Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Craig,
What you wrote has left me speechless.
That is not an easy thing to accomplish.

Since McCain is battling for the Hispanic vote, I think the trip makes more sense than portrayed in the article.

Craig,
Do you by any chance believe the theory that this whole thing was orchestrated? And continues to be?

Sounds like "act as if," and "fake it till you make it."

ralph nader just claimed to have a great sense of humor........lol

typo in second paragraph line 3.

Craig- I try to look at these things objectively, but McCain is getting harder and harder to listen to- it is not his age that I refer to when I write he just seems old- there is nothing there to excite or envision- and though this is all just rumor to me about his temper, what I fear most is how he would act diplomatically.

Most I know respect McCain a lot- how could you not - due mostly to his POW status. But most I know as well, consider him a sellout who catered to Bush to get by, and befriended the right wing who he one assailed.

Anyway, I think the media is trying to make this a real horse race, when anyone just looking at the stats of who voted R or D this year can tell how November is going to turn out.

Kathy: I agree completely. But you never know, it's still early. McCain may very well catch up to Obama in some of these polls later on down the line.

Good post, Craig. Off to brunch.

June 27, 2008
Gallup Editors' Election Poll AnalysisFrank Newport, Jeff Jones, and Lydia SaadUSA Editors Blog Election 2008 Frank Newport: Gallup Poll Daily tracking over the past week or so, along with a large sample USA Today/Gallup poll conducted last week with 1,600 national adults, indicates that the race for the presidency at this point is quite close. Barack Obama has held a modest lead for the most part, but over the past several days, even that small lead has evaporated to the point where Obama and John McCain are tied among registered voters. In fact, the tie has now persisted for two straight Gallup Poll Daily tracking reports (each report consisting of a three-day rolling average of more than 2,600 registered voters).
http://www.gallup.com/poll/108430/Gallup-Editors-Election-Poll-Analysis.aspx

POA-

totally agree and I don't want to count my chicks, however, I feel shades of the late 70's in the mood of the country. There is not a lot that anyone feels good about- and even some pretty unspared by the high prices have freaked over the stock market last week-

McCain does not have anything to offer- certainly no break from how things are.

I do remember the sinking put in my stomach when Dukasis blew the death penalty question that everything was headed downhill- but it feels more like 1980 to me

Utopia -- I'm glad you are here....I was thinking about you this morning.

Just wanted you to know I felt no glee at your post about being somewhat disillusioned with O-flip-flops. I'll admit to having a "told-you-so" thought...but I'm such an old cynic when it comes to politics, that very little surprises me anymore.

Plus, I now realize I was wrong in thinking you were Nash in disguise....Nash would never admit to an honest feeling. Sorry!

This is a CQ article explaining the differences in the polls that show Obama winning and others showing the race much closer.

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=1&docID=news-000002907401

Next a debate in Dubai...apparently not a joke and being seiously considered by both campaigns.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/27/AR2008062702769.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

KGC I watched the video analysis over the differing polls. Basically it has to do with loaded samples of Democrats on the Newsweek and LA Times polls?

Video worth watching!

If America elects McInsane, then they deserve what they get. More gridlock, further war in Iraq, further war on the middle class and lower class, economic disasters, health care crisis grows unabated, right wing Supreme Court determined to take us back to the 1920s. etc. etc.

Vote Obama even if you have to plug your noses!

Tom

EuroTom

It's hard for me to believe with 80% of Ameicans thinking we are on the wrong track...McCain is getting any votes above 20%.

My favorite wtf newstory is from Holland, no smoking regulatons are going to be enforced in the brown coffee shops. How can they do that.? Isn't that the reason for the shops?

KGC -- Good article on polls...thanks for the heads-up. Here's still the big problem in the 0-camp...posts like this one after the polling article:

"Anyone who claims to be a life long Dem and is voting for McSame this fall is either nuts or a closet racist."

If I continue to see that crap floating, then I will have to back off my promise to my son that I'll probably vote-O is polls in TN show the state close. I HATE that "you people are stupid racists" BS!

Regarding Craig's Trail piece....It shouldn't be a surprise that any candidate puts a "winner" face on....I think they'd be stupid not to.

Shouldn't be arrogant, though.

Oh yes, the Coffee Shop ordinance was first proposed at least 2 -3 years ago. All other cafes are going to have to go smoke free as must the restaurants. (Here in Belgium we are already almost 2 years with smoke-free restaurants .. hallelujah). But I have always felt that "coffee shops" specifically because of their unique identity, should be exempt from the new law. I am sorry to see it go that way and it will certainly harm tourism to the Netherlands. I know that part of the reasoning deals with healthy working conditions for employees so they should have the right to the same clean air others will get but really! The coffee shops are as much as part of the Dutch national identity as cheese, windmills, tulips, sex shops, prostitutes, and wooden shoes (not necessarily in that order). I'll have to share my experience working in a sex shop one day.. it's in my blog somewhere. :-)

I am off soon for dinner with the bookkeeper. You folks be nice ok?

xoxoxoxo

ProfMarcia and flatus...

