Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Just wait until Obama runs an ad with a McCain look alike in a bathrobe on the front porch of a house yelling at a bunch of kids. They will portray him as a crazy old coot to be very scared of. This is going to be so wild a campaign, I say "Bring it on!

Craig,

Do you think that it's proof that McCain is a savvy politician or if he is flip flopping on putting country before himself since it seems he is more concerned with winning an election than healing or fixing the country?

As McCain further runs away from the candidate in 2000 that won universal praise, doesn't he risk looking more and more like Romney on a daily basis?

Excellent point, Craig. This means Obama can't make a single mistake from here until November. If he does, McSame will say, "see I told you so," even if the facts don't support a single claim thus far. Roll out a daily charge against Obama and one will stick, much like what happened to Gore and Kerry. Planting the seeds of destruction!

eprof... I agree with you ... I hate American politics. They are so dirty, but I am an American and passionate about casting my vote.

Renee, I know that red isn't a flavor, but that is what it's called. I believe it' cherry, but for slang it's called red.

Listen to the first verse, Renee. LOL!

http://www.last.fm/music/Babyface/_/Good+to+Be+in+Love

It is obvious the dems won the coin toss for the Presidency this year. I am thinking about what the debates may look like as both men are such smirkers. Yuck! It is almost painful to watch them both.

I am absolutely SHOCKED about this news:

Canada bus attack leaves man decapitated
40 minutes ago

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Manitoba (AP) — A man aboard a Greyhound bus repeatedly stabbed and then decapitated a fellow passenger, witnesses said Thursday.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hx-mB9K812hwZqPx4HhsRsgjT7YwD928VSB80

I am truly shocked and really horrified...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvflG0zlHso

Or we have that one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuEWBlChry4

Here is a song that speaks to my heart about what's going on in America... and some of the reasons why I left for Europe.

Will 2000 Bush tactics win against a 2008 campaign ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VTszNLwFd0

Old man on the back porch
by
Presidents of the United States

Then why proliferate the story? Does no one any good.

Gallup Daily: Obama 45%, McCain 44%Race returns to statistical tieUSA Election 2008 Gallup Daily Americas Northern America PRINCETON, NJ -- The race for the presidency has moved back into a statistical tie in the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking update of national registered voters, with Barack Obama now ahead of John McCain by just one percentage point, 45% to 44%.

ET,
That bus story is horrible, and it may give other nut-cases ideas. I know I will not let my family ever ride a bus..... no security checks what so ever.

Once again vulnerability exposed.

These fascist assholes that get 'elected' in this country LOVE LOVE LOVE taking away your liberties. Un friggin' real. And people wonder why airlines can't make money, despite their de facto oligopoly.

CQ TODAY MIDDAY UPDATE
July 31, 2008 – 2:02 p.m.

House Panel Votes To Block Cellphone Use On Domestic Flights
A bill that seeks to prevent the use of cellphones on domestic passenger airliners was approved Thursday by a House panel.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the bill by voice vote, but not before considering its merits for about an hour.

Much of the debate revolved around whether it was appropriate for the Congress to legislate courtesy.

“My wife had to listen to a female passenger talk about her sex life the night before,” Chairman James L. Oberstar , D-Minn., said. “They get on a cell phone, and it’s like a megaphone. Who wants to listen to that? Certainly not when you’re trapped on an airplane.”

The bill aims to keep U.S. airlines from following the lead of their European competitors and start allowing cell phones to be used in flight.

But John L. Mica , R-Fla., the ranking Republican, called it a “step backward.”

“There are rude people who do rude things,” he said. “There’s no reason for the U.S. to eliminate modern communications or make them inaccessible.”

Mica pulled out an iPod. He said he didn’t own one, but was told that if he “pressed this button it would go on.” A rock song, “Dimension” by Wolfmother, filled the committee room as Mica strained to speak over it.

“If we’re going to start banning cell phones I think there are a number of other things...Ipods and dirty diapers would be on my wishlist,” he said.

He had an amendment at the ready to do just that, but didn’t offer it.

The committee did approve by voice vote a substitute amendment that would provide an exemption for law enforcement officers and provide flexibility with foreign carriers as a result of open sky agreements.

Shoulda hyperlinked that... too lazy. Sorry.

Re-visiting a previously kicked pig, The "Obama-Skips-Sick-Troops-For-Basketball" story: I've heard it decried by Andrea Mitchell and others as an outright lie (which is strong for political jargon), but I'm not sure if I know all of the relevant pieces.

Did Obama play basketball on the day that he had originally planned a visit to the medical facility in Germany?

That he may have also done something else on that day and not just BB makes the implication he preferred BB over the troops, while dubious, politically acceptable -- like implying McCain approved Corporate tax breaks specifically for Energy Companies. On the other hand, if he never played BB ob that day, the implication crosses the line.

And what do you know? It's a Democrat, Oberstar, who has no more pressing agenda than protecting his adult wife from anecdotal sex-talk. They should string this guy up by his thumbs for abuse of office.

"Greyhound spokeswoman Abby Wambaugh said 37 passengers and one driver were on the bus."

Didn't Joe Wambaugh have one of his characters hold up a head for display in one of his novels?

And, I agree it's gross. But, that's the world we live in.

Jamie,

"There's another reason to name Clinton VP. He needs someone to answer the questions."

LOL I can where something like that would really send the over 40 females who are already having problems with BHO send them right on over the edge.

BHO: "Hillary this is Barry. Uh uh Could you hold a press confess and explain to them what I meant if you had said that".

HRC: Sure Barry be glad to help you out AGAIN! What happen this time the batteries on your portable teleprompter die?

"House Panel Votes To Block Cellphone Use On Domestic Flights
A bill that seeks to prevent the use of cellphones on domestic passenger airliners was approved Thursday by a House panel."

