Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Good morning everyone! First!

Second....

"It would be funny if it weren't so sad. In yet another example of the media trying to be a player, instead of a mere observer of this election, Barr is suddenly a darling of the chattering class."

Trying to be a player Craig?
Come on...grow up Sir.
they are ot trying to be a player, they have deciced to be a player and BO has given them their place
This is too obvious...But I do agree with the total of your blog.....

Craig -- Not that I disagree with your point, but how could Barr be the darling of anyone? Also maybe because Nader has run before and we remember the result. I haven't heard too many Hillary hold outs say that they will vote Nader instead.

Are these guys on the ballot in all states?

What about the Green Party? Cynthia McKinney! No one is talking about them either.

Nader's goal is to be on the ballot in 10 states by the end of June, on 40 state ballots by end of summer, according to his website.

PM, your 4:26 AM from the previous thread:

"...Personally, for me, I'm still hovering between no vote for prez or a relunctant vote for McCain.

I'm that pissed about the primary."

Marcia, you understand. All we have to protest with are our votes.

They may think they can take my vote for granted, that the old guy will come around. Do they have that wrong!!

I'm not going to ratify their chicanery by blessing it with the legacy that my patriot ancestor Sgt Heli Foote, of Connecticut, passed on to me.

Bethyboo had a darned good rant; but, as you say PM, she should reevaluate her options.

Alicia, that must have been you hovering over the 'enter' key. Kudos on being first!

The media gave Nader enough attention in 2000 to damage Gore, the candidate it openly and thoroughly despised. Big business and especially the telecommunications industry will have the candidate and president they want, make no mistake about it.

Hawaii Vital Records, Question 1

"This entry focuses on one of those questions: Why does Obama’s Certification of Live Birth say “Date Filed with Registrar” in the lower left area, in contrast to Patricia Decosta’s certification (offered for comparison), which says “Date Accepted by State Registrar.”

http://texasdarlin.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/hawaii-vital-records-question-1/#more-386

"That's because Barr's Libertarian Party bid is deemed threatening to Republican John McCain's chances. Nader, however, can only siphon votes away from the Democrats, and therefore is written off." By Craig Crawford

Well, some of us were waiting to see what slant the media would put on this election (after the General started). So there's our answer, the writing is on the wall.

Does this mean that the largest Corporations now 'own' the Democratic Party. Guess we can predict the party's future behavior by the motivations of those who own them. And their motivations are driven by profit and profit alone.

Think about it, how far would Obama have gone without all that money and media adulation. This has been a scam since the start.

Flatus says: "They may think they can take my vote for granted"

They're counting on it Flatus. And you're right, our vote is our only protest. To support this 'social engineering' by the party and the media, will invite more of the same in the future.

It's important that people dissatisfied with this primary process write to not only the DNC, but to their Democratic representatives and others in the inner circle. They have to be absolutely award of the need for fixing this undemocratic system.

Big Oil isn't the big problem

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-heilbrunn24-2008jun24,0,2588214.story

" ...at a breakfast with Republican insiders at the Capitol Hill Club this morning, former White House senior aide Karl Rove referred to Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, as "coolly arrogant."

"Even if you never met him, you know this guy," Rove said, per Christianne Klein. "He's the guy at the country club with the beautiful date, holding a martini and a cigarette that stands against the wall and makes snide comments about everyone who passes by."

Rove said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., "needs to come right at him."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/06/rove-obamas-the.html#comments

"coolly arrogant." Posted by Gordo

I like it.
Describes well a guy trying so hard to be 'cool' and is so naturally arrogant by nature.

The Barr phenomenon is more about novelty imo.
Like Hucksterbee was the media favorite during the gooper primaries.

The media is like a giant high school clique,for the most part not much original thinking.

Mostly what they write about is how Barr has changed his position on pot and why his presence in the race makes Georgia in play. Which by the way is a pile of crap.

Venus is giving me a heart attack.... I need some tranquilizers.....

calm down Jason, calm down

Gordo, you're actually quoting Carl Rove as a credible witness???? Do you know who this guy is in the world of underhanded slimy political manipulation??? He's the GOD of political cynicism...and you're quoting his take on Obama as though it is anything besides an attempt to use...who? You. As a weapon in his war against liberalism.

mornin' all.

As I said yesterday, "Run, Bob, run."

Craig, buddy, considering that Nader went from getting 2,883,105 votes, for 2.74 % of the popular vote in the 2000 election to getting 463,653 votes(.38%) in 2004, plus he's so twentieth century, it is understandable why the media is not paying any attention to him. Barr on the other hand was one of the loudest voices and persistent TV faces during the Clinton persecution, and with (according to the media who is hyping him) some disaffection with McCain among conservatives, he could indeed be the nut candidate who could affect the election. That would be an ironic way for him to save the judiciary from McCain appointees, so Run, Bob, run.

No surprise--msm has revealed its preference & now
will continue to try to influence the public.

Remains to be seen if the voting public buys into it.

Could it be that all those right wing rants about the so-called liberal media bias that we all dismissed for so long actually had some merit?

For consideration, a tribute to George Carlin by Jerry Seinfeld in today's NYT.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/opinion/24seinfeld.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

".and you're quoting his take on Obama as though it is anything besides an attempt to use...who? You. As a weapon in his war against liberalism."
Posted by: TP from CT/NC | June 24, 2008 8:58 AM

And who exactly is your war against TP?

Do you suggest that anyone who looks at Obama's faults is also waging a war on liberalism?

Proof again that if the media WANTS to believe a story it will !!!!

http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/91536

TP from CT/NC -------------------

Rove would be "happy" with your reaction - it means you know this is an effective attack.

If I remember correctly we refused to listen to some of their ranting about a certain president's predilections too.

"Could it be that all those right wing rants. . . that we all dismissed for so long actually had some merit?

I only thought FOX showed their true colors, but this primary season all the networks did a good job of it.

My right wing friends have been right about the media for years and I did not notice it until this year.

good morning gang...

Craig.... as pogo pointed out with the vote counts.... Nader is irrelevant....

"Does this mean that the largest Corporations now 'own' the Democratic Party. "

Chloe.... the only exception I take with the above statement is the word "now"....

the corporations own our government.... they have for a long time.... it's just now becoming evident to some who have thought the Democratic party would be this country's savior..... and that includes if Clinton had been the nominee....

this is nothing new.... pick a country.... study it's history.... the people with the most wealth have always run the governments....

we in this country have thought we were different..... but why should we be... we're only human beings like the rest of the world.....

Proof again that if the media WANTS to believe a story it will !!!!

http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/91536

Posted by: vadaryl | June 24, 2008 9:14 AM

Another sickening moment to me.... What can you believe from the media. Even these nice things are being spun into thier own little reality...

And what is their F~!@#$%^ response. NONE, what so ever...

More and more I know that tis primary has openend my eyes. nad more and more I am thinking about NOT stitting this GE out!

I feel like going into a rant also. A little helped by Venus's erratic serve at Wimbledon now.....

"My right wing friends have been right about the media for years and I did not notice it until this year". vadaryl |

Isn't that weird vadaryl. All that we learned from this. We've heard it pointed out for so long, how the media was slanted. But as long as it was slanted in our direction, we chose not to see it. Once it turned against us (and Hillary) - ouch!

It's been so long now since Wlater Cronkite did the news, I don't remember, was his reports slanted also? How would ge have gone about reporting this primary season. If he was handling the debates what questions would he of asked.

What can you believe from the media. Jason

The media, the government, the corporations. It's all about control. And we're the ones they're controlling.