Not the word police, but currently playing one on the internet...
the actual word is disdain.

"I'll have to share my experience working in a sex shop one day.. it's in my blog somewhere. :-)"

Tom! You aren't the guy who kicked me out of a sex store in Denver back in 1980 are you???!!!

My college age neices wanted to see one, so we slid into a shop on Colfax....I saw a magazine called Fannies on Fire, started reading aloud from it, and the three of us were laughing hysterically -- until we got kicked out for being disrespectful....

Kathy, PoU, Unlikely, who am i forgetting? Really appreciate the respectful way you advocate, not just to the opposing side's candidate, but to those who don't support yours. Thanks for that.

can't believe Tom left us hanging with that teaser about a sex shop story, sounds exciting

"Craig, Do you by any chance believe the theory that this whole thing was orchestrated? And continues to be? -- Posted by: chloe"

not sure what you mean, chloe, sounds dicey

"can't believe Tom left us hanging with that teaser about a sex shop story, sounds exciting"

Exactly, Craig! Tom -- where are you!

patsi....was that shop on colfax by chance next to the Gold Nugget Country Disco?

well, Patsi, yours was darn funny, we'll have to be satisfied with that for now

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/06/does-mccain-think-hes-already.html#comment-108735

Sturge -- can't remember....but it was close to Sid King's....I live just a couple of blocks off Colfax, on Race Street. Ate breakfast at The Kitchen every Saturday morning. Best biscuits and gravy I ever had, except for mine....:)

HW,

Put away those handcuffs:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Distain

Thanks Craig- no one has ever swayed me to a position by being heavy handed.

Oh, and as far as getting kicked out off that store....the manager said we should "git on home to the suburbs" if we weren't too drunk to get there. I said, "Oh, we're not from the suburbs. I just live over here on Race Street. We walked."

He said: "Well, don't make this one of your regular haunts."

flatus...

I sit corrected...and must admit that distain is not a word I've ever heard or seen used before.

"Thanks Craig- no one has ever swayed me to a position by being heavy handed. -- Posted by: Kathy"

Kathy, you are so right. Both sides around here could use a lighter touch now and then

I went into a sex shop once, looking to purchase some sex, but they were out of sex.

So I just bought a loaf of bread.

Nor had I seen it before, HW. I think Magee used it perfectly.

I will ad hominem no more forever.
--Chief Josephus

patsi ........i lived at colfax and madison.....the Gold Nugget was a joint we played from time to time when not on the road and was next to a sex shop which we also were run out of from time to time for being disrespectful....ie playing with the toys in a ludicrous manner.......

while at the gold nugget once....the very taciturn owner's younger brother came in one night when we happened to be playing a rock and roll song, which was what some customers happened to request......he ambles to the stage and says "Play country." The drummer says "But when we play country everyone leaves...and those customers requested some rock and roll......" Norm says, "So HUMOR me."

for those who might be excited about Canada Day on tuesday, we're gearing up for it on the Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17347137146

"I went into a sex shop once, looking to purchase some sex, but they were out of sex.

So I just bought a loaf of bread."

ROFL, Lard!

Today's thread on the BackChannel Blog

The Dean - Obama Party, How We Got Here
http://clistersbackchannel.wordpress.com/

(#1)

"(#1) -- Posted by: BrianInNYC"

ha, brian, that's 49 to go before sundown

" next to a sex shop which we also were run out of from time to time for being disrespectful....ie playing with the toys in a ludicrous manner......."

Ha! Sturge -- I can picture it, because some of that stuff was just astonishing....the manager actually cost himself a sale because I was thinking of buying my co-editor of the feminist magazine a Dominatrix costume, and a bottle of scotch, for her upcoming birthday....since her husband was always saying she was too bossy when she drank scotch. (He would have cracked up more than she would have probably....)

Colfax and Madison....close to my old territory! Late 70s, early 80s. I moved from Race to another street fairly close...it was the street Corky had his place...

Ok Ok... I am about to leave but if you REALLY want to read about the sex shop experience... it really isn't all that exciting but interesting... here is the link. I have opened my blog so anyone can read it...

http://eurotom.blogspot.com/

Glenn Greenwald
Sunday June 29, 2008 07:48 EDT
The baseless, and failed, "Move to the Center" cliche
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/06/29/center/index.html

Unlikely to happen Craig, unlikely to make it to #3

Tom -- Loved the sex shop story! Hope they paid you for the day!

brian......not an anti-clinton diatribe, but a well-written and well-reasoned piece......

