul things imaginable...I think Obomie is mild compared to what Hillary has been called. So be my guest. Not to mention my own name being misspelled CONSTANTLY. Get over it and do what you'd like.

No it's not a play on homie.

It's a play on the fact that he's a big whiny baby coddled by the media. But I like your version too.

but what does that name mean? Obomie?

Move on Dog...you're barkin' up the wrong tree. If you don't get it...I'm not explaining it to you.

harborwoman,

Before my friend whose autistic son I mentioned was diagnosed herself with Celiac's Disease... she broke up with me in good part because I had kept suggesting to her to eliminate all gluten from her home.

I am continuously rotating my own foods, in or out of conventional treatment.

One of the things I have written of here many times is the Dendritic DNA viral cancer "vaccine" -- which is finally in a Stage I FDA clinical trial -- albeit for melanoma treatment only.

This is a masterpiece of biological treatment which retrains a body's immune system to distinguish between any auto-immune condition (AIDS, cancer, Crohn's -- it has worked with that -- lupus, sickle cell anemia and has had success in early work with autism).

The first widespread use of a biological treatment was with Rituxan which took decades to develop. But through the work of so many people (including one or two who get, um, criticized around here) it became one of the first AIDS related drugs to get an FDA fast track trial.

While it was developed to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, its uses have been pretty astonishing with very, very little collateral damage. (Well, except for the freaking use of prednisone which some -- not all -- doctors prescribe as pretreatment for it.)

One thing that forces drug prices higher is the extended rights protection accorded to a new drug. Courtesy of friendly legislation it is much longer before a generic can come on the market. Also, the drug companies push on doctors to prescribe new drugs at significantly higher prices rather than older drugs that are just as effective or generics, both of which are cheaper.

This also happens to be dangerous since the newer drugs may be more powerful, but may have worse side effects on contraindications .

Congress has been in the pocket of big pharma and the insurance companies have been making out like bandits with the new drug coverage reimbursed by tax payers.

Oh, warren, so Hillary is who you talked to? Well, you found one of the few NYers who grew up in the Midwest and has lived a significant portion of her life in a rural southern state in addition to the nation's capital and New York. Probably has a better sense of the country's ideas about what's important than the average NYer.

Considering that the voters in this country rage in age from 18 to the oldest register voter (hopefully a living voter)let's say 99 years old - for sake of the blog - how can any one person be "in-touch" with all the groups? add in age , gender, race, religion,and wealth and education level and there shouldn't be any room for gross generalizations.

It is aways better, just to treat people with a mutual respect, no need to insult them, especially if you are trying to get their votes.

MSNBC is so blatant

"balanced" coverage of the "bitter" remarks: An Obama supporter and a Republican to comment on whether or not Sen. Clinton is going overboard.

BTW, I've decided Sen. and Mrs Obama aren't "elitists" (class over class). I think they are snobs (better and holier than thou), particularly when you consider the snarky remarks, put downs and the arugula and OJ comments.

well, elitists and snobs - I have a soccer practice to deliver the kid to. have a good evening.

Good information, 9/11. Thank you! I will admit that I'm somewhat (okay, a lot!) anti-vaccine based on much research, but if they've come up with one that may truly help with all you mention - including autism! - I'll certain work at being open to it. My first step, however, will be to try to ascertain what it's components are, as there are many dangerous ingredients included in virtually all vaccines...to name a few, thimerosal (mercury), aluminum, formaldehyde, and those don't even touch on the adjuvants used to get vaccine components to the desired sites in the body.

Did you realize that your former girlfriend had Celiac disease? It's pretty amazing that you knew to eliminate gluten. Did you know that because of your own illness? I assume she's now gluten-free. How about her son? If they're already gluten-free, going casein-free is a breeze by comparison!

Oh, I forgot to say bitter elitists and snobs.

dog bitterly bids you adieu, pogo.

That's French for ciao. Adios.

"Probably has a better sense of the country's ideas about what's important than the average NYer."

Well the way her camapign has been run does not seem to support your statement pogo.

No one likes snobs, even snobs don't like snobs, but they only say rude things behind each others backs, or where they do not think anyone will hear them....sound familiar?

9/11...

Did you say earlier that you were interested in comparing the Edwards health care proposals to those of Obama and Clinton, or did I misinterpret that? On the off-chance that I remember correctly, here's a link to Edwards' proposals... http://www.johnedwards.com/issues/health-care/ I wish he were still in the race. Then I'd be as passionate as those on this list who are so excited about either Clinton or Obama.

Naptime. Will catch up with any responses later....

delete "only" typo

9/11 & HarborW....
thanks for the informative posts on big pharma..... it's much, much more entertaining than the political stuff, IMO....

Dex.... it should be a good series between the Indians and Red Sox.... I do feel badly for your and Corey's Tigers...... I don't get what's happened to them....
they look so good on paper...

Melanie...

I'm pretty sure kgc was here earlier today, and GAKaren usually posts in the evening hours, I think.

harborwoman,

They are both gluten and casein-free -- and he is on his way to a hotel management program after becoming increasingly (but not fully) mainstreamed in his high school years.

I put the vaccine in quote marks because that's no description for it.

It is injected. But its contents are developed exclusively from dendritic DNA and RNA samples taken from the patient. Since I became involved as a water bucket carrier for the project, I have seen different techniques developed around the world for accelerating the "vaccine" development.

One of the things that makes that possible is that this has always been an open source research project. Both the originating doctor and institution have chosen a very small patent fee for themselves.