But sometimes we have to learn the hardway don't we. I guess if I was a big Obama supporter I would be loving this coverage.

It's been so long now since Wlater Cronkite did the news, I don't remember, was his reports slanted also? vadaryl

I don't think the bias goes back that far. (unless we were so naive, we just didn't notice). The news used to be the news. Now it's more of an infomercial.

I had so many fights about the media, saying only FOX was out of line and now what can I say. It hurts to say they have a point.

Where can we go to get a fair and balance report on things. C-SPAN? Is National Public Radio slanted too?

"Chloe.... the only exception I take with the above statement is the word "now"....
the corporations own our government.... they have for a long time.... it's just now becoming evident to some who have thought the Democratic party would be this country's savior..... and that includes if Clinton had been the nominee...." RebelliousRenee | June 24, 2008 9:21 AM

Renee,
I know you're right.
I haven't been particular aware of it until this election though. And it 's been a real slap in the face. But I'm getting used to it now.

But sometimes we have to learn the hardway don't we. I guess if I was a big Obama supporter I would be loving this coverage.

Posted by: vadaryl | June 24, 2008 9:29 AM

AGREED!
I would to....

One big difference this year compared to even 4 years ago is that everything that is being said is being caught on some kind of device. A cell phone for example, YouTube is a place to go and see the videos. Blogger sites are much more popular. Not much controls on it, so almost anything goes, true or not true. The media is trying to get the story before it hits the blogs.

Another alarming signal of the financial difficulties
many working Americans are experiencing.

Utilities are cutting off more customers behind on their
bills--though the disruption is usually short-lived --after
the customer makes payment arrangements the service is restored.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-06-23-utility-bills-shut-off-disconnect_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

"Is National Public Radio slanted too?"

Vadaryl,

I would suspect that many of your right wing friends
would say absolutely---without a doubt!

everything that is being said is being caught on some kind of device... YouTube ..... Blogger sites ....Not much control...vadaryl

That's the real difference this time around Daryl. It isn't a secret this time. Even the most unaware of us can no longer ignore it.

gotta go

Coreen -- thanks for the heads up on the Seinfeld tribute to Carlin! The ending is PRICELESS!

The Dean Plan: "In Obama We Trust" ... or else

"It's July 27, 2004, when Barack Obama, then Democratic U.S. Senate nominee for Illinois, was chosen to give the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in Boston.

Did you get that? Obama's road to the White House was already being paved in July 2004, months before his election to the U.S. Senate was assured. As Stix indicated, the plan for Obama's media "coronation" had, indeed, already been set in motion; it was well-planned, originating with a source well-known to many in the Democratic Party, while, at the same time, it was hidden in plain sight and unsuspected by nearly all except perhaps the Party elites."

http://rezkowatch.blogspot.com/2008/06/dean-plan-in-obama-we-trust-or-else.html

" cyclical shift in the partisanship of American voters which could last at least through 2016, if managed carefully."

Key words: "if managed carefully."

Two words to keep in mind: Jimmy Carter

vadaryl....
I listen to NPR for about 5-6 hrs a day.... sometimes more....
they are fair and balanced in the fact that they always present both sides....

the best shows.... IMO.... involve talking about issues with non-political types....
these types of people will listen to the other side and sometimes be in agreement and give each other credit for points made....

but if a show discusses an issue with politicals.... for example... the American Enterprise Institute(a Republican think tank) on one side.... and the Brookings Institute(a Democratic think tank) on the other side.... it basically becomes two sides talking past each other while spouting off rhetorical talking points at each other....

I think finding unslanted news is hard..... all human beings have a bias, IMO...

Patsi,

You are quite welcome. Creative individuals like
Carlin & Seinfeld, have a gift of being able to provide us with a view of ourselves that many of us may think but can not put into words. And what better way to do
it than with humor.

vad has a good point. During th '04 election, blogs were a minor thing, at best, and the Web newsers like HuffPo were still pretty minor players as well. I don't have a good sense of the respective influences the cable newsers and net newsers have now as opposed to '04, but I have to believe that the net newsers have a bit more reach now than they did then. Their combined influence, combined with their relatively lower standards for publication, must be putting pressure on the networks to go to air quicker and with less vetting of their stories than before.

Here's one snubbed group, American Muslims, insulted by BO's campaign's freshman faux pas right and left, who won't be voting for McCain.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/us/politics/24muslim.html?hp=&adxnnl=1&pagewanted=1&adxnnlx=1214316151-6/Vvga//iycIzLQaVm7tTA

And in the economic news of the day, the Dow is down 77 points and housing prices continued to decline in April, to a national average of 15.3% from the prior year. I can't imagine the consumer confidence figures due out today will look good, either.

I guess this is what winning in Iraq looks like...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/23/AR2008062302050.html?nav=rss_world

... disputes between US Gov. agencies looking at the progress being made there - with the more independent agency - the GAO - unable to see the progress the Defense and other Cabinet level agencies claim. Go figure.

Like I said about the consumer confidence figures.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/24/AR2008062400431.html?hpid=topnews

And the Bush administration's waronterra, more specifically its unconstitutional detention program, continues to unravel,

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/23/AR2008062301619.html?hpid=moreheadlines

Actually, I think the media attention comes more from the current state of the nation, in terms of the various crises and problems that we face, as well as the difficulties of the national Republican party, both congressional and presidential. Another factor is that for the last several elections, the Republican party has run as the party of principle over against the "feckless' Democrats, who are said to believe in nothing but power and expediency. I fully expect, given the state of the Republican party, that any Republican voter who actually votes on principle and not power, to vote for Bob Barr, rather than McCain, who has become all things to all people in order to gain power. If I really believed the Republicans in their claim to be the party of priniple, I would fully expect Barr to finish well ahead of McCain.

" ...at a breakfast with Republican insiders at the Capitol Hill Club this morning, former White House senior aide Karl Rove referred to Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, as "coolly arrogant."

Posted by GORDO...

That's pretty rich for Karl Rove to call anyone else arrogant...

POT

KETTLE...

Pogo,

Might find this of interest--Banks sensing higher risk
are cutting credit lines to millions of American--often
without notice.

Just what financially stressed out persons, who are using credit cards more & more to pay for daily living expenses, need.

Hard to see how these practices can instill confidence.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/21/business/21credit.html?scp=3&sq=eric+dash&st=nyt

Is National Public Radio slanted too?

Posted by: vadaryl | June 24, 2008 9:34 AM

When working in community radio, we always found NPR the corporate equivalent of public broadcasting. When Congress was rattling their cages about NPR reporting, NPR began to "tone down" some of its programs so as to not upset the powers that be.

Although slanted more left, I have always preferred Pacifica news reports.

The media is not so much biased as it is paid off. To use Nader's 'shorthand' it's corporate media just like the parties are corporate parties. Every time I have engaged someone on the possibility of opening thje system up to more than two parties I get the same short response: "I am a fan of the two party system". I suppose this is related to the possibility of some extreme group hijacking the government but the dialogue never gets that far. There is one cliche I dislike more than I am a fan blah, blah, blah: and that is the one that asks the listner tofollow a vacuous thought process: 'at the end of the day blah, blah, blah.'
'The merican people' is a close third.
But I digress, being a fan is not a reason to support a corrupt system it is an excuse not to enter into ddialogue, something, at the end of the day, that the merican people would like to do on some level.
I think the mainstream, corpoate press types are actually looking for ways to discredit blogs like this one. but with few exceptions they don't understand it.

