Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Lots of bloggy goodness. I like it. The more the better.
I see them like the early pampleteers and a much better response to public access issues.

May have to run back and copy some of the last posts. We were getting into some interesting topics.

Good Morning Craig

Just read the actual Times article by Kinsley

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1821662,00.html

"On the other hand, if they go off in a snit when their candidate loses the nomination, that will suggest that they aren't really in this out of progressive passion--they just find politics an amusing hobby, like racehorses or yachts."

I bet he dosn't make friends with the PUMA(s) with that comment.

"I am confident I will get her votes if I'm the nominee," Obama stressed. "It's not clear she would get the votes I got if she were the nominee."

"On the other hand, if they go off in a snit when their candidate loses the nomination, that will suggest that they aren't really in this out of progressive passion--they just find politics an amusing hobby, like racehorses or yachts."

That is funny
Typical idiot progressive, such language may work on the guilt ridden left but the rest of us just laugh and make appropriate finger gestures.

Jack
~~~~~~~off to the yacht, polo any one?~~~~~

"Jamie spoke about old cartoons and the jokes, that by todays standards, would not be appreciated."

Aha...the only thing I remember about Dumbo was that it was scary.

UB

"they just find politics an amusing hobby, like racehorses or yachts."

This is one of the reasons I think the media and blogosphere may be paying way too much attention to the PUMAs. Anyone moving from Clinton to McCain, just doesn't think seriously about politics.

Now the sites strongly touting an Obama/Clinton dream team are more believable. Even more serious, the heavy activists who just feel totally dissed by the Obama campaign. They will vote for him out of party loyalty, but anything more is simply too much to ask if Clinton isn't on the ticket. A lot of them are still considering just staying home, but will probably get over it.

Now the activists may come back some time after the convention and do their thing with the phone banks and polling places but it is a group to watch more closely than those threatening a McCain vote.

The Kinsley article is yet another attempt to talk down to women, as in "snit." Or that politics is an amusing hobby. He's a pig.

So unless you get in line behind Obama, you don't take politics seriously.... Well, hell, some op/ed writer could and probably did say the same thing about Bush, Nixon, and quite a few others.

These fools would NOT be writing condescending crap about the AA community if Hillary was the candidate and blacks were saying they might sit out the election.

Repeat from previous thread:

Patsi

A lot of the old black and white cartoons featured characters in blackface. Then during WWII the Japanese characatures were viscious.

Heckle and Jeckle were often very racist and speedy Gonzales was of course filled with Mexican stereotypes.

Even though it portrayed him as gentle, kind and wise, "Song of the South" still hasn't been released on DVD because of some of the Black stereotypes associated with Uncle Remus and the Joel Chandler Harris stories.

The sad part about that is the all of Harris stories were reworkings of the tales he heard from former slaves and had a direct link back to the African "trickster" myths in the persona of Bre'r Rabbit,. Many of the AA children's books now on the market are all those legends retold for a modern generation.

Dog
In the last thread were you meaning to suggest that some of us who don't support Sen. Obama are seeking revenge for the poor media coverage of Hillary? Maybe i just have'nt had enough tea this morning.Please clarify.......

How did Dumbo fit into that whole scenario. It's been too long since I saw it. Dumbo was racist?

Patsi,

Let me see if I can find a clip. There was one piece with Dumbo in clown make up but I'm not sure if that is what I'm remembering.

Still if you don't ear up when mama elephant sings Baby Mine, your heart is a cold dead rock. : -)

Here we go. It's the black crow characters (See Heckle and Jeckle above). Here they are in "When I See An Elephant Fly"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOcVkofa1AU

And for your morning dose of gushing sentimentality

Baby of Mine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7JvL2ap3Cg

I haven’t had much time to post lately but usually can read the blog when I am at work. I have been dealing with repairing a flooded basement, helping get the State Convention completed, learning a new job at work, and fighting some kind of respiratory ick but wanted to share something that happened this week. This is a little lengthy but some background is needed in order to understand the events.

I went to my county central committee meeting Thursday and something like a PUMA meeting broke out. This committee is made up of the base of the party, the activists who show up and donate time and money to get things done. There are many Obama supporters among the crowd since he is the presumptive nominee and there are people who will do whatever it takes to get Democrats elected.

The Obama campaign sent a representative to tell us they would not be donating to the coordinated campaign. Instead, they will have their own field offices with their own field people. Their reasoning is they don’t want anyone to be able to say they take money from lobbyists so they have to run a separate campaign. Huh? Even if it were true that they don’t take money from lobbyists, how would that preclude them from donating their money to help other candidates get elected? It is a flimsey excuse that doesn't pass the smell test.

One former union state president grilled the Obama rep for 15 minutes and still couldn’t get him to say their doorknockers would be saying anything about down ticket candidates. The only thing he said was they would be allowed to do so if they wanted to. One long-time Obama supporter stood up and said, “I have been an Obama supporter from the get –go but I am my precinct's captain for all Democrats and I will be contacting my neighbors to help all Democrats get elected.” Another long-time activist said, “Why doesn’t Obama take his marbles and go home. We have good candidates here that we need to get elected and we don’t need anyone siphoning off the money and volunteers. So much for party unity.” And there were several other speakers sharing the same sentiment.

I could tell the county party chair (Obama supporter) was not happy with the situation, he was counting on some of the money to take care of the county's responsibilities for the election. Our county party did manage to weasel their way into the field office for the Obama campaign. Our state party is in their own office. They started out with 12 regions and are now down to 5 due to lack of money. What that means is there is only one field organizer per district and that is not nearly enough to manage offices and organize volunteers. Things are getting interesting.

"What that means is there is only one field organizer per district and that is not nearly enough to manage offices and organize volunteers. Things are getting interesting."

They sure are. Amazin', just amazin'....

Zoey

Interesting, I've seen similair arrogance from the dukakis people. with them a kind of "i'm here to help you poor hicks."

Jack

Zoey, Jack, Patsi

You think these people are insufferable now, wait until they're elected.

It's all about the O! That is my new comment whenever someone starts taling about Obama.

I did have some good news though. I helped broker a deal at the State Convention and was appointed as the Hillary rep to a Standing Committee for the National Convention. That will really be interesting. I am such a process person.

Interesting side note on the FISA vote. The California ladies are playing tag team again. You can always tell who is up for election next when a controversial issue comes up. The next one up (in this case Boxer in 2010) will take the liberal position and the one still several years off (Feinstein 2012 - if she runs again) will take the conservative. The tactic preserves both the constituency and the contributions.

So for FISA: Boxer Nay Feinstein Yea

Zooey

How do Iowa office holders who have already donated to the unity compaign feel about this. I've read the same thing is happening in Colorado.

Zoey (it's all about the O ..sorry for the typo in your name)

interesting report, Zoey. thanks. now that's what i call Trailspotting

Jamie

Both of Feinstein and Boxer have said they won't run again. I believe Senator Feinstein but this is the second time Boxer has said she won't run. Last time she had to because of 9/11 (?)

"I helped broker a deal at the State Convention and was appointed as the Hillary rep to a Standing Committee for the National Convention. "

Cool news.

here's a Denver Post story on the same thing Zoey reports also happening in Colorado:

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_9693435

KGC, if she was a real patriot, she'd have resigned to enlist.

I just watched MSNBC's Savannah Guthrie show--I don't watch MSNBC
much after their performance during the Dem primary but today the tone on Guthrie's show was decidedly pro Hillary, a shocker to me.

Guthrie was talking very positively about Hillary Clinton as VP and the latest
L.A. Times report that Barack Obama was definitely not ruling out Hillary for the Vice Presidency.

Guthrie had Pat Buchanan on who was almost bursting with excitement about how great Hillary is and how much she'd bring to the ticket. He said she'd bring in states that Obama would have trouble winning and that Democrats in key states are strong Hillary supporters. Another pundit was on the show, too, and he was also very pro Hillary. He said Hillary had been vetted better than any other Democrat and how she would only strengthen the ticket. Guthrie seemed to agree.

Frankly, I was surprised at the sudden shift of tone about Senator Clinton.

I'm curious as to how enthusiastically Obama supporters, on this blog,
would support Hillary and Obama's choice if he were to pick her as
V.P.

KGC,
It has been very quiet. The O's are opening their field offices today and had kept thier plans pretty quiet until now. The office holders will have to be careful what they say so they don't let the general public in on the lack of party unity. We will see what happens as things unfold. I will let you know if I hear anything.

KGC, if she was a real patriot, she'd have resigned to enlist.

Posted by: Flatus | July 12, 2008 12:33 PM

flaming tilda's everywhere~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Isn't there a height requirement? I was at a fundraiser when she was asked what made her decide to run again -and when she said 9/11 changed everything I almost choked on my white wine and brie. (kidding the food was the best thing at the fundraiser)

P.M.,

I think it's she who should be considering him as VP. In other words, I don't think this thing's over yet.

Pres Clinton is supposed to be live at 1:45 Eastern at the Governor's Conference.

Posted by: zoey | July 12, 2008 12:35 PM

Thanks. I really enjoy reading your posts.
Hope your repairs for your flooded basement go well.
Nothing yuckier.

well we're off to car hunt, the ole '97 Mazda has finally bit the dust. apparently the wheels are about to fall off (if i understood the mechanic correctly)

so it's down to the Mazda3 hatchback or the Subaru Outback -- any advice?

Zoey -very interesting.

I can see that many Obama supporters are in the still in workplace, have families and other commitments and may not be able to do actually ground work. So if the, people who normally support the Democratic candidates choose not to, then Obama will have to adjust plan in that area.

Good thing the internet has become so powerful and widely watched/read . What an awesome tool to reach voters.

here's what i want -- mostly drawn to its marketing nickname: "The Wild Child" -- just the thing for midlife crisis

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsMain&vehicleCode=MS3

Craig,

My advice:

Buy a car that gets good gas mileage and won't crumble if someone
rear ends you.

There has been a lot of very positive Clinton words for the past few days. If they had said half of these nice things during the campaign, she would be the nominee.

Maybe they figure they can say them now when the most she could be is VP or maybe the Obama folks are floating the balloon to see if it flies. So far I haven't heard any real backlash from the Obama voters and most of the Clinton voters (with a few exceptions such as Patsi) are all for it.

Flatus you wrote:

"I think it's she who should be considering him for VP. In other words,
I don't think this thing's over yet."

I'm not sure what you mean? But, it sounds intriguing.

re:cars:

Subarus are over priced, imo, however Subaru owner's love them

I think Madza is as good as Toyota or Honda, better price point and usually greater engine performance for the money..

I have owned both, I had rotor issues with the Subaru, the Mazda was really nice....sold it to my parents then they gave it to my brother....it had a long life.....until it crashed

opinion only

The Denver Post story hit on one thing I noticed happening here too. It is the duplication of work between the party and the O's. One example of that is the Veteran's organizer for O. He says he will have a counterpart in the State Party that he will have to coordinate with so they don't duplicate efforts. For part of that they will use our computerized voter database on who was contacted and who was not. I have worked the last several cycles to clean up the county database after elections since they become full of garbage with too many hands in them. At some point they become pretty useless and the general public gets angry because they are contacted too many times.

I wonder what Howard Dean thinks about all this since the coordinated campaign was an integral part of his 50 state strategy? Kerry's people called the shots in 2004 with our coordinated campaign and it worked pretty well. It is too bad he wasn't a better candidate.

Craig, get something you can convert to natural gas, or in your case, propane. T. Boone P. shouldn't be ignored.

Craig,
Have you looked a the Scion XD?

I don't see the wisdom is passing on the coordinated campaign. One of the biggest measures of a "Mandate" for a President is their coattails. How deep is the bench in the Congress? These are the people that will be working for that coattail mandate.

Craig,
Give the Subaru a good look. I have a 2005 Forester I bought used 2 years ago and is still like brand new. It rides well, doesn't feel like a plastic car, and for a small SUV gets decent gas mileage. I am sure the Outback gets even better gas mileage. You can't beat the all wheeel drive in the rain and snow and the safety aspect was a big seller for me. You can actually ride in the back seats without feeling you are sitting on a wooden chair (a feeling I have had from many of the newer cars).

Good thing California is a safe state for Obama because things are not good with the Democratic Party here. They are under fire for paying 250k in legal fees for Senator Don Perata -legal but yucky.
http://calitics.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=6372

A pretty good blog for gossip and rumors (and occasional facts) from California.

"Good thing the internet has become so powerful and widely watched/read "

Unfortunately, the internet is passive. You have to go to it. It doesn't make phone calls. It doesn't knock on doors. It doesn't attend public events, fairs, and meetings. it doesn't carry signs or stick them in a yard. It doesn't fill out registration forms and it doesn't sit at polling places.

"Buy a car that gets good gas mileage and won't crumble if someone rear ends you. '

And knowing the driver, don't get one with an affinity for trees.

wow thanks for the car talk. off to test drive the mazda. will make no decisions without further consultation.

No it doesn't, but on the other hand, you can order what you want and have it delivered to your door.

A combined effort would be best, hands down. But there's not much you can do if , democrats worker choose sit back and not help because they are pissed.

Maybe, they (PUMA(s) or whatever these voters call themselves, pro-Hillary, anti- Obama) will be the ones that , give the White House to McCain?

Katherine,

I'm in California and I agree with you about how bad things are with Democrats here. My friends are very fragmented in terms of support for Dems. Most are unhappy, doing passive-aggressive things like sending back DNC and Obama
mailings with disgruntled notes.

According to the most recent polling it isn't former Clinton supporters but Independents who provide McCain will a healthy margin.

But I am not surprised the Obama campaign is already setting the ground work to blame Clinton for his loss.

UB the activists will be working for the downticket races. Maybe O can hang onto their coattails and maybe not. I believe there are some of the activists around here at the moment mad enough to knock on doors and make the distinction that they are representing all Democrats except O and these aren't Hillary supporters. They are Dems. You can't blame the PUMAs or Hillary supporters for that. It is of O's own making.

UB

That is why I differentiate between the PUMA McCain voters and the Pro Hillary voters. The first group are the independents who will probably split their vote. The second group are solidly Democratic. They will probably vote that way. The question is, how much more will they do? That part will be Obama's move. It is his followers who said the Clinton folks weren't needed. Apparently, they are still dissing the worker bees. Not a good move.

Hi unlikely_burrito,

You always seem reasonable, enthusiastic and very nice to me. We've
exchanged some friendly posts.

I know how strong your feelings now are about supporting Obama. And I respect your decision to transfer your support from Hillary to Obama.

But, for many reasons, I haven't made that transition and I don't think I will.
I'm not comfortable with any labels like PUMA or any others. I don't call myself
anything except a Democrat who doesn't support Obama. If Obama doesn't
get elected, I certainly don't think I should be blamed. If he loses, I believe, he and the DNC will be more responsible for the loss than anyone else.