It is completely a completely biological drug. In ten years of testing there have been no side effects and a tremendous range of success. There is no "permanent" cure -- but all when any condition relapses, all that is needed is a new injection of your personal DNA/RNA combo to "hit the on switch" for anyone's immune system to work again.

While it began with melanoma research (as that was a concern of its first donor), it switched quickly to pediatric AIDS.

Here's Washington Monthly with comments on the Tier 4 drug pricing 9/11 and Harbor were discussing earlier.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_04/013519.php

One semi-reassuring comment: economist Herbert Stein alledgedly said that when something can't go on, it won't.

Because sounds like our health insurance/access system is about to implode without major change.

And talk about idiocy if McCain ends up in the White House and an urgent opportunity for reform is lost.

"Damn - "if Chuck Hagel""

ROFL, Warren -- when you called him Check Hagel I thought you were saying ole Chuck was on the take.....kind of like Dollar Bill Jefferson.

"I am not giddy. Actually, I feel screwed over because I am convinced Obama (assuming his is the nom)cannot win the general, which means that my family will have another 4 years of NO Health care insurance."

Precisely. He cannot win. And I'm already resigned to the fact that we are once again screwed. We'll have McCain until he resigns for health reasons then Romney or some other big business deregulator.

"Wendy! If you persist in using Obomie, I suggest it's fair play for others to go with Hillwitch or Hillaryena or whatever they want."

Your crowd already calls her a fu*king whore....why mess with what you got going?

NBC "First Read"

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/04/14/887544.aspx?CommentPosted=true#commentmessage

shows a poster making the right wing rounds. I doubt it would stick with Dems in the general, but it might sway independents as an image.

Had lunch with an old friend and Obama supporter today...or should I say former Obama supporter..The straw that broke the camel's back for her were his sneering Annie Oakley comments.

I should refer my nice Obama friends to this site. I think the usual suspects would drive them away from Mr. O..

Renee! "How's your quit?" he said with his fingers crossed.

Obam / Marijuana

http://www.reason.com/blog/show/124727.html

Earlier I was listening to Britt Hume. He said the MSM was finally going to start vetting Mr Obama. He characterized his religion remarks as an 'opiate of the masses' moment.

I feel no glee in watching a campaign go down in flames.

Thanks for the link , Jamie.

"My name is Chastity and I’m a 33-year-old African-American woman. I was deeply saddened and disturbed by your comments about Senator Clinton. A woman has a right to defend the 2nd amendment without condescending comparisons that represent your lack of knowledge in regards to the women’s suffrage plight.

“Who does she think she is? Annie Oakley?”

I want to answer that question. If you are asking if Senator Clinton is similar to Ms. Oakley in her amazing talent and timely rise to fame which propelled her to become the first American female superstar, then I agree with that depiction."

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/04/14/dear-sen-obama-from-an-african-american-woman/

I might have. But, what I really remember about that is wondering why a candidate would accept the endorsement of someone who many believe committed treason while in North Vietnam.

That makes him the same age as my daughters. They both know all about her actions.

Wendy..I enjoyed your excellent 6:49 post.

Not crocodile tears , but close.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-36u4xUCF0

9/11...

Where can I look to learn more about this dendritic DNA/RNA 'vaccine'? It sounds really interesting. I've been hoping something would come along as a result of stem cell research, but maybe we won't have to wait for that.

What do you mean you became involved as a 'water bucket carrier' for the project? Sorry for not getting it.

LOL...Hey Dog....want a Drag?

Hey Harbor....want a drag? Pretty good OSD High!

OK, let me ask you Obama bongers this question :

Lets say that Obama runs against McCain in the fall and he loses...What are your comments going to be that that point?

clarify : Obama loses

OK, let me ask you Obama bongers this question :

Lets say that Obama runs against McCain in the fall and he loses...What are your comments going to be that that point?

Posted by: unlikely_burrito Author Profile Page | April 14, 2008 7:58 PM

Interesting question. What will the Clinton supporters say if she it the nominee and loses to McCain?

I'd say Obama Hangover at that point. But it was quite a party before it was over. ;0)

Nobody suffers from OSD...they enjoy it quite a bit.

harborwoman,

The project's called Direct Effect. It is led by Dr. Ralph Steinman who is the head of immunology at The Rockefeller University.

Here's his bio:

http://www.rockefeller.edu/labheads/steinman/drSteinman.php

The project was founded by my friend Curt who -- along with his two brothers -- is another Kancer Kid: all three brothers have colon cancer which began as a reaction to a successful Purple Pill (yeah, the anti-reflux drug) treatment for esophagal cancer. All three, like me, are inured to chemo and are pretty much thriving with Chinese medicine.

(Chinese doctors are wary of treating what I have -- long history there.)

Curt's plan was to spend no money on PR, parties, excessive staff -- and to make the contributors collaborators with the researchers.

Combine that with open source research and a great project developed.

The first accomplishment was through an Israeli researcher named Rachel who rehabilitated the true demon drug thalidomide as the first effective treatment for leprosy. Curt -- who is gay -- felt very strongly that it was unethical to treat treat the most rescent herpes zoster virus -- HIV -- and leave the most primitive -- leprosy -- untreated. Plus... you explore the first and you'll have tremendous insight into the last.

Out of this came most of the research into viral personality -- people who are born with a number of latent virii.

My cancer -- like many of them -- is viral.

When a person is treated with this method, blood is taken by a special method. Dendritic DNA and RNA are separated and analyzed. And out of that come markers for virii a person is carrying -- for all sorts of auto-immune conditions from MS to AIDS to cancer.

