Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Good morning,

Good article on FIrst dude Palin eskimo grandmother.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/254/story/54512.html

FYI -

If the election for president were held today, for whom would you vote?
October 23-25, 2004
Bush 49%
Kerry 46%
Nader 1%
Badnarik -%
Peroutka -%
Cobb -%
Other 4%
margin of error: 2.9%
source: Zogby International

If the presidential election were being held today... Would you vote for Kerry and Edwards, the Democrats, Bush and Cheney, the Republicans, or Nader and Camejo, the independent candidates?
October 22-24, 2004
Bush 51%
Kerry 46%
Nader 1%
Other -%
Unsure 2%
margin of error: 3%
source: Gallup

Thinking about the elections in November, if the election for president were held today and the candidates were Republican George Bush and the Democrat John Kerry, for whom would you vote: George Bush or John Kerry?
October 24-25, 2004
Kerry 49%
Bush 47%
Nader 1%
Other 1%
Unsure 1%
margin of error: 3.1%
source: Democracy Corps Poll

2000 -

CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
October 22-24

Likely Voters' Choice for President
Bush 48%
Gore 43
Nader 3
Buchanan 1
Sampling error: +/-4% pts

does anyone know what charity will be the recipient of the $150,000 worth of clothes, accessories, shoes, etc which the gop has bought for sarah palin?

Al-Qaida-linked Web site backs McCain as president

By PAMELA HESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — Al-Qaida supporters suggested in a Web site message this week they would welcome a pre-election terror attack on the U.S. as a way to usher in a McCain presidency.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iFK9c9KTpdbjhYyuWIlZyAuyqeJgD93VA3B80

This video features the county just to the north of where I live. Home of the odious Jeff Frederick, the State GOP
Chairman who called Obama the "same as Osama Bin Laden." His statement was widely criticized by members of his own party. Obama's rally at Mary Washington University attracted 26,000 people from former-GOP strongholds of Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania.

I'm here in another GOP stronghold, Chesterfield county near Richmond and Eric "the whiner" Cantor just had an event at the hotel where I'm staying. I don't think the turnout at his event was that great for a supposed "rising star" of the GOP and it seemed to end really early. People I'm meeting here in Chesterfield are much more enthusiastic about Obama. Former Senator Vance Hartke's daughter, Anita Hartke, is running shoestring campaign against Cantor -- but she just might win if the Obama/Warner DEM ticket has coat tails.

If NBC doesn't give Chuck Todd Meet the Press they're crazy.

sturgeone

Laid-off investment bankers wives ?

msnbc.......simple answer, whether or not they give MTP to CT........They're crazy.

McCain on Imus

Sturge

Probably the same one that Mrs Obama is donating those expensive dresses she wore for the convention.

Jack

Jack.....i see that my question could have been construed as being a criticism of Sarah, so point taken, however I'm mainly curious as to what kind of charity would be the recipient of such a gift......and what they would do with them....sell 'em I guess, but still sounds weird....

WOW! EARLY VOTING WAS BUSY YESTERDAY! I have never seen a turnout like that. Close to 100 people ahead of me and the line was just as long when I left.

A) I've never seen such a huge crowd so early.

B) I've never seen such a wide age-range at the polls. (Truthfully, I didn't know there were any people over 60 in this area.) One Obama stand/water stop/gathering place across the street. McCain people & signs were absent, perhaps because they think this area is a "given." Lots of 20-somethings with edgy-looking eyewear I've never seen around before, either. I think this is the Obama factor both in bringing out the fearful folks to vote against him and those excited to be voting for the first time.

C) Nobody, including myself, was spending too much time at the voting...OK, I'll call it a booth. (These briefcases on legs always look like something from Inspector Gadget.) From the length of time spent voting, I would take a wild guess that there could be a lot of straight party voters. If that holds true, all of the other candidates get to ride Obama's coattails into their respective offices.

As for Palin's wardrobe, it only matters because she held herself out to be "one of you." They could've dressed her very nicely for a lot less, but I guess she went shopping where Cindy McCain shops. And yes, the guys do spend a lot on suits, but, they already had a professional wardrobe and they can get away with having far fewer clothes. They could rotate the same 3 suits and who would know? It's a bit sexist, but mostly it's just a common sense issue. Michelle Obama is showing up in more affordable clothing, and yes, you can present a nice picture for less than they've spent on Palin, whether it goes to charity or not.

What the stylists over at Team Obama need to invest in is a muzzle for Joe Biden. I thought he was gonna make it without any big gaffs, but no. For such a smart man, he sure doesn't have an internal edit button that works any better than mine.

I would be interested in hearing about what others are experiencing at the polls in their areas.

"does anyone know what charity will be the recipient of the $150,000 worth of clothes, accessories, shoes, etc which the gop has bought for sarah palin? "

Sturg, when I've had really good quality stuff that no longer fits, I've donated it to a 'job closet' for people going out on interviews.

Sturg

I suspect in both cases they would make very good auction items both women have very loyal followers and very rich ones who would like to buy a piece of history

Jack

Sturge-

At least Palin's items are re-cyclable--The lobster, caviar, and champagne consumed by the lovely Michelle are gone.

job interviews......lol.........I remember once going to goodwill for clothes to make a halloween costume....and when I got to the check-out the nice lady says......"Oh, going to look for a job?"

ubns.......I'm willing to bet if Michelle had gotten lobsters for supper, she would have paid for them herself but it has been pointed out that the story is untrue......New York Post retracted the story blaming the source, and she didnt even have a room, which is requisite for "room service".

Any time I've been a little flush it was fine for me to have a lobster, why would anyone object to a Lobster dinner? She has a networth according to what someone posted somewhere of $1.3 mill......she cant have lobster? lol

Sturge
lol

you must have that homeless look about you.

Jack

Ooops!

Just read lobster story was re-tracted.

"I'm willing to bet if Michelle had gotten lobsters for supper, she would have paid for them herself "

I'm willing to bet she never sees the bill. It is all legitimate campaign expenses.

Jack

"She has a networth according to what someone posted somewhere of $1.3 mill."

Not bad for someone who just managed to pay off student loans and who has been on a protracted leave of absence from her employer.

Again, Palin held herself out to be just-a-regular-old-hockey-mom. That's the problem. More successful people do dress better than the rest of us. All of them do. It's the disconnect between who she says she is and how the McCain people decided to style her that's the problem. How did they not know that would be a problem???

Anyway, it has taken the focus off of all of the crazy antics of McCain as of late, the war, the economy, etc. Maybe that was the idea.

Jack -

Nothing says "Joe Six Pack " like Neiman Marcus.

Blue it is only a problem with you, her supporter don't mind at all.
In reality it is all just static, she is after all the VP candidate.

Jack

"Ooops!

Just read lobster story was re-tracted. "

By those wonderful people who brought you "Fair and Balanced".

Actually, it's not a "problem" for me, but it does seem to be a problem for some people, including GOoPers.
I was just commenting on what seems to be grabbing today's headlines for some reason. Maybe nobody wants to think about the economy; it's a nice distraction.

Anon
You miss the point, like left wingers always seem to.
Joe sixpack doesn't mind people making out like a bandit. It is when they do and then pretend like they are something special that pisses him off.
So far Palin has avoided that trap.

Jack

McCain agrees with Jack Murtha , western Pa is racist.

Watch out for a real senior moment.

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

Actually, the OP described it as _her_ net worth, not a joint figure.

original poster

my post (OP) perhaps was misleading.....the figure was for the obama net worth......

1.3 mill is not really all that much, though, is it?

Jack -
I know that the right loves this sort of feckless club when it falls into their mitts, and for years they never hesitated to use it. I hope she gets the stuffing beat out of her with it. Just like that bozo from Minn. on Hardball last Friday night.

Hell..........."I" gotta higher net worth than joe biden.....what's up wid dat?

Sturge

He spent all his money on Amtrac fares

Jack

old joe supposedly weighs in at $277,000......he must not be holding his mouf right......

Then that makes him a liberal spendthrift that can't manage money.