Rebecca Traister’s Safe Expectations — No Deal

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/06/24/rebecca-traister%e2%80%99s-safe-expectations-%e2%80%94-no-deal/

M.J. Rosenberg writes:

[I]t is silly to get bent out of shape when [Obama] says something he may or may not believe in order to win . . . That is precisely what I want him to do . . .
I suppose that is why Rosenberg supported the Obama campaign's saying:

Proving once again that [Hillary Clinton] will say and do anything to win . . .
All the "outrage" Rosenberg expressed about the Clinton campaign was just a big lie apparently. Now my own view is that ALL pols will say and do anything to win - the trick for us as citizens is to make the politically wise thing to do be the things we want the pols to do. That is why we hold their feet to the fire:

http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/6/24/104548/423

“The Country I Lie To”

"Obama says in his ad that he “extended healthcare for wounded troops that had been neglected” and cites Public Law 110-181 as proof of this.

The problem is: Obama didn’t show up to vote that day! The bill passed the senate 91 to 3… WITHOUT Obama’s vote. Why has the Mainstream Media allowed Barack to slip by unscathed from the exposure of this outright dishonesty and sleaze? We may logically conclude that this happens because they are, along with Barack Obama and his campaign, highly corrupt and dishonest in their own right."

http://savagepolitics.com/?p=800

Maybe it's just me, but I get the feeling that the Repubs and Fox News keep bringing up obstacles to why McCain can't win, so that once he does win, they can all act shocked and amazed and say things like, "He didn't have a chance, but wow he pulled it off" -- like people really only want Republicans, we're the best, etc., etc. And I guess my "I refuse to unite", protest vote for McCain will be helping them along. And I am so disillusioned at this point, that even that is just fine with me.

Hil'ry supporters coming home to roost? Nah, you can't go home, again. I think there will be a lot of no-shows. Those who choose to stay home may have the greatest effect on the outcome this fall.

Pogo...
this Thursday.... I will be 5 weeks away from setting up for my big craft fair where I usually make 50% of my yearly income....
I have talked with half a dozen of my fellow crafters in the last several weeks....
none of us expect to do very well this year..... the attendance was down by 35% last year, and we expect it to be down even further this year....
we all agree that if one can say "I did ok" that will be spectacular....

Nick.... yup... and the Democrats are trying to paint McCain as the third term of Bush.... which they want us to be afraid of....
both candidates are playing the politics of fear.... wow.... what a "change"....

"Why has the Mainstream Media allowed Barack to slip by "

Because the media is voting "present" when it comes to O-scrutiny.

" I will be 5 weeks away from setting up for my big craft fair where I usually make 50% of my yearly income.... "

Renee -- I'm really interested in the craft fair business. My daughter makes astonishing children's clothes and costumes. Also children's wall handings, etc. I'd love to know how you get set up to show things at a craft fair.

Also -- you are so right about EVERYBODY playing politics of fear on one level or another.

If someone does invent this revolutionary battery that McCain is talking about - won't that person or company become a millionaire many times over without the help of the government. So why will we throw them some more money and increase our deficit?

(Oh yeah - the GOP = the Government of the Privileged... I am sure the rich are really counting on those Bush tax cuts in order to pay for their next Mercedes.)

On the night of Obama's keynote address at the 2004 Democratic Convention, I stood in awe as he spoke. I said to my group, "We are looking at the next Democratic nominee." This isn't news, Gordo!

G Man,

If you would do a little research on your own sometime instead of blindly believing Sinclair, Johnson, Rense, Savage and others, then regurgitating it here, you would know that several sections of Public Law 110-181 were co-authored by Obama.

True, he didn't vote that day like McCain but everyone knew it was going to pass in a landslide. During the campaign he returned to the Senate on other occasions to vote on measures that were closely contested.

Get all the facts.

“Words” : New Web Ad Goes After Obama’s Empty Promises

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/06/24/words-new-web-ad-goes-after-obamas-empty-promises/

Pogo said in his 10:57 AM:
"... During th '04 election, blogs were a minor thing, at best, and the Web newsers like HuffPo were still pretty minor players as well. ..."

Pogo, you are right about the blogs being minor back then. But other technologies, specifically Usenet newsgroups were exceedingly active and provided much more lively and responsive fora than blogs. And they are easier to navigate, as well. But they are not so dumbed-down as blogs--there is a learning curve.

Newsgroups users were very involved and active in both the 2000 and 2004 elections, and in the periods in between. They are somewhat less influential now.

And prior to the newsgroups, BBS systems were quite active up until the late '90s---playing the same role.

A chore .. wtf..lol

give me a sec. . then ygm

When are you gonna get it? Polling questions are worded to obtain a specific outcome. Polling results are only shared when they support the story. BO is a creation of the media. There are a lot of us who will never buy into the BO hype despite what the media would have you believe.

Padding Obama

"About 46 seconds into the ad, we are told that Obama “passed laws” that “extended healthcare for wounded troops who’d been neglected,” and in the usual manner of these political commercials we are given a little citation at the bottom. The citation reads “Public Law 110-181 1/28/08”. That law is the only federal legislation cited in the ad — the other two items mentioned were from the Illinois legislature and referred to other issues raised in the ad.

Public Law 110-181 was the 2008 defense authorization bill. It passed the Senate by 91 to 3 in January, with six Senators not voting. Among those six absentees was Barack Obama. So he cites a bill he didn’t even vote for. Did he contribute to it in some way that might be reasonably referred to as extending healthcare for wounded troops who’d been neglected? It certainly doesn’t seem that way, as even Obama supporters at the Daily Kos discovered when they tried to answer some of the bloggers who pointed to Obama’s citation of the bill. They found that Obama had tried to insert an amendment that had to do with screenings for service members returning from deployments, and one that would ease the discharge of service members found to have personality disorders, but neither amendment passed. Another part of the bill, calling for inspector general reports about hospital facilities, had come from a different bill Obama had sponsored.

Even under the most generous reading imaginable could any of that count as passing legislation that extended health care for wounded troops?"

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Y2YxNTk0NzBiNjgzZmY0MjEwYzg5ODViMjMxN2JlY2Y=

Actually, having spent the past 6 months actually DOING these polls, I agree that depending on who's sponsoring the poll, results vary (not only because of how questions are worded). However, I've been impressed this political season by the questions and the choices of answers. They're fairly balanced.

Patsi...
I belong to the local craftsmens guild.... the League of NH Craftsmen....
I only do their fair.... which is the oldest and longest (9-days) in the country...

the best thing your daughter could do is join a local guild.... and go to as many professional fairs (the craftspeople are juried and you pay a charge to get into the fair) as she can and ask the crafters questions.... most craftspeople love to talk about their profession and are very friendly....

http://www.craftsreport.com/
she should also get a subscription to the above magazine....
it is for professional crafters and will give her places and dates to get juried into fairs all over this country....

she could choose to do the smaller fairs.... such as at churches or local town affairs.... but if she is serious about making an income professional fairs are the way to go, IMO.....

I wish her much luck!

This is us:

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/

We are full service polling and market research.

Thanks Renee! I'll get her a subscription. She keeps selling children's clothes on commission because complete strangers stop her in stores and ask about my granddaughter's outfits....when Tracy says she made them, she very often gets an order. It's kind of amazing.

Flip-flop on NAFTA
Flip-flog on Iraq Withdrawal
etc. etc. etc..

Too bad Barack Obama fooled enough people to become the presumtive selected nominee.