Tom, quite a compelling read! You are the Joseph Conrad of sex shops

Patsi they didn't... !!! I was pissed !!! heheheh oh well... it really opened my eyes on how different Europe is to America in such attitudes. LOL LOL LOL

I will always see the three lesbians and there eyes growing bigger at the vibrator demonstration. There was a lot of OOOOOHHHHSSS's and ahhhhhhhhhhsss" being said !! LOL... it still cracks me up.

Oh and Patsi, you got 86'd out of a adult bookstore for being DISRESPECTFUL????

LOL LOL LOL... THat is soooo funny!

Kansas City had a great red-light district in the late 70s, early 80s. My housemates and I used to go down there and flirt with the streetwalkers all the time. (This was before crack cocaine, so most of them were lively and friendly -- as opposed to dangerous. Plus, we were young and stupid, which helped). One Saturday night, this really cute hooker who appeared to be drunk on her ass actually climbed through the window of our car and started crawling around over all our laps, hugging and kissing us, telling us she wanted to marry us, all kinds of nonsense like that. After about 10 minutes of this, we finally had to ask her to get out of the car, and we drove on home.

Next day, Sunday: The same four of us are at the grocery store buying ribs and beer and charcoal and other supplies for a big backyard barbecue. We get to the checkout line, and we all simultaneously reach for our wallets to pony up cash for the bill. And we all simultaneously open up our wallets to discover that all four of our wallets are absolutely empty. Stripped clean.

We looked at each other and just laughed our asses off.

That little hooker had some fast hands. She most definitely was NOT drunk. And she should have been nominated for an Oscar.

" the Joseph Conrad of sex shops"

God...that's a FABULOUS honor!!!!!! Tom, print that out, and quote Craig!

"And we all simultaneously open up our wallets to discover that all four of our wallets are absolutely empty. Stripped clean."

No! That's hilarious. Lard! You're exactly right -- them's some fast hands!

Ah, to be young and stupid again.....

Maybe we should start another backchannel -- a sex blog for C-Listers.

I'd be happy to lend my name: We could call it "Lardo's Palace" or "Lardo's Retreat" or something like that. It would have to all be very retro-sexual, too. No pre-1990 stories allowed.

Sorry...meant that to say: "No POST-1990 stories allowed."

"No pre-1990 stories allowed."

I'll ex-post ante that.

Interesting take on the state of Dem politics, Brian. It reminded me of how many of the whole bunch I don't like: Dean, McAuliffe, Shrum (actually, most of the so-called strategists including Brazille), Mark Penn, Obama's guy who looks like Adolf...there's a laundry list.

Dems, bad. Reps, worse.

re Nick Post:
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/06/does-mccain-think-hes-already.html#comment-108722

Nick,
I was honestly trying to better understand your position. My comments were my own honest thoughts. It's what I called "conversation."

Sorry to get your under your skin, that was not my intention.

vote Barack Obama 2008 !
peace~

"Lardo's Retreat"

I vote for that!

I think the DC red light district should return. At least the American public would have some place other than Congress to go get screwed.

Where's a Mary Ann Hall when we need her?

http://civilwarstudies.org/articles/Vol_4/maryannhall.htm

http://www.si.edu/oahp/nmaidig/#antebellum

msnbc had a story today that Obama was going to take a big overseas trip

And we could make it the first-ever "family friendly" sex blog.

No porno links.
No cussing or dirty words.
Same expectations of civility that we shoot for here

Just funny, personal stories about sex-related hijinks and pratfalls from days goneby.

thanks Craig......and just to clear a post up, from yesterday...it was referring to Senator Larry Craig...not you...lol

audio of reading of Mark Twain's story on blue jays......click on the red 5.5 m........about 5 minutes

http://www.archive.org/details/Blue_Jay

Not the word police, but currently playing one on the internet...the actual word is disdain.
Posted by: harborwoman | June 29, 2008 11:07 AM

"distain Definition
transitive verb

1. to discolor; stain
2. to stain the honor of; disgrace

http://www.yourdictionary.com/distain"

Chloe, considering the man was given votes he didn't get, and another's fairly won delegates--sound like the orchestra was being conducted from without--It's a fair and reasonable assumption on your part.
Posted by: Nick | June 29, 2008 11:34 AM

Nick,
Thanks for getting what I was trying to say.
I sometimes feel really misunderstood.
Glad you're here.

Ok.... I'll add my sex shop story to the mix....

back in the late 80's, I used to visit the DC area frequently with a girlfriend who had a gay brother, Michael, and his partner, Tim, living in Alexandria, VA ( Nick... it's a beautiful town you live in!)....