Out of that is prepared the so-called vaccine which isn't a vaccine.

I'd say...Run , Al , Run!

Burrito,
reality is this; Both Obama or Clinton can lose....and so can McCain.

So let me ask you this; what happens if Obama is elected? What are you going to do?

"after all this, all I have is this t-shirt! "

Turn to guns and religion?

Do???? most likely nothing differently....

Open up a gourmet pot shop - ?

I'm lazy Corey ;0)

LOL Burrito! That's a great one! We oughta sell them.

I already want to get a gun...no matter who wins....religion....ahhh not so much

: )

If McCain wins, may start looking for property in Costa Rica....

KO goping after Hillary? No way!

Been thinking about that for the last year. Just getting so I can't feel safe anymore.

KO going after Hillary? No way!

Thanks, 9/11. Sounds a little scary, but well worth looking into. Did your former girlfriend's autistic son have this treatment? And, when you say he's entering a hotel management course, how successful is he? Is he healed? If not, how much support does he require? Also, he's apparently made significant gains...do they attribute them to the dietary change, or to what?

Did you see the movie"the Brave one" w Jodie Foster ?

No. I haven't seen a Jodie Foster Movie in years

HW
Have you heard of Barry Neil Kaufman ?

hmmm...last one I saw was, "Anna and the King"

oh its a remake of something else, but she fairs well with a pistol...kind of sick but true. I liked it a lot.

Being from a special part of the navy, I am qualified in several small arms. Sounds so manly, doesn't it?

Some music for your pot shop , burrito. LOL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXxYP4guEOg&feature=related

UB...

Yes, I've heard of Barry Neil Kaufman and have read his books. They were able to recover their son, who is now doing very well. For all purposes, he is a typical young man. Do you know them?

Also, if you don't mind my asking, are you a male burrito or a female burrito? Just curious....

Well, Good Night all,

I have to drive a long way.

Burrito, thanks for the little chat. ;0)

A couple of observations. First Hillary spoke first last night and knew exactly what Obama would do. He would claim he was a devout Christian and do everything to look the opposite of of that dude in San Francisco. Frankly, I'm surprised she didn't take a bigger shot at him and of course, Obama delivered the expected damage control. There isn't anyone here who would have had more trouble tying Faith to controling Global Warming.

I sat today in an accounting office with several Blacks. It is a long story, but my Brooklyn accountant is from St. Lucia and I had the fortune to converse with Americans from Liberia, Nigeria, Guyanna, Trinidad and the Cayman Islands. Every one of them said they believed Obama associated with Rezko, Ayers and Trinity to establish his cred and get elected. They feared his weak distancing would be his undoing and wasn't thrilled with his political savay of late. They do prefer him to Hillary, because they believe that he is really a centrist at heart and once elected will counter the planned manipulation by Pelosi and Reid by forming a coalition with moderate Republicans. They do believe the NeoLIberal wing is in danger of adding to American's problems and find Pelosi and other egoists wo are very out of touch. They see Obama's remarks of his unfortunate pander to them to get elected.

Although they admit the Press has favored Obama (one gentlman drives a top CEO at NBC and said NBC offered Obama free air time because they want him to win, but alas that is illegal), this Cayman Island fellow (the rest agreed) say the #1 crime in the US is news reporting. The guy from Guyanna said the Press doesn't explain what the US did when Perez was President in Caracas thay led to a HUgo. The Nigerian told me how the US started their civil war in 1967 over oil. The Liberian explain that Kuwait was horizontal drilling into Iraqi oil fields and the the Trinidadian said the same thing happened to their oil field. They all deplored the role of the IMF to micromanage world resources to the benefit of the West. They all agreed that the Republicans and Democrats ought to swept aside. They admitted Obama's problems and said Hillary was not without hers, but they were angry that Obama played the first race card and trashed Bill Clinton. They do strongly favor Obama over McCain for the primary reason that McCain can't motivate people with his oratory and is getting old. Most would even vote for Reagan over any present candidate and were all self-described Democrats. Their age ranged from 29 -52. They said every one says America is the greatest country in the world, but 1. can't agree why, or 2. how to keep it that way. They all said they deeply loved this country and I was absolutely shocked at the degree these people understood world history and the depths of this election. Despite all coming from horrible situations in their own countries they said the US should not intervene and Power is completely wrong. The US can't make people grow up and should act only to defend allies or interdict terrorists/WMD. They say Jefferosnian approaches only deplete our resources. Each said we had the right to terminate Saddam, but have no responsibility to stabilize Iraq. People should grow up on their own.

Now I don't buy all these arguments, but I was impressed. These weren't professors and we weren't drinking lattes. The NIgerian has five children, four presently in Ivy league schools and one soon to go. He said Brown costs a quarter of a million for four years and America has to act now to better educate our people. Those not willing to work do not deserve the opportunites those that do. He wasn't born into wealth but everyone there worked their ass off. One fought for the US. So I was impressed with a group of African Americans that rejects the Leftists and rejects the Right Wingers. They made a lot of sense and told me, if America doesn't break from this wedge issue mentality, we will slip and the worst in the world will rise. Needless to say, filing today brought a new perspective. Surprisingly they said they would vote for Bloomberg over Barak and said the only way tthe Democrats will win is if Hillary and Obama are on the same ticket. I asked if Obama should be on the top. They said he desrves that, but given the onslught facing him, it might be prudent to take a deal later that would give him the VP. They didn't like this at all, but they said Democrats don't realize the crap that's coming to Obama and some admit, it much his own making.