{{ Think about it, how far would Obama have gone without all that money and media adulation. This has been a scam since the start.
Posted by: chloe | June 24, 2008 8:06 AM }}

Chloe: That;s what I've been saying since Feb. to my Mom & friends .. I mean, for a new comer, he got an awful lot of money backing him ... who else do we know of who is a "newbie" to the Senate or anywhere else for that matter, that has rised up so quickly ...
I just don't trust him, no matter how they try to explain it ... i WON'T be voting for him !!! I'm still angry about the primary too!!

viv

Flip-flog on public financing of campaign..

The"new politics" is dead..or was it ever real in the first place..

I so agree with Craig. Anything the media can do to enhance Obama and hurt McCain they will do. Barr will work just fine for that. As a strong and loyal supporter of Hillary I still have so much bitterness about the media and their influence on the primary--especially MSNBC. I have recently taken to watching Fox which a year ago would have been unthinkable! I am really distressed this year about what direction I will take in Nov. I truly don't think I can vote fore Obama. This will be the first time in my life I have not voted Democratic and I know I am not alone. Very sad!

{{ the corporations own our government.... they have for a long time.... it's just now becoming evident to some who have thought the Democratic party would be this country's savior..... and that includes if Clinton had been the nominee....
this is nothing new.... pick a country.... study it's history.... the people with the most wealth have always run the governments....
we in this country have thought we were different..... but why should we be... we're only human beings like the rest of the world.....
Posted by: RebelliousRenee | June 24, 2008 9:21 AM }}
===================
Renee: I said something to that effect the other day ..
~~ keep thinking of that movie w/Arnold & the Showtime TV series called TOTAL RECALL & TOTAL RECALL 2070 ... In the tv versions they went into a lot about how BIG BUISNESS ran the countries all over the world ... Hmmmmm makes you wonder, doesn't it??
viv Posted by: Viv | June 22, 2008 7:53 PM ~~~

Julie: Thanks .. she really was amazing ...

For those who didn't see this, I posted pretty late the other night, here's what Julie &I are taling about ...

~~~~~~ Jack .. here's one for you .. something to make you smile .. if you are lurking out there somewhere ...
miss your vid's too .. am not up to your snuff, but thought this was a nice way to end the evening ...

enjoy the voice of youth .. beautiful!!!
viv

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

Posted by: Viv | June 23, 2008 12:30 AM

oh puhlease. Watch Fox if you want to, but know what you're watching. Vote any way you want to, but know what you're voting for. 4 more years of oil company execs posing as white house cabinet..smiling every friggin time gas goes up 1 cent. 4 more years of madmen in the whitehouse.

Gordo have you seen the latest on our buddy Larry, even Pastor Manning has a new video.

I actually prefer the old JM.. . this 2.08 version is too much.

McShame has changed courses on tax cuts, torture, campaign reform, ethanol, R v W, racism, and offshore oil drilling, just to name a few.

It is the time for Gramps to be identified correctly as a man with no principle beliefs. Dems should be criticizing McCain’s constantly evolving opinions on nearly everything, instead of supporting him.

There is a Bar-B-Q place that has a sign that has a horrible msg on it if anyone has seen it, I hope there is not a lot more of them down the road. I really hope for everyones sake it's a sign that has been doctored up on the internet and it get's pulled. We don't need this kind of junk out there. I am not sure what the legal rules are if they can demand that the actual sign can be cleaned up or a site has to pull the picture if it's true or not. Does anybody know what the rules are in this case?

Vote any way you want to, but know what you're voting for. 4 more years of oil company execs posing as white house cabinet..smiling every friggin time gas goes up 1 cent. 4 more years of madmen in the whitehouse.

Posted by: tylenol

Yes, but what will a McCain presidency look like?

Rezdog,

With regards to your lament about McCain v 2.00 & v 2.08, it's the same transformation that GHWB made in early 1988 to VP 1988...

Craig,

With regards to today's post, yours is the first mainstream mention I have heard for Barr since I heard Tucker Carlson make a reference on MSNBC within the last couple of weeks. I would like to know what you are siting as your evidence of this anti McCain bias with regards to this coverage... the only media I ever hear discuss Barr are self identified Libertarians.

I think people are ignoring Nader because he's the same one trick pony from 2000. Let me remind you the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result. Until your post I forgot either was in the race...btw, I know you say you don't vote but I'd love to know how much you plan to wager on a McCain victory in the fall?

I have a question for the group that I need help with...

On 9/11, we had a Republican President.

Congress has allowed said president to subvert the constitution with the aim of "making us safer from terrorist attacks"

The president's first Sec. Def openly pondered whether his war in Iraq was creating more terrorists than we were killing.

We have failed in our stated goal of capturing Osama Bin Laden.

McCain has sworn to go to the ends of the earth to capture Bin Laden, but instead ran to the President's lap instead...

So if there is another international terrorist attack in the US prior to the election, how can this possibly help McCain, who basically favored all of this President's actions, which would have resulted in 2 major attacks in less than 8 years?

I'll take "Grampa", as you're so fond of calling him, any day over BO.

10 Concerns about Barack Obama

It's policy.
"1. Barack Obama’s foreign policy is dangerous, naïve, and betrays a profound misreading of history....."
"2. Barack Obama’s Iraq policy will hand al-Qaeda a victory and undercut our entire position in the Middle East, while at the same time put a huge source of oil in the hands of terrorists....."
"3. Barack Obama has sent mixed, confusing, and inconsistent messages on his policy toward Israel....."
"5. Barack Obama’s judgment about personal and professional affiliations is more than troubling......"
Read more:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MzQ4YTY4YjQyMzRjYjA5MGZlNDBiZTkwYmEyODg5NTc=

CatBalu

The same as a Bush presidency. It's the SAME damn people!!! Presidents dont stand on their own. The same madmen will be in charge. The same madmen will be taking you into situations ya never dreamed about.

Pelosi: Clinton was victim of sexism

http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2008/06/pelosi_hillary_was_victim_of_s.html

whoops! "her" instead of his Professor ...
viv

Chloe,

With regards to this point...

"1. Barack Obama’s foreign policy is dangerous, naïve, and betrays a profound misreading of history....."

Why aren't you making that claim about McCain?

If you review the facts that he fully supported the war in Iraq, he was naive to think that American style imperialism would be embraced by a nationalistic people who were separated, not by ideology but by religious dogma instead.

George H.W. Bush recognized the challenges with taking Baghdad and he had actually built a coalition of the willing that were in favor of expelling Saddam from Kuwait but didn't have the stomach to go further. Bush got Syria to contribute to the effort. Yet McCain supported an effort that didn't take history into account and instead favored a go it alone approach.

As for this point
"2. Barack Obama’s Iraq policy will hand al-Qaeda a victory and undercut our entire position in the Middle East, while at the same time put a huge source of oil in the hands of terrorists....."

Al Qaeda had no foothold in Iraq until after Bush invaded the country. He also had the opportunity to squash AQ in Afghanistan and instead decided to pursue a personal vendetta while creating war profits for his base...all actions that McCain supported. Now as a result, we have battle trained and tested terrorists who have shown the patience and wisdom of long term timelines, who can effectively strike at their will...

How could Obama possibly do more harm than what McCain has already allowed his President to do?

CatBalu

The same as a Bush presidency. It's the SAME damn people!!! Presidents dont stand on their own. The same madmen will be in charge. The same madmen will be taking you into situations ya never dreamed about.

Posted by: tylenol

Yes, my point exactly. No matter who gets elected, he (and I can now say "he") will end up being the same darn thing. Thanks for clarifying.

John McCain on Energy Security for a Prosperous Nation and Clean Environment
"John McCain Believes That Conservation And Clean Energy Will Result In A Cleaner Environment And A Secure Energy Future. John McCain believes in common-sense conservation which means that it is not always a matter of making due with less energy but using energy in smarter ways. Business owners who invest in green buildings can substantially cut their energy costs and homeowners can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year through conservation. Clean energy in the form of nuclear, clean coal, wind, solar and hydro-electric will provide us green and renewable energy."

http://www.earnedmedia.org/mccain06241.htm

New Obama attack group formed
http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2008/06/new_obama_attack_group_formed.html

Is McCain actually serious about building new nuclear reactors? I am not a scientist, so I will ask those who are in the know: what makes Nuclear a "clean" energy?

".. One of his Professors told her that a big reason reporters aren't writing the truth is because theyve been threaten by "Higher Up's" ... He went into detail about how they about distroying peoples careers & lives to keep things under wrap ..." Posted by: Viv | June 24, 2008 2:36 PM

Viv,
makes me wish I'd taken that class before I made the mistake of watching this election.

what makes Nuclear a "clean" energy?
Posted by: EuroTom | June 24, 2008 2:49 PM

Tom,
McCain talked about that in his conference today, but I missed most of it because I was in the car. Maybe there'll be a transcript later on his take on your question.

Bear very good points...I'm sure we'll see terror alerts closer to the election because that's just the way the Republicans play. But for the life of me I don't see how an attack would be a boon to the Republican candidate. But then, I couldn't see how people would vote for Bush over Kerry, either. Or how they'd believe he wasn't a war hero. Or how Max Cleland could be turned into a defense wimp.

I find it incredible that now Nancy (impeachment is off the table) Pelosi, has now awaken. I wish she'd just go back to sleep and keep that lying mouth shut!

Nick, yes! I do too. She doesn't say anything about it until it's too late to help Hillary or the handling of the election. Now it's as though she's trying to get herself into the good graces of the voters who have been talking about it for months. A'lot' too late, the cement has settled.

I googled and got the EPA page on Nuclear.

http://www.epa.gov/solar/energy-and-you/affect/nuclear.html

That Pelosi article is interesting. I noticed she says she doesn't spend much time thinking about sexist statements....but here's the money quote:

Pelosi said she is already warning her House Democratic colleagues to be prepared for a new reality next year if Obama becomes president.

"The expectations will be high," she said she's told them. "The results must happen."

Well the more I read, the less "clean" nuclear sounds to me...