Thank god, who the hell wants to ride cross country next to some one saying the entire flight "can you hear me now"

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/07/mccain-takes-a-pass-on-stevens.html#comment-122489

Above was an FD response to something I wrote that I think may need some clarification. Michelle Obama has said that she was not a good "test taker" and I suspect this may be true of her husband as well. Both of them are obviously intelligent, accomplished people but just not "off the cuff" responders when asked to produce informtion instantly.

Hillary is obviously one of those people who is wired to bring up information rapidly. In a way this would make them a good team. One for great ideas and one for a work horse to help make them happen.

That Lanny Davis column laid out virtually every reason I still think the Obama/Clinton team would be the most exciting thing to hit politics since FDR.

BHO doesn't do debates unless he first knows the content of the questions he'll be asked. If he would, he would be having Town Hall debates with McCain, which he is staying far away from.

I just thought of this, when McCain gets elected POTUS, this will push back the chances of any Afro-American from becoming a D presidential nominee for decades. The D's have put all their eggs in one basket on this one, and after BHO's defeat , the D party will become very gun shy about nominating a AF for POTUS. Now common sense would dictate that a person with such a scant resume as BHO's, wouldn't be your first pick. It may be your second choice as VP, but not for top spot. HRC far outshines him. What were they thinking?

Jamie,

You recall FDR's term in office? lol

"They...?"

Fry which 'they' are you speaking of? The Chicago mafia? The
DNC in toto? The caucus organizers? The extreme left who must now be pondering what misery they hath wrought?

Obama sure isn't "off the cuff "...like McCain.....a bit of thought before an answer isn't a bad thing.

I think in general, Americans aren't used to delays in speech....at least not when presented on television.

Let's ban everything you don't like, Tom. What a wonderful world that will be.

I just hate severe thunderstorms, intense lightning, high winds and hail. I hate them even more when they are heading my way.

Bye.

FD

Not quite. He was president when I was born, but I don't actually have any memory of that fact. Now I do remember pictures of Truman from the '48 campaign. We had a subscription to LIFE.

Scroll down to the cartoon...and don't get mad. This was just so apropos for Trail Mix, and so cute, that I couldn't resist....

http://doonesbury.com/strip/dailydose/index.html

ET,
You make a valid point....Cell phone usage that bothers me the most when mothers are talking and completely ignoring their small children....the children just want attention...

Hey, since we're banning cell phones. can we ban the words 'meme' and 'apropos' while we're at it?

UB

I genuinely think that Sen. Obama is a thoughtful man who considers ideas. He doesn't do well in circumstances where mikes are being shoved in his face with the immediate expectation of an answer, so you get the canned answers interspersed with er er er while trying to pull up the ones he has memorized.

The same qualities that make him a dynamic speaker of material that he has worked on for hours are the ones that mean he doesn't do well on a pop quiz.

Hillary who does very well with waving her hand when the class is asked for an answer ...

"I Know I Know! "
"Hillary, give someone else a turn honey" ...

had to learn to give a dynamic speech toward the end of the campaign.

Again a yin and yang match up.

absolutely.

Nice email from President Clinton:

"During the campaign, Hillary and I didn't have the chance to eat together much because we were usually on the trail in different states. Now that the campaign's over, I'm glad we can share more meals again.

Of all the people I've had the privilege to break bread with, the person I most enjoy is still Hillary.

Now you have a chance to have dinner with her. And if you contribute today to help Hillary retire that pesky campaign debt, you and a guest might be sitting down to dinner with her soon. I think you should go for it and enter today.

Join Hillary for dinner. Make a contribution today:"

Flatus

Value of that prize is given as $3,000 and it is a contest so the winner would be liable for the taxes and all expenses other than the round trip and dinner (I didn't see mention of an overnight at a hotel or other transport).

Nice note and nice prize, but for most of her small contributors an expense they probably wouldn't want to acquire.

lol. Slick Willy has no shame. At all.

"Ah luuv breakin' bread with Hillary... Not too big on sleepin' with her, but bread breakin' is just fiiine."

Champ get over yourself...Sometimes we have responsibility to consider the comfort of others beyond just ourselves! Your attitude proves exactly what is so wrong about these unthoughtful people thinking they can flip open the phone anyplace, anywhere, anytime no matter how much they inconvenience the other people around them.

There is a good reason that there are some limits on public behavior.. drinking and smoking pops into mind. A little recognition that people also deserve a bit of peace and quiet can go a long way to a bit of cohesive harmony in our increasingly hostile society.

Jamie, the best 'political' meals I used to have were breakfasts in some greasy spoon where the waitress knew who we were and just gave us space and great attentive service. Something about the smell of breakfast cooking and the overall ambience of those kinds of places.

No, Tom; get over YOURSELF. I think disrespectful cell-phone use in public spaces is annoying, too; but I don't feel the need to compel other people to conform to my ideal behavior.

Your attitude proves exactly what is wrong with a society full of babies that want Mommy-government to tell everybody what to do because they don't like it. Waaaahhh, waaahhh. Stay home if you don't like interacting with people.

When I see someone so self-absorbed as to have a private conversation on a cell-phone in a public place, I silently thanks them for demonstrating overtly that I really don't want to associate with them. Big time saver.

"Sometimes we have responsibility to consider the comfort of others beyond just ourselves"

I agree with that completely, but respect isn't something that can be mandated. It all goes back to good parenting. I guess there aren't too many these days (good parents). Not enough at least. By the way, and I hate cell-phone culture. But please, don't tell me what to do, and I won't tell you what to do. I may avoid you, but I won't tell you what to do. Live and let live.

Champ if you hate government so much, why the hell do you care about politics? seems like you are the whining baby...

"“My wife had to listen to a female passenger talk about her sex life the night before,” Chairman James L. Oberstar , D-Minn., said. “They get on a cell phone, and it’s like a megaphone. Who wants to listen to that?"