Jack

Jack -
"Joe sixpack doesn't mind people making out like a bandit"

That's why Wall Street can screw Joe every decade or two.

"Then that makes him a liberal spendthrift that can't manage money."

my ears are burning.........

"His Amtrak fares were picked up by the fed."

I suppose that comes under some 'return to district' heading. But, it doesn't seem reasonable for a daily commute. Close the loophole.

Anon

Being screwed is just a basic fact of life for Joe. It is when he doen't get kissed .
The Republicans have learned how to kiss him.
The Democrats screw him and then laugh about how stupid he is.

Jack

Well, I aint had a kiss since I fell outa my crib
I feel like I been cheated outa my rib.

--Hank Williams, Sr.

Sturge

I'm feeling very unloved this morning.

I wish my wife could make the daily commute home.
Omaha is closer to here then Delaware is to DC. Instead she is on the road for 3 weeks. 8 more days to go.

Jack

Well I'd better get off my lazy butt and get out of here.

Jack

it's like a headache.......very nice when it ends.....

SeaHag.....

sorry..... I didn't answer your questions last night about the pellets...... I just saw them now...... I took off to go to my library trustee meeting about 15 minutes after I posted last night.....

I live in a small town of the Monadnock region of Southern NH named New Ipswich ......
New England Wood Pellets is the major maker of wood pellets for the North East.... they are located in Jaffrey, NH..... they are a wholesaler, not a retailer...... but a member of the family owns a retail stove shop in Jaffrey and we buy our pellets from him...... they only deliver locally.....

I have heard that some people are having a hard time to get pellets this year..... hope you find some soon....

Imus very unhappy with McCain's interview today......re-playing at 9:30

pardon my ignorance, but what are wood pellets?

Sturge -- tell us about the Imus/McCain meet & greet! Is the honeymoon over for those two?

As always my heroes at National Organization for Women have an interesting column on health care and tax increases...

We Need A Shot In The Arm

Below the Belt: A Column by NOW President Kim Gandy

October 17, 2008

It's been a few years, but I had a brush with the kind of "socialized" medicine that John McCain invoked with such derision in Wednesday night's debate. I'm delighted with the size of my family and my two daughters, ages 13 and 15 -- but they might have had an older sibling if I hadn't suffered a miscarriage while visiting my husband's sister in England.

Having surgery under general anesthesia was not part of my plan for that trip, and the visits from multiple specialists made me worry that the cost would be a real financial setback. In the hospital, there was a nice warm robe instead of a paper gown, and imagine my surprise when the doctor dropped by my sister-in-law's house, not once but twice, to see how I was recovering.

My surprise was even greater when the hospital personnel looked actively for ways to avoid charging me for my stay ("Are you sure you're not here on any kind of business?"). And when I assured them that I had insurance, they presented me (quite regretfully it seemed) with the full bill. It was under $400, a shockingly low price tag even then.

http://www.now.org/news/note/101708.html

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-161815

STurgeone

I don't know what happens to campaign clothes. My guess is that the person wearing them gets to keep them since a similar charge was leveled at Jackie Kennedy.

Now whoever becomes First Lady (or some day President), the innauguration gown goes to the Smithsonian.

As to private ownership of high end clothes, they often end up in consignment stores with the proceeds either going to the person selling the clothes or to a charity selling if the clothes were donated.

Higher taxes on PROFITS and success – that are very progressive – that will send global jobs away from the US.

Posted by: Ping Pong | October 21, 2008 7:25 AM

Ping have you been in a coma the last 30 years or so? What the hell do you think has been happening to global jobs? Are you offering selective analysis or are you so obtuse within your ideological broken record of "capitalism" and "free enterprise" to not see how many jobs have left the states? This has NOTHING to do with progressive taxes; it has to do with going to countries with little or no safety regulations, no minimum wages or benefits where workers can slave away for a pittance. Really Ping! I shouldn't be surprised, but I am...

The Man Who Helped Drive Powell Away From His Party

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-10-22/the-bitter-back-story-behind-powells-defection/1/

sturg....
wood pellets look like rabbit food and are made from compacted saw dust....
they are the fuel for pellets stoves that you use to heat your home..... similar to a wood stove......

if you buy a really good one (we have)..... it works more like a furnace.... you can control the temperature and the rate at which the pellets burn...... the stoves have a large hopper on the top that you fill with the pellets..... usually daily....

they are much more efficient than a wood stove..... we need to clean out the ashes only every 3 weeks..... the stoves also have blowers which distributes the heat.... but it does mean you use a bit of electricity.....

here's where we bought our stove.... http://www.heartlinestoves.com/

RE: the campaign clothes....a non-issue in my view. Some Democratic consultant was laughing about it on MoJo -- said that the way those things work is that somebody brings a bunch of clothing to the person's hotel room and they pick what they like. And in this case, the RNC picked up the tab.

Jamie's right -- Jackie took heat al the time about clothes. And I always thought the barbs about Jackie and also Nancy Reagan were stupid. Same category as what someone orders from room service or how much the haircuts cost.

Given the obscene amounts of money spent during campaigns these days, this seems like a ho-hum.

Tom -- Thanks for posting that health care story. Why in the world are our costs SO much higher?

All of this talk about Messrs. Plumber and Six Pack reminds me of the 1945 Oscar Winning Short Subject,
"The House I Live In". If you want to see the ten minute silm, it is here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMM6BOPSNGc

The dialogue is very dated with some WWII era anti Japanese sentiments and despite the lyrics of the song, all the children are white males. :-)

Still, it is the message Americans were being sold about themselves and their country, so it is the lyrics of the song that became a Sinatra hit that are important, It is a lesson we should all relearn especially for this election.

Here is the Patti LaBelle version of "The House I Live In" from Sinatra's 80th birthday party

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1yuAxYwkRk

An employee does not necessarily have anything with held.
When you fill out your tax forms, you can ask for enough exemptions to negate with holding.

Posted by: fact check please! | October 21, 2008 4:20 PM

Fact check... your post reminded me of something from years ago. A former colleague in a Minnesota bank where I worked had become a bank auditor. Now this isn't really that relevant to the story except to say he was good with money, very analytical... smart with numbers. He figured out that if he put down as many dependents as necessary to not have to hold any withholding, he could put the money away in a time certificate, earn interest, and then pay the tax bill the next April 15th.

Great idea! However, the tax people did not see it that way. He was told, in no uncertain terms, that claiming dependents that weren't there was not permissible by law and he not only got to pay his tax bill, but a hefty fine to go along with it. Now, it may not have helped that he actually listed 99 dependents but, at the end of the day, I believe claiming dependents that do not exist in order to avoid tax withholding is considered illegal and the person doing so can receive a high financial fine.

Caveat emptor... This was the early 80s. I don't know if the tax laws have changed since them. Anyone have ideas on this?

Being screwed is just a basic fact of life for Joe.

"If God didn't want them sheared, he would not have made them sheep."

"Then that makes him a liberal spendthrift that can't manage money."

then again it might mean he's an adherent of the truman doctrine warning us to be aware of politicians who make money while in office.

[btw, anyone out there know the exact quote? and didn't twain say something similar but wittier?]

sorry, "aware" should read "wary"

I stopped by the donut shop my friend owns this morning. She was surprised to see me. She also works a full time job at a factory. Her husband makes the donuts for her each night and then he relieves her in the late morning so she can take a nap before she goes to her factory job in the afternoon.

nice article by truman's grandson in last month's chitrib
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-oped0912trumansep12,0,2630985.story

"I wish my wife could make the daily commute home.
Omaha is closer to here then Delaware is to DC. Instead she is on the road for 3 weeks. 8 more days to go."

When I was going to a school in Alabama for a couple of months, I flew back to England for Thanksgiving. It was out of my pocket. Money well spent.

Well I just wrote this long post about medical care in Belgium and then I did something messed up and lost it.