~~~~~~ Jack .. here's one for you .. something to make you smile .. if you are lurking out there somewhere ...
miss your vid's too .. am not up to your snuff, but thought this was a nice way to end the evening ...
enjoy the voice of youth .. beautiful!!! viv
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QWNoiVrJDsE&feature=related
Posted by: Viv Author Profile Page | June 24, 2008 2:12 PM

Viv,
When you posted that I saw it and it was cute and adorable, so I emailed it to Jacks yahoo address that he had on his site for a while. I'm not sure if he got it, but I have no reason to think he didn't.

Bob Barr FISA hero.

Update: Greenwald makes an important observation. All the gasbags are hailing this as a triumph of bipartisanship and deal making. But the only people who are complaining are liberals and couple of cranky libertarians. Why is that? Wouldn't you think there would be a few disappointed conservative ideologues somewhere if this were really a "compromise?" They aren't exactly known for their flexibility. Conservatives love the thing, across the board.

The only people who are unhappy about it are DFHs (and Bob Barr.)The Village is harmoniously in sync once more.
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/they-like-him-they-really-like-him-by.html

New Book I am told is pretty good.

Set in a small town during the Nixon era and today, this novel is about Corey Sifter's journey from his blue-collar family to a privileged class far from his humble beginnings. What unfolds is a beautiful story of America as it was and as it is — and a remarkable exploration of how vanity, greatness, and politics combine to change history and fate.

America America by Ethan Canin

Julie

STAY ANGRY and be proud of yourself for not to get bamboozled.

That's exactly what I intend.

Posted by: Nick | June 24, 2008 2:19 PM

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

Nick: I don't think this anger is going anywhere .. even now, when BHO comes on, I either mute it or turn the channel .. It's still too fresh in my mind what all they did & said about Hillary & Bill .. yes & I'm angry about how they distorted all the good Bill did while in office ... making him out to be like Nixon ,.. grrrr .. and people copmparing BHO to JFK!! NOT!!!!
I just wonder sometimes .... if Bill hadn't had the Repugs breathing down his neck every second he was in office .. if they had only tied a little bit to work with him & instead of tearing him down ... imagine what ELSE he could have accomplished in his 8 years !!!!!

Good cartoon on www.politico.com,

re:Obama and the money .

Julie

Nick and viv: Spot on. I turn the channel or turn it off when the phony comes on. No way will I ever vote for
him. We may be a few here, but a few here and there will make a difference.

When you posted that I saw it and it was cute and adorable, so I emailed it to Jacks yahoo address that he had on his site for a while. I'm not sure if he got it, but I have no reason to think he didn't.

Posted by: chloe | June 24, 2008 3:01 PM

===========================
Chloe: Thanks .. I know I've not been here long, & he doesn't know me, but enjoyed his post & how he stuck up for us .. hope he enjoyed it ..
viv

Patsi,

I'm glad I'm not the only one scratching there head about how an attack benefits McCain. I rank that as high on the huh? scale as I do the question, "If the KKK are christians, why do they think it appropriate to burn the symbol of their church as a way to frighten black people?"

tylenol....
good to see you again.....

there's no way I can vote for McCain....
my plan is to write in Hillary Clinton if McCain is far enough ahead of Obama here in the polls in NH come close to election time..... if Obama has a chance, I'll more than likely vote for him.....

you haven't been here for awhile.... lots of people keep screaming at some here about not voting Republican..... so far.... not one mind has been changed..... and, I'd be willing to bet that it's actually hardened some feelings....

if you think adding your voice to that chorus is helpful, then have at it....
IMO.... it is not.....

From that Pelosi link...

She also said she hoped the Senate would filibuster the FISA legislation that just passed the House, with her support, in order to highlight Democratic opposition to a provision that protects telecommunications companies against lawsuits for allegedly aiding the administration's warrantless wiretap program. But she added that she supported passage of a new FISA law before Congress adjourns for the elections.

Huh??? Why let the #$@# bill pass your chamber then?

As great as she looks...I think I'd kick her out of bed at this point...

Renee:

Good response. Write in HRC, do whatever you feel you ought to do ethically. I'm glad to hear your not going to support McCain out of protest. The supreme court is too tight.

Thanks .. I know I've not been here long, & he doesn't know me, but enjoyed his post & how he stuck up for us .. hope he enjoyed it ..viv Posted by: Viv | June 24, 2008 3:42 PM

Viv,
I enjoyed him too. And I haven't been here long either.
Did you see Jack's site link the other day: http://showyourgarden.blogspot.com/
He has a little story on it that he posted yesterday. When I sent the link you posted, I sent all the information that you posted and that it was from you.

There's a place for comments on his site if you ever have any other links you think he'd enjoy.

.. it's great therapy to yell & yes, cuss at the TV when I hear lies coming from everyone's mouths on MSM ... especailly since they're pushing BHO down our throats ..viv

I do that too. Yelling at the tv. And my husband just laughs at me and makes a little joke about it. He has no idea how much it helps.

The same situation holds true for the Democrats as the republicans. Absolute power corrupts.. The Phony and a democratic house, ie pelosi, and a democratic senate. Same problems as now. The Phony is more power hungry than even Bush was.
I will refrain from callinghim the "phony" when others refrain from calling Senator McCain, "grandpa".