-Why didn't Mrs. Oberstar just ask the woman to try and be quieter, or continue her call at a different time? Probably because she's both afraid of people and cognizant of the fact that she has a powerful fascist at home who will take car of it for you.

If you can't tell, this disturbs me more than some dude getting his head cut off on a bus? Why? Because like I said, with all of the problems we have in this country, this is the kind of shit our supposed elected representatives feel is more worthy of their time. Reprehensible.

If you left America for Europe because you didn't like the state of affairs or direction of the nation, then why do you interject yourself into American Politics?

To answer your question: Because someone has to.

One thought before I head to work, I am surprised the Mr. Magoo campaign did not capitlize on the fact that Obama has spent more time in front of the citizens of Germany than the ciitizens of Florida and MIchigan.

Flatus

I agree, though for me it would have been in the wee small hours when you have been up all night working on campaign stuff and can finally wind down in some 24 hour deli.

Champ

I think Bill does love his wife. Infidelity and love are not mutually exclusive. Plenty of men are faithful but make their marriages miserable in other ways.

Sure has a funny way of showing it, Jamie. I don't think he neither needs nor deserves apologists for his behavior.

And I think it is a marriage of convenience and power. Everybody's entitled to their opinion.

Don't take my reply the wrong way. I've enjoyed your recent contributions here.

Let's ban everything you don't like, Tom. What a wonderful world that will be.

Better Tom than the Shrubians. I'd be down with Tom as the universal censor I think he has pretty good judgement. I think a community as a whole as a right to set some rules for behavior -public cell phone use is one of them. I didn't hear anyone suggest jail -although I personally support the death penalty for it as well as the repeated inability to properly merge and getting on an elevator before people getting off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, in order to mitigate my apparent hypocrisy, I should have posted:

"I humbly request you attempt to avoid taking my reply the wrong way."

Little awkward in that regard.

Jamie,
I understand the match up, and would be fine if it was his was his choice, but all accounts to date, point away from it happening......unless it's one of those big surprises.... I guess we all have to wait and see.

Thank goodness the humor got more overt as your post lengthened, KGC, because I almost flew off the handle.

If you left America for Europe because you didn't like the state of affairs or direction of the nation, then why do you interject yourself into American Politics?

To answer your question: Because someone has to.

Posted by: champ | July 31, 2008 4:27 PM

No, because it's my birth right, and my responsibility.

hmmm my anger seems to have created a major storm... No seriously... it was all calm here and now the wind is blowing, thunder and lightning, and the temperature is dropping dramatically. It was over 90 degrees in my apartment and finally I am starting to get some relief....

Champ I think it's shameful that discussion on decency and respect for other people's comfort would anger you more or disgust you more than a person being stabbed to death and beheaded on a bus. What's with that????

Well, then, it is mine also. With that perspective, why would you question my motivation to voice my concerns? If it's an attempt to one-up me, I think I've made it apparent that that is usually a futile endeavor. There's plenty of people who can get the better of me, but not too many in here. That's a compliment to the community. Effective on-upsmanship is not really the most admirable trait, and I recognize that., but if you got it...

KGC, kudos to you !!! And I agree on all counts... except me being a universal censor. I'd like it to be an issue where people agree out of courtesy and respect. That's it for this topic. Tomorrow Mauro is here...

There are times when you would like to be a mouse.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h4y8QD_gmpWNesiZxM5uGzopDQVgD928UEG80

Because everybody dies Tom. Me, you, everyone. That someone died in a horrible way somewhere is completely irrelevant, but you feel the need to corrupt everyone else's day with such a mind-numbing and vitality-sapping story such as that because you can't rectify such behavior with your idealistically-slanted view of the world.

Now, you got some bonehead in D.C. legislating etiquette while many more die overseas, our economy failing, our schools crumbling, and on and on, and that's where his priorities lie. I find that much more shameful, in regards to Oberstar, and in regard to you quite frankly, due to your failure to recognize that.

I won't hold it against you, though. I'm sure you're a nice guy, and this is just some silly online forum. Not going to mince words though.

FryDaddy,

Perhaps you are suffering from some optimistic delusion that McCain's events aren't scripted?

It took him how many @#@ attempts to say Czech Republic and Slovakia...then he had to give the history of the break up of the countries after the fall of the Berlin wall to prove he knew how to parrot talking points from one of his aids.

I do wonder what the debates will be like when you have one who does best with prepared remarks and the other who was dismissed by his campaign's spokesperson as someone who doesn't speak for the campaign...in other words, he's full of shit.

a very male answer that totally misses the point. But as I have said before, I am not interested in these ping pong discussions going back and forth...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/07/media-darling-no-more.html#comment-122538

I've made my point. Reject it or embrace it at your leisure. I don't care. The community and the lurkers will make their own decisions based on their own preconceptions and the merits of each of our arguments. If you concede, at least have the integrity to do so verbally.

Just as rats in an overcrowded cage will start dining on each other so human beings become less and less civilized and more prone to anger when subjected to crowds.

The tighter the space the more necessary courtesy becomes in order to grease the wheels of interaction and prevent violence.

If those courtesies are not enforced by general consensus of acceptable behaviour then they will eventually be enforced by law in the interest of public safety.

That's a valid point, Jamie. I'll make that concession.

My concern is with the slippery slope of the revocation of seemingly minor liberties that lead to the revocation of much more important ones.

I don't consider Oberstar, his wife, and the 10 or so other guys in that committee as representative of 'general consensus', however.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/07/media-darling-no-more.html#comment-122548

Bravo JAMIE !!! Spoken so perfectly and eloquently. I might just save your comment. May I use it? with proper credit given of course!!

We're better off without, Tom. Glad you took that bumper sticker to heart.

speaking of bumper stickers, I used to have one on my 1991 Olds Cutlass Calais that had a circle with a line through a telephone that said:

HANG UP AND DRIVE ...