Patsi, here is the cliff notes: care is for everyone... everyone has to have health insurance. we can choose which provider but the basics are the same. Costs are controlled by the government in consultation with doctors and pharmaceuticals, patient advocates and the like. There are maximum charges and they are adhered to stringently. we do not have long waiting lists, and there is an emphasis on wellness and recovery. Highly expensive drugs may require further investigation to see if the patient truly needs it, but most everything is covered.

Health care for the people, not for the profiteers. It's a great system and, unlike the one is the USA, it is NOT broken.

ooops..... sturg....

I forgot to mention that pellets are sold by the ton in 40lb plastic bags..... I hate all the plastic, but you can't burn wet pellets.....

the average household goes through 4-5 tons of pellets a year here in NH.....

leaving now to go to a really late breakfast with Rick..... will join in with the conversation later......

Craig..... forgive me for playing ColoradoBob this morning.....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-161866

Anon, I tried to access that link re: Powell, but it seems not to work.

mornin' all.

Hag, try calling this place - maybe they can hook you up with a supplier

http://www.bmfp.com/

Well, Sarah does dress nicely, I'll give her that.

ET, that's a very odd IRS response. Technically that is probably true - the form allows you to claim as many deductions as you plan to claim on your tax return, but many people claim more dependents than they have to minimize withholding. I've never heard of anyone being fined for that until now.

So lessee, Obama's FL advantage has vanished, but MN looks like it's falling his way. Looks like OH might be the lynchpin, like I've said for months. VA and NC are teh biggest surprises to me, and may, if they stay in teh Obama column, lessen OH's impact no matter which way it goes.

ET - How much Healthcare happens outside the system?
In other countries with Gov plans - the Private sector does very well.

And Hello from San Juan... PR

Hey Renee, thanks for the reply. So you live up near where the factory fire was I guess. That is the excuse for the lack of availability I keep getting at the stores anyways ( other than hoarding). Thanks for the good wishes, looks like I need all I can get!

By the way, please stop by if you ever get down here to the Vineyard!

Lee Greenwood must have set the record for a decades long career consisting of one song.

Comment on the Dress thing....

All the talk about the clothes - "Marketing" of Sarah..

Now take the vaporware Ads that Obama is spending and apply the same rule.

What is the difference? It is all about the campaign.

Who is buying the most?

Or in the terms used today regarding the Republican campaign.

Who is wasting the most?

Answer = Big Gov Obama

Ping I don't know the answer to your question.

And I appreciate that even though you and I are miles apart on politics, you remain a gentleman, which, in my impassioned why, I fail.

I don't know, but I believe in big government. I realize this is sacrilege in our "center right" country and it's probably why I have never really fit in. Furthermore it does explain one of the motivations I had to move to Europe in 1998.

ET,
I believe we all want the same end result - just different roads

Battery low..... Will have to find a plug in SJU

"you remain a gentleman, which, in my impassioned why, I fail. "

ROFL -- You're just fine Tom....

blistersyeahbutchannel presents

Threadawesome

America's Election
Hobson's Choice

The link to the President's Quiz from that Truman article is a good history lesson

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-president-quiz,0,3188595.triviaquiz

UT -
It's at the Beast

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-10-22/the-bitter-back-story-behind-powells-defection/

More nutballs at McCain rally
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1417423198/bctid1866657225

Hag, or this place

http://www.woodpellets.net/delivery.htm

or this

http://www.southshorewoodpellets.com/

I've found that if I can't find stuff locally (i.e. Lowes or WalMart doesn't have it) I can usually get some help from the manufacturer.

The health care plan that Hillary championed and that Obama seems to have come to is most like the Belgium system rather than single payer.

The mechanisms for Insurance companies is already in place so businesses wouldn't be destroyed and the majority of moderate to large companies already insure their employees in some fashion.

It would be a vast improvement over what we have now.

So anyone been following Ted Stevens' case? Any bets on the outcome?

Who is Hobson?

Pogo, if it's Alaskans who decide the case I am betting he is NOT convicted.

I'm back... found a power outlet...

What amazes my Euopean associates is that All People have critical access to Healthcare - which is also part of the problem.
They have an impression that the air ambulance checks for your insurance card before they take you to the ED

We need to better manage our resources and people must do a better job of taking care of themselves.

Ping Opinion - for the most part Europeans also take better care of themselves -except smoking... However they are becoming more American ....

ET, he tried to get the case moved there - he didn't. It's DCers who will decide his fate. Now that we've dismissed the AKers from the jury pool, what's your bet? I'm betting he's convicted on at least one felony count. After all, he made the big mistake - he took the stand to testify in his own defense.

"We need to better manage our resources and people must do a better job of taking care of themselves."

Posted by: Ping Pong | October 22, 2008 10:32 AM

You betcha, Ping.

RE: the campaign clothes....a non-issue in my view. Some Democratic consultant was laughing about it on MoJo -- said that the way those things work is that somebody brings a bunch of clothing to the person's hotel room and they pick what they like. And in this case, the RNC picked up the tab.

Jamie's right -- Jackie took heat al the time about clothes. And I always thought the barbs about Jackie and also Nancy Reagan were stupid. Same category as what someone orders from room service or how much the haircuts cost.

Given the obscene amounts of money spent during campaigns these days, this seems like a ho-hum.

Posted by: Patsi | October 22, 2008 9:33 AM

Tis is precisely why I like you so much.... On the Money Mrs P...on the money!

And one more thing: The shoes Michelle O wore during the february 5th primary were Christian Louboutin´s..... Strange, that no one noticed that.

re: McCain on Imus Wed AM
For years I listened to McCain on Imus and liked him, though not his politics. This morning's "visit" was disgraceful. I turned it off a few times. All McCain did was recite talking points, which are very familiar to anyone paying any attention to the campaign. He repeated himself constantly throughout the interview, often in the very same sentence! He said exactly the same things to Imus that he said to Katie Couric or Bob Schieffer and others ("I don't care about some old washed-up up terrorist who said he regretted not doing more bombing (or whatever the rest of that talking point was)" and "It's a gotcha question, that's fiiiiine"). But Imus isn't Katie Couric--these 2 guys have a long relationship and McCain didn't really acknowlege it in his answers. He completely changed the subject of Imus's questions to get onto some subject that he had a ready Obama put-down for. He could have just been playing tapes of sound bites from the last few months. He truly sounded kooky. I also can't believe he's snubbed Imus for this long.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-161871

ET, This also applies to declaring oneself "Exempt". If you do it, but end up not being exempt, you cannot do it the following year unless you know it is an absolutely sure thing ... The IRS doesn't like you earning income on "their" money.

ET,
Since it was more or less my topic yesterday, I think it's still the law that you'll be penalized for incorrectly stating your dependents. I think the IRS just wants the most up-to-date payments from your payroll in lieu of waiting for it in April the following year.
btw, are you still on for the KAOS gig next month? And do you know J Drummond?

So lessee, Obama's FL advantage has vanished, but MN looks like it's falling his way. Looks like OH might be the lynchpin, like I've said for months. VA and NC are teh biggest surprises to me, and may, if they stay in teh Obama column, lessen OH's impact no matter which way it goes.

Posted by: pogo | October 22, 2008 10:06 AM

Agree sir. I never thought that Fl was a possibility, and always knew that OH would be the one.... Can BO still lose OH and PA? I doubt that however....
Have to give it to the guy, he is on a roll....

ET,

"Hobson's Choice" - Name of Play

It has come to mean having only one choice: To take or refuse what is offered with no alternative

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

Tabi - That is all we hear from all of them.... The same talking points...
I wish they would mix it up

Obama get Powell's endorsement and McCain gets Bin Laden's. LOL

" though I wouldn't bet my life on Ohio. "

I don't know -- my daughter lives in a very conservative part of Cincinnati, and she thinks a lot of her neighbors are voting Obama. Including her fundamentalist next door neighbors.

McCain on Imus in the Morning this morning discusses Rev Jeremiah Wright and ACORN. There is a link to the podcast for the interview.

http://imustimes.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/imus-mccain-talks-wright-and-palin/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-161913

Ping,

The problem with 24 hour news. A candidate used to be able to have one speech that they made for the whole campaign with only minor adjustments for wherever they were appearing. Now we have heard the same points 20 times in one week. It wears out very fast.