My very first visit was with my friend, her older sister, and one of her friends.... 4 married girls in their mid-30s driving in a mini-van. Michael and Tim thought it would be great fun one night to take us to a sex shop in DC.... they were expecting us to be embarrassed and want out as fast as possible....

The minute we stepped into this shop, all of us girls understood what was being done and without a word exchanged between the 4 of us, we instinctively decided to turn the tables.....

We made a beeline for the edible panties and started ooohing an aaaahing over them..... we started to pick up various sex toys and exclaim how much fun they'd be to play with.... at one point I picked up a huge black dildo and shouted to Michael across the room.."hey MIke, look at this!".... seeing his face turn red was priceless....

I don't know if the guy behind the counter was the owner or not..... but he seemed to knew exactly what was going on and he was laughed his butt off at us.....

needless to say... Michael never took us to that shop again..... although I have been to many gay bars throughout the area with him....
and sadly..... they both died of Aids in the early 90s.....

From profmarcia's 4:53 AM post...
"I cannot forgive the DNC, Obama or the media, not now, maybe not ever. I cannot reward all the Clinton haters by giving them my vote. It's all I have to voice my distain. But, distain is not the main reason I won't vote for Obama even though I believe it is enough reason."

From Chloe's attempt to correct me...
"distain Definition
transitive verb

1. to discolor; stain
2. to stain the honor of; disgrace

http://www.yourdictionary.com/distain"

After flatus proved to me that distain is actually a word, I was going to just let this go, even though I feel reasonably certain that profmarcia's word usage is in error.

Chloe, when you use "voice my distain", as profmarcia did, the meaning of distain does not fit. It might be construed as fitting her meaning in the following sentence, but given her previous usage, I doubt that's what she meant.

Sorry, all! It's just the 'teacher' in me escaping. I'll try to bottle her back up and leave you to whatever word usages you choose.

i like precision in word usage...........Set the teacher free......

Me, to, sturge...me, too...the lack of precision in using words quite obviously bugs me...even though I know it's irritating to others when you try to correct them, which is why I so rarely indulge in it....

lol...Let me be first to correct my misuse of the word 'to'...should be 'too'....

HW

I knew Distain was a word, but took her meaning to be "disdain" as in a feeling of contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior

Maybe we could declare neutral ground with "Besmirch". : )

"they both died of Aids in the early 90s....."

I'm sorry about your friends, Renee....They sounded like great guys. And I'm glad you have fun memories like the sex-shop-sideshow!

precision:

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”

--Robert McCloskey

Thanks, Jamie! That's how I read it, too. But the really excellent news for me is that I learned a new word today...never a bad thing!

sturg...

Am reading Dixiana Moon. What a hoot!

the world little knows nor cares what storms you encountered along the way......but did you bring in the cargo?

--i forget

thanks harbor.......I'd also recommend those to Flatus as they all take place mostly in and around Columbia SC.....the books by Wm Price Fox, that is.....

be sure and get Southern Fried + 6......a finer collection of short stories does not exist.......

Anti-Obama Vandalism: City Vehicles Spray Painted With Racial Attacks

Along with the paint, hundreds of business cards were left on windshields.

The cards contain criticism of Obama on one side, and support for Hillary Clinton and her family on the other side.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/29/anti-obama-vandalism-city_n_109834.html

(#3)

McCain is McCain what you see is what you are going to get.
But at least he does not have a "SEAL" like Obama "HAD"

VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com

On the strength of the pleasure I'm enjoying as I read Dixiana Moon, I ordered Southern Fried + 6 a few days ago. Since it's coming via media mail, the mailman (or woman) is probably somewhere in Kansas now...as s/he makes way on foot across the country....

Cannibal liberals
Why do left-leaning journalists eat their own?

"What we get, then, is a bunch of wealthy journalistic stars bending themselves into pretzels pretending that they are down-to-earth working stiffs vastly different from the politicians, at least from the highfalutin' liberal ones they cover......."

"Thirty-five years ago, journalists perceived themselves as public servants whose mission was to inform their readers and viewers. The best reporters simply got the facts right. The story was the star...

..Which is all the more reason why Democrats' expectations of a favorable November should be tempered by the cold reality that Obama will be taking heavy fire from both sides. After all, hasn't left-leaning Newsweek already told us that this election pits arugula against beer?"

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-op-gabler29-2008jun29,0,3903436.story

I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” --Robert McCloskey Posted by: sturgeone | 1:52 PM

Sturge,
I keeping a copy of that one. I relate.

The cards contain criticism of Obama on one side, and support for Hillary Clinton and her family on the other side.
--brian

I'd be inclined to view such overt tactics as a blatant "dirty trick" by some gop agent provocateur.................

Brian by my count this last post was #2 and not #3

¡yo soy Horsedooty!