These people do not speak for all Blacks of course, but as immigrants they bring a certain international prespective. Something that Obama claims he has....

oh yeah, I forgot that part of your back ground.

My keyboard just died, I think I have revived it with 2 double As

See ya Shelia

I am a "she" buritto, I didn't know they made men burittos...lol

I went to a workshop at their place years ago. It's an amazing place, and they story is incredible.

chef sheila annie oakley hussein the nun?

okay Burrito,

Thanks Corey for the tune... Rick James ha ha

Anyway, I was not part of the Son-rise program, but I did read that book, many years ago and it made a lot of sense to me. Isn't their son the head of some autistic center , or am I wrong ?

harborwoman,

Some of it is to dietary change... a lot of it was due to a brave move she made to New Haven... to declare the local schools could not properly provide for him... and get federal money for an excellent school.

Then he went to The Family High School on LI where both his sisters had excelled in everything...

And over time did his version of the same.

Harbor, by the time I met him was just before he began trying Concerta.

Before than he had tried killing himself twice -- once by running into traffice (he tried several times afterward) and another time by jumping out a second story window.

The food management started his first year of high school and coincided with an excellent "halfway" program for mainstreaming.

He went from being a tolerated mascot on the wrestling team to a varsity star (and one in football, too)... had supporting roles in two school musicals (in a program run by my fave collaborator who is such a wonderful man)... managed the school snackbar... and volunteered after school in assisted living homes to teach people how to use their computers and the internet.

Long before that he became the wittiest kid I knew -- he kept finding his way out of the labyrinth as his mom and I worked to find our way into his.

Oh, yeah -- his dad sexually abused him.

He's a Bush adviser, too. With Asperger's. (In his case it's spelled with a double s.)

Harbor........Collin has 5 traffic light videos up now.....

Sheila, Navy small arms?? What's that a destroyer?

Burrito...

I read their books so long ago. I remember the intense teaching...very much like applied behavioral analysis...and that they altered his diet, but I think only by ensuring that he had healthy foods.

I believe Raun is the head of their programs now, but I could be wrong.

I envy you that you went to one of their workshops. It must not have been one of the workshops focused on a child with autism. I wrote them, and considered taking my son there, but decided that I would prefer to spend such a large sum of money on other treatments. At the time, they wanted $5K for a one-week visit.

Burrito...

I read their books so long ago. I remember the intense teaching...very much like applied behavioral analysis...and that they altered his diet, but I think only by ensuring that he had healthy foods.

I believe Raun is the head of their programs now, but I could be wrong.

I envy you that you went to one of their workshops. It must not have been one of the workshops focused on a child with autism. I wrote them, and considered taking my son there, but decided that I would prefer to spend such a large sum of money on other treatments. At the time, they wanted $5K for a one-week visit.

Oops! Pardon my double post. Lost my focus for a moment there....

Yes I went to a workshop by myself. It was inspiring, and difficult. I would go back, but it takes a lot out of you plus I think their prices are even higher now.

I met people from all over the world. Gee, I have not really thought about it for years, I guess I went in 1996 ?

The diet was really important for everyone who went there.

Yeah that was a long time ago, I should re-visit some of their books.

9/11...

That's a very impressive recovery! It sounds as though he's functioning normally today. How wonderful!

I have not watch MSN lately....is he (PB) stuck on the bitter thing?

Strug...

Any idea what, if any, treatments Colin's dad tries with him? I love his traffic light videos!

I had an autistic student the first year I taught who was fascinated by all forms of traffic control. I used to give him a ride to and from school, because he wasn't 'safe' on the school bus. One morning he sat up in his seat and said, "Those cars are turning left", which they were. I was floored, as this was a kid who rarely spoke, and who I'd been told was retarded. Remember, I was a first year teacher...greener than green! Another day, when I'd done a unit on traffic safety with my class, he repeated the entire lesson almost verbatim to one of my roommates when she stopped by my classroom at the end of the school day. I wish I'd known back then all that I know today, and I'd love to find this man (he was about 6 when he was my student, but would be in his 40's now). I've looked for his family, but with no success.

MSNBC doesn't have any commercials because they are one big commercial for Obama. Wonder how much it costs to buy a network?

Dr. Phil got his start on tv with Oprah. Oprah supports Obama. Doubt if Dr. Phil could help Hillary without getting a memo from Oprah.

Harbor.......Im not up on what Andy has done for him but I know he's very involved in it......He has a website for the bass speaker he manufactures if you want to ask him I'm sure he'd be glad to compare notes.......
acmebass.com

Colbert coming up on Larry King.

Oprah can pick up the bill and call it even for suggesting she run for office. Then she can have Dr. Phil come on and explain what he was thinking.

I often used drop cloths to protect the floor when working, but that is a far cry for making sure their is a cat litter box when a stray cat is running around after eating.....

Now let's see what I missed today in the news. Naybe Obama put his other foot in his mouth causing him to apologize and not apologize. It kind reminds you off Kerry's line of not voting for something after he voted for it.....

Hey, isn't Kerry an Obama endorsement?

Ha...if that was his drug of choice...

Jamie...

Remember the FreeRice page someone once posted here? I just saw a news report (local CH. 5 news) about it being used in a school to both help kids learn new words and spelling, and to encourage 'giving'. Just caught the tail end of the report as I was coming in from taking out the garbage...another tale from my exciting life....

