Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Can I do it?

Yes I can. (Apologies to Bob the Builder.)

Lunch

It's a very mild ad - why are some people upset? If you want harsh attacks on Obama, try listening to Right Wing radio.

Hah, Clinton should do it if they agree to make it a permanent reduction in a grossly unfair regressive tax.

Craig: I am so excited to see you on MSNBC tomorrow! Good job to everybody who posted on the MSNBC Bulletin Board comments: "Where in the Heck is Craig Crawford?"

It’s going to take more than that little, feel-good tax break to fix rising food & day-to-day living costs…and have you seen plane fares lately? Once that trickles into the tourism industry, a lot more people are going to be hurting. (Good thing we went to Vegas when we had the chance.) Even Starbucks is hurting now; no more disposable income for those over-priced beverages. Need a much bigger idea to fix this mess.

Ok this is ironic gang because I just posted a new blog about my feelings on being better "environmentalists"... Personally I don't think gas taxes should be reduced...

Anyway, please read my humble entry and I would LOVE to read any comments and/or suggestions:

http://eurotom.blogspot.com/

Oh and I posted this on the other page, but if you are "activist" oriented, please visit http://www.change.org to learn about campaigns and what you can do to help.

Tom

Both should redirect the question.
It is not the tax that is the problem.
It is bad foreign policy that increases tension in the world that is the problem.
The more disorder there is in the oil producing regions of the world the more of a risk premium that futures traders will need.
They set the oil price.
The risk premium that they charge is way more than McCains tax break.

We need to quit letting the Republicans set the debate.

Jack

"and have you seen plane fares lately? "

Look at the bright side. We might finally get back the nation wide passenger rail system we threw away in 1950. It will only cost us several billion (trillion?) to get from point A to point B safely and rapidly.

Thanks Tom!!! You are so wonderful!!! I'm an awful blogger though, can't seem to be able to keep upwith it.
Yes the 2 little guys are mine, Patton and Tripp. Today is take your child to work day here, so Tripp has gone to the capital with daddy to lurn how to Lobby the legislature. My little special interest in training: )

Jack, I agree. And, oversight of the futures market is essential.

ah.... Craig..... glad to know MSNBC will welcome you back into the fold....
can't say I'll watch.... but I'm glad for you and those here who will watch....

just heard a very interesting hour with Michael Kinsley on the Diane Rehm show.... he had a lot to say about starting Slate..... he had a lot to say about his Parkinson's disease..... he had a lot to say about how poorly the media is handling this election....... and.... he said he thought the Democratic nominee would be Obama and that he would lose to McCain....

EdVB..... ROFL!......

oh yeah..... gas tax.... I think people who eat burritos should be taxed more..... uh, oh..... did I just use a "code" word for racist..... again.... well slap my butt....

Eighteen cents? It's been eighteen cents Federal tax for eons. It's not about eighteen cents. It's about refineries that have been closed to constrict the market. There is plenty of oil there is just not enough refineries operating. Like I said in 2000 when BushCo took the power, "hold on to your wallets".

Ewww, that should have been learn not lurn.
On a side note about gas, it cost my friend $95.00 to fill her tank yesterday.

Standing in long lines. Sitting on your baggage because your flight was cancelled. Dealing with traffic, parking, overstressed passengers, curt security folk, overpriced airport food and lousy airline food?

Encourage kindness to the environment and your own mental health. Take a train.

http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=328&category=10

Movement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R6gcbC9Hz4

(Brainwashed - Then & Now)

Well, Bill Clinton certainly knew how to make deals with Congress, and he knew when to let them make fools of themselves by shutting down the government. I would imagine Hillary is pretty well-versed in the same. But honestly? The disposition of the federal gas tax is nowhere near being a deal-breaker as to how I vote.

Yesterday I made a a contrast NOT a judgment between Pope Benedict XVI and Pastors Wright and Hagee if anyone is interested in the point I was trying to make please click the link to my blog,

http://heathercuttie.blogspot.com/

Thank You
--Heather

With regard to the last thread and voters fibbing that they voted for Obama in the exit polls, perhaps we should look through the looking glass the other way. Perhaps voters tell pollsters that they voted for Obama because they are embarrassed to admit they voted for Clinton.

I told one of my friends last year that I thought people would vote for Clinton but would lie to their friends about it because it is "popular" and "acceptable" to hate Hillary because the media tell us that she is the devil. In addition, subliminally it might very well be more acceptable to be sexist than racist.

Cut the gasoline tax? (Great sound bite.) Lots of voters still think lower taxes is the solution to all problems.

Yes, this would cut spending on infrastructure & raise the deficit, but those are long-term & hard to understand. (No good sound bites.)

This could be another winner for the GOP.

We can always borrow more $ from the Chinese to maintain the interstate highway system.

We may have to change I-90 to "Shanghai-90"

Rev Wright says that McCain's proposal comes from the Devil...

"I will NOT get my kicks,
on route 666."

New Theme song for McCain:

Jackson Browne, "Running On Empty."

Nash:

Do you ever offer substance to go with your clever clever talking points and sound bites you say hard to understand, elaborate in that, please go into detail, don't just act all high minded and say clever tidbits like "long-term & hard to understand"

DETAILS please Nash

--Heather

Heather, you know the types--masters of carping criticism.

Ally,

"I thought people would vote for Clinton but would lie to their friends"

I can't help but wonder in primary states how many wives told their husbands they weren't voting for Hillary but suddenly changed their minds once behind the curtain in the booth.