#1

"Dixiana Moon"

Absolutely, harbor! A grand book....

From Chloe's attempt to correct me...Harborwoman

Harbor,
I wasn't attempting to correct you.
I'm sorry if you took it that way.

I was just pointing out that a word I had never heard of existed.

Printing or writing out scads of business cards would include a lot of work and probably a bit of expense.....I cant see "vandals" going to that sort of extreme......would lead me to "pro quo bono?"

"I'd be inclined to view such overt tactics as a blatant "dirty trick" by some gop agent provocateur."

G Man, . .where were you last last night?

Chloe -- Yes, yes, yes to that LA Times piece!

""What we get, then, is a bunch of wealthy journalistic stars bending themselves into pretzels pretending that they are down-to-earth working stiffs vastly different from the politicians, at least from the highfalutin' liberal ones they cover......."

"Thirty-five years ago, journalists perceived themselves as public servants whose mission was to inform their readers and viewers. The best reporters simply got the facts right. The story was the star..."

My Webster's Third International says defile, dishonor, or sully.

Keeping all this in perspective, I have never, nor do I plan to, nor have I ever aspired to edit the back page of The Atlantic Monthly.

Alrighty then, Chloe...and the bonus is that we both learned a new word today.

Unlikely to happen Craig, unlikely to make it to #3

Posted by: BrianInNYC Author Profile Page | June 29, 2008 12:07 PM

That was #2 Doots

(#4)

Thanks Harbor,
It wasn't my intention to insult you in anyway.

Chloe and Patsi...

I think that's an excellent and important point. It's far too easy for us 'regular Americans' (God! How I hate that term!) to fail to see that our so-called journalists have been co-opted into the wealthy class...upper middle class to flat-out rich...by their moneyed corporate employers. What better way to bring them into the fold than to make them part of the class the media truly represents today?

Speaking of books....let me recommend Jujitsu for Christ by Jack Butler.

Patsi, from your post at 10:49 am - thank you for the kind words!

'Preciate it, Chloe. I am now uninsulted....

-- Yes, yes, yes to that LA Times piece!

Yes Patsi, I liked it too.
It's nice to see someone finally talking about it.

Good.

"G Man, . .where were you last last night? "

ROFL, Rez....

As long as we're recommending books, I'm reading two pretty good ones at the moment:

"The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

"The Shock Doctrine" by Naomi Klein (This one just came out in paperback.)

Well it looks like the daily gallup stalemate is broken:

Gallup Daily: Obama 46%, McCain 42%
http://www.gallup.com/poll/108424/Gallup-Daily-Obama-46-McCain-42.aspx

Well this is post #5 for me today, half my allowed quota. I think I'll leave it at that, have a good day peeps. Maybe I can use the remaining 5 tomorrow, like rollover minutes.

# 14

G Man, . .where were you last last night?
--Rez

you mean where's the last place I was last night....or where was I last night?

"The Shock Doctrine" by Naomi Klein

I've been wanting to get that, Utopia -- but I fear I'll start screaming and never be able to stop.....

Patsi--- you mentioned not liking many of the Dem stategist. I agree. Used to loveTerry McAuliffe but he got down right silly toward the end of Hillary's campaign. I also got sick of his flirting with Mika B in the morning. I guess only because I don't like her! Axelrod looks really scary but I guess he got the job done. I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark ally that's all I can say--

I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark ally that's all I can say--

He's ruthless.

Axelrod! Now I remember his name...couldn't think of it earlier....maybe selective memory loss....

There's something weaselly about him, just like McAuliffe...

Confused Gator fans. BHO would probably grant these fools their wishes.

http://www.myfoxorlando.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=6873208&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

Senor Pescado,

G Man refers to GORDO, not you. Sorry for the confusion or better yet, you're cut off ! lol

Some HRC's supporters take this stuff seriously. As the enlighten one said just the other day, "Hillary rocks". LOL BHO is such a goober. She rocks, the problem BHO, you don't. :-o

http://www.wftv.com/news/16738560/detail.html

Many women and men who voted for Hillary in the primaries are planning on demanding that Hillary be on the first ballot at the convention. If that does not happen things could get very ugly in Denver. It won't be a repeat of '68 but what happens after the convention is going to be history making in the way Hillary voters cast their votes.

Many Hillary Clinton voters really feel that she is being forced to back Obama but secretly wants us to carry on to Denver. With the "Million Voter March" being planned in all 50 states our voices will be heard.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/06/dems-get-it-together-in-unity.html#comment-108793

arrrgh......cut off.......a fate worser'n deaf...........