I couldn't believe the amount of people using their phones while driving. It is so dangerous! I used to be a fundraiser in community broadcasting and we heard a recording of a woman calling into NPR to make a pledge and she was distracted and smashed her car, while talking ONLINE !!!

here is more information re: dangers of driving with a cell phone: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/060210.html

ET

Welcome to it. These are all very public words and available to anyone who wants to lift them for whatever reasons.

ET,
Have you seen people texting while driving?....it's unbelievable.

It's a phenomenon known as 'Natural Selection'.

thanks Jamie !! Brilliantly written!

UB, how crazy is that? We had a reference librarian at The Evergreen State College who would drive up from Oregon to work, and he would actually be reading the newspaper while driving!

Gang, it's been a long day, and it's after 11 pm and I have to be at work at 6 am, so take care, it's nice to chat and until next time.

xoxoxoxoxo

http://www.whtm.com/news/stories/0708/538898.html

Pa. Man Cited for U.S. Flags Outside His Store posted 12:58 pm Sat July 26, 2008 - Bradford, Pa. (AP)

Pa. Man Cited for U.S. Flags Outside His Store posted 12:58 pm Sat July 26, 2008 - Bradford, Pa. (AP)

ET & UB

When driving with my granddaughter she asked why I talked looking straight ahead. I explained that I had never had a moving violation or an accident

(won't mention speeding tickets I should have gotten)

People who do everything under the sun except pay attention to the tons of metal they are in and among drive me nuts.

C'mon Viv, that's a salacious headline on a non-story, which is evident upon reading the corresponding short article. Unfortunately, many never make it past the headline, and that's a manipulative technique used by mass media every day to make us dumber.

http://www.doonesbury.com/strip/dailydose/

Well EXCUSE ME for not healing on demand!!!

I love it.

"factually challenged"

I guess you mean lies. I recognize your position but everyone kept giving Bush the same pass on the war and it got old.

From the previous thread: sorry just catching up

"That is why McCain is hammering Obama with the off shore drilling. It is a winning issue.........For those of us without a coast it is a no brainer."

McCain is preying on that anxiety of those with no brains by offering offshore drilling as a quick fix.

I'm done, by the way. It seems my participation may influence the lack of participation by others, so have at it. I promise I won't be back until the sun sets completely, at the earliest.

in addition to Gallup's 1%
Rasmussen Daily 2%
CNN 7%

With O facing a very weak John MdCain, he should be well ahead, ready to withstand the attacks which have barely started. We are in big trouble Democrats. That doesn't mean Obama can't win because McCain is fully capable of messing up greatly.

Wake Up Democrats! Clinton-Gore 2012

Snotty Barack is speaking to his worshippers on MSNBC.

The Quinnipiac polls were out today in the swing states of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Obama is ahead in all three states; two of which are states that Democrats have lost in recent elections.

That's the better polling news!

Speaking of Gore, isn't it amazing how fast his proposal to save the earth vanished from public discourse.

Bowmanc

The only person I've even heard talking about global warming was McCain in a Nevada town hall meeting a couple of days ago and to a very sceptical bunch of Republicans. Which brings up the question. When is Obama going to have the balls to confront his crazies. Or maybe Jesse already has them in his pocket.

Jack

*Breaking* Obama Hides Indonesian Identity: Fake Birth Certificate Explained

"Summary of Obama’s Deception

Barack Obama has misled and deceived the American public about his dual identity, dual citizenship, religious background, and birth records.

He was, and possibly still is, a citizen of Indonesia.

Contrary to Obama’s public statements that he’s “always been a Christian” Obama was at one time a Muslim.

His Hawaiian Birth Certificate reveals the legal name Barry Soetoro. His original Birth Certificate, with the name Barack H. Obama, was sealed.

That is why the Birth Certificate published on his campaign website “FightTheSmears” is fake. Barack Obama does not want you to know about his Soetoro identity."

http://texasdarlin.wordpress.com/2008/07/31/breaking-obama-hides-indonesian-identity-fake-birth-certificate-explained/

Quinnipac is not good news for Obama

"The new Quinnipiac polls for Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania are mostly encouraging for John McCain. How can that be? you might ask. McCain trails in all 3 states according to Q. Here's why - Barack Obama has lost ground in these 3 states."
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x2882.xml?ReleaseID=1196

Rez dog

Yet Mc Cain isn't worried about Florida, he has not been spending money there. But is spending a lot in the MN, MI, PA, Ohio, Iowa.

Jack

Dexter

Crazies murder folks in every culture.
We like to shoot at each other for sport.

Jack

anon,

JM no doubt has narrowed the margin in FL-OH over the past month, but the long term trend looks better for Obama.

McSame had been beating BO in these two states all througout Feb to May when they started polling. He up now so the trend favors Obama.

Obama has always fared better than JM in PA and just increased his margin significantly there.

"But is spending a lot in the MN, MI, PA, Ohio, Iowa."

He better be since he's being out polled in all of those States too.

For the party...1/20/2009...everyone's invited!

http://www.8longyears.com/

Jack ,

I missed your chat with Pogo last blog and I wanted add my .02. now that I caught up.

The issue of Iraq is not whether Rummy did a poor job of executing the war or that increasing the troops would affect the level of opposition or violence, but it was having the good sense and better understanding of not going in there in the first place.

I don't recall McCain opposing the major redeployment from Afghanistan to Iraq either and now that looks like our major problem, if quasing AQ is one of the goal.

McCain has supported Bush on the Iraq endeavor from the get go. That and continuing the Bush tax strategy, given the war, is drowning us.

WHOOPS, sorry .. heard it on TV, went to find it on line, didn't read the rest of "that" story ..

fine, champ, sue me for making a mistake ... !:^p

guess I'll go back to lurking again since I have no news to offer ..