The REAL reason Sen. Obama won the caucus states: The husbands were watching. :-)

Think about that gas tax break proposed by McCain as a stimulus to get people to drive and take those vacations that the cost of fuel makes seem prohibitive- Say you get 25 mpg in the family minivan and go on a vacation 500 miles away - that's 20 gallons, 18 cents a gallon, or $3.60 less - $7.20 round trip. Say you use another two tankfuls while you go from hotel to theme park to outlet center while on vacation. That vacation cost you (drumroll, please) $14.40 less than it would have. That's a little less than it will cost you to feed the family lunch at McDonald's on the way to the beach, Now if that doesn't stimulate the economy by encouraging you to drive and take the vacation, I don't know what will. Say you use another tankful per week for the 11 other weeks of the summer for commuting and taking the kids to baseball games and the pool. Voila, another $39.60, for a grand economic stimulus package of (drumroll again, please) $54.00 for your little family.

It's a gimmick - meant to make people think McCain is cutting taxes, and Obama was right to reject it. So should HIllary, and they should both point out that it's a big whoop, and not much more.

Who it will help is truckers, if the tax on deisel is also lifted, and the airlines, if the tax on jet fuel is lifted. I suppose I should look into that. Maybe I will.

"If by some miracle Hillary ends up the next prez will Bill retire or will he continue to work as a lobbyist? "

One, I believe there are some federal laws that might apply.

Two, he probably has another book or two in him.

Three, He already said that he wanted to concentrate on his library and the world wide charity.

Jamie: You are SO right on the husband/wife caucus thing. I know if two instances of this just ON MY BLOCK.

Jamie: You are so right about the husband/wife caucus thing. I know of two instances just on my block. I really do think people vote for Hillary behind the curtain...they just don't want to admit to their friend and husbands that they don't "hate" her. It is way more popular to be part of the "Hate Hillary Club."

Hillary's Energy conservation plan

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/energy/

Barack's Energy conservation plan

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/energy/

Pretty much the same across the board.

McCain did indeed recommend suspending the diesel tax - 24.4 cents per gallon.

Interestingly enough, Obama voted for a similar 6 month reduction of Illinois' gas tax in 2000, (which was about $2.00/gal. ago) but voted against making the reduction permanent.

Here's the WSJ article about it.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB120900047323640215.html

I personally think the negatives of the lost revenue for highway projects are enough to reject the proposal as little more than election year politics.

Dear Nick:
Thank you your words are deeply appreciated ☺

Sincerely,
Heather

Pogo

Are you telling me that Sen. Obama said one thing once and is now saying another thing now?

Obviously, he must be a liar since that is the only reason someone running for President ever changes their position.

Afternoon economics report - housing market continues to decline - new home sales fell 8.5% at lowest rate since the housing recession of the 90s, inventories are waaaay up, highest in 25 years. And the market ROSE on the news.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/business/24econ-web.html?hp

There are a couple of pieces of good news - jobless claims are down a bit and the government revised durable goods figures for Jan & Feb, so the losses in those months were less.

I report, you decide.

Just to be clear, here's what she said about the gas tax holiday.

"Speaking on CNN Monday night, New York's Sen. Clinton outlined a series of steps to address gas prices, including the release of oil from the country's strategic reserves. She said she would "also consider a gas-tax holiday, if we could make up the lost revenues from the Highway Trust Fund," which the federal gas tax supports. She didn't specify how those lost revenues would be recovered."

Sometimes taking a stand on an issue requires a little investigation beforehand. Seems prudent enough to me.

A couple of things...

1. Craig, I don't know what in the ad was offensive to McCain accept the thoughts of the same thing with Hagee being hung around his neck like a flaming tire. My only reaction was why have some pasty white blue hair at the end instead of Jesse Helms.

2. With regards to the gas tax rebate...when will a politician say the following:

"We can cut all the taxes you want, just remember with each cut comes a cut in services. Yyes gas is high. The nature of the global economy and some speculators on wall street have caused the current climate. However, with roads in need of repair and with bridges across the country, crumbling to the point of collapse, I don't think it is wise to cut a tax that goes to that specific purpose."

Anyone who spoke something along those lines would get a lot of votes, in my humble opinion.

Jamie

Rose has no place in a black and white world

You are wasting you time pointing it out to the people of blackandwhite world.

Jack

hmmm. That 10% Daily gallup edge BO had 2 days ago appears to be going away.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/106801/Gallup-Daily-Democratic-Gap-Narrows-Obama-Keeps-Advantage.aspx

It's narrowed to 5% in 2 days.

Pogo,

I have become a CNBC junkie lately and to listen to the vast array of eye candy and talking heads, I have learned that the situation with oil and gas isn't a supply issue but a refining issue.

There is plenty of oil available on the world market right now. In the US, even without the requirements of the special refining blends that are needed for various states, the demand for refined gasoline would barely be met. When you dig further, most of the refining capacity in the US is in the Gulf area and it hasn't fully recovered from Katrina and some other calamities.

At some point, we need greater refining capacity. The best way to describe is that oil capacity is the equivalent of a 5 lane highway. Our refining capacity is trying to take 5 lanes of traffic and fit it into 3 lanes...

There is no such thing as a "temporary" tax cut. Once in place, no one in Congress would have the guts to even suggest ending it.

In fact, there would be ongoing pressure to cut it even more, until there was zero tax on gasoline.

"Rules provide for the Florida and Michigan delegations to be seated

Senator Obama and his surrogates, including MoveOn.org, are waging a public relations battle to pressure the DNC to refuse credentials to the Michigan and Florida delegations for the Democratic National Convention.

Their message consists of misrepresentations and lies about the DNC rules concerning these states. Unfortunately most news outlets and commentators are repeating this misinformation without ever checking the Obama campaign’s claims for accuracy against the actual DNC rules."

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/04/24/a-talking-points-memo-rules-provide-for-the-florida-and-michigan-delegations-to-be-seated/

Do we know that the federal gas tax truly goes into a highway trust fund?

It sounds logical and high-minded, but I recall when New York State got into the gambling business with our state lottery, those funds were earmarked for education. There may still be match of lottery revenues and education expenditures, but my understanding is that it now all runs through the general fund.

Gotta run for the afternoon, but I'll look back for anyone's answer later tonight.