He is not ready. Inexperienced empty suited phony.
Realization is not angry, It is realizing the truth and stating it as such, not a blind adoration of an unworthy person.

Nick, having a great day, thanks. Hope your new a/c keeping you cool and collected..

Chloe: Thanks for adding it again today ... I wasn't able to read all the post yesterday, Art{hritis} was rearing it's ughly head again .. but I did go to his site the time he sent a link showing his new stump ... will have to check it out after dinner ...
It upsets my daughter when I do it, so try not to be as loud when she's home .. lol

viv

{{ But she added that she supported passage of a new FISA law before Congress adjourns for the elections.
Huh??? Why let the #$@# bill pass your chamber then?
As great as she looks...I think I'd kick her out of bed at this point... Posted by: Bear | June 24, 2008 3:47 PM }}
==============================
Bear, I'm sure she's been getting a lot of angry emails & phone calls ... me being one of them ... It wasn't that long into her being Speaker of the House, that I wrote her telling her how excited I was & maybe we can get something donw now ... but hert saying Impeachment was off the table for Bush/Cheney .. made my blood boil .. grrrrr

Viv,

That's what happens when you have a San Francisco millionaire with a seat in Congress. I'm sure at some level, she identifies with the rich folk instead of the pissed of folk...

well i listen to you Corey

Corey,
Stay here where you're appreciated.
You're one of my favorites.

June 24, 2008
Clinton may run again, Pelosi says

According to the Chicago Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet, the California Democrat suggested Tuesday that the former Democratic presidential candidate may yet mount another run for the White House.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/06/24/clinton-may-run-again-pelosi-says/

""If the KKK are christians, why do they think it appropriate to burn the symbol of their church as a way to frighten black people?"

ROFL, Bear.....perfect!

Well , my Mom is finally putting my Dad in a nursing home. He's going tomorrow. I'm gonna go visit him in the hospital now. Gonna be tough.

my favorite Corey posts are the personal stuff about family, workmates, etc. Real stuff about real people. More dimensions than cyber chat usually provides. And the photography too. Also, I met Corey in Vegas at our little blog gathering. Cool cat, very understated, and a good heart, perhaps even an old soul. The more Coreys around here, the better, as far as I'm concerned -- and the fewer of those who don't appreciate him? Even better still

I love his little stories too. There's always so much meaning. And he doesn't tell you what to think. He just tells you the story and what it meant to him, and leaves the rest to you.

Corey.....
don't you ever think of leaving here..... IMO, you are the heart and soul of this place.....

Craig.... good to see you here too..... I thought you might have abandoned it for facebook.....
I do have a question for you..... have you heard from Zoey?.... I've been thinking about her and hoping that she's been alright with all the floods happening in Iowa.....

I would call McBush "Grandpa Amos " but only a few bloggers here are old enough to remember Walter Brennan's "Grandpappy Amos McCoy"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rebel Ren:
Maybe you'll have to take your show on the road...about 15 years ago a high level manager screwed up a large account where I worked and was fired.
He bought a van and sold his fine house and headed for New Mexico. Last I heard, he is still out there in Great America., working flea markets , selling turquoise things to anybody and everybody.

Add me as a member of the Corey readership base. Craig said it very well. And even though I've never met Corey, I feel like I have.

rebellious, yes i've been thinking about Zoey too. haven't seen her on here for a while

Corey....
and I'm sorry about your dad..... even though you've had a troubled relationship with him... it's still hard to watch a parent go into a nursing home....

Dex.... nah... I still sell a lot out of my galleries....
if anything.... I'll stop doing the fair and reclaim my summers....
shhhhh..... don't tell Rick I said that.... he'd jump for joy if I did that....

seriously.... I make a second income.... but I don't have to make my living at selling my weavings.... if I did.... I'd never have time for blogging.....

Corey,

Sorry to hear your dad going into nursing home. Will be hard on your Mom too. A different kind of a problem for her rather than looking after him all the time. It will fall to you to help her also. Hang in, the ride may be rough for a couple of weeks.. keep smiling

Julie

Speaking of inexperienced empty suits, when is Grandpa Phony going to explain his plan for fighting inflation.

Peeing away several trillions in borrowed money to fuel the Iraq fiasco, while giving taxbreaks to rupert murdoch, the waltons, and martha stewart does not seem like a very conservative plan to this old macro econ student.

Good afternoon all. I, too, would like to reach out to Corey...as a fellow tennis nut, I have enjoyed sharing views with him in the short time I have been here. And found him a decent, level-headed sort.

Nice post, Bear. Just plain decent.

xrepublican: I have not heard either candidate speak to the economy in any meaningful way. What am I missing?

hey bear, don't get me wrong, i'm all for corollary sites. but i had to defend my man corey. i'm scotch-irish, and we are loyal to inanimate objects.

Bear's post is just plain decent too bad it does not speak to the point -the back channel is still flinging monkey poo only now they are doing it in public. In today's post, Corey is the target of a number of comments.

Maggiesd,

I'm thinking you need someone to roll you a blunt filled the hippy lettuce in order to get meaningful economic policy...

Posted by: anonymous3 | June 24, 2008 5:38 PM

The Reader's Digest version
You left out most of it or have the comments been deleted.

Craig,

You're Scottish-Irish and you drink apple martini's?!? Next thing you'll tell us, you wear boxers under your kilt...

I guess it begs this question...why on earth does your kin folk eat haggis? If I had to chose between eating that or starving, I would thank God I had 30 pounds cushion and see if I could survive on tree bark...

BTW, do the Scottish-Irish in the Appalachian's eat haggis? I mean, isn't starvation better than eating blood stuffed poop tubes? Seriously...isn't it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haggis#Use_outside_Scotland

Bear: I hate to sound like someone from another era -- oh, wait, I am someone from another era -- 'cuz I don't take your meaning at all.

Bear: It's just sausage...the casings and the ingredients are not all that different from most ethnic sausages.

Oh and Bear, BTW, don't confuse the Scots-Irish with the Scots. Related, yes...but not interchangeable.

It would take some kind La Jolla "herbal remedy"...aka "the reefer" to get some economic discussion that goes beyond McCain's "I voted against the tax cuts but I not for letting them expire since that would be a tax increase which I'm also against."

Why Obama isn't humping the leg of the Clinton era surpluses is beyond me too. When Jim Cramer says the general public has the appetite to raise some taxes if it means getting back to the peace and prosperity of the 90's, then say nothing else but that...

He could let www.fightthesmears.com go idle for the campaign if he put up a comparison between 2000 economy and 2008 economy.

ha, once i my life, bear, i drank apple martinis -- and i broke my arm. says it all. and i only eat haggis after golf.

Maggi,
It sure is nice to see someone follow up on whatever (?) it is that Bear was saying. I have no idea what it was, but unless he explains, I'll assume it was an insult.

Bear,

They do use some unsavory parts in Haggis. But I have had it Scotland twice and it was really really good.
We ran into a lady that told us however, that the first time she made it, ( it is supposed to be boiled in the bag for a long time), that she did it incorrectly and it took them several days to get the stuff off all the walls and celings..
It does make a difference if it is done in a really nice restaurant or a really good cook.. Plus I have scottish -Irish ancestors and maybe immune.

Julie

Obama cannot point to Clinton era prosperity; he denied it existed or credited it to Reagan.

Why Obama isn't humping the leg of the Clinton era surpluses
Posted by: Bear Author Profile Page | June 24, 2008 5:58 PM

A real way with words, this one.

Bear: Thanks for the further explanation. I imagine Sen Obama will seek to align himself with the fiscal policies of the 90s without necessarily linking himself with the Clinton years or the Clinton Administration. He shut that door pretty firmly, doncha think?