"His original Birth Certificate, with the name Barack H. Obama, was sealed."

Now we going from not born in the US to not being truthful in the US?

BTW G Man,

How Larry Sinclair doing these days and where's those Michelle Obama tapes?

"The issue of Iraq is not whether Rummy did a poor job of executing the war or that increasing the troops would affect the level of opposition or violence, but it was having the good sense and better understanding of not going in there in the first place. "

That would be ancient history Rez.
We are on current events.
The question of should we have invaded Iraq is a question for future historians. The question for today is "WTF do we do now?" Keeping in mind the Persian gulf has our nuts in their hands.

Jack

Jack

Viv

Hey Don't go anywhere. Just say your piece then kick them in the shins;-)

They are only virtual pains, you deal with real pains every day worse then the bunch of ##### on this blog.
Besides remember Champs bark is always worse than his bite.

Jack

IMO, the question is who has the better sense, knowledge and temperment to be president.,

"That would be ancient history"

JM talking points (dodge)

temperment = temperament

I thought that looked funny

thanks for the words of kindness, Jack .. but ...

that's WHY I need to go back into the shaddows again .. it['s been REal bad lately .. & the last time I said my peace when I felt this bad, got in trouble with Craig ...

besides, by time I get on line, everyone's already brought up stories & said pretty much what I would say ...

strange thing, a lot of what writes I enjoy ... especailly how he takes up for Chloe when she's attacked ..

..

Janis, Down on Me

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

Rez

I t is just simple F---ing reality.
the past is the past.

The question is always , WTF are we going to do now.
As I said , remember who has us by the nuts.
That's an 'Always remember" because if you forget your F**ked.

Jack

BBC America

In case you don't remember what NEWS is, you might tune in. Tonight they are discussing polution, population, Alzheimers and the tax burden because of decrease in family size, Darfur, the U.S. Presidential campaign, Middle East and a couple of nice human interest pieces.

Amazing what real reporters can do when their network cares.

Viv

If you need it
My email is
Whskyjack at yahoo.com
meanwhile check out the visitor to my garden, I took a picture of him this afternoon,

http://showyourgarden.blogspot.com/

Sorry Jack, still got to remember how we got here in this F..ing reality today.

Been real- got my few cents in today.

On to the casino!
Got to keep them Indians in frybread lol

Viv - I agree with Jack - don't go any where. We don't hear from you enough as it is - I don't think Champ meant to snarl at you.

I'm not trying to start an argument, so don't nobody git yersels agitated......but I am starting to be afraid that the Chicago machine is going to lose this election for us.

They are showing a lack of national ability - that's why machines do better at the county level. A national machine recognizes a very different dynamic and thus works differently.

Can you believe this???? I have a cold!!!!! I haven't had a cold in years. Think maybe it was because I kissed my darling boy when he was sick????

This morning KGC posted about California and off shore drilling. McClatchy has a story about Florida.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/254/story/46053.html

"Those who said Senator McCain was throwing away Florida's electoral votes by advocating more offshore drilling might want to think again,'' said Peter Brown, assistant director of the school's polling institute. He noted that despite President Bush's "historically low'' poll numbers, Floridians back his call for more drilling"

Jack

Rez
Fry bread is cheap so watch the money.

Jack

Jamie..I watch BBC America News regularly...They cover America better than our news.

Janis Joplin- Try

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBJnoMP1Uyc

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1815884,00.html

Will More Drilling Mean Cheaper Gas?

"Right now the price of oil is set on the global market," says Kevin Lindemer, executive managing director of the energy markets group for the research firm Global Insight. President Bush's move "would not have an impact."

Viv
Champ is just a libertarian/contrarian poopy head with basically a good heart.

boop
ginger and lemon tea for you

"McCain is preying on that anxiety of those with no brains by offering offshore drilling as a quick fix."
rezdog

Apparently 51% of Californians and 60% of Floridians fit in that category...

UB

An interesting Quote from your link

Ub thanks for that article"But any attempt to increase supply must be coupled with even heavier investment in energy efficiency and other methods to decrease oil demand — an approach that, to his credit, McCain has said will be a key part of his energy policy"

KGC

"contrarian poopy head with basically a good heart."

Thats my goal. LOL
Still working on it .

Jack

The point is that off-shore drilling will not decrease th price of gas.....not for years

The Democrats are pushing for Shrub to release oil from the strategic reserve. That would have an immediate impact. One attempt has already failed
but Reid is suggesting they should try again

Reid suggested the president instead focus on releasing oil from the strategic oil reserve, speeding up production in areas already open for drilling and cracking down on oil traders.

"He has shown no interest in doing anything but continuing more of the same failed policies that have produced the highest oil and gas prices ever," Reid said.
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/31/congress.session/

this article lays out the current political prospects pretty well.

Gotta love Joes Air guitar here.

Joe Cocker - With a Little Help From My Friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FMq0iDX1yE

Jack

UB

Not for a few years
But it needs to be in the mix

Jack

KGC

"The Democrats are pushing for Shrub to release oil from the strategic reserve."

I think this is a short term fix, and we need one. It will screw with the speculators heads, IMO. We sure as hell ought to stop buying sky high oil and putting it in the SR as we are now.

Jack

Jefferson Airplane - Somebody to Love (Woodstock1969

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I-67U93xMU

Jack
It is a short term fix but of all the short term fixes - it is probably the least harmful and will have a real impact.

I wonder of McCain has a voodoo doll of Bush.

Luke Russert joining NBC

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25935768

"I wonder of McCain has a voodoo doll of Bush."

LOL
If he did he would have stuck a pin in the head of it a long time ago.
As we were talking a couple of weeks ago, Bush is McCain's biggest problem and he can't get him to STFU.