Thanks

The only will you are going to get a lot of people to stop driving SUVs and wasting gas is for the price to go through the roof.

Next, the Republicans will go after STATE taxes on gasoline which will reduce maintenance on state highways & bridges and things like snowplowing.

In a few years, driving in the USA will be like driving in a 3rd world country.

People will still be driving huge SUVs, but they won't be able to go over 15 mph. (Potholes.)

Heather,

I just read your post...I hope you don't think I was castigating you with my comments yesterday.

My personal view on all religions is that when practiced as a matter of personal faith, they are a good thing. Organized religion to me is nothing but a money making pyramid scheme in my eyes. I will never be able to comprehend the number of wars that were started because of religion and it blows my mind to see the generational conflicts between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland or the Sunis and Shias in the middle east.

Many of the people that you think have an issue with you are upset that when they look at your picture, they are immediately in violation of a couple of the 10 commandments and don't like the guilt they are left with for the rest of the day...lol

The proposal also included a similar temporary halt to the diesel tax at 24.4 cents per gallon. The idea has merit in that it would make commuting to work about 5% less expensive, but more importantly it would assist the nations truckers in delivering produce and goods at a lower cost. It would immediately have an effect on the groceries we buy, at least temporarily. The impact on our roads and bridges would be negligible.
http://brokengovernment.wordpress.com

If the gasoline tax is lowered, the oil companies will quickly raise prices to the distributor. These price increases will be masked by the overall reduction in selling price.

Net result, oil company profits will break new records.

You can bet that the considerable lobbying power of the oil industry will be behind this proposal. They'll probably run their own ads.

nash, you've visited West Virginia? It's like that here already.

Actually, that's a good point you raise re: state gas taxes, which range from 7.5 cents to about 34 cents, I believe, but those efforts have been underway for years - since at least 1000 in Illinois, for instance.

OD's from CO? For some reason I thought OD was from OR.

damn typos - that would be 2000 - I could be wrong, but I don't believe IL existed as a state 1100 years ago.

Myth 1: Oil refineries are not being built in the U.S. because environmental regulations, particularly the Clean Air Act, are so bureaucratic and burdensome that refiners cannot get permits.

Fact: Environmental regulations are not preventing new refineries from being built in the U.S. From 1975 to 2000, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received only one permit request for a new refinery. And in March, EPA approved Arizona Clean Fuels’ application for an air permit for a proposed refinery in Arizona. In addition, oil companies are regularly applying for – and receiving – permits to modify and expand their existing refineries.[1]
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/Oil_and_Gas/articles.cfm?ID=11829

The cost today has less to do with refinery capacity and everything to do with speculation.

Pogo,

I would agree with your assessment that the oil companies haven't invested in upgrading their refining capacity. I wonder how much of that is because of heightened state regulation.

If we could get past the NIMBY mentality, we would be smart to build a regionally based refinery network to ease this problem.

Dear Bear:
No I did not consider you in that category at all so don't worry. I know my religion has it's flaws but that is by man, I do not blame God for that, God gives humankind free will to choose good or evil, if some humans choose evil and as a result sometimes innocent people suffer which is why Jesus suffered and died for our sins so that despite our wicked deeds and choice of evil we may have forgiveness.

As for greed in organized religion I agrees that there is and that saddens me, but despite that I do not believe in abandoning my religion because of corrupt sinful clergy, thats exactly what the evil one wants is for people of faith to turn from Jesus, remember in scripture it was pride and jealousy that got satan kicked out of Heaven. I want to avoid that trap pride and jealousy.

In any event Bear thank you for your kind post

Sincerely,
Heather

If the gasoline tax is lowered, the oil companies will quickly raise prices to the distributor. These price increases will be masked by the overall reduction in selling price.

Net result, oil company profits will break new records.

You can bet that the considerable lobbying power of the oil industry will be behind this proposal. They'll probably run their own ads.

Posted by: nash

===============================================================

Nash:
Can you put something in YOUR OWN WORDS PLEASE

--Heather

This looks to be a really interesting resource on roads:
http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/pubrds.htm

I remember when the system of interstates was created. It seemed as if overnight we went from the single Pennsylvania Turnpike to a series of superb roads traversing most every state in the country.

These roads weren't built from gasoline taxes. They were funded by general tax revenues from the businesses and workers of our country. And, we were able to do it after a world war followed by a regional war, and during the Cold War.

But now, we don't have the motivation or money to build anything of substance within our country. Nothing. What has been built during the past twenty years? The project in Boston? Some subway tunnels? Come on, give me a list that is more than a shadow of the Interstate System.

All of it, everything, was done from everyday taxes. And during a period when most every family had a single wage earner. And healthcare was affordable. And we looked forward to the future.

LynnC, that's what I thought was the answer on that part of the issue. I suspect that the lackof recovery of refining capacity in the GoM is also strategic. It's all been a smokescreen to open up drilling in ANWR and other public lands IMHO.

Focus groups? Got any proof that focus groups have been utilized by her on this issue? As long as OPEC dictates the level of crude supplies shipped, nothing we do here short of developing an alternative fuel for vehicles or some other measures that reduce demand for the stuff will solve the problem of supply/demand and the resulting price pressure for gasoline. Clinton may be open to the idea - but I disagree with her if she supports it after getting whatever information she needs to decide. And she has not come out in support of it that I am aware of. And I wonder if that 6 month suspension of IL's tax solved IL's problem of high gas prices in 2000? Maybe it took Obama 6 months studying the issue that had been plaguing this country for 24 years at that point to decide that making that suspension permanenet was not good policy.

Oregon Dem: What has the response been to the Oregon Compact and the Debate Challenge? Get us caught up from the Trail when you have a chance!

OD's from Portland/Salem I believe

Heather,

Ignore the trolls and brainless.
Take some time off if you need.

But Remember, you are a valuable perspective here.