Maybe former Hillary supporters not in the mood for Obama should be
referred to as Democrats in Exile. It's time for a trial separation for some of us.

Every one has one vote.....and the right to use it or not....however they see fit.

I am not blaming anyone for anything....I still believe Obama will win, by a landslide....with or without the small percentage that openly dislike him....

I do worry about the a certain type voter, no one wants to address this, and that is the white voter who refuses to vote Obama because of the color of his skin.

I know in my brother's union his says there's a large group that feels that way.

Prof,

I don't know how to describe the democratic non-Obama supporter, because I think most have varied opinions....and they don't fall into one category. I only tried for the sake of conversation...in exile...would not effect the election unless you voted. It is really difficult to express these ideas in this forum...

I just would hate to see the republicans remain in power _ for any reason under the sun.

UB

"the white voter who refuses to vote Obama because of the color of his skin."

I know they exist. I hope that they are a very, very small percentage of the voting public. Most of the Dixiecrats became Republicans ages ago. I can only hope that some of the Democratic labor pockets have been integrated long enough that even if they think in racist images they will be ashamed enough of it that they will still vote Obama.

Jamie, Boxer is consistently on the left while Feinstein is consistently to the right of center. I don't think they play the hop scotch game as to who is up for re-election. Boxer has been vehemently opposed to the war while Feinstein has been for it, ala Joe Lieberman. Both F and L stand tall in the pro-Israel lobby and will do anything to make sure that Israel is protected by the US, including the neo-con goals of "spreading democracy" in the middle-east, even at the cost of American lives and finances. Read the document for the Project for the New American Century goals written by Israel's American zealots.

I can understand what you are saying Prof M. You see I am an Independent, so I do not have strong ties to either political party. None. Never have had any ties to either. I got excited, because I really like Hillary. I thought she was way better than Barack for the position....but It didn't work out...

I see a Barack Obama win as a way to get Hilary and other bright Dems into position of power....more the total picture kind of thinking.

Maybe that's why it was easy for me to switch.

unlikely_burrito,

Again, I need to clarify a point--just because I'm not voting for Obama
doesn't mean I dislike him.

And that certain type of voter you mention has been addressed, often. They are called racists. I believe that group is only a tiny percentage of voters.

Most on this blog and most of my friends who don't support Senator Obama have solid policy differences with him or other substantial reasons they aren't supporting him.

Maybe Obama should have run on a third party ticket
now that would be change.

Obama Tancredo Unity 08

What I learned about Barack Obama from his daughter:

He doesn't like bubble gum, only minty flavored gum.

He shakes hands with her friends which really bothers her because
"kids don't usually shake hands only adults do" and she thinks her dad
should just wave instead.

Her father irritates her because he leaves his big briefcase in the mud
room so that it's in the way and worse, he puts it on top of her shoes!

(I like Obama's daughter)

Afternoon session of Governors meeting now starting on CSPAN

O.k. Prof Marcia, got it.

As far as racism goes--I can only speak for my friends, relatives and those
many Democrats I meet everyday who are decidedly not racist.

By older, what does that mean. I'm 43, is that older? My friends are mostly around my age, college educated, liberal-ish.

Prof Marcia

He also wears old pants. : )

I like his daughter too.

it's not dis-like, it's solid policy differences with him or other substantial reasons they aren't supporting him.

I am really trying to understand, so please do not think I am being disrespectful.

Great children come from good parents....
: )

It's easier to dismiss arguments when you can lump the opposition into neat categories.

Labels work in place of thought. Yawn

ciao....

have a great day!

peace~

"are older Americans I don't think you should be so quick to discount racism. "

Age has nothing to do with that particular negative attitude. There are probably more racists running around with shaved heads and tattoos than there are Boomers that share those opinions.

Racism is a disease you have to catch from your surroundings not your age bracket.

"Great children come from good parents"

Yep! Chelsea Clinton is wonderful. : -)

Truthfully, the Obama girls were the ones responsible for the improvement in my view of Michelle. Some of her sharper tongued remarks had turned me off and just seeing the ways those little ones behaved told me she just had that sort of humor, but she was obviously a good mother.

would'nt care if obama was black'' white or pink with purple polka-dots if he was qualified and deserved
to be the democratic nominee. now i'm just sad that
the democrats have pissed away our chance to
have a great president in hillary clinton.

Jamie,

And I think the Clintons were great parents, too, because they successfully kept
Chelsea away from the press her entire life.

I think the Obama's have realized that it's probably better to shelter their girls from anymore press appearances. It's a whole different world now with the media than when the Kennedy's allowed their children to be filmed.

Prof Marcia,

"We don't follow the party line as rigidly as Repubs do. "

Not only do we not follow it; we're not sure there is one. : - ) Will Rogers is still right. There is nothing organized about the Democratic party. We don't have a chairperson. We have a cat herder.

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

Jamie,
I ask because I think it does in both instances.

Bill Clinton gives one whale of a great speech.

If racism was a matter of age there never would have been abolitionists in the 1800s, a Harlem Renaissance in the 1930s and 40s or freedom riders in the 1950s or Civil Rights marchers in the 60s and 70s. "You Have to Be Taught" and "Strange Fruit" are not exactly new songs.

We were singing "The Times They are a Changing" 50 years ago and yes we were young then. Do you think all those tie dyed kids went home and became racists? No. They went home and became grandparents and those grandchildren never learned to hate.

"Jamie you're premise is all feeling and no fact, sorry it doesn't wash. "

"Jamie to think age is not an issue in regard to attitudes on race is just insane. "

Link please? I haven't seen any statistics linked to support the above claims.

Jamie,

I don't think (opinion) it's a matter of age, but a function (degree)
of age, as I think sexism is also. There's also, imo, a "geographic element" too for both.

Whats with all this PUMA stuff?I don't support the selected Dem.nominee at this point because of the DNC process.It also drove me to become an Independent.I really don't like Sen.Obama as i didn't like Sen. John Kerry but i held my nose and voted for him because of party.If Sen.Obama doesn't win and i think thats a big if, we can thank the DNC process for pissing off alot of the of their members with their tactics.I know one thing for sure i'm not voting Republican.....

dog's - I'd like to remind you here that Pres Clinton and Sen Clinton are married, but not otherwise related. The fact is that, like the Obamas, each partner in the marriage is intelligent, well educated, well spoken, and evidently all four of them are great parents.

It's my observation that there is / was probably as much sexism as racism operating on voters. I noted during the various primaries that, as soon as Edwards left the race, Obama's numbers went up. And yet, as the primaries went forward, the totals for Clinton and Obama often did not add up to 100% ... anywhere from 3-7% of the electorate continued to vote for Edwards. What was at work there? -- racism and sexism? Or just personal preference.

We (particularly in the Democratic Party) have grown so used to thinking of voting blocs that we don't account for voters as individuals. People vote for all sorts of reasons...often they vote emotionally but convince themselves they are really voting on "the issues."

Me? I spent most of my life voting for men I neither liked nor admired because they were Democrats. In the primaries I voted for the first viable woman candidate (and probably the last) in my lifetime. In November, I'll vote for the last viable candidate of my own generation. As an individual, making up my own mind for reasons that have nothing to do with much of anything.

I have always appreciated Bill Clinton because when he talks about a policy topic, always learn insights I hadn't thought of before.

I appreciage Hillary because she really believes in the details of policy to do good for the country.

I stilll support Hillary to be the Democratic nominee this year.

dog's eye,

I have never put words into your mouth, dog. The words you put into your
own mouth are ample without me adding any. Please supply links or references as proof to support your assertion.

Reread my post. I did not say you personally said that Republicans were evil.
I said, "I suppose I don't see Republicans as the evil you do." In this case, "the evil" simply means that you have made it clear in most of your posts that you
regard Republicans with something less than positive feelings. You refer
to Repubs as "some creationist" or "Halliburton"--rather implying Republicans tend to fall into one of these two bleak groups, which of course is not true.

I don't need to be told that elections matter, so do primaries. It's too bad
the DNC didn't realize this during the primary, then, perhaps the Democratic
party wouldn't be so fragmented.

Polls can be made to say whatever you want them to say. I am looking for actual "real life" (no ploitical context) statistics by a nonpartisan acedemic institution or some equally distinguished body that says certain generations are racists and certain ones are not.

I don't believe racism is generational at all. Notice I said believe. The most racist person I know is a 20 something family member. She was indulged her whole entire life and it has made her a hateful person. If I would have raised her she would have been singing a different tune but I didn't so I stay away from her as much as possible. Does that mean her whole generation is like that? No, I have seen racism in many different generations and among many different races.

Jamie: Aha--I've got you beat on the Asian influence.

Like your family (and many California families) we are everything under the sun, although we are all Democrats. Many of my relatives (as old as I am) have been Obama supporters from the start.
The former Hillary supporters I know (the youngest is my daughter, who is in her 40s) break down along the same lines as most others ... some will vote for Obama, some are still on the fence, many plan to write in Hillary's name ... I am the only one opting to vote for McCain at this point. Could I change my mind? Sure. But it's dependent on a lot of factors -- none of which have to do with either candidates race.

Journey To The Center of the Earth isa really fun movie.

I saw the Julienne Moore movie, Savage Grace, in Portland last night.
It was a real disappointment. I like JM very much but the dark subject matter was difficult to takie.

Racism isn't just in the white race.

" stocked up on herb yesterday "

I'm sure your young nephew will be well stocked."

dog's: Thank you for the kind words, but if I have to eat beets to prolong my life, I'll take an early death, TY. I hope that blueberries and all those leafy greens I love will help me just as much. And pomegranates.

As to the idea that we will have either another viable female candidate or a viable African-American candidate in the near future, I really doubt it. We had an extraordinary confluence of forces in this cycle -- a man whose biracial background and lack of identification with the ordinary urban black community and a woman with a fully-formed national identity. Obama's rhetorical skills, his next-door neighbor status to Iowa, and David Axelrod's shrewdness created an Obama phenomenon that would have been closed to -- say Jesse Jackson Jr -- a door that was closed to Rev Jackson.
As I have said before, and echoing other sentiments here -- it is just sad that these two people met in the same election cycle. And, I have to tell you that part of my resentment (yes, you can call it that) toward Sen Obama is that he didn't wait.

"This kind of reminds when someone sells a house and the old owners find out the new owners intend to paint the house a color the old owners don't like. "

Probably one of the two or three stupider things I've ever read. Have you been tested?

Betcha Craig bought that Mazda. "The feel of the wheel seals the deal".

dog's: If you have ever had a salad of mixed baby greens you probably have eaten arugula without knowing it.

Do you dream when you smoke? I quit and now I have the most lucid dreams. It's almost like an alternate reality/universe, they are that vivid and real.

dog -- will you please stop lecturing? If you were a college prof or ANYBODY whose intellect I respected I might put up with it....but stop telling people they are dumb because they aren't marcing in lockstep!

I shouldn't have gone to lunch. There have been so many completely stupid posts to respond to, I can't keep up.

"In theory. Realize you have a lot of depressed and disaffected GOP this year. But there's a history and predilection there.

If you prefer some creationist or Halliburton investor to have more of a say in who is president for the next 4 years than you do, please -- be my guest.

Your principles demand no less."

Sweet Jeezus, dog -- can you be any more full of BS?

" my nephew is a very typical 20 y/o college student "

And you are buying him drugs. Nice.

Sebelius just made a point I've been yowling about for ages. You have to pay for the result you want to achieve. Just tossing a pot of money at something almost never solves the problem. She was talking about healthcare and education. The areas that receive the most money: Colleges and specialists. The areas that receive the least money: Well care and infants ages one to three.

What creates the healthiest population? Well Care. What predicts the most successful students: Nurtured infants.

It might be a good idea to flip the priorities.

"Good afternoon, Patsi of Tennessee, insult princess.
How has your day been?"

dog you are the one who came on thias blod early and started telling people they were stupid. I will throw that right back at you. Just because you insult in your usual passive aggresive manner makes it no less an insult. Remember, I took abnormal psychology when I was 12 years old.

dog's--Not exactly hierarchy. Had it been just that, John Edwards might have done better. I think that probably just as many people felt it was time for a woman as felt it was time for an African-American (and many people had both thoughts at the same time).
Many of us were already waiting for Hillary when Sen Obama came along and were really distressed at being asked to make this choice. Early on I sincerely felt I could go either way at the end of the nominating process -- it was only the campaign and the things I learned about the Democratic Party nominating process that turned me into a bunch of watercress.

" Saying things like they don't like his smirk, they find him arrogant, elitist. "

Uh, you mean like people said about George W Bush?

Jamie: You are right on the money about early childhood education. There are a surprising number of people who take the attitude that if parents don't have the intellectual or financial or emotional resources to nurture their young children, it's OK to let them fall through the cracks and grow up to populate our jails, rehab facilities, and homeless shelters.

I once taught second grade in an area of NW Indiana that was both rural and suburban. There was such a huge disparity between the suburban kids and those whose families had recently come up from Appalachia that I would go home at night and cry. It was already too late for some of them and almost nothing I could do to help them catch up.

Probably not as damaging as long term, heavy use of alcohol, but yes long term pot usage does produce brain abnormalities.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080602160845.htm

Jamie,

As an educator, I completely agree with your astute comment about
allocation of taxpayers money. Education in California receives the
lion's share of state money--over 50% of the budget. And the ed system
in California is broken, bad and getting worse. There are many reasons
for that but throwing money at the educational problems isn't helping without fixing the other issues.

"And, I have to tell you that part of my resentment (yes, you can call it that) toward Sen Obama is that he didn't wait."

I feel exactly the same way, Magee. If Mr Obama would have waited he would have been the better for it because of the knowledge and experience and contacts that he would have gained.

Now, he'll be at the absolute mercy of those with their own agendas that may be in total opposition to his stated values and goals. And, he'll be none the wiser for it.

Yeah that's right, only Oprah gets to say whose turn it is.

dog's-I think we can take Newsweek's first poll, showing the 15% lead, with a huge grain of salt. It was a definite outlier at the time, and the new poll doesn't reflect, IMHO, so much a drop as a return to reality.

Whether or not the election is a landslide seems pretty much a function of where each candidate picks up votes. I would state that Sen Obama ought to pick up Colorado, New Mexico, Virginia and New Hampshire since all three have exciting Democratic candidates running for Senate. If by October Obama is not leading in those states, then something will definitely be wrong.

Maggie

"The only way he could win San Diego County is if Sen McCain's name wasn't on the ballot."

That is only important in the primary. In the general, it is winner take all by popular, statewide vote. The initiative to divide it up by Congressional District didn't make the June 3 ballot, so even if on the November ballot it wouldn't be in effect until 2012.

The popular vote in California will probably be Democratic, but there is a very slim possibility of a McCain movement. A lot will depend on turn out and registration.

Donna Brazile is even saying nice things about Hillary Clinton.

Are they ice skating in hell?