Okay folks. "Lardo's Retreat" is up and running. It's a rough shell at the moment, but at least I got the mission statement posted. Hopefully it will be accepting comments. I'll be tweaking it in days to come, and reminding you of its existence. I also want to figure out how to give Renee, Patsi and ET the ability to post the funny stories they've already shared here.

http://lardosretreat.wordpress.com/

Finally got around to reading yesterday's Journal. Here's more on the new G.I. Bill:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121461476029012803.html?mod=todays_us_page_one

It clarifies candidates positions.

In an article in the subscribers' section of the Air Force Times posted today, Rick Maze says:

"...
OTHER BENEFITS

• More time: Active-duty members have 15 years after separation to use benefits, up from the current 10.

• Transfer benefits: Service members with six years of service who promise to serve four more can transfer full benefits to spouses. Members who serve 10 years can transfer benefits to children.

• No enrollment fee: $1,200 member contribution eliminated."

For many service members, the transfer benefits will be very important and will serve as a career motivator. Hopefully they will provide enough incentive to keep experienced people in the service beyond their initial enlistments.

Brian In NYC, on June 29th, 2008 at 1:26 am Said:
I hear you UB, but I’m not really interested in hanging at a place where the host goes out of his way to publicly humiliate me. Let the place be a haven of Obama bashing, I’ve moved on, but of course thanks for your kind words.

Moved on?

ROTFLMAO!

Lardo

The can do a simple "copy and paste" to the comments section. Love the logo.

Lardo,

A nice blog start.

Thanks Jamie...I may need help along the way in terms of administering this thing, if it turns out to be sustainable and funny/interesting enough to be worthwhile.
This is all learning as I go.

Ditto Fry. We'll see how it goes.

anonymous 2,

Let it go. Please.

Any other posters here that want to read the Back Channel, and then take the time to copy posts from the BC, and post here on the Tral Mix blog - is totally missing the point of separate blogs!

You can't imagine how disappointing this behavior is to those who want to make this a better place!

peace~

"and then take the time to copy posts from the BC,"

most of Brian's posts are duplicates - please give him that message. He posts the same things in both places.

Question: How can you humiliate someone that is un-humiliate-able?

Anonymous 2.0 -

Please at least try to understand that your desire to continue along your current path may be a benefit to Craig's Trail Mix blog.

You (as in any one person) can only control yourself....Do as you wish. I have stated my opinion .... everyone have a nice evening.

peace~

* may NOT *

"You can't imagine how disappointing this behavior is to those who want to make this a better place!"

Burrito....here's where I am not quite following. Are you saying this has been some horrible place? Because I don't agree. Certainly not to some message boards I've seen on the net.

Just because some people took offense at arrow and flung them back....doesn't translate to this blog is filled with children who must be corrected. I understand that sometimes name calling gets out of hand, but this is a slippery slope.

I remember that Sheila said it was so much nicer when I confined my posting to country music and recipes....

Besides, sometimes I just gotta call a maroon a maroon! :)

I am just home and I have to say how much I have laughed and enjoyed the posts today! Is it the magic of our wit or just the magic of sex?

Let's keep the fun going and not let the snarky posts show up again. This SHOULD be fun eh? Enough of the personal attacks! Let's find where we can agree and build from there.

Tom

Viv,

Sorry I didn't read your post of yesterday, yesterday. 2 thumbs up!!! Beautifully said!!! Some individual you can not enter into a conversation with, or debate a topic without them just making-up stuff for the sole purpose of causing trouble, or maybe they are just needing attention. The 2 best ways, not the only ways, to deal with such individuals is either to completely ignore them, or attack their post with facts without ever mentioning their name. Both methods will just drives them "F"ing batty. ;-)

Besides, sometimes I just gotta call a maroon a maroon! :)

Posted by: Patsi | June 29, 2008 4:37 PM

In that spirit Patsi, I personally see no problem with it! I also doing think you should have to just post re country music and recipes, those they are nice posts too!

xoxoxo love ya,

Tom

anon p did a post last night on BacChannel about the number of posts per poster on yesterday's C-list thread.........i would that he take into consideration that yesterday was a saturday, and there would be somewhat different numbers for most but not all of those posting for a day during the week, when most are working......perhaps a more accurate count would be the number of posts per poster for any given week's time.......

that said....I understand that I, as much as has anyone else, have added my 2 cents and more to the mostly tedious discord lately here extant.......apologies to all for that..........both here and to all at the bac/chan......but I guess I wont be taking part in the War Between the Blogs that is now brewing up.......have seen it too many times with too many post schism dueling chat rooms......

I like it here and if welcome will continue to contribute.....

but no more schismatic postage......

In response to Craig's initial blog ... I suspect that Sen McCain has decided to
#1. Be himself
#2. Do as many "free media" events as he can.