Jack

Bear,

If state governments throughout the southwest invested the same amount of money in assisting all buildings to go solar that they spend on all the various costs of oil, they would save money, have a cleaner environment, and have no need of another refinery. The major industries that pay for their campaigns would be unhappy, but the people who vote for them might be pleased.

Some info on alternative energies. You don't have to live where the sun shines to go solar

http://www.climal.com/solar-heating.php

I wanted to comment more on gas taxes, but I need to sleep... it's 10:10 and I open my shop at 6:30 and I am sleepy

Good afternoon, evening and night...

This very funny clip from the daily show

Rob Riggle: "In 2001, there was a memo -- Bin Laden determined to attack United States from a safe haven in Afghanistan. . .
Now 7 years and $700 billion later, we get a new memo saying Bin Landen determined to attack United States from a safe haven somewhere around Afghanistan. . .

We are right back where we started. We could have gotten here by doing nothing."

http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=166729

Jack

Flatus

"All of it, everything, was done from everyday taxes. And during a period when most every family had a single wage earner. And healthcare was affordable. And we looked forward to the future."

We did have one major advantage since we were one of the few countries left standing and had little to no competition for our products and services. It gave us a whole generation of bliss and then the rest of the world started to catch up and the world population started exploding against creating even greater demand for goods and services with less land to fill that demand.

There were 138 million people in the U.S when I was born and now there are over 300 million and they all want to eat and drive.

Bear,

it is my understanding that Texas leads the US in Wind Power. T. Boone Pickens is building a huge wind farm up in the panhandle and as you drive out west on I 20 toward El Paso you can see tons of windmills working out on the mesas.

yo soy Horsedooty!

Jamie,

Perhaps I'm trying to put the genie back into the bottle.

Or maybe things have changed so dramatically that we no longer have the ability to do wonderful things. Seems as if every time someone proposes something that's complex, people look for reasons why it can't be done. That's a shame.

OD

Oregon Rep. David Wu has endorsed Sen. Obama. Go say mean things to him. :-)

It's safe to miss KO tonight. His guest is Richard Lewis. Between insufferable and incomprehensible, it will be a good night to check out the new CNN political show "Election Center"

Interesting MSNBC "First Read" article about Michigan

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/04/24/943238.aspx?CommentPosted=true#commentmessage

It refers back to a Detroit Free Press editorial that I will try to find.

Flatus

I agree with you that the US seems to have lost the talent for cooperative action. I think coming out of the Great Depression and WW II there was a period when everyone wanted to do what was best for everyone else.

Unfortunately, coming off the farm and into the suburb seems to have destroyed that whole idea of collective survival. There was a time when every man spent an evening at his club and women spent at least one afternoon or evening with her group. When combined with church or school groups they provided a societal framework to get necessary things done.

If things get hard enough one of two things will happen, we will separate into destructive have and have not groups that rip society to shreds or we relearn the old lessons of mutual survival.

haven't done this in a while

Cost of the Iraq war
For the cost of one year in the Iraq war we could replace 2136 defective bridges the size of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapsed in Minneapolis MN

That is 42 bridges per state about 1/3 mile long.

Jack

Craig: Would love to hear your reaction to this article:

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=ec466d61-a900-414c-8daf-16ff27ccf85c

Lot of good analysis of why Obama could win the popular but lose the electoral college BIG.

*Passes Heather the ignore button*

Personally , I think they should legalize weed and then tax the hell out of it like cigarettes.

I'm still having trouble making up my mind, but I'll narrow it down once the post positions are drawn. Let me know who you want.

Adriano
Anak Nakal
Big Brown - Jamie
Big Truck
Bob Black Jack -
Colonel John
Cool Coal Man - Jamie
Court Vision
Cowboy Cal
Denis of Cork
Eight Belles
Gayego
Monba
Pyro
Recapturetheglory
Smooth Air
Tale Of Ekati
Visionaire
Z Fortune
Z Humor

Sorry for the copy and paste. I know the rules. But I thought this was something worth sharing. It's an excerot from a Jann Arden Journal entry. To read the full text go here: http://www.jannarden.com/journal.php?page=1

Change...
17-Apr-2008 08:43 pm

Some people have to be right and that’s the brunt of the problem. They would rather be right than have peace. Being right is more important that friendships or love or family or loyalty or anything for that matter. I don’t want to be right. I don’t need to be. When you choose peace, you are choosing what is right.

More on words…they can kill people when used without wisdom and knowledge. When they are not kind, they are like jagged blades that cause wounds that seldom, if ever, heal. It never ceases to amaze me how some people have absolutely no sense of responsibility. They see themselves with halos over their heads. They do not see what everybody else sees. They see what they want to see, however distorted that is. Everybody else is wrong. Everybody else is dumb. Everybody else hasn’t got a clue. Life for them is a tunnel. Nothing exists other than what they create and control. It is a sickness. The closer you get to these people, the easier it becomes to get sucked up like you’re in the middle of a tornado, the kind that ate Dorothy and the dog and the whole damn house.

Jamie

I'm sticking with Cowboy Cal
$2 to win

Or what ever is cheaper
Jack

Craig...interesting use of the word "cavalier" to describe BHO. You sure a right on point about that!

Jamie, I am not a bit optimistic about things should the economy really tank. A lot of people may think it's stupid, but we have enough stuff to be able to survive, outside, indefinitely. Yup, we'll survive.

But, then, we didn't have electricity at the old farm until, must have been, '51 or '52. And Stinky was born during the Japanese occupation of Korea and went through the Korean War.

I don't sense that the ultra-wealthy, with a few notable exceptions, have the same commitment to our country as the rest of us. I suspect they'll be out of the country headed for greener pastures.

C'est la vie.

Rev Wright is back in the news again. Sound Bites in his appearance on Bill Moyers tomorrow night. Sounded like he threw Obama under the bus. His does Pastor things and Obama does Political things.