KGC: Funny you should mention Oprah. My ex- a life-long Dem who's never voted for a Republican, even for dogcatcher, didn't vote for Sen Obama because he doesn't like Oprah. He doesn't like Pres Clinton either and blames Bill for Hill not winning by a landslide.

As we are always told, it's a free country and people can think what they like.

Dog

"Do you think he would prefer his chances as nominee now or in 2000, had he not been made to wait?"

There is an interesting story behind that. When the money folks were approached about running another Bush for the presidency, most thought the candidate would be Jeb. By the time they learned it would be shrub, they were stuck with Republican party lockstep loyalty and the religious right was still calling the shots. That doomed the more libertarian McCain candidacy. Now that the right wing has fallen into disfavor courtesy of the wrong Bush son, it may be too late for McCain.

Jamie: I don't think that the ballot initiative will pass, although I could be wrong.

I am aware that California is a winner take all state, as is every other state except Maine and Nebraska. I was simply pointing out that San Diego is a pretty red county and Sen McCain will likely do well here ... but that will, of course, be offset by the larger population areas in the state.
I would expect that coastal California will be entirely blue, as will one or two small rural counties in the Sierras, and most of LA county. I don't think there are enough votes in the inland counties to make the state go Republican.

Jamie: Personally I think it is too late for Sen McCain. Not only does his age work against him in the minds of most voters, but he does bear the burden of the Bush years. In addition, there is the image problem. Imagine the debates, with the short, pugnacious very pale Sen McCain competing with the slim, elegant Sen Obama. Those images matter almost more than what the candidates say.
How many people decided not to vote for Al Gore in the battleground states because of his sigh, his makeup, and his invasion of GWB's personal space at the last debate with his esoteric reference to the Norwood-Dingel bill? For people who just don't have the time to pay all that much attention, image is often the only thing they have to go on.

For the pollsters among us, not only Newsweek but Gallup's late poll has Obama tied with McCain. I stand by my assertion that Democrats are not jubilantly happy and unified right now, one reason Obama's lead isn't through the roof.

"God some of you clinton supporters have the pathology of self cutters. "

Why settle for covert hostility when you can move straight to obscene overt insult and cruelty.

Dog,

No one ever identified who made and paid for those push polls about the children, but some churches were connected with the anti gay printed material that was put out. Here is a column from the time period.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/03/21/the_anatomy_of_a_smear_campaign/

"Obama has not made much headway in picking up more Hillary Clinton
supporters."

Poll Tracker
CQ Politics
July 12, 2008

"Flatus: did you ever hear that particular bit of work being laid (credibly) at anyone's door?"

I believe I did, Dog. But I'll have to do some digging. It'll have to wait until after dinner because I'm being directed to get my butt in gear.

"If the pathology fits...."

Only among your delusions.

By this time in 2004, Edwards was on the ticket.

I havent got the whole story yet, but Im digging this comedian thing so far........

not knowing the whole story I ask, "Is it like when those guys had to pretend they didnt know frank sinatra?"

I've seen thanks offered before........but never "flatus thanks."

reminds me of how Le Petomaine would have bowed to his audience en fin de siecle..........

dog's-Just because some Clinton supporters are not enthusiastically supporting Sen Obama does not mean that we are pulling Sen Obama down.
I do think that there were probably some midwest and southern Democrats who probably didn't vote for Sen Kerry but would have voted for Sen Edwards.

this may be the very demographic that Obama was referring to when he talked about clinging to guns and religion. These people from Kentucky just added snakes to their religious ceremonies.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25651899

go figure!

¡yo soy Horsedooty!

"Do you think Edwards supporters would have been trying to pull Kerry down if the 2004 primary results had been as close?"

I don't think the Clinton supporters are trying to pull Obama down. I think they are not quite ready to hold him up. The difference in the two campaigns is that there didn't seem to be such a party/media bias between Kerry and Edwards. They were both either vetted or respected equally.

A great number of the Clinton supporters while acknowledging early campaign errors feel that she was treated as if she wasn't even worthy to run ... how dare she?!!

There was a meaness and slant from both the media and the Obama campaign operatives that her supporters took personally because many of the things they faulted in her were things they had felt in their own lives.

Since it was personal as well as political, it is taking some time to forgive Sen Obama for things that were done in his name. He is doing his best to present the best side of himself and his family. Sen. Clinton is doing her best to bring her supporters around, but it isn't the sort of thing you can rush.

A unity ticket would be the best and fastest way to make it happen, but that will take some adjusting on all sides. Without a unity ticket? The majority of her folks will vote for him. Will they do anything else? Probably not.

Jamie: A unity ticket would be unbeatable, IMHO.

I wonder what the outcry might be from Obama enthusiasts about such a choice?

Many of us were already waiting for Hillary when Sen Obama came along and were really distressed at being asked to make this choice. Early on I sincerely felt I could go either way at the end of the nominating process -- it was only the campaign and the things I learned about the Democratic Party nominating process that turned me into a bunch of watercress.

Posted by: maggisd | July 12, 2008 3:54 PM

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

Maggis .... In the beginning, my Daughter & her friends saw no difference in BO & Hillary ... they were willing to listen to both & then decide .. Carrie was leaning towards BO, until she started noticing how he was running his campaign ... for awhile there, she was coming home every evening telling me what was going on ..

She hated how he was preaching, IN HER OPINION & how he was trashing Bill Clintons Presidency .. then she got a whiff of how his supporters were treating people on Campas ... When she refused to stop & talk to them, because she was on a schedule, they'd yell after her that she was a racist .. Made her furious!!!!
She'd come home & rant the whole time she was getting ready for work ..

Then when the weeks & months went by & she never heard BHO comdemn what was being said to people, she wrote him off .. NO, she is not a racist .. but reading all the post today , all of what I wrote will be dismissed & we will be told, my daughter, her friends & I are wrong .. seems to be the theme today ....

viv

wonder what the outcry might be from Obama enthusiasts about such a choice?

Posted by: maggisd | July 12, 2008 5:17 PM

another round of food taster jokes

a snake's gotta make a living..........

There have been snake-handlers among certain religious groups for years ... it's nothing new. Not something that makes much sense to me, but neither does sacrificing chickens, indulging in peyote ... or, for that matter, not being able to eat shrimp or catfish.

"I think I'll send the snake a thank you note!"

They do qualify for a sign reading:

"GET OUT OF THE GENE POOL"

well.....if the american populice can suck it up and acquiesce to and endure 8 years of butch and chainey.......they can now suck it up and vote in mr obama.....tough nougats are hard to chew, but the show must go on......no more (expletive deleted) republicans for awhile.........

"No mas........No mas......"

--roberto duran

or whoever that guy was in there with ray leonard

so many fundamentalists........so few snakes..........

Viv: I hear ya. It hurts like H*** to be accused of being a racist when you know you're not. It hurt to see President Clinton being accused of racism in the way that he was ... and not one word. I remember how easily and quickly Sen Obama defended Sen Biden in that one debate... the only people leaping to Pres Clinton's defense were Andrew Young, Kendrick Meek, etc ...
Then, too, I was astounded and so very upset when Congressman Lewis was literally extorted into changing his support. To do that to that man in particular, who almost gave his life to the Civil Rights struggle...unfathomable.

Just because:

Queen- Bicycle Race
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CTPLUcQAjk

Jamie
I agree. A unity ticket would bring me on board now.Hillary on board would help with the trust issue i have with Sen.Obama.I would remain an Independent and hope for primary reform within the DNC.I have e-mailed and sent letters and have not recieved a reply ever.

I worked in the early seventies with joe savage, the snake man.......(google-able) he had 4 great anacondas......and a bald head......would run around the club at a certain point of the "snake show" part of his repertoire with 3 serpents coiled around him while he wore nothing but a tarzanish loin cloth...........it was the most electrified I have ever seen an audience......

oh.....except when Glass-eater would start eating glass......that could move a room.........

"solves. Not a good criteria for a VP choice"

Actually all of the analysts are saying she is the almost perfect VP candidate because of what she brings to the ticket.

State government experience
National experience
International experience
Women, children, and health issue experience
18 million votes
20 states including the rust belt.

About the only negative they can think of is the professional Clinton haters. They wouldn't vote for her. Would they come out to vote against her? Even with that, the talking heads keep coming back to 36 million enthusiastic votes on the same ticket, and no one else comes close.

dog's: That was pretty much the reaction I expected. Look beyond winning to governing. Despite the fact that she was "only" First Lady, she does bring a lot of experience that Sen Obama lacks.
Then, too, she is able to speak about specific policies in a way that Sen Obama has not yet mastered.
He probably doesn't need her to win, but he could well need her to help him run the place.

I am aware that snake handlers have been around forever what surprises me is that people fall for that crap.

¡yo soy Horsedooty!

I dont know......name of the band now is "Dawg L. Boone and the Spiney Crustacean Ramblers".........

Maggs,
Just want to make something clear to you...This is what I heard from my brother....about the some blue-collar white guys he works with....this is by no mean a blanket statement for those who chose not to vote for Barack Obama.

I hesitated to post this - for the very reason of accusations, but I felt it was important because there is truth to it.

"I do worry about the a certain type voter, no one wants to address this, and that is the white voter who refuses to vote Obama because of the color of his skin.

I know in my brother's union his says there's a large group that feels that way."

http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7B61D3188D-284A-48E1-8536-22F15099175E%7D)&language=EN

Miami Cuban Americans are not happy with Gov Crist.
I think this will take Charlie Crist out of the running for vp Shall we have a pool for how long the engagement will last

dog,

Your response to the idea of a unity ticket between Obama and Hillary is a bit unsettling, since it is you and the Obama supporters who continually
remind Hillary supporters that we should fall in line and vote for Obama,
stop being sore losers.

I understand that you don't believe that Hillary on the ticket is a good idea,
but I don't believe Obama is the best person to be president, yet as a Dem,
I'm expected to accept him enthusiastically.

The question asked by Katherine was--how would you and others like you--Obama supporters--react if Obama chose Hillary as his running mate?

I will ask the question again, too, because early in this thread, I asked it and
again, no one answered. There's a great silence from Obama supporters when this question is asked.

Would you all enthusiastically support Hillary if Obama picked her as his VP?

Chloe
Hey if your out there lurking,miss your posts.I hope all is well with you,come back soon.

As for demographics of Ohio

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2008/state.php?state=OH

This NPR site has information on all the states.
: )

Today's L.A.Times:

"Barack Obama Doesn't Rule Out Hillary Clinton For Vice President"

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-veep12-2008jul12,0,3540067.story

burrito: I did not deny that some people won't vote for Sen Obama because of his skin color. We haven't made that much progress. And likely an equal number could not bring themselves to vote for Sen Clinton because of her gender .... let's say that these are the persistent 3-7% who voted for Sen Edwards long after he had dropped out.
But it does not follow that everyone who doesn't want to vote for Sen Obama is making that choice because he/she is a racist.

Backlash: 2 million angry Democrats reject Obama?
Raise $10 million for Clinton campaign debt, urge her return

"PUMA/Just Say No Deal members are pushing varying agendas and voting strategies, but the factions are united in their unwavering decision to not "fall in line" in supporting Barack Obama.

The coalition believes the Democrat leadership in Congress is supporting Obama because they want a weakened executive branch and Obama is an inexperienced, manufactured candidate who'll have to rely on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid."

http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=69294

KGC

"vp Shall we have a pool for how long the engagement will last"

When it was announced I made "shotgun" wedding remarks in order to get the VP marriage. They will probably go through with the wedding even if he doesn't get the nod. Politically speaking, he may think he needs an accessory.

I would be very excited for the dream ticket. I am not 100% sure that is the best use of Hillary's skills.

I have said this before, if Hillary wants the VP spot, I would whole heartedly support her .

some people wont vote for obama because of his skin color

some people didnt vote for kerry because he was a coward and faked his purple hearts.

some people will vote for mccain because they think he's really cool.........

some people will vote for ralph nader, and bob barr, and whomever else cause they're just sick of the whole mess.......

some people will vote for the guy who looks like somebody in the movies......

and the beat goes on......................

Jamie

I guess if he thinks he is still in the presidential sweepstakes he would go ahead. Has there been a bachelor president?

Craig, a mid life crisis demands that it be fire engine RED.

tt

Prof Marcia: Very good article. If Sen Obama did pick Sen Clinton it would tell me something quite positive about his political courage, as well as his ability to admit that the Presidency is not a one-man job anymore.

Have you noticed that it is only Gordo who pushes the PUMAs. Talk about strong indication that this is a Republican meme that the media is using for filler material just to have something to say.

maggs,

As far as I can read, you are the only one even mentioning the idea. I have never said such a thing, and you said I did...I spoke of a very small specific group....that it . not the whole...

"But it does not follow that everyone who doesn't want to vote for Sen Obama is making that choice because he/she is a racist."

Hillary could be the spark that unites Democrats, too. A lot of white, working class voters don't like Obama and she could pull them into the fold.
Obama is still having trouble with white voters. Read the polls, those who
seem to like them so much.

KGC: One of the Harrisons was a bachelor. And Grover Cleveland married while he was in the White House (I think) ....

KGC

Yes Buchanan, and he had a long term "friend" who became his VP and shared his home. No absolute confirmation that he was gay, but that was the general gossip of the time.

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

unlikely_burrito,

Thank you for your answer. . It seemed honest and made sense to me.

No Quarter Launches Radio Show with Larry Johnson

Premier Guests: Valerie Plame Wilson and Ambassador Joe Wilson

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/12/no-quarter-launches-radio-show-with-larry-johnson/

UB: I should have inserted the word "some" ... my apologies.

Dog,

I'm just reporting what they are saying. For some reason totally unknown to me, the Hillary coverage has become very, very positive in the last week. Almost a 180 degree switch from all of the negative coverage during the primary season.

You will have to ask the networks what caused the switch.

Are they saying what I believe? Sure. That's why I voted for her. If I thought she would make a great president, why wouldn't I think she would be a great VP?

Jamie

I'm always looking for a great cocktail party conversation and that hits the jackpot.

sturge said
"well.....if the american populice can suck it up and acquiesce to and endure 8 years of butch and chainey.......they can now suck it up and vote in mr obama.....tough nougats are hard to chew, but the show must go on......no more (expletive deleted) republicans for awhile.........

"No mas........No mas......"

--roberto duran"

EXACTLY !

or whoever that guy was in there with ray leonard"

Daughters of Legacy starting now on CNN

The daughters of black icons talking about their fathers.

UB: With regard to your remark about making the best use of Hillary's skills. She is an acknowledged policy wonk who doesn't shirk from hard work. In addition, she appears to have a good relationship with her Senate colleagues...interaction with the Congress is something that modern-day Presidents normally don't handle themselves.