Julie: Speaking as one who has Scots ancestry on one side and Russian-Jewish ancestry on the other -- haggis is no worse than kishkas. English blood pudding (also a sausage) is great, unless you think about what you're eating. But then, I even like Menudo.

maggisd,

I guess it's either too early or too late.

This is what Obama said about Reagan...

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/01/17/obamas_reagan_comparison_spark_1.html

Obama was stating a fact that Reagan was a major paradigm shift for this country and that he did it in a way that Nixon or Clinton did not.

I don't like Reagan in the least. I can still vividly remember election night in 1980. My father was a newly minted citizen and he voted for Reagan with great trepidation. Like most people, my family suffered during the early years of his presidency. I still credit Reagan with being the first politician to blatantly lie to me...(balanced budget by 1982 bs). You can't deny that despite his faults, Reagan engendered a patriotic spirit in this country that Vietnam killed and that Carter couldn't resurrect.

Clinton was more successful in office but he inherited a country that was still riding high after Desert Storm. If you'll allow me the sports reference, Bill Clinton was to the US what Phil Jackson was to the Bulls in the 90's. He didn't rebuild the team, he just took the pieces that were already there and made them achieve their greatness.

As for the door to the 90's, once the appropriate tribute is paid to the former President, he will become an effective ambassador for Obama. He won't volunteer his services but I think he will provide them once he's asked...

xrepublican: Or, they think the public will fall into a coma. Or, neither one of them really get it.

Actually, I have heard Holtz-Eakin, McCain's economic advisor (formerly head of CBO) speak on several panels on C-Span (and, of course in Congressional Testimony)...he's quite brilliant. Unfortunately, on the subject of economics, I'm not so I can't evaluate his positions accurately. I can say that I have thus far found those who have represented Sen Obama at these fora to be less decisive...

Poop tubes??? Haggis? Haggis is the stuffed sheep's bladder. Poop tubes, indeed.

The filling is whatever the poor starving Scot can pry up or knock down. Lichen, soft rocks, dead crows, poop tubes, and the occasional Sasenach. (Little Sawney Beane joke, there)

What could be better for breakfast than a chilled sheep's bladder and a salty Hebrides Scotch? Makes you want to find a battle field and die young.

Bear: Sen Obama made his remarks to the editorial board of a conservative newspaper in Reno Nevada, a place where Ronald Reagan is / was incredibly popular.
The notion that Ronald Reagan was a transformational President strikes me as one of the most absurd things I've ever heard and yet everyone seems to believe it.
You want a transformational figure ... I'll take Gorbachev and Lech Walesa

xrepublican: I guess that explains the Highland Scots, then?

Maggisd, I'm kidding.

They only serve that to the gullible tourists.

Kippers, eggs, toast, and tea that'll wake you out of your hangover.

"Ronald Reagan was a transformational President "

The sad fact is that he was transformative. He started this country on the downhill slide we've never recovered from. He put big business in charge and it is still there. Reagan wanted to return to the days of a permanent underclass.

Bill Clinton tried to reverse this, but could not quite pull it off.

Reagan won. So I guess Obama's praise for his abilities was correct. We know people by who they praise.

Patsi: I don't accept the notion of Reagan as transformational because his domestic policies amounted to little more than turning the clock back to the 20s...
The one thing I might give Reagan's advisers credit for is the notion of the perpetual campaign. I think the man never did anything in public that was not designed to garner votes.

Ronald reagan was the first President to lie about his military record - he opened the death camps, y'know.

And there he was on the bridge of the aircraft carrier when the unnamed Admiral plagiarized The Bridges of Toko-Ri.

on top if which,

There he was at bitburg honoring the brave german ss heroes who had played european football using the severed heads of African American soldiers.

And, there he was dealing stinger missiles to people he called terrorists and giving the money to Central American death squads.

I could go on and on, but you can catch my drift. Reagan was rather transformative after the likes of Washington, Adams, Lincoln, Chester A. Arthur, TR, FDR, and Truman, doncha think?

So now we're supposed to keep track of some "back-channel" drama in addition to all the petty, interpersonal drama generated here every day? Gosh...as much as I'd love to carve out time for that, I don't think I'll be signing up for the premium channel.

Sorry that you got slammed behind your back, Corey. Even though I'm on board with Obama now -- and even getting excited about it -- it disturbs me that there is still so much "sore winner" sentiment out there. But just shake it off. It doesn't matter. You're certainly valued by most of the people here.

Meanwhile, even sorrier to hear about your dad -- like Renee, I know that's definitely a complex relationship...but it's tough to go through something like this no matter who you're talking about. I think I missed a couple of developments, though. This all seems pretty sudden....did he fall ill or have a stroke recently?

Hey Corey
Im with You.Enjoy all your posts,especially all the news about Michigan.I miss so much about my home state and you make me think about all the good times!!!! Sorry about your dad.Nursing homes are sad,but for most of us we have no choice.I took care of my Mom and Grandmother for four and half years until there deaths.I didn't have to work and I was in my thirties and it was a good thing because it was twenty four seven.I feel for your Mom its a choice of last resort. Sorry again

Nick, I sit corrected.

My Oxford says it is the maw. It is stuffed with heart, lights, giblets, gonads, offal, etc. Hmm. I really don't understand how a mere maw could taste that bad do you?.

"Patsi: I don't accept the notion of Reagan as transformational because his domestic policies amounted to little more than turning the clock back to the 20s..."

Maggi -- I absolutely agree...when I say transormative, I mean in the very worst way.

Thanks for the kind words , everyone. It's been tough here. Regardless of how I feel about my Dad , he is still my Dad. I never wanted to see this happen , but it has to. I'm not leaving here , I was just mad earlier. Lots of things going here. Have a good night , all.

Thanks for the kind invitation, but I really don't have time to post my bleats, and snarls here, let alone prowl through a back channel.

Time to make din for my better 1/3.

Sorry, me Dove, no haggis for the wee lass tonight.

Nick, I think I see where you're pointing.

In one maw and out the other?

I am sure that Senator O was indulging in the sort of polite chit-chat that peope go through when attempting to establish some area of common agreement, as in,

"I like whiskers on kittens and warm woolen mittens, don't you? And furthermore, yak, yak, yak."

Nick,

So you advise me not to eat my words.

It is an English dictionary, and even the English are not impressed with English cuisine. They like to eat spicy Indian dictionaries whenever they can.

Toodles.

HBO retrospective of George Carlin

http://www.hbo.com/events/george-carlin/tribute.html?ntrack_para1=feat_main_image

The Obama/Pooh Photoshop collection

"In response to Barack Obama’s foreign policy adviser endorsing Winnie the Pooh as a “fundamental text on national security” this week (yes, it’s true), readers and bloggers are having brutal fun with Photoshop. No doubt Obama’s minions will find some way to characterize this well-deserved mockery as a RACIST! DISTRACTION! that’s diverting us from REAL ISSUES! "

http://michellemalkin.com/2008/06/19/the-obamapooh-photoshop-collection/

Haggis Recipes

http://www.smart.net/~tak/haggis.html

Honolulu-Seattle, Roundtrip in ‘61?

"Here is another BIG QUESTION that came up in our examination of Barack Obama’s birth certificate.

Why would Ann Dunham, at age 18, travel from Honolulu to Mercer Island (outside of Seattle) with a newborn infant for a “brief” visit?