This is where a natural speaker has an advantage. They can alter order and emphasis and update with the daily news instead of having to memorize and repeat everything. I knew a public speaker who could read the front page on the way to an event and give a 30 minute speech based only on headlines because the underlying positions were the same. You just didn't notice because it always "sounded" different.

This is where Obama really has the edge on McCain.

2008 Florida Presidential General Election:
McCain vs Obama

http://www.pollster.com/polls/fl/08-fl-pres-ge-mvo.php

Jamie. And to prove your point - I have personal experience hearing Obama in Orlando on Monday!

Same talking points - great delivery

agree or not - fiscal responsible or not - he moved the crowd

Polls Polls everywhere the polls. (sing to Signs signs everywhere....)

Now how on target have the polls been?

Getting ready to board the airplane

Best to all..

Da Ping

Palin's wardrobe malfunction is now the top story on google news.

Nothing like calling someone a "Celebrity Elitist" and then dropping 150 K on your VP pick to drive home the point.
These are the dumbest fucking people in the history of politics.

POLITICO Double Covers McCain’s Appearance from previous link update.

http://imustimes.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/imus-mccain-talks-wright-and-palin/

Ms. Sarah certainly likes them perks, don't she?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/21/ap-alaska-funded-palins-k_n_136719.html

No need to be concerned about her leaving the kids alone because of her busy schedule - she just takes 'em along at taxpayer expense. How much official state business can a kid conduct? Inquiring minds....

" then dropping 150 K on your VP pick to drive home the point.
These are the dumbest fucking people in the history of politics."

BS. If she "dressed down" the sexist pigs would be tearing her apart for that. Find a real issue.

Signs Signs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLm3HMG8IhM

Ping - some have been right, some have been wrong. The trick is figuring out which are which.

Imus podcast link

http://www.wabcradio.com/Article.asp?id=945681&spid=22807

Man, just watching MSNBC. Apparently they can't even get Brad Blakman to sit in the hot seat for the Rep. side now. That's pretty sad.

It's not sexism , it's politics.

If you're sellin' "Walmart Wonder Woman" don't be carrying Louis Vuitton on your shoulder as you pass the Walmart Greeter.

It's the 08' edition of John Kerry wind surfing . It's just that the "Flip/Flop is on the other foot.

Walmart Greeter:

http://conservatard.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/walmart_greeter2.jpg

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-161907

Rez, I don't know Jerry except by reputation. There was a point where I was thinking of applying for getting my job back but then I realized there was/is no going back. Besides without Michael and Juli there it wouldn't be the KAOS I knew and loved so much.

Yeah, I am supposed to be a guest on Wednesday's Breakfast Special on 5 November. I haven't really focussed yet on what I might offer in terms of "expat perspective"; I think I am most interested in talking about European perceptions of the USA and particularly our political/economic/social system. Then again, I don't think this is more than a 5 minute discussion. LOL

Anon, my Mom works for Walmart, so I had to stop sending anti-Walmart information. I do shop there when I am back in the states, though I am far more partial to Target.

As for the Walmart greeters, I think in all the times I ever walked into one of the stores, only 1 person has ever really "greeted" me. Couldn't they put that position into something more meaningful that handing someone a shopping cart?

Michelle Obama's dress when she appeared on the View cost 148 bucks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59twO1fJwtQ

Good video...the repugs still have a better ground game in southern New Mexico....'Viva Bush' was a huge success and the campaign fed many at their repug rallies. Both McCain and Hillary are to be in southern New Mexico on Saturday and McCain has already claimed the Mesilla Plaza....who knows where Hillary will end-up? Dems still very unorganized in this area. Obama has held one select, private event here for veterans...by Saturday, McCain will have visited twice. Biden was in Mesilla last week.

Mrs. Obama dressed down for the view
Chicago – Midwest fashion hasn’t historically measured up to the runways of Paris or New York. But on the campaign trail, at least one Chicago designer is getting a huge look right now. Maria Pinto is helping Michelle Obama bring style to the stump.

You cannot buy a sleeve of Ms Pinto's creations for $148.00
a featured designer for the high end women's market.

Yep, nothin' like wearin' Saks 5th Ave into the Ohio Rust Belt and tellin' em' you're one of them.

Thx ET,

Was just curious. I don't know the Drummonds that well either except they're neighbors and my wife has some contact with Judy.
I'm not a regular KAOS listener except when for an occasional Blues program and their Native issues programming, but I'll try and look out for your segment.

Maybe they'll archive it for linkup here :-)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-161902

Pogo, then I go for a guilty decision. Thanks for the clarification.

Ping re; Europeans... when I first moved to The Netherlands, I was dumbfounded by the VERY OLD people riding their bicycles all around. Many people that age would be using walkers in the states. The europeans think every single one of us are super fat (didn't help break the stereotype that I was) LOL.. but I digress. The inconsistency between their healthy lifestyles and the smoking is startling. It is starting to get better. Belgium has photos of diseased lungs and the like on the siggy packs now. You can no longer smoke in a restaurant or a pub unless they have a separate smoking space with it's own air circulation system. Even the Dutch are now forbidding smoking in restaurants (hallelujah!). England is about to debut photos on their cigarette packs, even more graphic than the ones in Belgium.

Things are changing. Even Turkey, not a European country, but a small piece is in Europe, is now starting a nominal restriction on cigarette smoking. The EU is planning for a common non-smoking law to be in place by 2010? Also they want to have a standard taxation system on cigarette packs, which will mean mostly more tax increases on cigarettes.

One interesting side note. Belgium has been pushing people to quit smoking, and in the process they have raised the tax on cigarettes a LOT.. and they continue to do so. However the cigarette taxes are part of the economic budget created by the government and when the taxes went up, the total euros in taxation dropped. Why? because it discouraged smoking, or buying the cigarettes in Belgium. And herein is the rub. The Belgian government supports efforts to reduce and eliminate smoking, but they also profit from the taxes that are collected from smokers, and that projected income from the said smokers is placed into the balance sheets of financial projections and budget balancing. Seems a contradiction to me and if I were a politician, I would not use the cigarette taxes as a base to help balance the budget.

Oh and some more bad news. Since we are about 5 billion short in the budget for the next fiscal year, the government is likely to raise gasoline taxes again because, as they argue, with falling oil prices, we can afford the increases. I'd be a hypocrite if I complained too much about this because I do support a social state, but I wish they could leave energy alone for a while so that industry and individuals could recover further from the record fuel and energy costs endured in the past 1.5 years and the adverse effects it has had on our economy. Oh yeah, my bank has announced a loss of 500 million for this year.

Oy vey!

Rez is Gary Galbreath still involved in KAOS?

"http://conservatard.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/walmart_greeter2.jpg"

ROFL, anon....

The SoetorObama Cover-up
---------------------------------------
Martin Lawsuit:

Hawai'i Supreme Court Petition

SUPREME COURT DOCKET NUMBER: 29414

"Obama claims that he has posted a conformed copy of his birth certificate on a web site. It is impossible to say whether this assertion is true, because Petitioner has no official copy to compare to the Internet version. Obama has not posted any of the source information or supporting data. If Obama has posted a version of his birth certificate, it would appear he has waived any privacy issues and the statutory restrictions on issuance of a copy to Petitioner no longer apply.

It is indeed a very peculiar state as now exists where Obama claims he has released his birth certificate or at least his latest version of the document, and yet claims that no one should be able to obtain an official copy of the same document from the State of Hawai’i or review the source information for the certificate. Waiver would appear to be applicable and render nugatory any privacy concerns."

http://contrariancommentary.blogspot.com/2008/10/hawaii-supreme-court-petition-andy.html

GORDO GORDO GORDO... what do you do in real life?

ET,

I've met and know Gary from some longhouse deal a while back. I think he's still a weekend thing going. Hate to say, the local coastal songs are not our thing. Dear wife and I never did get onto the "salmon scene". :-)

Gordo - petitioner (Berg?) is mixing apples and oranges - waiver doesn't apply to statutory restrictions regarding issuance of documents by government agencies unless the court adopts the argument, rules in petitioner's favor and issues an order compelling the agency to release the document. I'm betting that the court doesn't do that.