Harbor.......go to acmebass.com and click on the box which says "Links" and Collin should be on top of the page to click and go to some info......

For anyone who would like to play, here's the FreeRice site...

http://www.freerice.com/index.php

Free Rice for anyone who wants to play

http://www.freerice.com/

Thanks, sturg! Will do.

Does NY have medical marijuana, or CA the only state with that?

Sturg...

I read the page about Collin. Andy has some good links. I think I will email him one day soon, just to compare notes.

Hey Max,

Is it that he's a vet, you don't care for Kerry or is it the windsurfing?:)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_marijuana

Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for approximately 4,000 years. Surviving texts from ancient India confirm that its psychoactive properties were recognized, and doctors used it for a variety of illnesses and ailments. These included a whole host of gastrointestinal disorders, insomnia, headaches and as a pain reliever, frequently used in childbirth.

In case smoke hurts your lungs
marijuanavaporizer.com

No wonder they do not want to legalize it. It would infringe on some pharma companies sales figures.

In case you missed it, Stephen Colbert just promoted this charity. It benefits class room projects for teachers.

http://www.donorschoose.org/homepage/main.html

ending of the movie "The Professionals"........Ralph Bellamy has lost his young wife, informed so by Lee Marvin.......Marvin begins to mount his horse to leave and Bellamy tells him: "You BASTARD"
Lee Marvin stops dead........and says with his back turned to Bellamy, "Yes........with me an accident of birth...." mounts and turns to Bellamy....."but you, sir; are a self-made man."

The drug companies scare me. Add that to the lack of proper and complete testing, the counterfeit drugs coming in from China and then some pharmacists that "cut' the goods it's not safe to be sick!!
____________
Jamie -
That's a nice charity for those PA teachers.

Where I live the schools can't meet budget, but the city has way too much money....and they (the city) are not allowed to use the funds they have to buy and pay for the things the local (city) schools need so instead they pass a levy and raise our property taxes.
_____________

Oregon Democrat...

Here's the link for the part where Hillary slams Al Gore, but I'll also put the quote here for you.

"We had two very good men, and men of faith, run for president in 2000 and 2004. But large segments of the electorate concluded that they did not really understand or relate to or frankly respect their ways of life," Clinton said at Messiah College, referring to former vice president Al Gore and Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.). She repeated her view that Obama had been "elitist . . . and, frankly, patronizing."

And here's what Obama said in response to Hillary's slam of Al Gore.

"Obama becomes the first major candidate to acknowledge the truth about the stolen 2000 election as he issued this rejoinder to Clinton's disowning of the real vice-president during her husband's administration: "I know that Al Gore was mentioned earlier," Obama said. "By the way, I have to say, I think Al Gore won." "

And here's the link below so you can read it yourself.

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/editorblog/080

Now go ahead and defend HIllary's slam of Al Gore.

Hillary didnt slam Al Gore......or Kerry.......she succinctly stated a fact......ie large segments of the electorate concluded that they did not really understand or relate to or frankly, respect their way of life.

Isnt that what happened?

wow ....but doesn't Barack remember, that it was FLORIDA that screw Gore out of the election? The same state that Barack doesn't want to count the votes....oh my

and BTW this "of faith" crap isn't what this country is supposed to be about.

I don't like the pandering to the religious for votes at all.
separation of church/no church and state

I don't really know how Hillary can state who others respect....I know that people can be envious/jealous of rich people, but do they disrespect them because they have money?

Don't get me wrong, I like Hillary, but seriously this is getting to the point of insanity!

Sturgeone,

That was more or less the GOP/Rove spin as I recall.

"large segments of the electorate concluded that they did not really understand or relate to or frankly, respect their way of life."

I voted for Kerry. After I didn't vote for him.

Another candidate who waited too long and was too weak in their pivot to center. And then post defeat,

Like a rolling stone.....no firection home....

Want to see that happen again.?

Rez, I've seen some really cool special ops suggestions regarding the use of arrows and I'm not talkin Rambo. Some say the Romans had a gattling gun that used arrows and fired them with such force they could penetrate most armor of the day. In a sense, rail techology is similar concept. As I mentioned before, arrows could attack cononial and federal riflemen when hills blocked their line of sight.

Some say 457s will play this role in the GE.

Large segments of the electorate voted for someone else.

That's all, anything added to that is conjecture.

Rez.....and apparently large segments of the electorate bought into it?

Nader even got some votes out of it.......

sturgeone...

Both elections were stolen. But if you believe the Reich Wing Bush won. He did not win either one.

And as for counting all votes about 3 million were not counted in one of the Presidential Elections though I'm not going to look it up again.

anon.....I'm aware of that......all of it......but as long as he became president.......he won. Right?

The Oscars are most likely more legitimate then our general election.

you mean they're going to steal it again no matter whom the democrats nominate after all this bloody theater?

rats.

Lighten up Max, I had a smiley face on my question..:?:)
I was trying out my Joe M. line of inquiry..lol

Sturgeone,

He got the job, whether he won or not.

Popular Vote 2000...

http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2000/prespop.htm

http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/2000/popular_vote.html

Florida and Michigan Unions Picket DNC Headquarters

"The Howard Dean-Donna Brazile attempted coup of the Democratic party is meeting unexpected stiff resistance from union members in two states that the DNC doesn’t care about. Politico is reporting that union members from Florida and Michigan are picketing outside of DNC headquarters today. This is the first of what may become a routine daily activity from disenfranchised voters."

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/04/14/florida-and-michigan-unions-picket-the-dnc/

rats. LOL

"Small Town"

Not bitter small town as I recall.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3eDkAG3R0h8

Jack

UB...