We also know that she can be a loyal soldier ... certainly when she lost policy battles in the Clinton WH she kept quiet about it ... only later, through the writings of others, did we learn about the disagreements.
I have long felt that returning to the Senate as the junior Senator from New York (anyone think Schumer's going anywhere real soon) is not something she would really relish long-term. I could be wrong, of course. But there's no question she will not have quite the cachet she did as the potential future President...

oops .....EXACTLY after your quoted post...

forgive por favor

dog,

I think the analysts point was made simply to point out that even the
pundits who once were so anti-Clinton are now trumpeting her praises.
I made a similar reference in my early morning post.

I was watching an MSNBC program this morn--The Savannah Guthrie
show and she was talking about what a wonderful VP Hillary would make
and there were two analysts on her show echoing this theme.
Pat Buchanan was one. It was surprising to me since I rarely watch MSNBC
anymore, that I heard these three pundits rallying for Hillary.

KGC: With regard to your earlier post about the "food taster jokes" starting up again...
I'll bet Hillary would be so aware of that that she would be the one running after him on the tarmac with a wool scarf, galoshes, and gloves to make sure he stayed healthy.

maggisd
Now that's an image!
And it's one of the reasons I thinks she should stay as far from him as possible.

So far only one Obama supporter has answered my question.
Why's that?

Once again, if Obama chooses Hillary Clinton for VP will you
enthusiastically endorse her?

With regard to Hillary as a potential running mate:

No one would work harder. If it were offered, and if she were to accept, she would throw her all into both the campaign and the job ...

"Gordo knows his audience Jamie"

I think he just likes any attention he can get. Even negative attention is better than none at all. It's a little sad really.

Here's an interesting little thing I found at RCP

July 11, 2008
Pew: Dem Voters Still Want Hillary
The new Pew poll finding Obama leading McCain by 8 points also has some useful VP data:

* 69% of Hillary supporters back Obama; 17% say they will vote for McCain; and 12% are undecided.
* 55% of Democratic (and leaning) voters want to see Hillary as Obama's VP."

55% is not an overwhelming number, so it does suggest that Sen Obama might need some political courage to make that choice.

Jackson was a widower as his wife Rachel died shortly before he was innaugurated.

John Tyler married while President. He had 8 children by his first wife and 7 children by his second. Bit of trivia. His last child died 100 years after the death of his first child.

Cleveland had been a widower but married his much younger "ward", Frances Folsom (21) while in the White HOuse. The Baby Ruth candy bar was named in honor of one of their five children.

maggisd,

Has Obama shown a lot of political courage, thus far?

Oh, thanks a lot for the Rumpole book notification. I plan to buy it.

In my opinion, it seems the O people are angrier at the
C people that the C people are at the O people. I don't think I see the insults directed at the O people for supporting him, the way I see the C people being insulted for supporting her. The O people are really angry at us and I don't think it's about Hillary.

Suddenly we are racists because we are old and because we simply prefer her to him.

I agree that young people seem to be less influenced by race, but they had us as role models, and we educated them. You have to be very careful when you pick out a group and anoint them with miraculous virtues. Those qualities didn't just show up one morning.

As for the different feelings between the two parties,
the O people and the C people, I've said before, I suspect this was in the minds of the DNC when they began to look for a rival to Hillary. I suspect they knew she would beat any white male, and that they needed an AA , they needed someone more compelling than she is. They needed someone who could be an emotional favorite. Of course, that is my opinion and to some of you, it's irrelevant because I'm a 65 year old woman so don't bother with the insults.

Admiring anybody is not an IQ test. The fact that I admire Hillary should not make you doubt my intelligence or morals; it should tell you that I think for myself and differently from the way you do. That goes for everyone here, esp those who support her. I have to vote for him because I can't abide Scalia or Thomas, but I'm not sure I can count on O in that regard and nobody else is sure, either.

I don't like the way O's campaign is being run - in my opinion it is pathologically controlling and it's being done by Chicago. That's not a good sign. He could lose this thing, in my opinion.

I hate most the way age is fingered as a guilty factor. In my opinion, "you old people just don't understand" is usually the cry of the teen-ager ot the college student. I guess I felt the same way but I mostly remember being a little confused about life - there were so many different people and ideas.

Anyway, we here seem to be beyond our teen-age and college years, and I am more accustomed to people younger than I being aware that they too were on the train and getting older everyday. I don't know how many 'younger' people I have heard claiming to have had a senior moment.

My age is something I am extremely proud of. I have survived a lot and don't think I have caused anyone grievous harm while helping a lot. I have defended where I thought defense was needed, esp when no one else would budge.

It is true some 'old' people never lose their impetus to act as they did when they were 15 or so, and I admire them greatly. Thomas Paine was one and he was a
magnificent contributor to history.

What I'm saying is, if you must insult and denigrate those with whom you disagree, can you please attack the idea or belief instead of the person holding them? That is kind of the American way, isn't it?

What I'm saying is, if you must insult and denigrate those with whom you disagree, can you please attack the idea or belief instead of the person holding them? That is kind of the American way, isn't it?

It's also a decree from the chairman and his lard chanticleer.........

Prof Marcia: When I thought of political courage, I thought of Bill Clinton choosing Al Gore to be his running mate. Now, that was political courage ... to choose a man even younger than himself, from a neighboring state he would have won anyway, who might easily have threatened or overshadowed him ... but someone he knew could do the job that needed to be done.
I am not trying to be snarky when I say that what I currently see from Sen Obama is that he has a plan to win the election, but I am entirely uncertain as to his commitment to governance.

Sturgeone

http://www.ragtimepiano.ca/images/chanticleer.jpg

Obamaphiles: you’ve been had

"Before the primaries began, Obama had amassed $99 Million, almost as much as Hillary Clinton who had been amassing her warchest for years. Where did that money come from?

I mean, we’ve been so busy looking for Republicans among the PUMAs, maybe we’ve been looking for Republicans in all the wrong places. it wouldn’t bode well for the GE, would it, if it turned out that much of his support was from Republicans who were just trying to game the system."

http://riverdaughter.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/obamaphiles-youve-been-had/

boop,

Nice post.

Unfortunately, ageism and sexism don't seem to register as highly on the
bigotry list as some other forms of intolerance.

maggs,

I know what you mean. You're absolutely right about Bill Clinton showing
bravery when he picked Al Gore as his VP. But, B. Clinton seemed much more
secure in his own political skin than Obama. I think Obama is unsure of himself and is trying to learn how to make decisions as he goes along.

"Don't confuse disgust with a generation's attitudes as ageism."

I'm not confusing anything. Some of the comments stated today were
ageist, possibly sexist enough to offend boop and I suspect others like her.

Prof Marcia: That's my take on it as well. I suspect his "team" (not necessarily him) might think that selecting Hillary would make him look as if he were weak, and needed her in order to win.
I, on the other hand, believe it would make him seem strong and unafraid of being overshadowed by either Senator Clinton or the former President.

We if we admit to ourselves that racist, ageist and sexist views are alive and well in our country....then lets look at the election from that point forward.

I don't believe any of those issues can be resolved on an internet blog.

""Don't confuse disgust with a generation's attitudes as ageism."

Well that's nice and vague. Which attitudes do you find so disgusting that you are willing to say they are held by a whole generation of people?

McCain or Obama....

Republican rule or Democrat rule....

That is the choice we have to make...

By not voting you also make a choice, all be it a passive choice.

I would group third party, and write-ins in the not voting group....let me know if anyone thinks that is incorrect

dog,

Grandstanding? Me? Never!

Sorry that Trail Mix is eating your posts. I always like reading your comments.

I'm glad you answered me and that you would enthusiastically support
Hillary if she were the VP choice. I respect that you are consistent in your
opinions.

Although I respect your opinions, I'm not sure that there would
be all that much difference between a Dem and GOP administration at this
point. McCain isn't Bush.

But, neither of us can know for sure how transformational an Obama administration would be. I think that everyone is desperate for a change from Bush, but our economy and health care system, our ed system, so much is in such disarray that there are no quick fixes. We can't look to any politician to make our lives the way we wish our lives were.

At best, government can only offer marginal steps forward. And Obama
will be so new to the job, it could take him four years just to get organized.

dog's - There is no element of dare to it at all. I know that one has to win an election first, but the real question is governing after the election. As others have said, if I believed Sen Clinton would make the best President, why wouldn't I believe she would make an equally capable Vice-President?

And with regard to change ... does this indicate that you feel a large number of Obama supporters would be equally unimpressed with candidates like Biden, Dodd, or even Edwards? Surely they are all yesterday's news.

If you didn't see the legacy program on CNN, try to catch it on replay. They had the daughters of Mohammed Ali, Malcom X (Malik El-Shabazz), Sydney Poitier, Johnny Cochran, and Dr. Martin Luther King. It is very personal and sweet. I was particularly taken with Sydney Poitier's daughter.

The night he won the Oscar in 1964 for 1963's Lily's of the Field, I was whooping and hollering because I had wanted him so to win.

Prof Marcia,

You seriously think that if McCain got in that the same powers and players that support Bush, wouldn't be right there to control McCain? Do you think all the senior level GOP politicians and Bush supporters, would suddenly disappear? Who do you think would be McCains top advisors? His cabinet?? newbie Republicans?

that just takes the cake for me!

ciao

Obama Sings the Money Blues and Blames Hillary

"He fell far short of his fundraising goals for the second quarter. He’s down according to some sources by more than 70%. So who is responsible for this brewing debacle? Hillary of course. Obama and his posse are blaiming Hillary for his fundraising woes and–surprise, surprise–scapegoating Hillary for his own failings.

Unsurprisingly, Obama’s naive supporters, gulled into thinking that the One was the second coming, slowly, ever so slowly, ever so slightly, opened their shut eyes a sliver and saw a Chicago politician, and a crude one at that, who has played them like an accordion. So the money gusher has slowed."

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/11/obama-sings-the-money-blues-and-blames-hillary/

unlikely_burrito,

I don't think either of us know who McCain would pick for advisors. He didn't always see eye-to-eye with Bush. There's no love lost between those two, believe me. If you have some insider information about who either Obama
or McCain will be choosing for their staff, please tell me.

Obama is taking a Republican with him on his jaunt around the world.
Did you know that? MSNBC even reported last night that Obama might
consider a Republican as his VP. I don't think that's really feasible but
MSNBC did report it.

I'm just saying, it's time we started working together as a country. Get rid
of Bush and start getting something done in Congress. The only way that
can happen is if we become more bi-partisan. I just don't buy into all the
Democratic rhetoric about how Obama's policies are going to fix everything.
And frankly, the DNC didn't impress me as being competent or engaging
during the primary.

I could list some of Obama's policies with which I don't agree but I'm getting tired of typing. I've been pontificating quite a lot today.

Prof Marcia: It's my observation that the incoming President (especially if of a different party) is always left with some sort of mess that sucks up all the oxygen of the first year in office. I fear that this particular mess will take longer than a year ...

dog,

Reweaving? That's subtle. Don't we all?

And that 's what I meant, don't parse words, it's unnecessary. I understood your
meaning. You'd support the ticket even if Hillary were to be on the ticket.

Surely you're not naive enough to believe that Richardson withheld his vote
from Hillary simply because of Camp Obama's marvelous organizational skills.

dog's-I have no quarrel with seasoned veterans. But how do such seasoned veterans represent a change from the old rhetoric and the old divisive politics?
Surely Obama and Clinton represent about as much change as it's possible to have.
With regard to Robert Reich (in a post not addressed to me) he has been angry with his old pal Pres Clinton for some time. He apparently was unaware of the fact that Pres Clinton was a centrist. Perhaps he thought that Bill was just saying that to get elected.
As for Bill Richardson...let's face it, he waited until the last possible moment to make a choice. Had the math been in Hillary's favor, he likely would have made a different choice.

If you skip straight through No Quarter in Gordo's post to the WaPo article. It's much more informational and less slanted.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/10/AR2008071002813.html?nav=rss_email/components

It seems to me that we are all going on about something that is quite unlikely to happen. I would be pleased, but gobsmacked if Sen Obama were to ask Hillary to be his running mate.
I would also be pleased if the DNC allowed Hillary and her supporters to have their roll-call vote. But I don't expect that to happen, either.

Prof Marcia: With regard to the Obama trip to Iraq ... the only way he can get there is on a Co-Del and Co-Dels have to be bipartisan. Jack Reed of Rhode Island is also going. Course Obama could have picked another Republican to go along, but what would have been the fun in that?

Obama's Money Problems: NASCAR Sponsorship Cost Too Much

"A NASCAR sponsorship is a no-brainer: whatever it costs, Obama needs to get his name in front of all those voters in red states he thinks he will switch.

So, what would stop him from putting his name all over a NASCAR race car?

Unless he just doesn't have the money."

http://hillbuzz.blogspot.com/2008/07/obamas-money-problems-nascar.html

"I am aware that snake handlers have been around forever what surprises me is that people fall for that crap."

I've been wondering the same....

Money or not, sponsoring a NASCAR vehicle is right up there on a par with Sen Kerry's duck-hunting trip --

Uh oh. Skunks at the garden party.

http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_9845134?source=commented-

Hear, hear Bethy! Especially this:

" I suspect this was in the minds of the DNC when they began to look for a rival to Hillary. I suspect they knew she would beat any white male, and that they needed an AA , they needed someone more compelling than she is. They needed someone who could be an emotional favorite. "

"You know another way of looking at the election is, aren't you tired of being screwed over by middle aged white guys? Give the young black a chance, it just might work out. "

Ig'nert.

"But this election is too important to lose."

Too bad you didn't think of that before supporting a phony.

Maggs - Mark Warner had a NASCAR car and a bluegrass band touring for him in SW Virginia during his successful campaign for governor. I think he was the first. I think Mudcat Saunders is advising Obama now on how to be more rural. He and Steve Jarding (another Warner key advisor) wrote a book about how DEMs can win back the White House with rural voters.
http://www.roanoke.com/extra/wb/57298

Alicia: I couldn't get a sense of what they were all about ... some new version of chaos theory?

"I would group third party, and write-ins in the not voting group....let me know if anyone thinks that is incorrect"

Well, let me think. If Pol Pot and Papa Doc were running against each other and I wrote in Nelson Mandela....hmmmm

Alicia: I'm sure it worked well for Mark Warner. I just don't think it would be a good fit with Sen Obama. Just my opinion. I actually think having a blue-grass band as a warm-up would make a lot more sense.

Alicia: I have to say that I don't think Sen Obama and southern rural quite go together. I suspect (but do not know for certain) that Sen Obama probably had never been below the Mason-Dixon line until he began to think about running for President.

Subaru Outback -- any advice?

craig, klick & klack have said good things about them. probably too late now that you saw the wild one. sorta like seeing puppies at the pound, just can't resist once you've looked in its eyes and kicked its wheel.