Lunch.

Just in case anyone runs out of ammunition, this is from a "liberal" blog poster:

"This new scandal with Palin and the 150K they've spent on clithes for her just takes the cake... you fuckfaces crucified Edwards over a 400 dollar haircut and this cunt gets 150K of clothes?.. And don't come back with how Edwards was an asshole 'cause he had an affair and a baby out of wed-lock, because McCain had an affair and Palin had an affair with her husband's business partner, and her dirtbag daughter shat out that retarded kid she's been slinging over her shoulder.. NOT HER.. "

Liberals, we hardly knew ye....

Income Tax Withholding Question:

Someone may have answered this upthread, so please forgive me for not checking all the way through.

There's no penalty for stating too many exemptions on your W-4 at work and there is no need for that form to match any reality at home, but IRS will hit you with a penalty for "under-withholding."

I can't swear to the numbers, but I think you have to have pre-paid either by withholding or quarterly estimated payments about 80% of your tax obligation by January 15th or 31st. As you see, I'm vague on this but I'm in the ballpark.

One way to avoid the fine is to have at least paid in as much as your total tax liability from the year before. If you did that you avoid the fine, even if you had such a good year this year that the pre-pay falls below the 80% (or whatever) threshhold.

SeaHag....
yes.... the warehouse of New England Pellets did experience a big fire back in August..... I live 7 miles from the Jaffrey border...... same for you if you ever get up here to NH.....

ETom..... we have the same thing going on with cigarette taxes here..... we tax the crap out of them to get people to stop smoking.... yet depend on those taxes to help balance the state's budget..... it doesn't make sense to me either.....

Patsi..... sadly, I think there's always been those types of people on the extremes of both parties..... they just seem to be more vocal now.....

I am really glad that I retired my election official position 2 yrs ago..... I don't envy anyone working the polls anywhere in this election cycle.....

Patsi,

Only you would put up some one like that as the typical liberal blog commenter.

I think the reason she went to a lot of schools is because she actually had to work while in college. What a concept. No sweet deals available, I guess.

Aside from that, I've seen some disturbing trends among acquaintances....many are neither encouraging nor discouraging their children to go to college. In my family, college wasn't a choice. My kids knew they'd go no matter what. But, for example, a lot of boys my son was in Boy Scouts with either didn't go to college or dropped out. These were from upscale families, too.

"Only you would put up some one like that as the typical liberal blog commenter."

I see that kind of crap all the time, Rez. There's a very ugly element out there, and it's not confined to the wing nuts.

pogo -------------------

Not Phil Berg -- this lawsuit is from Andy Martin.
-----------------------------------------------------
Why is SoetorObama trying to use the law (in the Berg case) to hide documents from the American people and the world? It's because he has plenty to hide. The TRUTH would show that he does not meet the Constitutional requirements for POTUS.

"There's a very ugly element out there, and it's not confined to the wing nuts."

I agree but I also agree with RR's comment about it too.

What is up with Gordo's "SoetorObama" name calling? Is this supposed to be some slam against Barack Obama?

I still don't see the point of these posts... Do you really think you've made any difference in this election with the posting of this pseudo-conspiracy websites against Obama? Time is running out and NOTHING you have predicted have come true yet.

And don't throw your "You didn't even know what COLB was" bullshit again. Now that I know, I know it's as false an issue as any other you've posted here.

I know at least a couple posters here who thrive on your crap. But if there was a poll, I think you'd be surprised to see how many find it utterly useless. If there is a real issue about something Obama did, that's one thing, but throwing shit against the wall and hoping some of it stays on there is just stupid. And really, posting about some sex perversion re: Obama? Aren't you ashamed?

I am sure someone called "Texas Darlin" is a reliable source on everything bad about Barack Obama.

Yes, Rez -- RR's comment bears repeating:

"sadly, I think there's always been those types of people on the extremes of both parties..... they just seem to be more vocal now....."

The internet seems to have unleashed a lot of underlying ugliness and bigotry on all fronts.

GOiRDO-you can't prove a negative. There is plenty out there you can prove in the world o' conspiracy that could actually enlighten. Quit wasting your energy on this line of "reasoning."

"I still don't see the point of these posts... Do you really think you've made any difference in this election with the posting of this pseudo-conspiracy websites against Obama? "

I don't either, Tom...I think Gordo is just nuts.

Why don't you tell these enquiring minds about that happy little company called "Wackenhut?"

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-161955

This is a lesson politicians keep forgetting.

They are usually fine with the first part of the equation: You tax what you don't want (i.e. cigarettes) and you don't tax what you do want (solar panels on roofs).

It is the second part that they forget: Don't consider penalty taxes in the budget forecast. When the thing you don't want goes away, so will the money.

"Thank You For Smoking" makes fun of all sides of the tobacco issue

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427944/

Dog,

I know tnr has it's bias, but that article was a good one on background. A little bit of RMN in her blood. My guess is, if she loses McCain and a few others had better watch their backs.

EuroTom --------------

"What is up with Gordo's "SoetorObama" name calling?"

See that you are still low- information on this subject. I understand why - many are just like you. You and others have been conditioned to believe: "If it's not covered by MSM, then it can't be true."

Why SoetorObama? There is doubt about his legal name. Around the age of six, it appears that he was legally adopted by Lolo Soetoro. His original Hawaiian BC was sealed and another BC prepared with his name listed as Barry Soetoro. Sometime in his teens, he started calling himself BHO. Was his name ever legally changed to BHO? Phil Berg is trying to obtain:

"Certified copies of any Court Orders or legal documents changing Obama’s name from Barry Soetoro to Barack Hussein Obama."

Should have read, "if she wins or loses".

Patsi sed: "The internet seems to have unleashed a lot of underlying ugliness and bigotry on all fronts."

How ironic; there was a decent article (can't recall) about how the internet can also be a good counter balance to the Rovian style of divide and conquer politics of old.

OK, my 15 minutes are up..

I see several local store are going belly-up, maybe I can score a few good early Xmas deals.

Rez what stores?

Machiavellian. Read "The Prince" and you will see where the Reps. get their stratigies, including the "keep 'em afraid" stuff.

ET,

Linen & Things, a downtown gift store and then a Steve & Barry's (casual wear) in the mall.

Now out the door.

GORDO, then Martin needs (to be?) a better lawyer. The doctrine of waiver applies to a right the an individual (in litigation usually) may assert to preclude disclosure of something sought by a party to the litigation. It does not apply to an administrative responsibility imposed on an agency. Obama may have waived his right to object to Martin's request for the BC, but that doesn't mean the agency must produce it without an order from the court compelling that production - which would likely be opposed by the HI attorney general (assuming the AG's office serves as counsel for all HI agencies) moving to intervene to block the enforcement of the order. That's a lot to accomplish in the next 2 weeks (or months). I do fail to see how a name change means anything, if that's what you are suggesting. The only issue from the perspectie of his qualification to serve as president is whether he is a citizen, born on U.S. soil.

ET & Rez - Steve & Barry's is in the midst of closing 100 stores - one of which was in our local mall and which is not on the list, so there are more than 100 closing). I think they may be a victim of their own overambitious growth model.

http://www.steveandbarrys.com/storeclosure.aspx

Re. Sarah's $150,000 expenditure for haircare, cosmetics and clothes -- you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.

Expensive clothes didn't help Nancy Reagan; she and Diana Ross once had the same designer dress -- an evening gown of charcoal gray with white dots, by Galianos or some such person -- and only one looked good in it and it wasn't Nancy.

And by the way, the Kennedy family paid for Jacqueline's clothes; supposedly when JFK objected to the high costs, she famously attempted to minimize them by retorting that if she paid the reported, hyped, figure for her wardrobe, she would have to be wearing mink underwear.

All the people who complained when John Edwards was said to have charged his campaign for a $400 haircut should be especially incensed to learn that contributors are paying for the lovely Ms. Palin's tawdry looking duds.