We don't get only counterfeit drugs from China. So much has been off-shored to China, among other countries, that China now supplies some of the ingredients for both prescription medications and supplements. You're right. It's scary as hell. I sometimes wonder if part of their plan to take over the world doesn't include simply dumbing us all down by selling us items laced with toxins that induce neurological impairment. Paranoid, I know...but I wonder....

For you Clinton supporters

Jack and Diane

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT9tpKXFd8A

Jack

For 2004 here's a link with a lot of sources about the voting problems in many areas including the problems in Ohio. Its rather lengthy and is four pages long and once again with numerous sourcing.

Oh by the way it was wrote by Robert F. Kennedy Jr and you will more than likely dismiss it and call it biased.

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/10432334/was_the_2004_election_stolen

More voting irregularities...

http://www.ideamouth.com/voterfraud.htm

This is twelve states with numerous irregularities in 2004.

LOL

over at the National Review they are calling Obama coments "The Deliverance Defamation."

So the dueling banjo scene from Deliverence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esl2NNOtHQE

Jack

Not only has Obama denied meeting Auchi, he has denied ever speaking to him....

http://www.wthitv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8163418&nav=menu593_1

I can't wait for the picture to come out....

You mean like the picture of President Clinton and the Rev. Wright?

Terry McAullife will be appearing at the official opening of the Salem, OR Hillary headquarters tomorrow.
Unfortunately, I can't attend because I am on a temporary assignment in Southern Oregon.

Anon,

Not even that much of a connection, The National Review is trying to push this and the best they can come up with is in the same room at a function the governor was throwing. Like most things that Max posts they fall apart upon examination.

Jack

Yes, lets get all the info on Auchi as he was tied to Mark Rich whom Bill pardoned.

"
It is this network that would include individuals like Pierre Falcone, Etienne Leandri, Charles Pasqua, Marc Rich, Bill &

Hillary Clinton, Nadhmi Auchi and organizations like Elf, the corrupt Menatep Bank of Russia (used by the Abromovich

organization) and the Bank of New York system compromised by the Berlin couple and Semion Mogilevich. By exchanging Angolan

debt and cash from other parts of the system, the entire affair was able to arrange for arms to be shipped illegal to Jonas

Savimbi in Angola. That entire deal, involving so many multiple level 'cut-outs' in the banking structure (between BNP and

the corrupt BoNY system), off-shore banks and money transfers (mostly to paper front companies) plus the high level of

individuals and organizations ensured that no one would be able to properly figure the whole thing out. Just to be sure,

President Clinton pardoned Marc Rich due to his high level of involvement in that and with the Russian Mafia.

Yes a busy 1990's for Nadhmi Auchi that would see, beyond this, beyond his overcharging for medications in the UK and

generally making money hand over fist, he would also be involved with the other TotalFinaElf scandal: Oil For Food. This

would become Saddam Hussein's main method of money laundering and moving funds outside the oversight of the UN because the

UN, quite plainly, lacked the ability to conduct oversight on the entire affair. It says a lot when Saddam was able to tell

the UN to use BNP-Paribas which just happens to have Nadhmi Auchi as its largest shareholder. One of the recent sidelights of

BNP-Paribas is its takeover of a previous bank used to support Saddam Hussein's regime: Banca Nazionale del Lavoro (BNL).

Actually he may have been involved in that, but, as Kenneth Timmerman points out in a 01 NOV 1996 document (Source: gulfweb)

it may have had so many high level individuals on both sides of the political aisle involved, including Bill and Hillary

Clinton, that the Dept. of Justice let those things that might actually still be prosecutable slide under the Reagan, Bush

and Clinton administrations."

Here's a link on the whole Auchi details. But I'm sure you will say Bill wasn't involved with Auchi though this article says differently.

http://ajacksonian.blogspot.com/2008/03/connecting-some-dots-between-candidates.html

OD

Terry McAullife?

Damn thats a tough break.

Must of been a lot of free beer and loose women. At least if I was going there would have to be.

Jack

Anon

I suspect your connections have as much validity as Max's. So I think I'll pass.

Jack

Another story showing that President Clinton whom we all agree is no dummy knew what Marc Rich was involved in and still pardoned him.

And don't forget that the Traitor I. Lewis Scooter Libby was Marc Rich's Lawyer was the person who lobbied for the Rich Pardon.

"Kroll investigators discovered that one of the middlemen helping Saddam was Marc Rich, the U.S. tax-evader pardoned by President Bill Clinton. Rich had been indicted by the United States in 1983 on charges he evaded more than $48 million in taxes and illegally bought oil from Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis. He fled the United States and settled in Switzerland. Kroll said, "We came up with evidence that through Marc Rich's Spanish subsidiary, he was using some Iranian cutouts – specifically Bakhtiar, Iranians, whose family was close to Saddam – he was using them to negotiate arrangements as it related to oil.""

http://www.odiousdebts.org/odiousdebts/index.cfm?DSP=content&ContentID=10541

Clinton didn't get money from Auchi nor deny ever meeting him. The comparison is absurd, but look at who posted it.

Anyway, in other ludicrious news, what worst, Mathews suggesting he 's gonna run for Senate or Stewart defending what Obama said while making fun of Hillary having a beer and forgetting the beer drinking outting of Obama bowling into the gutter.

I guess the writer strike is over....LOL

You think voters in Pennsylvania actually enjoy the comments by Stewart and others? Such tact will really help the Democrats come November.