Jack

Jack - I have to say that I agree with you on the idea of needing a short term fix - we need to take a breather to keep us from panicking. One thing we don't need is to act precipitously in a big way, as we've been doing for 8 years.

Also, do you know a name for your visitor of this am? I think that's the most beautiful one I've ever seen. thanks for sharing.

I also love bbc news - I don't think I've ever seen any of the readers roll their eyes, which is a disgusting habit of most of the females on our news, esp...dare I say it? .......the dreaded Contessa Brewer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Boop
He is some kind of yellow swallowtail. I'm not a butterfly person. My wife can rattle the scientific names off all day long. I'm more of a "ooooh look at butterfly" type.

Jack

Rez -- Have you ever heard of a Kansas City blues man named Tom Bark, a Native American? I'm thinking he was from the '60s.

Oye Como Va - Carlos Santana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpPb2cVswlI

Jerome Corsi (co-author of 2004's "Unfit for Command") has a new 360 page book - "The Obama Nation." He gave his first interview about the book this afternoon on Hannity's radio show. I didn't hear anything new, but most of the info will come as a surprise to many. Corsi is scheduled to appear on H&C tonight.

Corsi

I hope the media does a better job descrediting him then they did with the swiftboat load of crap. ---oh never mind ...what was I thinking.

KGC

It is all about ratings.

Pink Floyd - Money
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hkjkTe5kZE

Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irp8CNj9qBI

HEY, maybe I should have looked at this first

Leo Horoscopes
(Jul 23 - Aug 22)
Yesterday | Today | Tomorrow

Thursday, Jul 31st, 2008 -- It's quite enticing to believe a good story, but you must be extra careful, for your naivety can now set the stage for being deceived.

LOL ... thing is, most times they're right on spot ...

JACK .. Thanks, am feeling a bit better ... took my meds & opened a Bud Lite to help it along ... am going to try & stay on for awhilw this evening ...

I loved the butterfly .. we use to get some Beautiful ones in Mom's garden, but since I found my cat, they stay away ... I keep forgetting to take pictures of Mom's garden ... really pretty this year ...

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/mccainslowroadexpress/

Bethy:
Like I told Jack, am going to try too this evening .. I

agree w/'you about chicago ... some of the things coming out , making ya wonder ...

Congress went on a five week vacation without even trying to do anything to come up with some short term relief for people who are genuinely suffering.

More drilling is not the answer, Businesses need a pep talk if nothing else. Incentives for businesses to use something other than plastic packaging would drop usage faster than just about everything.

Outlaw plastic grocery bags. If they aren't there, people will remember to bring their feel good material bags to the store.

Katherine: Thanks & I know he is ... was just in a pissy mood before dinner ...

It looks like alot of people are being gulliable about off shore drilling .. there's so many different opinions hitting us from all sides that makes it hard ..

Jamie,
For companies that have the flexibility, they could easily go to 4 - 10 hour days, that would be 1 less commute for each employee....

There are things people can do they just have to be creative and flexible....

Plastic bags should be outlawed....didn't San Fran already do that?

Sun's down. Man of my word.

Yeah, Viv, I wasn't jumping down your throat as much as I was trying to exemplify media manipulation during the course of a philosophical debate (which I won) that encompassed such issues, but I feel somewhat justified in my interaction with you due to your admission of negligence in the posting of the link. That is to say, I was all worked up. It was certainly not my intention to engage you in a vitriolic manner, and I apologize if you got that impression, but only for that, not the over-aching point I was trying to make.

that's WHY I need to go back into the shaddows again .. it['s been REal bad lately .. & the last time I said my peace when I felt this bad, got in trouble with Craig ...

besides, by time I get on line, everyone's already brought up stories & said pretty much what I would say ...

strange thing, a lot of what writes I enjoy ... especailly how he takes up for Chloe when she's attacked ..

..

Posted by: Viv Author Profile Page | July 31, 2008 7:18 PM

..."over-arching". Damn.

I see Champ beat me to it.
I knew he'd apologize once he saw it.

See you tomorrow.

WELL .. why not drill on all the land they already have leases too & aren't doing it???? why dirty up the coast line ....

On Andrea Mitchell .. her tone is so monotonic ...

&

Contessa Brewer .... yuk!! not watched her in probably over a year ...

Jack .. LOVE PINK FLOYD .. was listening to The Wall, earier ... and am enjoying ALL the music you're finding ...

viv,
I didn't get my whole post on there for some reason.
But I was just trying to say I'm glad your here and don't go anywhere. And explaining that Champ is a nice guy and just hates the media. Sorry it all didn't post.

Champ, sorry I took it the way i did .. just been a bad day ...

!:^)

Chloe .. I know .. like my double copying that link
... I know I only hit paste once ... lol

Thanks, Chloe.

Yeah, I missed your 7:18 post, Viv. I certainly don't want to influence you decision to participate here, and will definitely apologize if I did.

Don't (I humbly recommend you avoid) let(ting) *******s like me (for the sake of argument) or anyone else be successful in stifling the expression of your opinions or perspective, if you feel the need to articulate them. They (me?) are a dime a dozen and as I say often, the merits of your arguments, or lack of them, will speak for themselves. I probably take this baloney a little too seriously anyhow, so don't (humbly request you avoid) mind(ing) me.

^(trying to avoid telling people what to do. Some say I'm "Libertarian"...)

Thanks, Viv. All good.

Alrighty then... (awkward silence)

I'll leave you guys alone for a while, but not without saying first...

Let them drill off the coast. They should pay for the rights and make commitments to invest in the surrounding communities to compensate for the imposition of their rigs in public areas, at the least. Let them run a cost-benefit analysis and decide if it's worth it. It's the American way. Maybe I'm getting a little fascist myself here, but it would be nice if they (Oil companies) also made the commitment to staff those rigs with legal American labor. I know plenty of people looking for a good job.