Apparently Linen & Things also has met its maker.

http://www.lnt.com/home/index.jsp

And to think I just went into one of their stores for the first time last week.

Cute picture of Barack and Michelle on this article:

Big Donors Drive Obama's Money Edge
"The Committee for Change, created in mid-July, has become a vehicle for ultra-rich Democratic donors to distinguish themselves from the 3.1 million others who have put $600 million behind Obama's presidential candidacy.

Lost in the attention given to Obama's Internet surge is that only a quarter of the $600 million he has raised has come from donors who made contributions of $200 or less, according to a review of his FEC reports. That is actually slightly less, as a percentage, than President Bush raised in small donations during his 2004 race, although Obama has pulled from a far larger number of donors."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/21/AR2008102102996.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2008102103028&s_pos

... to buy a PediPaws doohickie for the mutt, which I couldn't find in any pet stores. LOL

chloe, politics is like many other aspets of life - appearances are often more important than realities, and the more things change the more they stay the same.

pogo ---------------------------

There is much more than the "legal name issue" in this search for the TRUTH.

For an idea of what SoetorObama/DNC are hiding, check Phil Berg's site for the press release and the Admissions List.

http://www.obamacrimes.com/index.php/component/content/article/1-main/38-press-release-obama-a-dnc-admit-all-allegations-in-berg-v-obama

aspects ... must write on the blackboard 100 times - proofread before posting

I've visited his site - he could probably more productively spend his time by going to Ohio and working on suppressing the vote. It worked in '04.

I was surprised yesterday to hear someone on MSNBC say something I first said quite a while back. There is a "reverse Bradley Effect" at work and it is going to keep getting bigger and bigger as we get closer to November 4.

According to Jacques Lowe, one of the photographers who accompanied the Kennedys most frequently during the campaign, Jacqueline "reduc[ed] her wardrobe to three basic dresses, a string of pearls and a hat."

Pogo

"aspets" could get you into a great deal of trouble.

"- appearances are often more important than realities, and the more things change the more they stay the same. "

It's funny you should say that Pogo, because I just read an article where I noted an interesting quote: ""People act on the basis of their perception of reality; there is, in fact, no political reality beyond what is perceived by the voters."

Patsi I am so disappointed in you. How can you post those words even to prove a point. Exhibit A: this is why there will NEVER be a female Pres. or even Vice Pres. It is because women are so hard on each other. The men just get out of the way. We defeat ourselves. Thanks A-holes!

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/21/if-you-dont-look-good-we-dont-look-good/

"Those forms also documented $4,716.49 on hair and makeup in September, expenses that were not incurred in August."

Makes John Edwards look like he went to Technicuts in the mall for his haircut.

Look, I don't care about that any more than I care about Edwards' haircut. Palin's still an idiot - a well turned out one, but an idiot nonetheless.

Patsi,

I don't know if you are Catholic or not, but this link

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-161949

would demand 10 Acts of Contrition and 50 Hail Mary's to begin your penance...lol

If they weren't considered gang colors, I would pull out my dust covered rosary beads and say a couple myself for reading it...lol

"contributors are paying for the lovely Ms. Palin's tawdry looking duds. "

BenjBlue -- I realize it helps your mantra to constantly refer to this woman as a pig et al. But first of all, the RNC paid for the clothes. Second, I hardly think the clothes are "tawdry." But if it makes you feel superior to put a female candidate in the white trash category instead of examining issues....go for it.

When I was 17 I worked at Powers Dry Goods at Northtown Mall. Powers was a smaller player in the department stores of years past. I worked in Men's wear and got my sister her first job working gift wrapping. (She's still very proficient at wrapping presents. I was genuinely sorry to Powers close/ The first time my best friend and I caught a bus from the suburbs for a day of downtown shopping, I remember finding gifts for under 5 dollars at Powers. They also had the most awesome salad bar around! Anyway, the reason I mention this is that Steve and Barry's is listed as being in Northtown and I am sure they are in the old Powers Store location. After the loss of Powers, Mervyn's was in that spot for many years. Sadly Mervyn's left too... they had the best towels around. Bought most of my Mervyn's stuff in Olympia where... VOILA, the Steve and Barry's store is closing soon. I see Northtown not on the list to be closed.

If you ever watched the Mary Tyler Moore show, you would see in the opening, a shot of Donaldson's which had eventually bought out Powers. They are gone too now. My Uncle worked there for years... Here is a picture of Powers.. It doesn't do the store justice, but this photo was taken in 1960 !

http://bp3.blogger.com/_ZbDKf8rNxQU/RinXP5WZWZI/AAAAAAAAAII/i0BgkC0-7tU/s1600-h/Powers+Department+Store+1960.jpg

Anyway, the loss of Powers, Donaldson's and particular Dayton's was hard to accept. It still makes me sad. Isn't that stupid?

Sentimental as I often am, I am still filled with happy memories of visting Macy's last Christmas season. Here is a photo of me and Mauro having our pic taken with Santa Claus. Mauro was initially against the idea, but was later glad we had it done. I think it's a fabulous pic of both of us (except that I am the size of a mac truck) and we had a LOT of fun.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AkS06L44t5g/SP9uwc2-YYI/AAAAAAAAAE8/6qt1K0Y9HC0/s1600-h/Tom+and+Mauro0001.jpg

SoetorObama is hiding documents for a reason. The reason is that the documents would probably show that he is either a naturalized citizen or an illegal. And he has been using a name (BHO) for the past 30 years that is not his legal name.

Jamie, depends on which aspet you're referring to - and upon what experimental pharmaceutical I'm testing I guess.

"10 Acts of Contrition and 50 Hail Mary's to begin your penance...lol"

ROFL Blue.

And Melissa -- that post does prove the point that there are people who call themselves progressives out there posting ugly stuff ALL the time.

"To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient, and then, when it becomes necessary, to draw it back from oblivion for just so long as it is needed, to deny the existence of objective reality and all the while to take account of the reality which one denies—all this is indispensably necessary."

-Orwell

Gordo Why do you think BO is going to Hawaii?

Are the Polls Accurate?
Reading them right is more art than science.

"Can we trust the polls this year? That's a question many people have been asking as we approach the end of this long, long presidential campaign. As a recovering pollster and continuing poll consumer, my answer is yes -- with qualifications."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122463210033356561.html

I wish that the US would just forbid corporate and individual contributions to elections and require public financing of all candidacies and a strict 1 or 2 month limit in campaigning. Not only that but require everyone to vote, and make debate be issues oriented instead of demonizing opponents. I think such a change would do a lot to heal some of the divisiveness in American politics.

Also it would reduce or stop most of this ridiculous conspiracy theories that are popping up anywhere and everywhere, and quite notably on this blog.

Patsi, was it ET and you who referred to the sites Gordo cites as pseudo-conspiracy theory websites? Au contraire - they are real conspiracy theory websites.

"To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient, and then, when it becomes necessary, to draw it back from oblivion for just so long as it is needed, to deny the existence of objective reality and all the while to take account of the reality which one denies—all this is indispensably necessary."

Love that!
It ended differently than I expected/

Patsi

That post would have been funny satire on the leftwing except it is real. That is the problem with writing satire in the modern world. No matter how outragous you are reality comes up and smacks you in the ass. I'm amused by who is protesting it the most.

Jack

"Ridiculous" in that you ridicule them, Tom? "Soeter" is a reference to Obama's step-father, Lolo Soetero, and it also means "a summer grazing place", and you could have researched that yourself in less time than it takes to compose a post ridiculing Gordo.

While we are on the subject of posting links to stories that either supports our own favorite candidates or diminishes the ones we don't like, I was surprised to find this on the Wall Street Journal, of all places;

THE TILTING YARDOCTOBER 22, 2008
Joe the Plumber and GOP 'Authenticity'
It's hard to reach out to workers while cracking down on unions.

By THOMAS FRANK

The conservative movement made its name battling moral relativists on campus, bellowing for a "strict construction" of our nation's founding documents, and pandering to people who believe that the Book of Genesis literally records the origins of human existence.