Evening everyone. I'm trying to get used to my sister's computer, they have the mouse set up for left-handed people. My brother-in-law's sister has a Subaru Outback, the turbo version. She likes it. I like the Madza3 better, looks-wise. Just dog-sitting and watching a lot of Hogan's Heroes today.

Barack Obama Political Assassination Of Hillary Clinton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUmbjoEp2lU

"Uh oh. Skunks at the garden party.

http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_9845134?source=commented"

This is a hoot -- the anarchists are meeting at an undisclosed coffee shop on Colfax. That's SO Denver!

Hell, Craig, if you want a 4WD Japanese sedan, and something sporty to boot, I'd go for the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. Here's an Evo 8 beating a Lamborghini head-to-head from the UK show "Top Gear":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L69Qxy6OFvs

400hp. 40k. Nuff said.

"You know another way of looking at the election is, aren't you tired of being screwed over by middle aged white guys? Give the young black a chance, it just might work out. "

Interesting question, phrased just a little - I don't know, but it evokes an answer I wouldn't have thought to give previously.

No, I'm not tired of being screwed over by middle-aged white guys for several reasons, the chief one being that I don't think I have been.

I think that when I've been screwed over, it hasn't been done by any one group except human beings. They have come in all colors and ages and ethnicities and nationalities.

I am tired of being screwed over by peoplewho talk a good promise and don't come thru. From the nurse who told me it wouldn't hurt to the salesperson who said that of course it was returnable to the politician who said.........well, you get my drift.

Anybody who gets me to buy and then gives me a different result screws me over. I am so tired of it that I am cautious and look and listen carefully. That's all I'm saying about Obama - I have been looking and listening carefully and he has not filled me with respect for him.

I will vote for him, okay? But I form my opinion of a person according to how he treats others, and I have not like the way he treated Wright,Pflegler, and others, and esp Hillary. He tends to play down some reports, but I call it dismissing. Whatever Hillary did or said was just a political manouver or strategy. dismissing others' concerns is not a tactic that will make me buy.

So I'm not sure he will not screw me over, and basically expect him to. I just don't want a repub to name scotus members.

As a final point, if I were tired of white middle-aged
(not ageism?????) men screwing me or you over,
why not give the white woman a chance? It just might work out. It works both ways.

Besides, I love men.

Great article, and a must read if you are buying from a dealer (it's long but compelling):

Confessions of a Car Salesman:

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying/articles/42962/article.html

lol ....birds of a feather....

Bethy
Oh god i enjoy you!! I love men too!!!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/07/blogs-on-a-roll.html#comment-114360
Maggis,
Yes it is .. I remember seeing him on TV .. he looked so despressed ( IMHO!!) like the will had drained out of him .. sad, so sad especailly when you realize it was the how it was planned from day one .. as soon as they found BHO, they knew exactly what to do, what to say, rumors ro float out there & down right lies being told for all the MSM to carry it along ...

there is an awful lot of men lovin' going on here.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg0FCwkd57k

what a man! en Vogue

"I love men too!!!"

The summer of love strikes again. All of mankind being adored : -)

I love my man.

The rest are just okay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5Rqk2rG9s4

kind of blurry but retro
Time of the Season

"I love men too!!!"

Worshiping the golden penis...

What about women?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT9A3uhhYeE

one love or uno amor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp-S058Lmbc

Come on people

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF7QUQdNKmQ

Maggs --

I really agree with you.

Mark Warner did well in SW VA *after* he brought millions in investment capital to the region. He started this almost immediately after he narrowly lost the 1996 Senate race against John Warner (the "Mark not John" campaign." He spent a lot of time in SW getting to know people, so by the time he ran for Gov. in 2001, he was downright down-home to the rural folks. He is still much beloved there -- that's why Virginia is a reverse-coattails situation for Obama. Also why there is no talk of the Obama campaign spurning the VA coordinated campaign. He wouldn't dare. The best part is that Hillary's former #2, Mike Henry, is running the state for Warner.

So I agree with you about the NASCAR doing nothing to win rural votes for Obama. It takes more than decals on a stock car to win them over.

here something to worship
in Yamaguchi, Japan - the penis shrine

http://i38.tinypic.com/2nhev0g.jpg

So I agree with you about the NASCAR doing nothing to win rural votes for Obama. It takes more than decals on a stock car to win them over.

Posted by: Alicia Knight | July 12, 2008 9:50 PM

good luck finding a driver for THAT car

tonyb39 - the feeling is mutual.

Getting awfully warm in here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJzxHJcA8qU&feature=related

UB

I wonder how long it took them to erect that shrine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xaLHnNTv0U

LOL Jamie

They (Japanese)have a penis parades also....go figure

Maggs- Yep. The Anarchists are all about C.H.A.O.S. Interesting that they are targeting the DEM Convention this time around. In 2004 it was the GOP in NYC. Sort of like Code Pink waking up poor Congressman Ackerman's houseboat neighborhood the other day at 7:00 am.

Obama should go for Formula One....it's more interesting.

Golden penis? Well, there *is* the silver bullet...and you don't have to make smalltalk with it afterwards...

there is an absence of male commenter at the moment....lol...

omg - are we being sexist?????

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

In case we left anyone out

Lola

Ah yes, just like when my friend was drinking a Coors light and that woman said, "Coors Light....the silver bullet. I have one of those at home!"

I'm here. All alone in a big house tonight.

Who Examines an Application for President?

"Perhaps it will take a gutsy conservative commentator and media critic such as Andy Martin to make the case:

I will also be taking legal action to pry open the vault of Obama’s “family secrets.”

The Times runs a front-page story about McCain’s citizenship, when his family history is clear and open, while ignoring the massively complex and concealed facts about Obama’s bizarre family history and potential questions about his citizenship. Do the liberal media have an agenda? You bet."

http://texasdarlin.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/who-examines-an-application-for-the-presidency/

Dog,

I did go back and dig on the McCain push poll defamations. Although two people, one an amateur and the other a professional, are identified as being involved, people closer to the matter than I are unwilling to formally accuse them.

Gordo you could depress a hyena

lol

there is an absence of male commenter at the moment....lol...

omg - are we being sexist?????

_______________

OMG UB! I am laughing so hard my kids want to know what's soo funny!

I'm watching Fried Green Tomatoes

Great movie

That's not enough for him...he need to depress the living, all the souls - hyena = not enough.....keep going soldier....

Kookaburras have even stopped laughing.

Alicia,
When AOL first started...my children were young..I did the same thing...laugh at the screen....they told me they didn't get it.....

..now they think it's normal.

laughter after all else is the best medicine.......

and

peace begins with a smile

Weather Girls

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

lololol it's raining men....hellalua

Alicia

That kind of storm can produce a lot of fireworks. :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_2eqejvRNw&feature=related

that was such a funny song...the disco era....what a concept...it's raining men

tall hot dark hot and lean....lololo

I just noticed I said hot twice---omg----- Dr Phil is following me.........I must have "issues"

For all you hot people out there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st1lH8zcIuQ&feature=related

dare I look

I love the talking heads...but mostly David .....he married a girl from my hometown....lol he has a lot to say about that.

Jamie -- Ha! Love the Pointer Sisters " I wanna man with a slow hand...."

Daily Kos, Confessed Forgeries, and (False) Accusations of Libel

"And, given the high stakes involved in this presidential election, if it can be demonstrated that there was an underlying political motive and a conspiracy to deceive in the creation and continued posting of admittedly counterfeit legal documents, could that be construed legally to be proof of intent to defraud?

Could McKinnon and anyone involved in allowing his forged birth certificates to remain on line at Daily Kos be charged with forgery on this basis?
==============
All of this clearly represents an effort to silence the investigation into his forged birth certificates and any possible link they might have to Daily Kos and the Obama Campaign."
==============
http://texasdarlin.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/daily-kos-confessed-forgeries-and-false-accusations-of-libel/

okay...it used to be

I survived Gordo 2008

now it's

Get a life Gordo!

internet time is really fast.

Somewhere on the streets of DC, our fearless leader is driving a new car with the windows rolled down, and stereo blasting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIA4gcrk-50&feature=related

July 13, 2008 NYTIMES
Obama Supporters on the Far Left Cry Foul
By WILLIAM YARDLEY
PORTLAND, Ore. — In the breathless weeks before the Oregon presidential primary in May, Martha Shade did what thousands of other people here did: she registered as a Democrat so she could vote for Senator Barack Obama.

Now, however, after critics have accused Mr. Obama of shifting positions on issues like the war in Iraq, the Bush administration’s program of wiretapping without warrants, gun control and the death penalty — all in what some view as a shameless play to a general election audience — Ms. Shade said she planned to switch back to the Green Party.

“I’m disgusted with him,” said Ms. Shade, an artist. “I can’t even listen to him anymore. He had such an opportunity, but all this ‘audacity of hope’ stuff, it’s blah, blah, blah. For all the independents he’s going to gain, he’s going to lose a lot of progressives.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/us/politics/13liberal.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

Want a laugh? Enjoy.

Hilarious Wii accident:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-5qQq-hkSg&feature=related

God, I could watch these things all night, and probably will...

Alicia-
no doubt

does KCG = GORDO ????

they have similar posting patterns

love at first post

alter ego development?

KGC -- Intersting article but it had some errors. Ralph Nader is not the Green Party candidate. The mass rally in Portland was pumped by a multi-state appeal for The Decemberists, a popular band that gave the free concert in which the Obama appearance was embedded. Not all those people had seeing the Divine Barry O as their primary motivation.

Ah yes the lame response from the people who have nothing to say...attack the poster, What's the matter no playmates over at the kiddy pool

Alicia
I noticed they left out the part about the Decemberists being the real draw.

Love the Decemberists -- I might even endure an intermission with BHO to see them for free.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK3Ce9md96g&feature=related

Alicia
I'm interested in how you became interested in cable television. I worked for the Urban Institute's cable television project in the early '70's (provided consulting services to local and state governments developing cable policy.) I served on SF's cable commission as well.

"Michelle Obama contradicted the embedded story-line of her husband’s biography Thursday ... :

His own mother, she said at the beginning of her remarks, was “very young and very single when she had him.”
==========
Oops, Michelle forgot the script.

... they weren’t together then, as Michelle confirmed Thursday.

I can’t imagine that 18-year-old Ann would travel from Honolulu ... with a 3-week-old baby, ALONE ...

Why did Stanley Ann Dunham pass through Mercer Island in Aug. 1961?"
==========
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/12/michelle-contradicts-baracks-biography/

spanked

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4dvhf9ayKU

listen

KGC -- I first got interested in cable through a fledgling public access program in College Park, Maryland. I was with Mary PIRG at the time and studying Radio, TV and Film at UMd. My friends and I created our own shows on public interest themes . Some other friends formed a comedy group called "The Langely Punks" and used the public access equipment to produce shows.

Then I worked for the Congressman and no one else really cared about cable and broadcasting issues, I was handling arts issues, so I took it over.

When I moved to this county a few years later, I was surprised at how out dated the local ordinances were, how so little of the county was covered by cable companies and how the people who administered the county's interests lacked even basic knowledge of the issues. So when a friend who won a seat on the Board of Supervisors asked me if I wanted to serve on a commission, I picked Telecommunications. He was surprised because he siad most people think that would be a sleepy assignment. I said that's exactly why I wanted it -- to spark things up.

I think building a robust telecommunications infrastructure will be as important to our local, state and national economies as finding alternative fuels.

It's a good day when a person actually looks at the options and realizes Barack Obama is the only choice.

More power to you....you have stood up for yourself...!

Alicia
Thanks. I thought you really hit the nail on the head when you were talking about the problems of no money and regulating at the local level. I work with a few area city attorneys and it is tough. I tried to encourage an area franchise for Marin and Sonoma when comcast bought up all the Viacom systems but no interest.

man she is a beautiful person.....too bad about the side effects of her drug use ...

coke or sprite ?

night all.....even the babes in the woods....sleep well

Katherine -- I was looking into the same thing when Adelphia went belly-up. I was inspired by the city administrator in Martinsville, VA who really had a vision for a locally-owned cable system with fiber to every door and it could have been a money-maker for the locality. The Bankruptcy Court wouldn't approve the transfer of assets to the county once Comcast became the white knight.

The cable service in your area is far superior to ours. I wanted to get the same deal as Milpitas for PEG from Adelphia, but no dice.

Do you belong to NATOA?

CIA Director Michael Hayden: "US is run by Intel. Agencies"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajmCoN5WqQg&feature=related

The Bay area is a microcasm of cable stuff
Some of it very good and other times not so much.

When I was on SF cable commission I belonged to NATOA but not currently.

To me the problem with dealing with the cable operators is they are unrepentent liars. They will say or do anything to get what is best for their shot term interest.

Alicia
It's been fun talking cable tv with you. G'night.

About Amy Winehouse, I just cannot stand her! The first time I heard a song of hers was "Rehab" and it just struck me as the most NEGATIVE message that could be directed at young listeners. Yeah it's a nice sound and it's packaged nice, but it glorifies two of the most insidious problems in the world today: alcoholism and hard drug use. Amy, Ms. coolness, sings her hip song and comes out like some rebel for a cause. Her shenanigans since then has only made me even less impressed with her. We all have our own personal icons, but some really aren't appropriate. As far as I am concerned, Amy Winehouse is as relevant as Lindsay Lohan (who I met once when she was a little girl on ANOTHER WORLD0 and Paris Hilton and the cast of other misbehavin' famous people.

Tom

P.S. Any artist who gets to sing the theme song for a James Bond film is truly in a league of giants. Shirley Bassey, Carly Simon, Madonna, Nancy Sinatra, Tina Turner, Sheena Easton, Lulu and of course the guys: Paul McCartney and Wings, Duran Duran, etc. etc. Amy had the opportunity of being one of the few who will ever have the chance to be immortalized in this way.

AMY AMY AMY... GET YOURSELF INTO REHAB... !!!

Hilarious quote from the often dismal David Brooks in his NY TImes blog with Gail Collins. They were talking about politicians' wives.

Brooks: "Here’s why I’m not a politician. First, I can never imagine believing that I am qualified to be president of the United States. Second, I can never imagine meeting a person of the opposite sex who also believes I am qualified to be president of the United States. Third, if I did in fact meet such a person, I certainly would never marry her. I’d get a restraining order.

I'd never consider joining any club which would consider accepting me as a member......

--groucho marx

my favorite song today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w316aA8ed8

Eccentricity is not, as dull people would have us believe, a form of madness. It is often a kind of innocent pride, and the man of genius and the aristocrat are frequently regarded as eccentrics because genius and aristocrat are entirely unafraid of and uninfluenced by the opinions and vagaries of the crowd.