The Rev got three events starting tomorrow and ending on Monday. Not good timing.

The guy who came up with the Willie Horton ad and the new Obama ad was on Hannity show and said he is working on some more ads. He said they don't break any election rules. He even has a web site. http://exposeobama.com/

Now this is interesting...Jenna Bush not yet on board with McCain....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080424/ap_on_el_pr/jenna_bush_mccain

Once, someone(I don't remember who)left the blog, for the umpteenth time, posting that they were leaving, never to return....

Anyway, I think it was either KGC or Patsi who had a great 1-liner about "clutching pearls and leaving the blog"...it was hilarious!! I wish I could remember the exact line...

I really miss the 1-liners that used to fly around all day!!

harborwoman

I watched that portion of Larry King...I was actually quite impressed that Jenna actually said that...Laura Bush's face was priceless after the remark. I'll bet Grandma Barbara really was PO'ed. But, Jenna is one of those fortunates who literally won the lotto (by birth) without having to buy a ticket or play. I am sure Grandma Barbara can't cut her out of her already established trust funds.

I don't think Jenna has to vote for McCain.

This race reminds me of a best of seven game series. Obama takes a 3 game lead. Hillary wins games 4 and 5. (Ohio and PA) Now we are in game 6. I have seen so many times the winner of game 6 goes on and wins game 7. You got the win game 6 and that's Ind now. He's playing defense and hopes he does not make any mistakes. There are some cracks and shes going after them. This is so much fun to watch. You got to love this. Why would any political junkie want this to end. The network ratings are thru the roof. Last night with Carville and Richardson going at it live. Bush's daughter saying she is not sure what candidate. The last debate had over 10 million viewers. Look how many people voted on Tuesday. Even on the Rep side.

Laura was not that thrilled when Larry brought up Chelsa and Jenna said she wanted to talk to her.

Blonde wino and LushisLinda...

I was just impressed that she was thinking for herself. That's wonderful! Clearly, genetics smiled and she inherited some of her mother's intellect.

Jenna can communicate much better than her Dad and Grandfather. She should of taught Daddy how to talk. Is he really her Dad.

Vadaryl...which is "why" it bewilders me that BHO will not debate or have a re-vote. More exposure for him. It sort of reminds me of how GWB wouldn't hold press conferences during his first term. Something about BHO and GWB remind me of mirror images...

harborwoman...she came off very natural...not contrived or controlled. Actually, disarming.

Laura was not that thrilled when Larry brought up Chelsa and Jenna said she wanted to talk to her.
--vadaryl

Why do you think Laura would have a problem with that? I am surprised that Chelsea and Jenna aren't already friends.

Blonde...

I didn't watch. Now I'm rather sorry I missed it. I had no idea that either of the twins had any depth to them.

BTW, I'm really pleased to see you posting again. You add a lot to the list, IMO.

BHO could meet with Hillary and say to CBS we want to debate but we want to deal with only the issues and if you ask any other questions we will not answer them. Ok let's say CBS tells them, no way, then they could go to C-SPAN or PBS. They are not run by NY Execs trying to make it more entertaining for ratings.

Someone on CNN last night compared the race between Obama and Clinton to a boxing match. Obama is ahead on all cards. He needs to keep his distance from her. Stick and move. Don't let her hit him.

I am surprised they are not friends either, but look at Laura's reaction, unless it was still there when her daughter did not back McCain.

LushIs...I love the "clutching your pearls" line too. That's funny.

Thing is...being Scarlett O'Hara in scene one...sitting on the front steps of Tara with all the beaus fawning, is a pretty good gig. But if you sign up for that, you also have to be on board for the scenes where you're running through a burning city, or rutting around elbow deep in the dirt, or eating roots and listening to Leslie Howard whimper about the good old days. :)

"Come on back, Katie Scarlett...and you must never forget...it's the BLOG...It's the BLOG."

I can't figure out why he does not want a re-vote either. He knows FL and MI are so important in November. I guess he's worried that he will lose by more votes than he did the first time with current events happening. Maybe he should of said OK a few weeks ago, had the vote when he was winning right and left. Now it may be a problem for him.

It's OK if Obama does not agree to debate Hillary. She can run attack ads against him - "What are you afraid of Senator Obama?"

LaL

I also remember, during one mass exodus, you wrote a couple paragraphs that had me screaming with laughter!!! Something about "sweet jesus"...I really need to start writing this stuff down!!!

Another idea, if he says no to a debate, Hillary should go on live without him.

LL , there are a few people here who don't give a damn. LOL!

LL,

Gee. I thought he was Scarlett O'Bama.

Okay, here's the exact line, edited for us:

Mr. O'Hara, in best Irish brogue: "Do you mean to tell me Katie Scarlett O'Hara that Trailmix doesn't mean anything to you? Why, the blog is the only thing in the world worth working for. Worth fighting for, worth dying for. Because Trailmix is the only thing that lasts.""

The dems would benefit by more coverage of more debates...not less. Look at the numbers of voters in the primaries. But, it goes against Axlerod's strategy (as Craig posted) to even acknowledge HRC. I think everyone is afraid of BHO making a fatal mistake during the debate. Not likely.

Is it supercilious of BHO? Or more super silliness of HRC, as BHO likes to call it.

LushIs, there is more than one reason that I think you and I are alter-egos...starting with the fact that we're both referred to here as "LL".

:)

If Obama says no to a debate, Hillary should go on live without him.

How many hours has that ad been shown dozens of times on cable news?

How many times has it been screened on YouTube?

Didn't Obama sing out this week after PA, "Ho ho ha! Hee hee hee! Nobody here's gonna Swift Boat me!" as he announced a super duper rapid fire response team?

It is now almost 7 PM EDT. And his Ultra Super Hero Team just issued the following O-Devastator:

"The fact that Senator McCain can't get his own party to take down this misleading, personal attack ad raises serious questions about his promise to the American people that he will run a civil, respectful campaign."