Is it possible that Dunham actually delivered Barry someplace close to Mercer Island — either in the US or Canada — and she popped in to visit Ms. Blake on her way back to Hawaii?"

http://texasdarlin.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/honolulu-seattle-roundtrip-in-61/

Gordo,

does it indicate whether she arrived by plane, car, boat, or train?

" no one is bad as me, I'm bad to the bone. "

ROFL -- In yer dreams.

Thanks for the kind words earlier , Craig. You're a good guy. BTW , I saw another "Re-Elect Jimmy Carter" poster last week. This one was posted in downtown Holland.

Another virgin birth, no wonder there are questions about the documents.

Oh God, Mr. "Bad to the Bone". How hilarious that notion is. Give it a rest. You are the biggest twit and dweeb on this blog. You are an anti-social loser. Go back to your little "back-channel" and leave the rest of us alone. Thanks. Bye.

Peace. Out.

Two amusing political videos I had not seen before
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTN3mShDZVI

Guess I can only copy one at a time

john coryn texas senator

http://www.burntorangereport.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=6050

john coryn texas senator

http://www.burntorangereport.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=6050

Hey Corey , (if you are out there)

It will be tough at first, sometimes making that final decision is the hardest....especially for the spouse (your Mother.) I went through this whole process a few years back.....

Only advice: be strong, let you Mother know she's doing what is best for your Father...and just be as helpful as possible. There will be an adjustment period for everyone.

Some nursing homes are like small communities. People will get to know each other, and if you are lucky - both your folks will make a few pals that are in similar situations.

Take Care : )

That means: Bad...bad to the bonehead.

You're a loser. Get lost. Don't come back. Go away. Have fun with your little rump legislature. The rest of us aren't really interested in your personal drama. We just would like to talk politics.

Thanks and bye.

Hang tough, Corey.

Patsi

You and Bear were asking earlier why a terrorist attack would help McCain.. Remember that the poorer, less well educated are the ones that put Bush over in 2004.
Those same people and the less politically minded have always believed that the republicans were tougher and more ready to go after enemies than the democrats. If Bush would get lucky and actually capture Bin Laden before his term ends, which he has told the military it must do. McCains numbers would probably go up in either instance, don't you think?

Julie

Comedian D.L. Hughley on the Presidential election:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080624/ap_en_ce/bet_awards_dl_hughley;_ylt=AiKEOIwRw1izxOv9ZlI59Rqs0NUE

D.L. Hughley on Obama Highlights

"I dug Hillary (Clinton) and I dug him," Hughley said. "I didn't have to not like her so I could like him, and not like him so I could like her."

"And then you've got John McCain. And it's so funny, because you've got a guy who's half-black running against a guy who's half-dead."

Thanks Nick, bet you were a good looking cowboy ,eh?

I liked the comment Rev Dobson had on Obama,
He said Obama's stance is a fruitcake interpretation of the constitution..

Who is Rev. Dobson?

Great news! LA Times poll has Obama up by 12!

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-poll25-2008jun25,0,5763707.story

This seems to add some balance to the 15-point Newsweek lead.

I'm just now looking at the Dobson conversation, and I can say, without equivocation, that he is a terrible human being. When he's not selling snake oil, he makes a career out of making people feel miserable and lobbying to take their rights away.

Dobson criticizes Obama on religion
http://blogs.trb.com/news/politics/blog/2008/06/dobson_criticizes_obama_on_rel.html
criticizes_obama_on_rel.html

How many Pastors, Rev's, Friends or Associates are we up to now? How many for Obama and how many are against him. How many nuttie one's does McCain have for him or against.

Corey......I appreciate your writing a great deal......there are poisons here , and there are decent people.....youre on the decent people side........it means a lot........like flatus said, Hang Tough. Sometimes it's all you can do................

Did Kerry or Gore ever have a double digit lead in the polls along the way? Remember Hillary was doing great in the polls about a year ago and look what happened to her. Also last year McCain was just about done and who is still running for pres. So don't get to excited this early in the game.

vardaryl,

I agree, it's too early. But it's still a nice development.

Fox News is reporting Obama has asked his supporters to retire Hillary CLinton's campaign debt.

The least he could do if he wants Hillary and Bill to help him.. Bill is far more respected and knows politics chapter and verse . I think he more than Hillary would be the catalyst that might , emphasis on might bring in more of the Hillary people.. just am not one of them.

I'd rather be in the lead for sure, it helps bring in the $$$$.

Real change would be to tell Hillary to clean up her own debt, it's not my problem, but as a same old politician would do is help retire the debt. Another move away from change, change, change. Sorry but that's losing it's luster by the day. Need a new slogan.

Does anybody really think that Hillary is going to go all out for Obama? I think she will be on a good show but no way! I think Bill will put on a good show too but it maybe hard to believe what he is saying if they compare it to what he was saying during the primaries. You better believe that FOX will be right there running the sound bites and the switboaters will use them in ads. I find it hard to believe any of the talking heads that were for Hillary turning around and backing Obama. Maybe over time we will forget what they said and start believing what they are spinning.

I think the media is making this appearance bigger than it should be. Wait until we hear about every move the two of them make. He said this she said that, look how she looked at him. She was sending this msg, no she was sending that msg. Then all the bloggers will have something to talk about this weekend. McCain should say or do something to get a story line for the weekend too or he will be left out in the dust for another few days.

If McCain's sits back again, Obama needs to ride the wave this weekend and hope all goes well. It could give him another bump and pleases his supporters and maybe some more $$$$ that can be used down the stretch.

I just wish Obama and his supporters would stop telling the Hillary supporters to get over it. Let it be, we may never get over it like most of the people will never get over the 2000/2004 elections.

Clinton has 26 million she can't use to pay primary debts.. They are trying to work out a trade.
Obama isn't doing Clinton any favors and vice versa.

I just think this pay off debt is just for show. One way of trying to see if this Party Unity deal works out. Will the 18 milion Hillary supporters buy into it. I think over 70% might but Obama needs more than that to win in November.

Julie
Right On.I gave Hillary $100 today.I called Hillary headquarters first though to make sure not one dime would end up with the DNC or Sen. Obama.Thanks to Hillary I know that somebody that wants to be President should be battle tested and trustworthy.

I think it's up to Obama to win or lose this election. If he can withstand the Swiftboat attacks, McCain's attacks, and whatever else is thrown his way, then good for him. I just don't think it can handle what's coming around the corner. He's riding high right now and that may be rubbing people the wrong way and thatcould start attacking that right now.

Hillary & Bill could help him with the attacks, since they been on the receiving end for years. But will they want to help or sit back and say now it's your turn.

Sturgeon. Coreen, Lardass Liberal, Corey and many others are still here as well.

BluenDallas another one from the olden days still here.

For the last 8 years that's all we heard, count all the votes and what did the dems do! How can you just get over that. I know the Obama supporters are glad it didn't happen to them but deep down they know it would not be easy to just let it go.

I just hope in November we don't have another problem. We now have another 4 years to change the system and count all the votes, remove the supers and winner take all in all the states. Move up the primaries and let every state be involved. Remove the Caucus idea, allow everyone to vote. For tradition allow Iowa still be the first to vote and maybe keep the Caucus there since they have a great turnout.

OK in 8 years

We're not worthy of your pearls of wisdom.

But in sports most of the time when you back into the playoffs you don't win the finals, hopefully Obama can overcome those odds.

In a Presidential election you don't want to get defeated badly in the last few primaries, you have a lot of work to do to overcome that. These were battle ground states to boot. Not a good start!

Sen. Obama wasted so much money buying TV ads instead of just going to Kentucky and many other states and talking to the working class people.Enough money squandered by both Senators in running for the nomination in the primary....

NEW THREAD