Edith Sitwell (1887 - 1964), Taken Care Of ,1965

Let us face ourselves. We are Hyperboreans; we know very well how far off we live. "Neither by land nor by sea will you find the way to the Hyperboreans" … Beyond the north, ice, and death – our life, our happiness. We have discovered happiness, we know the way, we have found the exit out of the labyrinth of thousands of years. Who else has found it? Modern man perhaps? "I have got lost; I am everything that has got lost," sighs modern man.

This modernity was our sickness: lazy peace, cowardly compromise, the whole virtuous uncleanliness of the modern Yes and No. This tolerance and largeur of the heart, which "forgives" all because it "understands" all, is sirocco for us. Rather live in the ice than among modern virtues and other south winds!

We were intrepid enough, we spared neither ourselves nor others; but for a long time we did not know where to turn with our intrepidity. We became gloomy, we were called fatalists. Our fatum – the abundance, the tension, the damming of strength. We thirsted for lightning and deeds and were most remote from the happiness of the weakling, "resignation." In our atmosphere was a thunderstorm; the nature we are became dark – for we saw no way. Formula for our happiness: a Yes, a No, a straight line, a goal.

Nietzsche

America had often been discovered before Columbus, but it had always been hushed up.
---Oscar Wilde

from Huffington post:

Dems May Kick Lieberman Out Of Caucus If He Addresses GOP Convention As Planned... Would Lose Senate Committee Chairmanship... Colleagues See Speech As "Last Straw"

I guess that would make his endorsing of McCain the "next to last straw."

Senator Loserman can join the Zmell Miller Wing of The Democratic Party --the batsh-t crazy wing

A dollar saved is a quarter earned.
Oscar Levant

Behind the phony tinsel of Hollywood lies the real tinsel.
Oscar Levant

Happiness isn't something you experience; it's something you remember.
Oscar Levant

I am no more humble than my talents require.
Oscar Levant

I envy people who drink. At least they have something to blame everything on.
Oscar Levant

I once said cynically of a politician, 'He'll doublecross that bridge when he comes to it.'
Oscar Levant

I'm going to memorize your name and throw my head away.
Oscar Levant

"genius and aristocrat are entirely unafraid of and uninfluenced by the opinions and vagaries of the crowd. "

Excellent, sturge!!!!

"I once said cynically of a politician, 'He'll doublecross that bridge when he comes to it.'
Oscar Levant"

I like this one. Oscar used to show up on late night tv which is where I saw him but I think my parents saw him LIVE in NYC...he was funny as long as you weren't the subject of the attack. I think he was banned from time to time for his slanderous remarks...

"the Zmell Miller Wing of The Democratic Party --the batsh-t crazy wing"

HA! Right on, KGC....

Sturge -- One of the funniest or most insane times in my life was one night when my best friend in this world and I spent about three hours in a heated argument over Nietzsche.

My son was about 12, and the "conversation" awakened him...he strolled out, said, "Tomorrow morning I am asking child services if being raised in an insane asylum qualifies as abusive."

Then he went back to bed.

Morning Patsi and Sturge
How's by you'? It's still icky here due to poor air quality from forest fires. But at least it is no longer over 100 degrees. Most people here do not have air conditioning (me included.)

waylon, with Kris, Willie, and Cash looking on......in re: Hank.

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

very hot in caroline, with intermittent rains lately to partially cool it down.....the humidity in general is muggery lethal......

nietzsche is fun because he left behind so much to argue about.........

willie and bob dylan play and sing a Townes Van Zandt song......

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

A good Sunday morning

Katherine, glad to hear that the temps have dropped somewhat for you.

Though in So. CT we do not have a long period of very hot weather, it would be very uncomfortable to live w/o AC. The utility costs have doubled in the last couple of years, but you get very spoiled very quickly.

This in the NYT reminded me of the cynical politician quote provided by Sturge.

A question & answer session on Obama's plane, with minimal content. But then again I am a true cynic.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/

Coreen
There are several vacation rentals in my neighborhood and when I'm out walking the dog I can hear those air conditioners humming and I'm thinking there goes the entire rent.

Cynics regarded everybody as equally corrupt... Idealists regarded everybody as equally corrupt, except themselves.
Robert Anton Wilson

The cynics are right nine times out of ten.
H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)

I'll burn that bridge when I come to it.

--sturgeone, forever more, after having heard someone say it.

KGC: sending you some hot pho and a cold, cold beer for later today. And maybe some lemon sorbet for dessert.

gracias! I'm getting ready to plant the vines....I have two starts that are doing very well. Thanks again...

phil gramm was whining again, wasnt he..........

Katherine,

The utility costs are looming as such a nightmare for middle class working americans & I really hear nothing from either candidate that offers any relief in the short term, let alone a long term energy fix.

The cost of oil to heat homes this winter, in the Northeast, may very well exceed $5 a gallon, this coupled with the gas which here is hovering in the mid $4/ gallon range, not to mention that milk also costs more than $4/gallon, does not bode well.

I represent debtors in bankruptcy & though many here in CT have a good income ($60,000 to $80,000) these families are tapped out with 1 or 2 mortgages(with little to no equity in the home) somewhere in the range of $25,000 in credit card debt, at least 1 car loan, often 2.

While bankruptcy can discharge the credit card debt (if they meet the income means testing) the ever escalating cost of utilities, gas to get to work, & food prices, not to mention stagnant wages, are squeezing the middle class out of existence.

Who speaks for them?

Sorry to provide such a down side vision--but it is a reality (I suspect not just in my region, but it is frustrating that no politician is offering any relief for those that have been the backbone of this country and all we here from the clueless media is nonsense about who said what about the other-flip flop indeed.

I first saw Oscar Levant in the fifties in an old black and white movie wherein he played a cynical piano monger........made me want to play piano...........

oscar doing his levantine bassed:

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

Sturge,

Thanks for the "cynic" clips--by definition--I am & will
remain a true cynic, at least for the forseeable future.

Coreen

Well put. Most of the houses here use propane and
it is unregulated so each delivery is a new and terrifying experience.

I hope Biden is NOT an influence on Obama when it comes to reforming the bankruptcy law.

Unfortunately when it comes to Congressional Democrats blue too often means blue dog.

Katherine,

Just a quick observation, believe it or not, often when
I am about to post an article for consideration, I see
that you have also found the same one already.

It's re-assuring to know that the West Coast contingent
is so well represented here-from Jamie in WA to all
of you California girls--always provide worthwhile
discussion.

As to bankruptcy: the banking industry provided a tremendous amount of money to all politicians to come up with the 2005 bankruptcy bil, don't believe a significant re-do will occur any time soon.

Sturgeone

Talk about weird children. When I was about 14, I loved the Oscar Levant show on television. I loved the wit, ascerbity, guests, music. The copy on this is horrid, but the quality of the music holds up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGNih0TWAQs

Coreen
I thought there was some chance for altering the law to allow for protection of the primary residence?

baba loo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAV3bOJaQuY

"Congress Abdicates Constitutional Authority to Executive Branch , by Anon Paranoid"

ROFL -- I don't see you invoking Godwin's Law for anon's post....and I saw no mention of your hero's sellout vote.

All I saw over there was near lunatic raving about "PUMAs" -- which I suppose means those of us who ask questions about The Savior's backtracking on everything from abortion rights to the constitution.

UB -- Voting Democrat is one thing. Flollowing along blindly is quite another.

Good Morning Patsi :))))))))))))))

Katherine,

Am not certain, but I believe the proposal to permit
bankruptcy judges to modify mortgage loan terms of
debtors in Chapter 13 in an effort to allow the debtor to
be able to afford to make payments & avoid foreclosure
is languishing somewhere in the Congress, after the
House passed it some months ago.

It would allow a bankruptcy judge to lengthen the repayment terms such as from 30 years to 40 years, cap the interest rates on adjustable rate loans, reduce the debt amount in relation to the FMV of the property, if the FMV is less than the loan amount.

All of which provisions are detested by the banking industry.

I only invoke Godwin's law against people I don't like

then it's not Godwin's law...you use but the law of hypocrite liar and of course no surprise there

Coreen

California just passed a law to allow some protection from foreclosure but more on the process side.
I think they need to do something to let people stay in the houses or get other people in soon. All these empty houses are a blight not too mention no income to the counties.

This was the headline in the Santa Rosa paper
Report: Rising costs threaten key Sonoma County services Document suggests ability to enforce laws, run basic programs at risk
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080713/NEWS/807130386/1033&title=Report__Rising_costs_threaten_key_Sonoma_County_services

Sturgeone

She didn't keep at it that much, but daughter Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill was a wonderful performer. I saw her in the early previews of They're Playing Our Song in 1980. She took it to Broadway and then about the only other thing I remember her doing is The Jazz Singer with Neil Diamond.

I imagine she had far too much money to be bothered with the show-biz nonsense........did it a couple of times just to prove she could and then tend to her real business, whatever that may be.......i imagine.........

I just did some checking around. Apparently she works a great deal in short projects in New York and Miami in addition to a great deal of charity work, but doesn't let it interfere with her family life. With five children that probably keeps her busy enough.

http://www.luciearnaz.com/Theatre.htm

Besides, I love men.

Posted by: boop | July 12, 2008 8:49 PM

Agreed

I am going to make myself a bloody mary. I don't like horseradish in mine but I do like it spicy. The best ones ever were at the Broadcasters Club (which was kind of a dive for a private club) and the Zuni Cafe -uses balsamic vinegar.

The Honeymoon Is Over

"Obama now ties McCain in Saturday’s Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll and has higher negatives. His media-driven honeymoon is over, and the American public doesn’t believe in Obama’s “change.”

Obama was effectively marketed as a transcendent figure that would rise above politics as usual and “change” everything; he tapped into something powerful. He has since shown himself to be a typical politician with a willingness to sacrifice core democratic principles in order to appear as a moderate."

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/13/the-honeymoon-is-over/

wow thanks for the car talk. off to test drive the mazda. will make no decisions without further consultation.

Posted by: Craig Crawford | July 12, 2008 1:06 PM

Craig, be sure to peruse CAR AND DRIVER's analysis of automobiles. It's a good find. When I lived in Washington State, I remember a LOT of Honda Civics driving around. Solidly built cars with great gas mileage. I like Volvos but couldn't afford one even if I wanted one. I love American cars from the 60s and 70s but that's like tossing gold into the gas tank. The big 3 automakers have fought tooth and nail against regulations to build cars with better gas mileage. Is it any wonder that they are losing so many buyers in this time of unprecedented oil prices?

MILEAGE.. first order of business (well behind safety and reliability of course). MILEAGE.. third order of business :-)

Sea Islands Book Club Tuesday, July 15 @ 2 pm.....Come to the library and discuss THE SPIRIT OF SWEETGRASS by Nicole Seitz. about :

Essie Mae Laveau Jenkins is a 78 yr old sweetgrass basket weaver who is facing losing her home, her basket stand, and her independence...
Copies of the book may be obtained from the Reference Desk (of the Charleston County Public Library) while supplies last.

article in local newspaper......I'll try to find some further links......Essie Mae is one of the old gullah basket weavers.............

best bloody mary i've had to date was biloxi at the white house inn.......old ante-bellum house turned into inn.....

sturgeone

what made that bloody mary memorable? Celery salt, worchestershire sauce are two ingredients I think necessary besides salt, pepper and either lemon or lime

Katherine,

Connecticut also passed a statute attempting to address the increase in foreclosures, but it is more procedural & voluntary, ratther than substantive.

It provides for mediation with a court appointed mediator (who are being assigned from the current court clerk ranks) to attempt to mediate an agreement between the lender & debtor in an effort to reinstate the mortgage, to restructure the debt, however, if the parties do not agree, court dates are set for advancing the foreclosure process itself.

Unfortunately, the parties would have to agree to modifications, there is no mandatory enforcement provision, unlike the proposed federal mortgage modification bill.

As far as the ramifications to the local government/economy, yes lost tax revenue from vacant properties, is a real problem that no politicians looking for our votes is addressing.

Again, who speaks for the middle class?

Try to keep cool--enjoy your bloody Mary. Time for lunch on the East Coast.

the basket weavers ply their trade from rickety stands in front of their homes usually on hwy 17, the old ocean highway which still gets good north-south traffic as the upstate bozos forced I-95 to go sixty miles north of charleston.

celery stalk, salt on the glass rim and secret as to the ingredients........

i have seen them with pepper on the rim, though........which works well, also...........

Obama leads McCain slightly in latest Missouri poll

"Obama's five-point edge is within the poll's margin of error of 3.5 percentage points for each number. That means similar polls could show results ranging from a two-point lead for McCain to a larger margin for Obama."

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/politics/story/84EC6E3C5EAE4FF586257484000FDDED?OpenDocument

(Don't forget the margin of error.)

sixty miles west of charleston actually.........maybe northwest........and north and south, too.......oh well.....it's way over there and not over here..........

Sturgeone

Are there young basket makers?

google "gullah basketweaver stands" for more pics.

http://coffee-and-pie.com/media/img/6173174a/baskets-and-weaver-i.jpg

kgc..........fewer and fewer all the time, but yes in hot-traffic high sale spots you can see some.......

So appropriate for our little gang on Trail Mix...

http://comics.denverpost.com/members/common/affiliateArchive.do?site=denver&comic=pearls

they cost a lot of money......i havent priced them lately, but I'll price them next time i go by one..........

one more and then I'll quit.....lol........these are downtown ladies.....

http://image69.webshots.com/69/2/4/45/2294204450027350826TLqRLC_fs.jpg

Could 2008 Be a McCain Landslide?

"Disillusionment among loyal Democrats has already begun and is mounting rapidly. In the wake of Hillary Clinton's concession, a great many disgruntled Democrats started a grassroots groundswell under one banner group, PUMA, which stands for: Party Unity My A**. There are already more than 200 separate groups that are uniting under the PUMA banner, with only one thing in common. They vow that, no matter what, they will not support Barack Obama. There is already "Democrats for McCain" gear and all the hoopla that goes with it."

http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/07/could_2008_be_a_mccain_landsli.html

sturge -- couldn't get that pic...but am googling the basket makers...I bought a LOT of those baskets to bring friends when I was in Charleston.

HW

Loved that cartoon.

"Disillusionment among loyal Democrats "

Gordo -- If, and a McCain win would be a BIG if, the Reps pull this election out....it will not be because of disillusioned Dem voters. They will play a very small role. It's the independent vote and whether the Reps can get enough of their base riled up....

How ironic that GORDO's cut and paste link about PUMA came from a blog called "AMERICAN THINKER". Well I am American and I am a "thinker" and even though I wish Hillary was the nominee, I am not going to sit on my ass and say "Hillary ain't the nominee so I'll play spoiler and vote for McCain". I know that not all my Hillary supporter colleagues agree with me and I respect their decision. This is not a put-down. But a right-wing blog singing the praises of Democrats running to McCain burns me. How insincere. If Hillary won the delegates, they would be tearing her to bits and feeding her to the right-wing wolves.