That'll larn 'em.

Man. Not quite The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence. Like Craig said a week or so ago, "Where are you John Wayne?"

If BHO has problems in debating Hillary what is he going to do up against McCain. Look at what McCain did to Mitt during their debates. It got ugly at times. McCain will look right at him and fire away. BHO had problerms with Edwards when he did that.

LLLL

One of my favorite Scarlett Ohara impersonations was Carol Burnett...with the curtain rod through the shoulders of her dress...

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

"The way the loser loses will determine whether the winner wins in November."- Rahm Emanuel of Illinois

Agreed. Makes sense to me.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/24/clinton-bulldog-rahm-eman_n_98524.html

V

I can see JMc smirking during the debate while BHO is giving him the finger. Maybe they could both just gesture and make faces during a debate.

"If Obama says no to a debate, Hillary should go on live without him."
--vadaryl

I agree...give her 2 hours, in prime time, to answer questions, while standing next to a vacant lectern.

is it really the party having problems with this or is it the talking heads causing all the problems.

Blonde...that is one of the most hilarious TV moments ever. I love Carol Burnett.

Did you know that on the day Lucille Ball died, Carol Burnett received a dozen roses from her shortly after getting the news? That was on an A&E bio of Burnett that I saw about a year ago.

Do you think CBS has the guts to do something like that. Maybe it could save Katie C her anchor job and keep Bob S from retiring.

LL

I can conjure up that scene in my brain and it still cracks me up. Harvey Korman was great as Rhett.

Carol Burnett is one fabulous human.

I think CBS would have a great night. People would just tune in to see if they really would do something like that. CBS has not been much of a player in this so far but they would be the talk of the town for a few days. Look what ABC got after the last debate.

That is a great idea about HRC debating without BHO. Maybe a hand puppet representing BHO.

Blonde wino

With the link you posted I got a wiki page about Carol Burnett..but I don't see a pic of her as Scarlett. What am I doing wrong?

Or better yet...a First Lady/Laddy debate with Mrs. Obama and Mr. Clinton.

Okay...time for Magic-Raptors, Game 3. So I gotta run folks. Maybe I'll check in later. (Orlando is up 2-0 in the series with Toronto.)
Speaking of which, anyone know where Tylenol's been? Is she taking a break?

Yes that was a bust but her camp ran that one.

Waffles Obama '08 (Leave Barack Alone . . . Go Get Hillary)

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

I remember when Tim played an old man plumber and Harvey called him in to fix the toilet. Tim came in and told Harvey that there is a certain way to fix the toilet, so he sat down without lowering the seat and got stuck, at the same time Carol walks in, Harvey has totally lost it, Carol looks at Tim and he looks up at her with those eyes and Carol could not get a word out and loses it, the camera man must of been laughing because it was not steady and Carol then leans against the wall laughing and it starts to fall down.

LL...I can't find a photo of Burnett a la Scarlett...but, Wiki mentioned the curtain rod. Let me go a searching.

Okay...if you watch the tv on the right, they show the "Went with the Wind" scene --

http://www.itsthecarolburnettshow.com/

Notice the media coverage has changed since Hillay won on Tuesday. Hmmmmmm!

I found one, Blonde wino

http://www.design-your-life.org/blog.php?id=673

Great memories of that show.

V...I remember that show, too. Humor is such a wonderful thing for my brain.

My Dad and I would bet on how long it would take Tim to make Harvey crack up.

Thanks, Bw 8~)

LOL @ "saw it in the window, and I couldn't resist..."

LL...hysterical...great writing.

V...if you watch the video on this site it eventually goes into a routine with Harvey and Tim in the dentist/novacaine scene....I had forgotten about that one!

http://www.itsthecarolburnettshow.com/

Jack

I've got you on Cowboy. The window only accepts $6 bills and we pay off with $12s

Did anyone just catch Lou Dobbs talking about the media bashing Clinton? Mentioned something about the NYT article. I just caught the end of a conversation that I wish I could have heard all of.

Carol Burnett & Julie Andrews at Carnegie Hall, 1962

The video's not in the best of shape -- but they are ABSOLUTELY. It's one of the finest hours of TV from any era. And, yeah, even then -- it's a reunion! They finish with one insanely good production number of Frank Loesser's Big D that they had done on The Garry Moore Show over five years earlier.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4NGWrRq3b58&feature=related

"Worth fighting for, worth dying for. Because Trailmix is the only thing that lasts."

I just had a vision of Craig rushing in screaming, "I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies!

CT

try this

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/

Obama's refusal to debate Hillary in Oregon is getting big press coverage here..

The press line: Is Obama tough enough ???

I watched excerpts of Rev.Wright's Bill Moyers interview which airs tomorrow night.

Chris Matthews said..This may be Obama's Iraq..very bad for Obama.

This certainly is an interesting election.

Here is the first part of the Burnett sketch, then you just have to click on the additional parts to see the whole thing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aRMZ4ePmMM

9/11

Aren't they just gorgeous?

Hi Jamie...thanks...I am still laughing.

KO's a-lookin' for a man -- a REAL man -- "who can take her (Senator Clinton) into a room, and only he comes out."

No grape for you, Keith.

MSNBC -- home of The New Polidicks.

Part 2 has "The Dress"

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

I forgot about the denist scene too.

I forgot about the denist scene too.

I forgot about the denist scene too.

Congresswoman Darlene Hooley , a strong Hillary supporter, is my representative in Congress..She , along with Governor Kulongoski, introduced Hillary at her rallies here...

Wino,

Totally -- elegant and all pre-Bob Mackie.

Also... there is one moment where Burnett really SINGS -- every note, every word -- no parodic inflections, just feeling and music.

jamie,

Do you remember how in the 70's it was Burnett who just about every other week sang something never heard before on television by Sondheim.