And just to be clear:

Oil companies should be INVESTING their own PROFITS to achieve said objectives NOT receiving SUBSIDIES to do so.

Champ,
Please stop short changing yourself.
A dime a dozen.? You're one of the best people on this site (and there are many great people).

"Let them drill off the coast."

We have a neighbor in the oil business, and I can tell you, (straight from his mouth) they're not going to be stopping drilling in Texas anytime soon.

champ
Re, off shore oil drilling.
I agree with one addition: proper government regulation

we want our ocean to look like Finlands north sea, rather than the coast of Nigeria.

Jack

"Major GOP tool"

yet he brought gas down from $2 a gallon to 65 cents.

Jack

Well, I nominate you, Chloe, as President of the Official "champ" Fan Club. Unfortunately, I think we will have a hard time finding a Vice President, let alone actual members.

But thanks. I appreciate it.

Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKg4g9zMeHI

Offshore Drilling in Texas May Not be a Quick Fix
WASHINGTON — In the national debate over offshore oil drilling, the Texas coast can be used to illustrate each side of the argument.

http://www.coxwashington.com/news/content/reporters/stories/2008/07/4/2008/07/28/TEXAS_DRILLING05_COX.htmlcontent/reporters/stories/2008/07/4/2008/07/28/TEXAS_DRILLING05_COX.html

nite.

Corsi says BHO is radical Liberal who still believes in
socialist redistribution of wealth.
It is known that after Soros made his millions he was/or is involved in socialist party. Soros is one of chicago bunch backing BO.
He is successful at projecting image and no issues.
Sounds like he has BO nailed pretty well..

julie

julie

Champ,
I proudly accept that position. thanks.

Champ

I'll second the nomination
Your my kind of people, a little rough around the edges. But you always are willing to apologise or explain what you said. Your exchange with Viv is a lesson for many here.
Thankyou

Jack

ahhhhhh love Led Zepplin .. still kick myself for not going alone .. bf & I had a fight ... love thier music & Robert Plants voice .. but didn't enjoy the album he did w/JP, Clarksville? in '95? not sure ..

Champ .. already forgotten, lol .. Bud w/help, taking some of it away ... I do enjoy reading your post ...

OK, ok... stroking my ego can lead to nowhere beneficial for either of us. And power corrupts, so don't provide me any of that either. I prefer my current pristine state.

I am ceasing all operations of the Official "champ" Fan Club until such time as my ego requires further stroking. Stand by for instructions...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/07/media-darling-no-more.html#comment-122669

agree, Julie ... wish all this pissing in the sand between JM & BO would stop & talk about What the hell they're going to do on issues ???

Likewise Jack. May your buddleia always be high, and your thistle always be low.

Champ

I agree that the oil companies should be investing their profits. This morning it was announced Exxon had made 11 billion profit - highest ever, at our expense. And the democrats havenow gone on 5 week vacation without doing one thing about the energy crisis.. Bush will be taking his month of august vacation without doing anything either.
Even if it took 10 years for offshore drilling - imagine what the cost will be in 10 years, if we do not do something. I think it needs all of the things, wind energy, not for ethanol at expense of food, but in reason, and all the things put together could help bring it down and off the high cost from middle east.

julie

Champ
thistles are great flowers
If I hadn't spent most of my youth chopping thistlesI would love to have a yard full of them. Atleast over by my neighbors driveway. He keeps geting out of his pickup and stepping on my Irises. I'm starting to plant prickly plants over there.

Jack

Notice how words are being put in your mouth, Jack ... I thought you were talking about OIL??? hehehehe

Speaking of, when is my prized Daylilly going to make ShowYourGarden's reader submission of the month? Don't (I humbly request you avoid) leave(ing) me hangin', brah!

Oh, and there is so much more from whence that came, my friend. I'm talking some very solid specimens of wild TIGER daylillies. We're talking some serious shiznit. The Real Deal up in the Field; literally.

Jeez, if you wanted a yard full of thistle, you should have put an offer up on my house. I can't kill or pull that stuff fast enough. It's a menace around here.

Julie

I read something the other day that all of shore rigs are booked up for the next 5 years. The current rental for an off shore rig is around $500,000 a day. Impressive number.

Jack

champ

send me a story I can put with it. I had been aiming to ask your permission to publish it but was just doing the usual. Farting around.

Jack

Uh-duh-oy-duh-oy, LOL LOL LOL, uh duh-oy duh-oy...

^(me mocking you in the manner of a 5-year old, as that is all your reply warrants)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/07/media-darling-no-more.html#comment-122682

Hmm reminds me of an article I read around 4:30 this morning, but didn't post it ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/business/30conserve.html?th&emc=th

U.S. Won’t Release Land in Conservation Program

By ANDREW MARTIN
Published: July 30, 2008

Bakers and livestock owners had mounted an intense lobbying effort to erase the penalties in order to increase the harvest and lower high crop prices. The pressure intensified in June after floods washed away farm fields in the Midwest, leading to fears of a poor harvest.

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

Now, am no farmer, but will this help at all? or is it just helping B B, not the smal farms?

"Lets face it Jamie anyone who doesn't kiss Clinton ass you have scorn for, frankly I find your assessment absurd. "

Today's show had absolutely nothing to do with Clinton. It was strictly about the McCain commercials and Obama statements. She kept interrupting, talking over her guests, giving little time for one question before firing out another and none of the questions were little more than inanities that didn't really get to the heart of the issues.

Champ

When I was a youngster, back in the early 60's My father would have us spend week ends with a mattock and hoe chopping thistles out of our pastures. I never saw an end to them. there were always more the next year. They were the Russian thistle. As I said they had a beautiful flower but they look better on your place.
here is a picture.
http://www.ksda.gov/plant_protection/content/181/cid/891

Viv

It would release marginal land that was removed from production for errosion control.