I've had enough of the Repugs. Since Nutella isn't running, Obama gets my vote.

Obama with Fareed Zakaria on CNN in three minutes

Don't know if this piece has been posted....a good, even-handed, lengthy look at Obama's Chicago years:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/21/080721fa_fact_lizza

The Number Is Growing: Do. Not. Want. Barack. Obama.

"It’s as if our antibodies are successfully fighting a viral intrusion against our well-being. That’s what Barack Obama is, you know. An intrusion. He was forced upon us by his own cheating and thuggishness, with the help of his fellow thieves at the DNC. "

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/07/the-number-is-growing-do-not-want-barack-obama/

Man, sturg! Am just now taking time to read through yesterday's posts. Sounds as though you've lived a bit of the real life Dixiana Moon!

Nick

No mystery there other than emphasis. As close as I can tell on the time line, his mother was on food stamps after his father's desertion and while she was completing her education. It was a very short period and you might accuse himof making too much of it, but it did happen.

After her marriage, she used that education to move into international banking. Again, he describes both the grandmother and the mother as having lesser careers than they seem to have had. Now for women of the time period (wages being unequal and all) that MIGHT have been true, but they were both banking vice presidents.

Anyway, someone else with more interest than I have will have to dig in to what was exagerated and what was minimized for his own political purposes.

Gordo seems a little more desperate than usual today. Just Sunday or those electoral landslide numbers getting to him? :-)

"After her marriage, she used that education to move into international banking."

Why was she so afraid her insurance was bad before she died? The life story problem for me is one of emphasis and embellishment.... although I presume most politicians skew their tales...

Jamie...re: your 12:51...glad you liked the cartoon. I'm slowly catching up on my Trail Mix reading, and just got to your post....

Compliments of Wash. Note, Random House press release about Jane Mayer's The Dark Side. Sounds like a trip to amazon.com might be warranted:

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/Dark%20Side%20Release%20web.htm

Patsi

I just see it as telling stories to create an image. You could tear them apart piece by piece, but it all comes down to his ambition and trying to decide if there is a core of belief to the man that outweighs that ambition.

My decision during the primaries was that Sen. Clinton's core beliefs were larger than her ambition and that Sen. Obama's were smaller. That doesn't make him a bad man as he seems to be a good husband and father, and it may just be a factor of age and experience, but I would like to see more growth as a human being. It will probably come and you know it has to be better than McCain since his growing up is pretty well done.

"Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Rove suggests that the same tactics implemented by the Obama team in the primary will fail come November. “Democrats don’t have the same large volunteer pool the GOP does with its Federated GOP Women, College and Young Republicans, and local party committees,” Rove writes. “In the primaries, Mr. Obama instead moved hordes of volunteers from state to state…The volunteers adequate for primaries held over five months will simply not be enough to compete in 51 separate elections (all 50 states plus the District of Columbia) all on one day.” (Many of the younger ones will be studying for exams around that time.)"

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/13/plouffe-the-magic-dragon/3523/

The classic story of extreme ambition

What Makes Sammy Run

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Makes_Sammy_Run%3F

Jamie -- I'm not sure what's driving McCain these days. Possibly mental illness.

In Obama's case, I'm not sure who's driving. Telecommunications and hedge funds, probably.

Jamie,

This caught my attention as I was catching up on the thread:

"but they were both banking vice presidents."

Never worked around a bank but it seems like in some of these banks there's a VP for everything, including maintenance. :-)

I'm scanning these 500+ posts to see if Craig got his car yesterday... was there a verdict?

I have always loved my Subarus...going back to my first one in 1991 - the Legacy wagon. That was traded in 1999 for an Outback sedan - still on the road with 135,000 miles. Hubby once had the Forester (company car) and the SVX (his mid-life crisis car).

Yes well thank you Karl Rove for being a nay-sayer about Obama's ability to motivate volunteers in the general election. I am sure your analysis is something we can all bank on .. after all right up to election day 2006 you were predicting that the Republicans would hold the House of Representatives and gain seats in the U.S. Senate.

GORDO good one... Have you registered REPUG yet?

I worked in a bank for 5.5 years. We failed in 1982 at the time of double digit interest rates. We were Minnesota's only Savings Bank. We were taken over by a commercial bank, the first time two different type of banks merged in U.S. history. I survived til 1984 and had to get out. and yes there were bank vp's and assistant vp's and banking officers, and various department presidents..

One thing I learned (and I was a peon)... if you got up to the level of "Banking officer" you were in the line of target for being knocked down and tossed out. I was so glad I never went above banking counselor aka customer service.

Ca'va

GORDO'''' Keep up the good work
fight the good fight

Rez

Yes I know, but his grandmother really was quite important in Hawaii and his mother seems to have been in control of large sums of money. Still that doesn't mean they made large salaries, but it certainly meant they had contacts which probably explains his access to private schools and other opportunities.

Nothing is wrong with that as he still had to perform once he got those opportunities, but you could hardly mistake him for some up from the sidewalk, child of the ghetto.

Just as Hillary could conflate "flying into a war zone" with "running for cover on the tarmac", I think Sen. Obama exagerates what seems to be an advantage at the expense of the exact truth.

"Right now BarackObama.com is tanking in website hits. He is currently at pre-Iowa caucus levels (currently at around Jan. 2nd). John McCain's site and Bob Barr's site have remained constant. Barack Obama's polling numbers have remained unchanged since May 18th. For a "popular" presumptive candidate, you would think you would see his numbers increasing."

http://blog.changeandexperience.com/2008/07/nq-daily-kos-along-with-obamas-base-is.html

GORDO'''' Keep up the good work
fight the good fight

Posted by: mqw | July 13, 2008 2:52 PM

You know when someone has to quote KARL ROVE to make their anti-Obama diatribes, I somehow don't find it as "good work" or a "good fight". I suppose if someone is a Bush repug, they would think so. but if they are a Bush Repug they wouldn't have supported Hillary anyway, so the motivation in egging Gordo on is suspect.

And that's all I am going to say on the subject

Actually Jamie I wasn't concerned about the narrative just pointing out that (in my very limited experience) being VP in banking never meant much to me in the way of stature or income prominence.

"Never worked around a bank "

Oh, did I forget the mention, my last name is Sutton LOL j/k

Rez aka Sutton

But that is where they keep the money. :-)

Coreen, read your 11:43 about the legislation on Chap 13 mortgage provisions:
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/07/blogs-on-a-roll.html#comment-114608

I'm absolutely sympathetic to homeowners who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in the most desperate situations on their homes.

That said, I question whether it is right requiring banks to do such things as modifying the debt amount. After all, if the bank paid the builder or previous owner the amount of the mortgage (the debt amount), then how is it fair shifting the burden of the situation to the bank's shareholders? If the situation is caused by a plant closure, for instance, why should the bank pick-up the pieces; they certainly aren't responsible.

Seems to me, if the banks hands are clean, that the government should absorb the cost of keeping the homeowner in his dwelling as being a reasonable societal cost. In these types of circumstances, an equivalent 'taking' would be requiring the local grocer to give the family groceries at half price because the family did their regular shopping at the grocer's store.

The loan paper (the mortgage) a bank holds is an asset just the same as the merchandise in the grocery store.

If the bank's hands aren't clean, then all bets are off.

Just reviewed the brief conversation about Bloody Mary ingredients. Doesn't anyone else like tabasco sauce?

" think we need the bulk of military attention focused on Afghanistan "

We'll be mired down in Afghanistan for decades unless we wrap that up much the same as Iraq. The minute wqe lost the moral high grownd and started detaining teenage boys trying to get groceries for their families, we lost that one.

I wish the whole Bloody Mary conversation hadn't started because now I am wanting one! Tobasco or horseradish -- doesn't matter. Lots of salt on the rim, though. Just can't decide if I want to go find a restaurant that makes a decent one.

Patsi: Come see me. I always have the fixins' -- although chez moi you will more likely get a cucumber spear than a celery stalk.

560 messages. I think fearless leader went for a test drive and is now in Florida.

Just listening to Meet the Press.

My impression is that Fiorina is heads and shoulders above McCaskill. Fiorina is talking substance while McCaskill is tossing out buzzwords and campaign bullets.

I came across a marinade recipe for beef using a basic bloody mary concoction - wonder how that would taste.

Contessa Brewer is one reason I find Fox more watchable. The you women news readers do NOT roll their eyes or shriek. La Brewer is the messof messes.

Also, is Mika off mojo for good? Of course it's for good, but I mean for ever?

KGC - do you ever get to Sawyer's magazine and book place in downtown Santa Rosa? They have the best fridge magnets . My favorite one is God Loves You**
Some restrictions may apply.

I echo the thoughts I read re Afghanistan. That was always the real problem.

going to go play with our kids in a moment. Grandma told 4 year old she was only getting him a small toy, and he replied, "That'll do." Upon being told if he didn't get in the car right now, he charged, "You're forcing me." I love haaving conversations with this kids. We think he might have got my mother's musical ability, and I say, about time.

Webster Tarpley on BO's megalomania.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pbSOSXH-Xss&feature=user

"The most painful clip..."

Fortunately, he seems to have a good grasp of what's going on here...not that the State Assembly agrees with a word he says.

looks like I might enjoy the "Spy Talk" column.......glad it's on board.......havent read the other one yet......

"although chez moi you will more likely get a cucumber spear than a celery stalk. "

Sounds good to me, Maggi....

Bethy-- ROFL on the grandkids!

The prices need to be updated, but with all the car talk, environment, and energy problems, this one seemed appropriate:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXQf0JG8Uj8

Re Contessa and Mika. I've come to the conclusion that the MSNBC boys club like their news reading girlies all giggly and gushy with regular leg and cleavage shots.

Jamie,
Not that means much to me or requiring any response, :-), but I think FOX is more in keeping with the legs and chest shots comment.

Hey all
Here is an interesting piece.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/07132008/news/nationalnews/ego_bama__swallow_some_of_that_pride_119709.htm?page=0

Rez

I never watch Fox so wouldn't know. Just know that most of the CNN women are all growed up while MSNBC could break out in baby talk any second.

Nick

These NoBama and Puma sites get more and more Republican by the second. If they are trying to fly under the radar, they shouldn't use GOP talking points.

Flatus, I'll try to respond & apologize in advance for taking up so much space.

For starters, there are about 1.5 million bankruptcies filed annually-- it is estimated that the mortgage modification bill would effect approx. 600,000 mortgages, available to debtors in Chapter 13.

Also, until 1993, bankruptcy judges had the authority to modify mortgages on primary residences(the change came as the result of a Supreme Court case). Actually, bankruptcy judges do have the authority to modify loans secured by cars, boats, farms, vacation homes.

I believe the mortgage modification bill is an attempt to alleviate some of the rash of foreclosures that continue & will in all likelihood continue for a couple of years & to keep homeowners in their homes.

Balancing the equities of modification vs. foreclosure.

When the lender finally obtains the property, it usually does not recover its entire debt & it incurs expenses that are not recouped when the property is finally sold- legal fees, selling costs, maintaining/repairing the foreclosed property, as well as the time delay until sold.

Allowing the bankruptcy judges to modify loans would guarantee the lender at least the value of the propertytaken as security. A modification could not be for less than FMV at the present time. Further, the debtor would be making payments providing a stream of interest income to the lender rather than it receiving no payments pending the foreclosure outcome, which could take 1-2 years.

The vacant property tends to devalue overall property
values in the area, the tax revenue lossess to the municipality results in significant costs to the local government by way of such things as police/safety
issues, all negatively impacting the local economy.

There are a multitude of reasons for the foreclosure epidemic--the brokers who were overly aggressive in selling their products often placing borrowers in loans that they could not afford to repay (some borrowers are/were using 1/2 of their take home pay for a mortgage), using inflated property appraisals, the absence of any regulation in the underwriting of the loans, lenders' willingness to loan to borrowers with no verification of income (IndyMac was a no-doc loan provider--until it failed, don't forget Countrywide as well in the forefront of the non-traditional/exotic loan products such as interest only, payment option adj. rate loans, not to mention the pre-payment penalty provisions attached to the loan, the borrowers eagerness to become homeowners, or to refinance
& tap as much equity from their home as the lender would allow, not to mention that the lender & the broker made large fees placiang these borrowers in
these products--all this contributed to the current situation.

Is there blame to go around the table, was it greed on all sides--probably. Was there fraud in the loan application process, no first hand knowledge of this, but reports indicate there was fraud.

There are studies that state that the legislation will
not significantly raise the cost of mortgage credit & that
it may be an incentive to lenders to modify loans knowing the court has the power to impose such action.

As far as govenment underwriting the losses--fannie & freddie mac are involved right now. Remains to be seen the extent of the damage, if any.

The Dodd/Franke mortgage bailout bill passed in the Senate Friday night apparently contains a $300 million subsidy to lenders to work out potential defaults(have not seen the specifics-devil will be in the detail) but if passed/signed would not assist the current rash of foreclosures or pending foreclosures.

Spawn of Luci Anne Goldberg which is even worse.

boop,
You're right about Firorina. Good comparison to Karen Hughes. She can't be helping the McCain campaign.

Jamie,
Watch Melissa Rayberger on MSNBC. She's the real deal.

Tony,

Meet Jonah's mother

http://www.lucianne.com/

gop talking points:

That economy aint so bad.

Hey that surge is really working great, eh?

Aint that McCain a handsome vigorous looking feller?

We gotta cut those rich people's taxes so more of that money can trickle down to the huddled masses yearning to eat real food and drive somewhere for the weekend........

stuff like that......

Trust me Jamie on this one, there''s more T&A on Faux. 8-)

I couldn't remember the tongue out emoticon. Not that I watch it much! U know Channel surfing.

i havent read those sites, though......that's just what my republican friends tell me......

"What is a GOP talking point? Honestly I do not get your drift."

Nick, Does your mother let you out alone? Try listening to any of the GOP talking heads. You'll catch on since they repeat themselves constantly. Usual clues are things such as

Pro Life rather than Pro Choice
Death tax rather than inheritance tax

The one that gave your site away was the "sex education in kindergarten" headline. Heaven forbid anyone knows anything about sex until they are cornered by a Congressman.

Nick,

This is about as close as I can get you to a true troglodyte Republican site. Just read the postings and commentary. You will be able to recognize the beast in no time at all.

http://capoliticalnews.com/s/

I saw it. Tylenol is really upset about the process and the environmental destruction. Of course the young man making 100,000 a year at 22 with less than a hs education didn't mind at all.

The United States is now paying the price for its love of short term thinking and instant gratification. What I don't want to see us do is put off the pain again with some temporary bandaid. Unfortunately, that will take person or persons as yet unknown to say

Clean Up The Environment
Fix the Transportation System
Come Up with energy alternatives
Develop gree industries to replace old manufacturing
Stop playing globe policeman

It will be expensive and it will be rough going until energy, food and housing problems stabilize and we actually become a partner to the world instead of their 811 speed dial.