"No wonder they do not want to legalize it. It would infringe on some pharma companies sales figures."

Exactly UB. I think it is a bit absurd to outlaw a plant - but allow the pharma companies get a generation of people hooked on pills that decrease anxiety or help you sleep...but may give you cotton-mouth (as well as other side effects).

My real issue with that is no matter what the FDA says - we are never sure of all the potential side effects of these pills created in a lab.

As Smokey once wisely said:

"Weed is from the earth. God put this here for me and you. Take advantage man, take advantage."

NYT: Senators Clinton, McCain held 'vodka-drinking contest' during congressional trip to Estonia two summers ago
Published: Friday July 28, 2006

"On a congressional delegation trip to Estonia in August of 2004, Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and John McCain (R-AZ) held a "vodka-drinking contest," according to an article slated for Saturday's edition of The New York Times.

"Two summers ago, on a congressional trip to Estonia, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton astonished her traveling companions by suggesting the group do what one does in the Baltics: hold a vodka-drinking contest," reports Anne E. Kornblut for The Times.

"Delighted, the leader of the overseas delegation, Sen. John McCain, quickly agreed," Kornblut continues.

"The after-dinner game went so well — memories are a bit hazy on who drank how much — that Mr. McCain, an Arizona Republican, later told people how unexpectedly engaging he found Mrs. Clinton to be," Kornblut reports. "'One of the guys,' was the way he described Mrs. Clinton, a New York Democrat, to some Republican colleagues."

"What happens in Estonia stays in Estonia," a Clinton spokesman tells The Times."

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/NYT_Senators_Clinton_McCain_held_vodkadrinking_0728.html

Hillary's new ad in PA = overplaying her hand

(Even if it helps in PA - and I think the impact of any such ads will be negligible given the media coverage of this story - it ultimately hurts her. People don't like negative ads - even when they are based on actual issues. But an ad that is pur "gotcha" politics in a Dem. primary contest.....I guess Wolf-boy just couldn't help himself ; )

Ok, well then this year I am planning to harvest my own crop - just have to hide it from my teenagers... and my @sshole neighbor .....

There is a video on yahoo now of Assoc Press-Dean Singleton calling Obama - Osama.
I cannot make the post work, just go to yahoo dot com.
It won't copy.
Julie :))

You know Warren, you just made me think about something....

That's rare ....j/k - - maybe I should go the herbal route......

Jack...

My point is that Max always uses guilt by association. So what's the difference between Auchi ties to Obama and Auchi ties to Bill Clinton?

There are none, however Bill's name does come up and that wasn't the only controversial pardon. Didn't he also pardon some foreign group that was in Federal Prison.

I don't remember the name, however I could spend some time looking it up. I'll just google President Clinton Pardons and see if the name comes up.

If it does I'll post it. If someone is going to cry guilt by association then they should expect the same back.

New Yorkers: Q 4 U :: who serves the best sushi in Manhattan?

Be careful Burrito, look what weed has done to Warren's thought process.

The Chinese are very good with herbal medicine.

(probably safer than anything coming from their factories ; )

Btw, I think some of the China bashing is a bit over done. It is not surprising to have some products liability cases related to one of our biggest importers. (I am not trying to exonerate them - but there are irresponsible factories all over the world.)

Max - that's warren b4 weed

Max:

That is the result of TV.

lol

But I kinda like my thought process.

(almost forgot the political rule that you can't apologize or make an excuse without implicitly admitting you are wrong - and of course in politics - "no one is wrong" . . . right?)

Well unless you have direct contact with China - oh my dog (love of my life) died during that period - oh my progammer was a liar... then maybe you would not understand.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_herbology

That new add shows "how out of touch HRC is"

The Marc Rich Pardon...

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,99302,00.html

"Marc Rich's socialite ex-wife has donated an estimated $1 million to Democratic causes, including $70,000 to Hillary Clinton's successful Senate campaign and $450,000 to the Clinton presidential library fund. She also lobbied heavily for Marc's pardon. Investigators want to know if Denise's contributions led to a direct quid pro quo exchange for her ex-husband's pardon. Clinton has denied any connection, saying he relied solely on the information provided by Jack Quinn (former White House counsel and Rich's current lawyer) when he was weighing the pardon request."

So was there a Quid Pro Quo to HIllary and Bill or not?

Anon, I said that Auchi didn't give money to Clinton nor did Clinton deny he ever met Wright. Of course he met Wright, but he would never have stayed at Trinity nor would Oprah, given the sermons Wright was delivering. There is a reason why Obama denied ever meeting Auchi or he would have siad, "Well, maybe I did meet him, so what?' Does Obama want to tie his house to the money meant to feed starving iraqi children? Some will argue being opposed to invading Iraq is exactly Auchi's position because he was making a fortune off Saddam despite Saddam's murdering people in Auchi's family. Some guy. So you can see why Obama doesn't want any association.

Carter is meeting Hamas, but we know what context it is, even if many don't like it. Obama was at a party and soon the broke Rezko would get the money from Auchi to help Obama buy his house. There is a whole history of qpq and far more than just, "we knew each other". This will hurt and I am sure Obama will first attack the messenger and then apologize, but not apologize after a picture comes out.

So go ahead and say ALL associations are the same and mean nothing. Have fun with that.....

I'm waiting for a brilliant response, but then I know better.....

Max:

Your positions are too extreme and they leave no room for compromise or concession.

Unless of course the other side is simply going to concede that their own deeply-held beliefs are completely wrong and that they were utterly stupid for maintaining them as long as they did.