Even when Harvey Korman was doing a really bad Sherman Brothers song from his Huckleberry Finn movie, she had it framed with The Glamorous Life from A Little Night Music.

What a bunch of great things she did for him. In time she worked with him on that review with a bit of a plot which Julie Andrews did as well another time.

Baroooock bock bock

Baroooock bock bock

Rev Wright spin is spinning out of control on CNN

Can't wait to see the entire interview, if this little sound bite is any indicator.

Looks like Rev. Wright problem isn't going away.

OD...good one. Let's all do the chicken dance!

my favorite part of the Carol Burnett show was the family......Eunice, mama, Kormann wanting to see Bugs Bunny .................loved to see that part.....

reminded me of so many actual families......

Thanks Blonde, not up on transcripts yet. I will check again later.

I have noticed the MSM actually throwing Clinton a bone or two since the last primary. Some are trying harder to bash.

Too bad Clinton can't just invite McCain to debate. You know, just for practice

I have been saying for awhile now just wait until the press starts going after Obama. He's had a nice ride up until now. He's fresh for them, not much is known, so it's all new. They been bashing Hillary for years and what else is left. He did not close the deal in the last few states so watch out. The Rep attack machine is starting with their new ads. McCain made a swift move by asking them to withdraw an ad knowing very well they won't, but to let the voters know he had nothing to do with it. But he knows it will leave it's mark. Oh this is so much fun. You got to love this stuff. Each day it's getting better and there is over 195 days to go.

Did I just hear Joe Liebermann call himself an "independent democrat?" (CNN with Campbell)

vadaryl,

That gloriously staged business between the NC GOP and McCain turns ol' Maverick into Pontius Pilot --

He washes his hands of their sins.

(His own are another matter.)

ct

You make an excellent point...perhaps HRC should just ask to debate JMc since BHO won't debate her. It would make great tv. I love debates and I am very suspicious of peeps who tell me "well they have already had (insert #)." So???

Why Can't Barack Obama Close the Deal?

"Clinton's Blue-Collar Coalition Fuels Critical Wins, Raises General Election Doubts"

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4712936&page=1

Now Nancy P throws her two cents worth on Larry King. How can anybody not enjoy all of this if you like politics. No matter who you for, watching this all play out.

Bar-quack Obama

Sturg...

Great one!

So what if we have over 100 debates, why can't the remaining states hear what these two have to say. If you don't like it then don't watch it, but over 10 million did the last time so people in other states are listening and we are getting record turnouts, and maybe they did have an affect on the outcome.

As I said before , you are a voioce of reason here , Sturge. I always enjoy your posts. I too love the Mama , Eunice and Ed skits. Espcially the one where they played the board game "Sorry!".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJLVgPPF40M

I don't know if a tape was made of it, but Carol Burnett did bring "Once Upon A Mattress" to television. It was a great show and I can still hear Princess Winnifred saying, "I'm from the swamp, "I'm a mud bud"

About all she ever did on her show was the song "Shy"

I wish they would come back and do some more skits.

Voice of reason* , I mean.

9/11

BHO and JMc could debate by out-smirking each other.

Hannity is on the wright story

Hillary has challenged Baroooock to two debates in Oregon..One would deal exclusively with rural Oregon concerns..

Oregonians think debates are needed. If Baroooock doesn't feel comfortable debating rural Oregon issues, perhaps he should leave the race.

Everybody get in a line

http://www.smilebug.com/chicken.shtml

Watch Verdict on MSNBC for the showdown. Discussing the Wright interview

Jamie...you have such a great memory for song and entertainment...I also remember for the take on the 'Princess and the Pea.'

jamie,

There was one in 1964 with much of the original cast... plus Eliot Gould as the Jester and Shani Wallis (Nancy from the movie version of Oliver!) as Lady Larkin.

The one from 1972 was badly cut. Jack Gilford and Jane White were still The King and the Queen, Ken Berry was the Prince, Bernadette Peters was Lady Larkin.

Continuing the life of St. John/Pontius Pilot --

He was in NOLA today, criticizing Bush's handling of Katrina.

Shave his head and call him Mr. Clean!

Lawrence O'Donnell is just delusional tonight. Talk about Oppositional Defiance Disorder. Jeez.

The Media’s Creation Unravels: Why Obama Should Drop Out

"Sen Obama should drop out of the race. Having just seen the new attack ad that the GOP is showing in NC — condemning the state’s Democratic leadership for backing Obama, replete with Rev Wright cursing America — it is clear that Senator Obama is detrimental to the Democratic brand nationwide. As Jerome Armstrong wrote nearly one month ago, “That’s fall-out from Wright, not against just Obama, but also Clinton, and most likely against the Democratic Party in general. It’s branding of Democrats Obama, and Clinton, as anti-American.

Obama earned his lead early on, prior to being vetted. After he lost Texas and Ohio, the Wright videos appeared, shocking the nation. Slowly, information about his relationship to Rezko, and his affiliation with William Ayers have also entered the mainstream."

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/04/24/the-medias-creation-unravels-why-obama-should-drop-out/

If wright would of stayed out of the public eye all this discussion tonight on all the cable shows would not of happened. He brought this on himself. It's amazing how all these cable outfits got a hold of the sound bites already. Did PBS release them to get people to watch this interview or did someone leak this out.

No further remarks on the NC ad from Obamaramaland.

No video responses.

No sense of anyone having anticipated ANYONE would do this to HIM ever --

Same as the ABC debate.

Read the comment again and tell me what tone you find in it:

"The fact that Senator McCain can't get his own party to take down this misleading, personal attack ad raises serious questions about his promise to the American people that he will run a civil, respectful campaign."

I get "miffed".

Howzaboutyou?

Obama will debate in Oregon. Just as he is now going on Fox News Sunday. Clinton supporters should not anticipate another poor debate performance in Oregon IF he comes off a big win in North Carolina. He hasn't had a win for a while...he is "feeling down." Once he gets a big win, he will get his MOJO back. Just something to think about...