We either do it now or face much worse even more expensive problems in the future.

It's called teasing Nick. You asked what was a Republican talking point. Most people on this blog have no trouble whatsoever recognizing them

Do you eat with that mouth too?

Feeling a thrill run up you leg, Brie? I know you thrive on this sort of thing.

can I just say, its good to see you two agree on something? LOLOLOL

Potty Mouth Alert

I looked up Godwin's Law. Interesting definition.

http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/index.php/Godwin's_Law

Yep Nick is a Republican. Escapee from the Freeper Comments section.

Calm down in here! Don't make me go get Craig!

Nick,

I don't chime in too often anymore, but you are acting very lame. YOu mouth belongs in the toilet....

Anyone else here would be a heck of a lot more creative to get their point across. You are limiting yourself with your profanity.

I've seen a lot more intelligence from you.

Just sayin.

one frog.....one goat......let nature take it's course.......

I don't know the ages of everyone in the 'room' right now, but this is quite the behavior for a group of supposed adults.

The frog must be the male. He can jump. I don't think the goat can get that close to the ground.

The Sunday Times reports Stephen Payne, a Bush pioneer and a political appointee to the Homeland Security Advisory Council, was caught on tape offering access to key members of the Bush administration inner circle in exchange for “six-figure donations to the private library being set up to commemorate Bush’s presidency.”

In an undercover video, Payne is seen promising to arrange a meeting for an exiled leader of Krygystan with Dick Cheney or Condoleezza Rice. (Not President Bush because “he doesn’t meet with a lot of former Presidents these days,” Payne says. “I don’t think he meets with hardly anyone.”) All it will take for him to arrange this high-level meeting, says Payne, is “a couple hundred thousand dollars, or something like that.”

Specifically, Payne tells a Kazakh politician he knew as Eric Dos that Payne would come up with “the exact budget,” which would be “somewhere between $600,000 and $750,000, with about a third of it going directly to the Bush library.” The contribution would “be a show of ‘we’re interested, we’re your friends, we’re still friends.’”

complete story at:

crooksandliars.com

Interspecies Sex: Evolution's Hidden Secret?James Owen
for National Geographic News

March 14, 2007
The act of mating with a species other than your own may not be as ill advised or peculiar as it seems.

Why can't we just dance? Damn catchy song here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r23cm7bL9E

Talk about Melt down. This is hilarious!!

"Talk about Melt down. This is hilarious!!"

Yes. The beginning of the end of this blog. It's what some have been working for quite a while now....

Inject the venom and let it spread.

"child proof latches!" ;p; Cute

Well Patsi,

Consider this an anti venom defense. By the way, good to see your words. ;0)

Off Topic.....

I just watched the "History Detectives" on PBS. One quality show~

Hey it's better than the raining frogs

http://allaboutfrogs.org/weird/general/raining.html

And way better than raining McCain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaP9eiWuX3s

jamie

I just read the dust up --where were your flaming tildas? I think Nick misunderstood thought you might be playing the dozens with him.

bethy
Yes I love Sawyers. And of course the owner is now Santa Rosa's first gay mayor. There is coffee mystery there. The cart sells the best coffee and they used to sell the beans but no matter how it got brewed --it never tasted the same. There are not many great news stands in the Bay area, Santa Rosa is lucky to have such a good one.

Did anyone see that CNN special this afternoon on Daughters of Legacies? They interviewed one of Muhammad Ali's daughters, Martin Luther King's daughter and Johnnie Cochran's daughter. Another segment was with Malclm X's daughter and Sidney Poitier's daughter. It was pretty interesting.

Zoinks! New Yorker's Glimpse of an Obama White House

"This cover is a small crack in the dam. Obama has effectively kept the media from satirizing him, or criticizing him, by calling anyone who does either a racist (just like the people who won't vote for him -- all racists). Now that The New Yorker has done this, others will follow. A cult of personality does not survive when it's lampooned. One crack at Obama's expense will lead to millions more."

http://hillbuzz.blogspot.com/2008/07/zoinks-new-yorkers-glimpse-of-obama.html

So how's the "Summer of Love" holding up?

Beautiful day here, not so pretty in the blog world, I see....yet again....hmmmmm....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozc70JPGRMQ

a little "burning down the house"

{{Giggling}} Sometimes opposites make for great bedfellows?

>>>>Sheila running for cover>>>>>

Corey,

See above. I saw Legacy yesterday. It was really good.
I particularly enjoyed Sydney Poitier's daughter.

Jamie,
That attack was way out of control. You don't deserve that. No one does.

Same goes for you Chef Shelia....unbelievably un-warranted and just plain disgusting.

What a total disgrace!

Chef,

You better run woman!!!! I don't think we would even like the same men.

LOLOLOL

Oh goodness, what a thought`

UB

That has never been a deep dark secret considering the announcement isn't on the front page of his blog.

The only way he could make it more obvious is to invite everyone to a film festival of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Torch Song Trilogy, and The Birdcage.

lol....yes Jamie...I know....

btw I'd never out someone.....just toying

Remove "isn't" between Announcement and on Brain lapse

lolol Oh brother.....

The “Making” of a Politician

"Got your attention? While the cover of this issue of the New Yorker will likely be the topic of countless blogs and tv spots tomorrow, don’t miss the article.

It is a fascinating piece on Obama’s early years in Illinois politics. Seems like some of his early supporters have buyer’s remorse.

While Obama’s current race for president portrays him as a black man running against white privilege and against long odds, Obama’s base has always been mainly upper-class whites. And he has always known this."

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/13/the-making-of-a-politician/

I think N*ck may have self destructed tonight - like the tapes in the beginning of a Mission Impossible episode.

chicken breasts
....for all he knows they are the same
: )

The New Yorker cover may be real, as reported in Politico:

Scare tactic---Obama slams Muslim portrayal

"tasteless & offensive" as per Obama campaign

New Yorker says its satire.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/11719.html

The Ryan Lizza arrticle in the New Yorker about Obama's rise through Chicago political scene is very informative

The New Yorker cover is for real. Here's some info on it.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0708/Ya_cant_make_it_up.html

How desperate has the New Yorker become? It is well documented the revenue loss print media has taken due to internet news.....

btw : I think Obama should have been wearing Birkenstocks

anything for a buck !

I hope the next issue has McCain in a hospice.

They are right. It really is tasteless. The New Yorker has always been good. I'm surprised.

What about Birkenstocks---I wear a pair every day--they
are absolutely wonderful.

I can understand the cartoon making fun of all the rumors, but think it was a very bad idea to put it on the cover.

The cover lets the crazies buy in to the rumors since they don't read the article, whereas the cartoon in relation to the article would have made the point to readers.

hmmm....not as minty fresh here anymore....

N*ck - you obviously were raised by pigs and dressed as a girl as a child....stop projecting your our miserable existence on the rest of us.

should I correct my typo...our should I just offer a different response.....LOLOL

double typo...dang

Love Madonna in every way.Big Hillary supporter..Oh her taste in men.Hot.Carlos Leon reminds of my ex Jose.Latin Lover Superb.

I like Madonna......a lot...I used to tell my step sons she was my sister...LOL...they were really young....for all I know they still beleive it....

U B
LOL. I'm sure your beautiful then like Madonna.
I have loved Madonna it seems like forever.Madonna was born in Bay City,Michigan just about 35 miles from my hometown of Flint. Madges music has remained imo consistently good and her latest Hard Candy well if you have'nt give it a listen.Justin Timberlake does the song 4 MINUTES with her.Check out the video on Y-Tube.She looks Fab.

Yes from "The Girlie Tour" EROTICA......memories that bra!Fab

Heck with Madonna. This is a Diva

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G4O5AMSevc

http://i33.tinypic.com/2ezpoh2.jpg

Here's a little jpeg to send to The New Yorker and anywhere else you see fit!

Yes Jamie.Cher well don't get me started.I believe well she is The Diva to out last all diva's...Thanks for that.I love that song and video.I love all things Cher! Her last Tour was so good.Sad.I hope she records again.

No I DON'T..have one and have never crossed dressed despite what you may have heard...Why oh why didn't you ask me about pumps then also? Ha Ha I'm a very straight acting manly male....except for when I'm not...........LOL

What do the Obama supporters think about this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUmbjoEp2lU&eurl=http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/08/barack-obama-political-assassination-of-hillary-clinton/

i have to go to work...

Nick please relax and stop the attacks. If you read what your wrote later on I think you will be embarrassed.

And Tony, as a serious Cher fan since I was 15, I was just going to post about the REAL true Diva.

Here is my yahoogroup... the first Cher presence on the baby net (this was in March 1998)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cher

oh well, I have one more...

Doris Day

also a group... I don't own this one but just run it.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dorisday

Complained and sent, thank you!

The New Yorker is so out of line on this...at least in my opinion.

The Cover--looks to me as if they've done what they do well--create thoughtful discussion.

I've been doing The New Yorker for more than 60-years (I started _very_young during the Peter Arno and Helen Hokinson years). In all that time, I've not heard a single person outside my circle comment on a New Yorker cover.

And, those who follow the magazine, know that they are equal opportunity satirists.

That type of cover art is in the best traditions of political journalism developed over the past couple of centuries.

There have been plenty of articles in the New Yorker that have been critical of the Clintons. That's what I want to read--articles that cut through the veneer surrounding a candidacy or an issue.

I did a quick read of the feature article in the July 21st issue. I think it is a biting portrayal of Mr Obama and his agenda. Others will see it, and him, in a different light.

The cover will be chuckled over. But, the article will be discussed.

Cher's best album was the first after leaving Sonny. Her then boyfriend David Geffen... hilarious I know ... signed her to Warner Brothers and she recorded an album called STARS produced y Jimmy Webb. That album remains my favourite of all time...

Ok enough about Cher... I am more passionate about her than I am about politics.

Got an email, for one of my credit card...VIP package to see Madonna....two price levels 390 and 590....a piece...for that you got half way decent seats, a pre-show reception, two drinks, some trinket......and maybe a poster....

Patsi - I screwed up the last part of that story but I think you got it anyway. Alex was told if he didn't get in the car right away, he wouldn't get even the little toy, then he replied, "You're forcing me." When he was 2, he was approached by that same grandmother, who noticed he seemed to be chewing on something he held in his hand. Seeing her walk up, he hid the item behind his back and said, "Don't check it out!" It turned out it was a very old bone the dog had given up on weeks ago.

Well, that spurt of hate and venom was shocking. From what I could tell, it was the question as to whether his mother let him out alone that set it off. I don't think any of you should feel insulted by it since it seemed to be more about him than anything else.

I am confused - is it the cover or the article of the the New Yorker that you are all upset about? It's not something I read or even keep watch over so I won't see it.

I love the term "cupcake" and "cookie" is a close second - don't know why- I just do.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0708/Ya_cant_make_it_up.html#comments

this should get you there Boops

This makes twice for that video.

UB
Wow incredible,my last ticket for Madge was Drowned World In Detriot about 5 years ago.$100.Amazing

Boop

The article is really interesting, but it is 12 pages long. There are links to it up above.

Good night all.

ET
Thanks for the Cher Info.I will look for that STARS album.I like you Mr.

The back-and-forth a couple hours ago on this blog is shameful. It's sunk to new depths..but it's a free blog, and it's not my blog...so what say do I have on censoring it? It's just nothing that any reasonable person would or could join in on.
Like a blog-owner told me once, "take it to email."

And that New Yorker cover is hilarious...only a shallow person couldn't "get it." It's FUNNY! Don't you complainers EVER read Barry Blitt's illustrations of Frank Rich's columns at NYT?
Blitt is a great artist and his illustrations are commentary on the media circus, that's all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You want to see what racism is? Watch Generation Kill which is on right now on HBO on the Coast.
Watch and listen how the soldiers use every racial insult at each other, which may be viewed as simple camaraderie
, but when they calle all Iraqis "hajis", that crossed the line.
It's a vile insult to a people...every goddam bit as bad as any racial slur for any minority.

did you hear that Amy actually has low grade / beginning stages of emphysema, as a result of her drug use?

I think if you are not a minority, you have little idea of how bigotry and racism would affect your life.

I never hold myself up to the standards of the young Americans in war that see the most HORRIFIC of all scene. They have their own set rules/ boundaries ( even if non-spoken) of acceptability.

The New Yorker seemingly , has set their sights on , 24 hr cable news as a way to gain market. This was a calculated move for publicity, if you think this is the best they can do for satire, I think you are mistaken. MAD magazine could have come up with this one...it's a disgrace to the publication.

I look forward to next weeks cover with McCain on his death bed and his , oh so devoted wife, Cindy stealing his Oxygen.

jmo

oh, in addition to her stealing his Oxygen she could torture him....because he supports it....

happy happy joy joy

maybe stealing someone oxygen is torture ?....maybe she should water board him while he is on his death bed...that would be a very "The New Yorker" cover.

over and out

peace~ to those that breathe

Gordo..One of the pictures at the end of your post was Hillary thanking volunteers with a surprise visit to the Salem OR office..a day I will always remember.

TASTELESS!

(reference to the cover of the NewYorker)

But I have to say that I am wondering why this cover could come up. Which camp... And yes, I am keeping ALL options open!

Hell, it worked the first time, why not go at it again. :

UB - thanks for the cover and the accompanying text.
I'm bemused - I understand the logic of their explanation, but, like Jamie, I think it was REALLY just plain stupid to put it on the cover.

As an illustration of the mental images some people describe when they mention Obama, it is pretty funny and holds those people up to ridicule...BUT they should have addressed that point. They could have had a full page of cartoons in with the article and commented on the extent of the delusions coming from the extremists.

They sure have people talking, tho, so maybe it will turn out to be en expose of a lunatic fringe.

Stupid, dumb, tasteless - you know what, tho? All these rumors have been just that : stupid, dumb, and tasteless. To that extent, I think the cover makes a good point.

The only people who will take it as a condemnation of the Obama's are already in the choir. I hope the cover makes the right point with everyone else - to me it's mocking the haters and rumor-mongers.

Sorry it's given you guys such a bad turn, tho. And I'm not sticking up for the New Yorker - they made the decision, they can stick up for themselves.

The article - well, it's about Chicago politics,right?
'Nough said.

Bethy -- My gripe about the venom was directed at one person, Mr. bomb thrower himself. He slips and slides around, making enough reasonable posts to "pass" but always promoting a tone that finally explodes. Then he and ilk salivate because the destruction of others is just so -- well -- so lololol.

What I saw was an argument between two people that should have stayed that way. But the egg on/pile on started.

I thought that the earlier exchange was sad, to see someone fall apart. But I guess some get pleasure out of it. Some even think meltdowns are "hilarious." There's some serious pathology in here.