Joe the Plumber, aka Joe Wurzelbacher.
And yet here are the words of Ronald Reagan's pollster, Richard Wirthlin, as recorded in one of the main Reagan strategy documents from 1980: "People act on the basis of their perception of reality; there is, in fact, no political reality beyond what is perceived by the voters."

The context of Wirthlin's reality-denial, according to the historian Kim Phillips-Fein, who unearths his statement in her forthcoming book, "Invisible Hands," was the larger Republican plan to woo blue-collar voters....

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122463199532056477.html

THOUGHTS?

Champ, I simply point out what Gordo is doing. I don't have to ridicule those who are already ridiculous.

Capice?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-162018

That could have been me Pogo... not sure. But you better be careful... Champ is on the war path because he disagrees. HORRORS!

ET - those theories aren't popping up here - they're jsut reported here by the indefatigable Gordo - the Energizer Bunny of the anti-Obama conspiracy theory bloggers.

just ... shit.

"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes."

Mark Twain

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-162021

But champ, that would just legitimize Gordo's rantings ... and it wouldn't be nearly as much fun.

Well Pogo I agree with you 100%. I wonder if you will get as much shit thrown at you for taking on what Gordo posts that I get when I do it.? And the anti-Obama crowd really are like the Energizer Bunny. You gotta hand it to them, they seem to believe what they are posting and on a positive note, they are staying true to what they perceive as truth. In a strange way that should be applauded !

"No matter how outragous you are reality comes up and smacks you in the ass."

Jack,

Like they say sometimes: You couldn't make this stuff up. :)

"I don't have to ridicule those who are already ridiculous.

Capice?"

-And yet you do; so no, I don't.

I actually agree with your :27 post, by the way.

Jerry Fletcher: 'A good conspiracy is unprovable. I mean, if you can prove it, it means they screwed up somewhere along the line.'

- from the movie Conspiracy Theory

Well Champ I am honesty pleased that we agree on something. At least there is a commonality between us and that pleases me. I hope for you too !

Actually pogo, ridiculing them legitimizes them much more. If the fun to which you refer is the same type of fun bullies have on the schoolyard, then, have fun!

"If you are willing to aim those sorts of slurs at her, then that is how you think and who you are. And name-calling one minority easily spills over to others."

Hear, Hear!

Champ you don't think the conspiracy theorists here are not playing a "bullying" game? Frankly I think they are having the exact form of "fun" as you've defined in your 2:42 post.

Did anyone look at my Christmas pic? No, it's not a conspiracy theory. And yes, I still believe in Santa Claus :-)

So does that mean I should giggle and guffaw when someone calls her a c**t? I think not. Because the next female they may decides deserves the word may be my daughter, or granddaughter...or someone else's daughter....on down the line.

Posted by: Patsi | October 22, 2008 2:42 PM

Well said Patsi and an excellent point!

Gordo among the most courteous participants on this blog, Tom. He doesn't ridicule anyone, including those that ridicule him. Therefore, I don't consider him a bully.

champ, you went to a different school than I did - must have been a prep school. The schoolyard bullies at my school were idiots - not the smartasses who made fun of everyone and got their asses kicked when they made fun of the schoolyard bullies.

Why is SoetorObama hiding documents? Because he has something to hide.

Know how the trip by 18 year old Stanley Ann and baby Barry in August 1961 to Mercer Island, WA fits into the time-line?

"Gordo among the most courteous participants on this blog, Tom. He doesn't ridicule anyone, including those that ridicule him. Therefore, I don't consider him a bully."

Why try to censor people when all you have to do is ignore them? He is courteous and has never tried to censor any of us. I'm sure he doesn't agree with much of what we say.

Rationalize all you want, pogo. You're smarter than that, and so am I.

Two Crocodiles were sitting at the side of the swamp near the Ottawa river.

The smaller one turned to the bigger one and said, 'I can't understand how you can be so much bigger than me. We're the same age and we were the same size as kids. I just don't get it.'

'Well,' said the big Crock, 'what have you been eating?'

'Politicians, same as you,' replied the small Crock.

'Hmm. Well, where do you catch them?'

'Down the other side of the swamp near the parking lot by the Parliament Buildings.'

'Same here. Hmm.. How do you catch them?' 'Well, I crawl up under one of their Lexus cars and wait for one to unlock the car door.

Then I jump out, grab them by the leg, shake the shit out of them and eat 'em!'

'Ah!' says the big Crocodile, 'I think I see your problem. You're not getting any real nourishment. See, by the time you finish shaking the shit out of a Politician, there's nothing left but an asshole and a briefcase'

LOL Solar

champ, it;s a rare day when Gordo discusses anything other than his own issues, which are almost invariably Republican conspiracy theories against Obama. No one has accused Gordo of being discourteous - and many here, myself included, step over that line from time to time. But as to Gordo (aside from referring to him as the Energizer Bunny or occasionally noting his doggedness with a twisted sort of admiration) you'll note that I don't ridicule him, but rather ridicule Berg and his other sources and their lame attempts to derail Obama's candidacy. I do criticixe his sophistic arguments and logical falacies, but that's not ridiculing him.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-162009

I was referring to stroking of posteriors

As* Pets

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27321701#27321701

Hey Pogo, just like in a recent Simpson's episode, it seems that your states voting machines are changing Dem votes to Repub...

jamie, I wasn't going to go there. :-)

Way OT:

Back for a sec. Got a ? Especially for you culinary folks.

Are those electric knife sharpeners worth a damn? I normally use my whetstone and do a good job, and occasionally get spendy and pay the scissor lady when one of the dog shows comes nearby and have her do our best knives.

Bear, you give our voting officials a lot more credit than they are due. No, we just have a lot of folks who Nixon and Reagan's campaign advisors saw and knew how to manipulate to vote against their own economic interests.

Knife sharpeners are a great way to ruin a good blade, Rez. Stick with the stone. Sandpaper is best, believe it or not.

Couldn't say, Rez - I use diamond stones and like the edge they give too much to try an electric sharpener. Plus, it's kind of relaxing to me to sharpen knives manually - but I never seem to do that often enough for Mrs. P's liking.

the pro scissor lady uses a wheel grinder. Isn't a mini grinder in the electric sharpener? shows you how much I know lol

Thx all, back to the food fight.

Rez - it's probably like every other tool - works well in the hand of someone who knows how to use it well.

Why is SoetorObama fighting discovery in the Berg (a DEM) lawsuit? Think he might be hiding something? If the SoetorObama supporters truly believe that he is not hiding anything, then why aren't you in favor of making those documents public? Could it be that you really do suspect that he has a "hidden" past? He claims to have posted an image of his COLB. So why is there a problem letting everyone see a certified hardcopy of the same COLB? Would they be identical? Were changes made to the site image?

Truth is stranger than fiction because fiction has to make sense.

Rez,

I generally use one of those flat bastard files. Works well for me.

Had somebody try to sell me a round SOB instead.

Election is almost here, all point to getting the getting R's out, time to
relax(for me) not going to get serious unless it gets close.

Rez--------

If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal? :-)

"Do I?"

No, indeed.

Why is McCain fighting disclosure of his medical records and Cindy's tax return information? Think he might be hiding something? If the McCain supporters truly believe that he is not hiding anything, then why aren't you in favor of making those documents public? Could it be that you really do suspect that he has a "hidden" medical problem and that her wealth from selling beer woudl be embarassing and cost him votes? He claims to have released his records and disclosed hisown financial information, but the handpicked few who have seen his records said that the 3 hours they had did not answer as meany questions as they raised, and no one has seen Cindy's financial records. So why is there a problem letting everyone see a certified hardcopy of those same records? Would they be identical to what he disclosed? Were changes or omissions made to the arecords they were permitted to see?

I have as much basis - more, actually - for believing that McCain has a medical condition that could render him unable to be president and face the prospect of the nitwit governor of Alaska becoming commander in chief as Berg has a belief that Obama is not constitutionally qualified to serve as president. Should I file a lawsuit to get information that I have no more right to than Berg does to Obama's?