Both men were quite good at the Forum of Latino government officials yesterday and Sen McCain was actually quite passionate about the twin problems of high gasoline prices and the urgent need to save the planet ... and very moving when he spoke about the Hispanic population ...
I'm certain more than a few people remember poor old Bob Dole...attempted to compete with Bill Clinton during the summer of 1996 and wound up totally out of money two months before the Convention.

I read an old AARP magazine today. It was the Jamie Lee Curtis issue. The magazine's main article was on the year of 1968. It contained a priceless quote from comedian Pat Paulsen about him running for President in 1968. I couldn't find the quote on-line. It was about him being vague on all the issues etc...I was able to find this interview with him in 1993. It talks about all his campaigns for President. It's pretty funny!

http://www.humorproject.com/blog/?p=14

Patsi: You can call a maroon a maroon ... just as long as you don't call him a macaroon.

I want to thank all of you for the delightful sex shop discussion. A close friend has a significant birthday approaching ... I intended to give her a red hat but that is so old hat ... I now feel that I absolutely must find her something totally inappropriate at the F Street Bookstore. I will, however, have to call upon my daughter and her best friend to chaperone my visit.

Hey Corey, what's up with your Dad? It sounds serious but I didn't find your original post. I hope all is well...

I agree, sturge....and I'm posting too much too, including about sex shops, books and blog wars. I'll cut back to a couple a day as well.

Patsi,
I must be dense, but I don't know what you guys are talking about. I thought the posting has gotten better lately?

In response to Craig's initial blog ... I suspect that Sen McCain has decided to
#1. Be himself
#2. Do as many "free media" events as he can. maggisd

Magg,
I read an part of an article earlier today that McCain was trying to run his campaign on too little money. But I can't remember where I saw it, and I've been everywhere. Do you think it's smart, because they didn't.

hey I think the sex shop chat today (mea culpa) was DELIGHTFUL !!!! When my Mom visited me in The Netherlands back in 2000, we took her to Amsterdam. She would have been around 62 years old. Anyway she walked into a sex shop and bought a matching penis salt and pepper shaker. I had her stand outside in front of the sign that said "SEX SHOP". She loved it. I wuz gonna ask one of the professional girls if my Mom could stand in the window for a moment, but I was sure the answer would be "no" so I didn't... It would have been hilarious!

Anyway, we've all been giddy and exuberant today and I've enjoyed my participation and what I've read!

Time for bed... another work week begins :(

bye bye b ye

Craig said he liked it when we talked about our personal lives. He was referring to Corey, and said he wish he had more like him. So open and honest. Patsi, you don't post too much. You're good for this blog. Are you guys listening to the Back Channel?

chloe: He may not have much choice. He did do well in fundraising last month, but he can't compete with Obama in terms of money -- not just the individual donors but all the corporate bundlers, etc.
I think he's just hoping to use as much free media as possible until the Conventions, hope that Sen Obama wears out his welcome and make a big push in September and October. That's when McCain will get the Federal money. What I see as his biggest problem is that he will not have all the evangelical organizations doing their massive GOTV efforts as they did for GWB.

ET,

"Enough of the personal attacks! Let's find where we can agree and build from there."

Actually that has never been a problem with 99% of the people here. But there is that 1% who like to stir-up stuff. And as long as I have been here, and that is almost 3 years, that same 1% has been stirring the cauldron. There use to be a guy when I first came name Fritz. Fritz was a R, the only R at that time. Fritz would say some horrendous things, maybe he felt threaten because of his political beliefs. I never voiced my opinion for or against him, because although was a very bright person, he was also his own very worst enemy. He was given so many chances here it wasn't funny, but there came a time when enough was enough and Fritz was asked to leave, and much to his credit Fritz without a fight. Now I am not professing to be any choir-boy cause I have had my problems with any number of members here. Maybe I could have handled them much better than I did, but I do try to learn from my mistakes. But there are individuals who think they never make mistakes, and therefore there is nothing for them to learn.

Magg,
Do you think it's as bad as Craig makes it sound?
Some people are talking as though it's over for McCain.
And frankly, I was shocked when I read Craigs blog today,.

Magg,
Do you think it's as bad as Craig makes it sound?
Some people are talking as though it's over for McCain.
And frankly, I was shocked when I read Craigs blog today,.

Posted by: chloe | June 29, 2008 5:14 PM

I hope it's over McCain... It's too early to tell, but I just don't find him intriguing at all. If there was a LIBERAL republican running, I could support him or her, but the typical right wing republican machine I can do without... They love trickle down politics, but I for one was tired of being politically and economically "pissed on"...

And now really goodnight

FryDaddy, good comment and observation...

Bye all...

Actually that has never been a problem with 99% of the people here. FryDaddy

Fry, Am I the only one that can't believe anyone would listen to what posters on a blog run by Brian, of all people, and take it seriously.?

Like you say, most people here are great. And for them to take the blame for problems caused by Brian is crazy.