Where did you hear that he is going to debate in Oregon? I did hear he is going to be on Fox Sunday show. That should be interesting. Should bring in Shawn Hannity to interview him. I guess Chris Wallace will do it. Will he be like his father and ask the hard questions.

Obqama's state chairman said yesterday ad today that there is no need for a debate in Oregon.

I hopethere are debates in Oregon..Hillary is ready and willing,just like she was when she was the frontrunner.

I didn't see this a few years ago. Burnett as the Queen

http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Mattress-Carol-Burnett/dp/B000ATQYVK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1209086368&sr=8-1

Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, Debating with the Candidates? Maybe we just need to hold the Presidential contest on TV?

Speaker Pelosi and Senator Obama could trade smirks and nobody would know.

The pressure will get to be too much and he will commit to a debate in Oregon (unless he wins BOTH Indiana and North Carolina...then maybe he won't have to.) My point is: Just as with the pressure to appear on Fox News Sunday, he eventually caved because it was bad for business to keep avoiding it. This is why I think he will debate in Oregon.

Ally,

Is this really about MOJO? He is astonished on an hourly basis that anyone would even QUESTION him about ANYTHING?

Axelrod packaged him in a bubble called "New Politics" because he knew the Senator had little interest in throwing his elbows (aside from Jay-Z shtick and dances with Ellen) in politics. His only statewide election was GIVEN to him by a series of collapses in the IL GOP. His spotlight at the 2004 Convention was GIVEN to him by Kerry (just as Clinton's was given to him by Dukakis -- except it didn't go great and Bill learned a TON from that).

The "New Politics" bubble is becoming a 100 ton bathysphere: it no longer elevates him; in fact, it is sinking him.

Now his lack of big campaign experience -- remember that his only campaign bigger than the Senate walk was a failed Congressional race -- is killing him. He was able to make up a brave new world for awhile.

But the complete phrase is this -- "O brave new world that has such people in it!"

And it is a statement by a totally sheltered naive teenager seeing a bunch of rough souls wash up on her dad's island of exile.

Yeah. Any brave new world has such people in it who aren't new and the world isn't more knavish than brave.

So far he declared the victory of the New Politics and expected a crown.

He's getting his head handed to him instead.

That's the best thing that has happened to him in YEARS -- better than a bunch of lucky breaks and clever speechwriters.

He needs to stop teach us what is what and start learning who and where he is in this campaign.

President Bill Clinton will appear:

Friday in North Bend, OR
Saturday in Monmouth, Oregon City, and Portland

He recently appeared in Bend, Medford, and Salem..

Looks like the Hillary campaign isgoing to fight for and debate in Oregon..Come on Baroooock..don't be a chicken..

The latest from BHO's campaign to HRC

http://www.stuporduck.com/sounds/DS001.wav

9/11: I agree with all of your points. He is definitely the creation of a very powerful political machine. I only warn Clinton supporters (of which I am one of her biggest) not to get over-confident. He hasn't had a win for a while and he has lost his swagger. He has lost is footing. With a win in North Carolina, he will get back that lovin' feelin' and the media and the crowds will faint and swoon all over again. Thrills will once again crawl up Matthews' leg.

Hmm, just got through watching Blazing Saddles. I think I recognize some of the characters from here.

Awesome!!!! Craig on MSNBC tomorrow. They finally got smart over there.

OD: Hillary should fight for Oregon. Yes, Eugene and Portland may appear to be Obama Country but you know what? I went to U of O and there are many strong women in that town who, most likely, are very committed to a woman president. My own mother is a staunch Republican but she is going to support Hillary for the very same reason. Oregon's got some tough broads...

Ally,

I think the context for his win in NC will be different than the ones attributed to some of his earlier victories... particularly as they keep hammering at his voter demographics.

His responses to the debate questions and, remarkably, his "bad form! bad form!" response to what the GOP launched today in NC is going to undermine both the media's and the public's willingness to dance along to his poltical music.

"Miffed" as a response to a smartly choreographed attack on him by the GOP (which shields McCain) is 100000% pure Kerryatrics.

Ally. I see so many strong women volunteering at our local headquarters.

We have elderly ladies on the phone forhours. We have young mothers bringing in their small children.
We have people coming in to phone on their lunch hours.

I respect very much people who give their time to campaign for the candidate they believe in..

Ally..If your mom is a Republican,shehas tillthe29th to re-register so she can vote for Hillary in the primary.

OD: Eek...I will let my mom know about that deadline. My stepdad has cancer so she is a little preoccupied right now. I appreciate the reminder!

Most recent North Carolina has Sen. Obama at only 9 points ahead. I won't crow about the outlier poll that showed him 25 ahead (as the Obama folks did to Hillary about PA) but the previous reasonable one was 15 ahead for a six point drop in one week.

Night night all.

Good night, all.....pleasant dreams.

Quack!

OD -

On some of my genealogy mailing lists, they occasionally have roll call. We should do that here with everyone doing the -

Barooooooock Bock Bock

Julie

OD -

On some of my genealogy mailing lists, they occasionally have roll call. We should do that here with everyone doing the -

Barooooooock Bock Bock

Julie

Pogo, I just love it when you talk to yourself and decide you need to look into your own comments further on the gas tax vacation.

I'm sure Nash can help us here on my suggestion for making up the tax losses: Create a windfall profits tax on the oil companies to expire whenever the federal gas tax goes back on. Make it a wash, tax losses for a windfall profits tax.

testing this treo to see if I can really make it work on here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnH19yT-bE4

Ally..the registration forms are available at post offices and other public buildings..Also, you mom could call the county election office and get one in the mail..but they must be in the hands of the country election office by the end of the 29th.

OD/Ally-

She can also get it on-line.
http://www.oregonvotes.org/votreg/vreg.htm

~G

Thanks Gidget