Never in a million years would I trust an un-naturalized Chinese programmer/person again.

The origin of the term "naturalization" is that it gives to a resident alien almost all of the rights held by a natural-born citizen.

Some of this is tongue in cheek -- --- --- u decide : )

Another pardon involving Hillary's brother.

"Now, in the wake of the launch of her presidential campaign, the pardon controversy has reemerged in an obscure court case in which Senator Clinton's brother Tony is battling an order to repay more than $100,000 he received from a couple pardoned by President Clinton.

Tony Rodham, who acknowledged approaching the president about a pardon for the couple, is the second of Hillary Clinton's brothers to receive money from people who were eventually pardoned by President Clinton. Hugh Rodham received $400,000 from two people, one of whom was pardoned and one whose sentence was commuted."

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/02/28/pardons_reemerge_as_issue_in_clinton_run/

Switch to Sour Diesel and use that vaporizor...

I recommend cutting down however, it shows....

http://www.hightimes.com/ht/news/content.php?bid=636&aid=3

Unfortunately, I don't think that was what he was talkin about....

Max thanks for the link.

Obama missed the point of small town USA!

The Guy Next Door
Who am I
in this time of diversity?
Who is it that is me?
One thing I know for sure.
I was born here.
I’m the guy next door.

The censes people want to know.
How to divi up where the money will go.
My mom and dad were born here too.
Oh no! Who am I?
What do I do?

Let’s look back another generation.
My Grandparents might be from another nation?
With them my future can be clear.
I can be as diverse
as the guy over there.

The contract award people want to know.
It’s right there on a special form in a row.
San Francisco’s human rights certificate
Five, seven and a half or 10 percent
discount they get.

American Indian, Alaskan Native, Asian or Pacific Islander,
African American, Filipino, Arab American, Iranian American
Latino all get the special deal
Who am I?
How do I feel?

How many generations can we go back?
I’m sure somewhere I might be part Indian or black
Just an American won’t get the call
My Grandparents Grandparents Grandparents Grandparents Grandparents Grandparents didn’t suffer at all?

America the land of milk and honey!
They sailed here with boatloads of money!
Shame the Puritans and all their heirs to come.
Shame them for what America has become.

Shame those who built William and Mary and Harvard too
Shame those for educating Who?
The Cornwallace, Bleys, Hartleys and the whole damn lot
Shame them all for all they got.

So who am I
In this time of diversity?
Who is it that is me?
Will my children’s children’s children’s children’s children’s children
get the deal?
Who are they?
How do they feel?

Well, I have been know to be a bit 2 literal.....my bad....never mind.

I found that story. It was the FALN and on this one Hillary spoke out against the clemency for the Terrorists.

http://www.cnn.com/US/9909/08/faln.clemency.01/

This is one time she did the right thing.

ricksramblings : "A" for effort

Sorry: but If i were to critique it: I'd say go back and edit

peaceful thoughts, night e-one, even the bitter ones ~

Well, George the dog wanted out, so I take this opportunity to post a lesson for Obama and any other Democrat. NEVER trust Joe Lieberman:

When asked if Obama is a Marxist, former mentor Joe said: "Well, you know, I must say that’s a good question. I know him now for a little more than three years since he came into the Senate and he’s obviously very smart and he’s a good guy. I will tell ya that during this campaign, I’ve learned some things about him, about the kind of environment from which he came ideologically. And I wouldn’t...I’d hesitate to say he’s a Marxist, but he’s got some positions that are far to the left of me and I think mainstream America."

Very
Very
Nice

Thnx Ricksramblings...i can start the day very nice.
Gonna keep this one

Morning everyone

The dutch press is milking it.....

Morning Jason. Once again, I saw a HUGE yard of tulips yesterday morning!

Fabulous....George the dog has finished his nightly fox hunt and I can go back to bed.

LOL
Patsi, I haven´t seen them yet.
But in the weekend I will be driving to "de keukenhof" with friends. It is the opening of the flower season....
www.keukenhof.nl

Oh......

Please everyone.... the search is over. Nobody has to be alarmed anymore. We can put the sirens out!

Michelle has resurfaced....
She will make an appearance at the Colbert report on comedy central. Barrack is too busy and said No thnks (according to CNN)

HRC will be there on Thursday.

From todays WSJ.

By JOHN FUND
April 15, 2008; Page A19

Barack Obama's San Francisco-Democrat comment last week – about how alienated working-class voters "cling to guns or religion" – is already famous. But the fact that his aides tell reporters he is privately bewildered that anybody took offense is even more remarkable.

Democrats have been worrying about defending Mr. Obama's highly liberal voting record in a general election. Now they need to fret that he makes too many mistakes, from ignoring the Rev. Wright time bomb until the videotapes blew up in front of him, to his careless condescension towards salt-of-the-earth Democrats. Mr. Obama has a tendency to make such cultural miscues. Speaking to small-town voters in Iowa last year, he asked, "Anybody gone into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for arugula?"

Mr. Obama is the closest thing to a rookie candidate on the national stage since Dwight Eisenhower, who was a beloved war leader. Candidates as green as Mr. Obama make first-timer mistakes under the searing scrutiny of a national campaign. Even seasoned pols don't understand how unforgiving that scrutiny can be. Ask John Kerry, who had won five statewide elections before running for president.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120821921853714665.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Cool. thnx for the link Bowmanc

Do I have the feeling that MSM is slowly catching up?
Frankly they are, but only after the big O piched his own pinata......