Chloe,

Today is June 29th, November 4th is a long way off. A lot can and will happen.

Feeding time at the Fry household.

chloe: I was actually somewhat puzzled by Craig's comment -- a first for me. Personally, I think it's far too early to count anyone out. It is my belief that Sen McCain is relying on what has worked for him in the past ... he's not a great speechmaker, and has never liked large rallies. He can make foreign trips on our dime (as ranking member of the Armed Services and Commerce Committees) and just keep on doing his Town Hall Meeting type events. We all need to remember that the 36 million people who voted in the Democratic primaries represent only about 1/3 of the people who will actually vote in November ... most people really aren't paying that much attention yet.

Patsi,Sturge
Hey I love and enjoy your posts!!! I love this place!! I don't see it as how much a person posts but what is posted and the value i get from reading you all.Yes some posts get me pissed,but so do some of my family members.This place is like a family.We get along and agree with some and not some others and with me thats ok.I don't expect Unity from this blog i will leave that to the political parties.Keep them coming everyone..........Please

Nick: My point exactly.

just dont call one a macacaroon....

Trailmix Regulars...there's a new post up at Lardo's Retreat inviting you to (and explaining how you can) become a guest poster there.

http://lardosretreat.wordpress.com/

Chloe: Here's an article that discusses the same thing as Craig did ... only with a bit more detail.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-mccain29-2008jun29,0,1575201.story

I saw my Dad this afternoon. He wants to go home. Don't know when that will happen for him. I think it's up to my Mom. The guy named Philip gets to go home tomorrow. He wanted to go home yesterday. When he said he couldn't go home until Monday a nurse said to him, "That's not too bad!" He gave her a bewildered look. I said, "That's not too good either!" In one final bit of news , they wheeled a stretcher passed my Dad's room this afternnon. Whoever was on there was completely covered up with a blanket. Someone must have died. Sad.

Corey

Is this the quote you wanted?

As a gag, show star Pat Paulsen ran for office during the 1968 presidential election. “I’m consistently vague on the issues,” announced Paulsen on national television, “and I’m continuing to make promises that I’ll be unable to fulfill.” Regardless of his humorous motives, Paulsen seemed to have a “Ralph Nader Effect,” stealing 200,000 votes from the Democrats and helping to swing one of the closest elections in history. Thanks to Paulsen’s efforts, Nixon narrowly defeated Democratic candidate Hubert Humphrey. “Hubert Humphrey told me I cost him the election,” recalled Paulsen, “and he wasn’t smiling when he said it.”

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/13566

It could very well be the mood of the country means a Democratic sweep but the presidential preference polls don't reflect the right track/wrongtrack numbers.

I think McCain is going to continue to use the argument with Republicans especially moderate ones that they won't agree on everything but he is still a better choice.

For example, Schwarzenegger's spirited defense of McCain the environmentalist.
(06-29) 10:52 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, appearing in a taped interview Sunday on "Meet the Press," defended GOP presidential candidate John McCain as "the real deal on the environment" within days of taking a shot at the Arizona senator's call for lifting the federal ban on offshore oil drilling as "blowing smoke."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/29/MNDB11H66C.DTL&tsp=1

Sturgeone: Water sprayed on the keyboard .... ROFL...

KGC: I agree with the Governator. McCain is the real deal on the environment. He displayed as much passion as I've seen from him on almost any issue yesterday at the Latino forum ... on the environment and also on immigration reform.

Gotta go folks ... have a good one.

I think McCain should pick Christy Todd Whitman (even with the problems at the World Trade Center - they can always blame that on Rudy)

Bush 1 and Ford had a lot of great, moderate Republican women and if they can some how mobilize that bunch, it could be a horserace for real and not a media invention.

Nick,

And they are sending copies to everybody.

speaking of the environment:

Land Claims in the Arctic

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080627/iceless_north_080627/20080627?hub=CTVNewsAt11

KGC,

Choosing Christie Todd Whitman, who's despicable actions after 9/11 jeopardized the lives of the recovery crews at Ground Zero and on more than one occasion, used her office to protect her husband's bank account with favorable business from the State of NJ.

She is a moderate in that she is willing to whore herself out for financial and not ideological purposes first, unlike most politicians who would go the ideology first.

well i am seriously lookin forward to being a lurker at Lardo's Retreat:

http://lardosretreat.wordpress.com/

Bear

That's one way of looking at her. But she is also another Shrub cast off and can say the 9/11 problems were Rudy's fault. I don't know about the conflicts with her husband.

She is believable as a not Bush Republican. In fact, I think McCain should put together a kitchen cabinet of all the people pushed out of the Bush administration.
If McCain can make the case the Republican Party is the biggest victim of the Bush administration and