For my sister who is going through a divorce where the land needs to sold, yes. probably $1000 an acre.

jack

Animals - The House Of The Rising Sun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRV9QCXLtHQ

Jack

OK Jack, here you go:

"It was a cool summer morning in or about the ides of June when the Sun arose, slowly stirring the floral inhabitants of an undisclosed region of Pennsylvania. One of these inhabitants, to whom we will refer to as Bob, although its gender was of question, and for lack of a more appropriate moniker, sleepily began to stretch it ruddy-petaled limbs towards the radiant source of energy high above.

At about this time, a somewhat sleepy-himself gentleman whom we will refer to as 'champ', uncapitalized in the style of famed poet e.e. cummings and implying a sense of humility to cover for the laziness that was the actual reason for the lack of aforementioned capitalization, and known to many of the so-called 'blogosphere' as an ardent pursuer of truth and occasional antagonistic curmudgeon(despite his relatively youthfulness), remarked on the beaty of Bob in its awakened state, and decided to retrieve a camera from inside the still darkened dwelling to attempt to capture that natural wonder in order to share with those with whom he had associated for the preceding spring and resulting summer.

Here, without further ado, is the result of that endeavor: (insert picture of day-lilly here)'

Print that!

I humbly request you strike the '-ly' from 'relatively' before publishing upon further reading of my previous post. I can't have the readers of ShowYourGarden thinking I'm an idiot.

And you don't even need to say it. Great minds think alike.

lol .. good story, champ

Jack,

They make those offshore oil rigs down at Brownsville Tx and float them out through the bay at So Padre Island to gulf of mexico.......then whereever. I lived at Padre for several years and loved to watch them. One of them got stuck in the bay for about 4 days until they could get a barge from houston down to help pull it loose from (waist deep water) and back into the ship channel. It was lit up at night like a big city. Beautiful.
Interesting to watch being made also.
Julie

Ok, more than one typo up there. Double damn. That's my cue...

Hosta Manana(<-pun for you spanish-speaking gardeners)

Champ

done
http://showyourgarden.blogspot.com/

Bang! That is one sweet dose of lightwaves of a length between 597 and 622 nm, if I do say so myself, but I said I was done for the night, so you didn't hear it form me.

...and I'm blaming the rest of those typos on the editor, if anyone asks.

Thanks.

Thank you all for the pleasant conversation tonight.

Bed time, see you in the morning.

Jack

Sleepy time lullaby

A Whiter Shade Of Pale - Procol Harum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3iPP-tHdA

LOL, Jack "Whiter Shade..." is a staple of my repertoire. I was playing on the boardwalk this past weekend for a bunch of drunks.

Viv - did you ever get the post where I gave names of two procedures a radiologist told me they do for what you have? I put it in a while ago, and wondered if you had already had these done. They are epidural steroid instillations and facet injections.

Bohemian Rhapsody - one of my ver favorites.

Champ - gorgeous day lily. Great photography, too, both of you guys.

I also think Aandrea Mitchell is toe-ing the line, and I'm sorry to see it. msnbc is digging itself into a hole.
Does Tweety really think he can win Specter's seat?

An issue that may warrant further investigation, which I encourage you to do, sincerely. I'm too tired to aid you to that end, but if after digging further and deciding you could benefit from the application of aluminum foil to your super-cranial regions, let me know, I'll sure I have a roll around here somewhere.

Patsi,

No conosco Tom Bark. A google search only produces a vinyl record for sale but no bio, so there is no connection for me to run on.

Only serious Indian musician I knew in passing thru mutual friends was Jesse Ed Davis, Kiowa from Oklahoma, and a studio blues player of some renown. Had a couple records (own both) and played with the likes of L. Russell, E.C. and Taj Mahal (my fave). Probably your age. He died early from over indulging in drugs.

I might try and get that Bark album for our collection.

No, dude. I said I thought that was a valid question regarding a topic with which I'm not familiar, and I think it would be a worthwhile endeavor to pursue the matter further, and encourage you to do so, because, well, someone has to. Why not you? Jeez, man.

The foil bit was a joke relating to your past characterizations of me as 'crazy' and the possible resulting inclusion of you into such ranks due to your pursuit of a conspiracy theory which YOU proposed. Chill a little, dude. I was paying you a compliment, and you should know those don't come easy...

That's the way I like it.

You manipulative, salacious, headline-mongering bastard! Nah, just kidding. Funny headline. And the writers of such are well aware of their entendre. I think they get very bored and that's how they have their fun.

There are two puns in that headline, by the way. 'They' are quite proficient due too their extensive experience and extreme boredom.

An while we are exchanging under-handed pleasantries, I will also not that you have been much less of an asshole yourself lately, kudos. Sincerely.

And for future (or past) reference, If I type "sincerely", it means just that, as I am aware of the ambiguity resulting from my extensive use of irony and careful to make clear when I am not using it.

^ "will also note"

Done. Sincerely.

Doesn't surprise me.

It is more like that the press runs against the Republicans. When the "PRESS" votes they vote Democ"rat" more than Republican. Just ask any reporter how many times they voted Republican.

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

I agree completely with your assesment Craig. I think they do it because they are politcally myopic. The media is looking for the story of the day and the McCain campaign is feeding them. They give em air time instead of discussing the issues like energy. How is drilling going to lower gasoline prices? Or, as Katherine Reichert in CQ explored today what role will moderates play in any case? I am so tired of the divisivness and consequent inaction and even degeneration of the country. I hope some more catch on.

Im tired of being 60 years old and still not knowing how to stop falling in love......

whadda coice......

it's gotta be that damned piano...............

Tappin on the high keys with a somethin soulful on the low side gets me every time. Good night.

http://www.slatev.com/player.html?id=1701226987

As far as McCain using Bush's 200 play book you use what works.