OMG! Obama has almost made a believer of me!
______________________

Obama to media: pony up for election night access
By: Greg Hinz Oct. 21, 2008

(Crain’s) — The best-funded political campaign in American history says news organizations will have to pay — in some cases almost $2,000 each — if they want to cover Barack Obama’s election-night celebration in Chicago.

A memo sent to news organizations on Tuesday by the Obama campaign says credentials will cost $715 to $1,815, depending on whether electrical and phone lines are needed and whether an indoor or outdoor seat is requested for the event, which is expected to be held outside the evening of Nov. 4 in Grant Park.

The only free admissions are for a “general media” area. But, the memo says, “Please note that the general media area is outdoors, unassigned and may have obstructed views . . . standing room only.”

The area also does not include access to top Obama campaign officials, whose statements likely are to be in hot demand on Election Night. They apparently will be available only in the “press file” tent, to which an additional admission fee of $935 per person is being imposed.

Obama aides declined to answer questions about why a campaign that raised $150 million in the month of September is demanding such payments.

Same goes for the Obama medical record. All he has released is a note from is doctor saying he is healthy.
Campbell Brown said it was the same with JFK and he had a lot of health problems.

wtf . . .DOW down 650+

Rez, it's bouncing around in anticipation of the close - was down about 300 most of the day. Bad economic news today, speculation banks aren't going to do the right thing with the bailout money, foreign markets closed way down - and so it goes.

fact check - JFK had medical problems, but they weren't life threatening. Melanoma is. There is no suggestion that Obama is anything other than a healthy man approaching middle age. Campbell Brown needs to look up analogy and stop drawing false ones.

Just an observation--

As Obama's poll numbers increase--the market tanks.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-162049

Well said Pogo, far more eloquent than I could have written it.

Allow me to say that, based on Craig's criterion on posting here, GORDO is as welcome as anyone else to offer his tidbits. Sadly the tidbits are from extremely questionable conspiracy theorists whom, displeased with the direction of the election, can only create controversies that don't really exist to try and place seeds of doubt in the minds of the electorate. I don't find those actions to be "courteous" at all and thus, I do not this it is "courteous" to spread the shit around the various blogs and comment boards on the net.

As for the use of the word "ridiculous" , here is the definition I found on the net: : "absurd and laughable; unworthy of serious consideration". synonyms for "ridiculous": Absurd, Derisory, Farcical, Laughable, Ludicrous, Nonsensical, Pathetic, Preposterous, Silly.

IMHO, these adjectives describe the conspiracy posts to a T. Do I sometimes go overboard with my frustration toward Gordo? Yes. While he hasn't created the blogs and links he provides, his consistent posting of them I find ridiculous.. absurd... et al.

Should I ridicule him? Probably not. But his ridicule of everything Obama is not "courteous". It is "ridicule" : ridicule - language or behavior intended to mock or humiliate
discourtesy, disrespect - an expression of lack of respect

I've said for a long time that if Mr. Gordo told us something about himself, what his values are, where he comes from, anything other than machine-like ridicule links vis-a-vis Obama, a lot of us would understand him a lot better. As it stands now, I can only wonder if he isn't a right-wing volunteer working to spread the poison posts around the net.

That's just my opinion and it is my right to share it.

Rez,

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Wall-Street.html

Published: Sunday October 19, 2008 MYT 8:42:00 AM

McCain likens Obama to European socialists

WASHINGTON (AP): In an outbreak of class warfare, Republican John McCain Saturday likened Democrat Barack Obama to European socialists who advocate redistributing wealth as he desperately tried to reverse his declining poll numbers.

With just over two weeks remaining to Election Day, the campaign heated up as Obama countered by accusing his rival of being "out of touch'' with the struggles of middle-class Americans who need "a break.''

The presidential candidates swapped sharply worded charges over tax cuts, each accusing the other of shortchanging middle-income Americans at a time of economic hardship for millions.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/19/uselection08/20081019084051&sec=uselection08

Well I'd like to thank John McCain because such a comparison makes me even more comfortable with Barack Obama as President. I spent most of my life in the states, but in the last 10 years I have seen and experienced first hand the benefits of the social-state in the European mainland, and it scores far higher than the U.S. model of much for the few and the rest can eat cake.

pogo ----------------

"Should I file a lawsuit to get information that I have no more right to than Berg does to Obama's?"

It's about the Constitution. SoetorObama's citizenship status matters.

Health and financial records are something the voters can consider.

I'm for the TRUTH about SoetorObama,McCain and their wives.

Thanks, ET. I suspect you could have said that just as well as I - your 4:03 post supports my opinion.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-162062

Rez, we're just having a family discussion... politics brings passion because the political is indeed the personal :-)

Tom -- I wouldn't worry about all the socialist charges -- Republicans have been calling Democrats socialists and commies for years. Same with the "good American" mantra, the values talk and the all the rest of it. This cycle is pretty standard Republican fare.

On those "election personality" tests I usually come out a kind of libertarian socialist.

Thanks Pogo....

I do believe firmly, that the election is winding many of us up further as it gets closer to election day. I often wonder why I care so much, but I do! America has such a strong capacity for greatness if it can only find its way.

Time to sleep and I have been hogging the blog too long here... goodnight one and ALL...

Oh and Gordo, once the election is over, I hope you really will open up and let us know about the real you. I, for one, would find it very interesting, but then I like to learn as much about people as possible! I do believe you are more than the sum of your links... and I'd like to be acquainted with that person.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/22/AR2008102201448.html

The lame duck has called for an international conference on Nov 15. Since this is after the election, I wonder if the President elect will be invited?

Gordo, there is a mechanism in place to ensure that the constitution's requirements are met - although I haven't (and won't) dug too far into it, I believe that mechanism is in the FEC. If Berg and Martin were serious about their quests for the truth of Obama's birth, they would sue the FEC under the U.S. APA - which would if the suits were maintained, require the FEC to show upon what basis it made its determination that Obama was not disqualified by not having been born a u.s. citizen on u.s. soil. The standard for meeting its responsibilities under the applicable regs is that the decision have a rational basis - and the obvious rational basis for the decision that Obama is qualified would be proof of his being born a U.S. citzen on U.S. soil. The standard is low, but the proof needed to meet the standard is what they claim to seek in heir lawsuits. Rather than pursue the truth throiugh a relatively straightforward APA action, which is invariably of shorter duration than a lawsuit, they filed lawsuits that were doomed to flail, then fail, which allows them to conduct their campaigns of innuendo without having to ever produce proof of the facs they and claim are obvious through Obama's failure to just give them what they seek in their suits. But disclosing the truth is not their aim suggesting what they wish were the truth and impugning Obama is, and they 've chosen a legitimate appearing mechanism to accomplish their ends.

Oh, and Gordo, I've never seen you call for the truth about McCain's health or Cindy's finances, and on those issues, Obama is much more transparent, and the concerns about the McCains' issues in those areas are perfectly legitimate, even if not based on a constitutional requirement. And do you accept McCain's word about his birth? Or do you demand to see a certified copy of his birth certificate to prove he was born on the U.S. Naval base or at least in the Canal Zone rather than in a civilian hospital in Panama City?

Pogo you are _so_ rational. :)

Wow -- Jamie -- sounds like neither candidate has any idea if they are invited!

From the article:

"Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), the Democratic presidential candidate, and Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the Republican nominee, "have been made aware of the meeting and the president's intention to invite the leaders," Perino said. "And I think they were supportive of the idea."

Thanks flatrus, I thnk.

pogo --------------------

"Gordo, there is a mechanism in place to ensure that the constitution's requirements are met ..."

NO !!! There is no mechanism - it's a flaw in the system
=================

FEC Files Motion to Dismiss

http://www.americasright.com/2008/10/federal-election-commission-files.html

When we were in the Canal Zone, lots of families chose to have their pregnancies handled by a clinic in Panama City. They thought the care was much better than what they would have received in the Canal Zone. The US govt picked up the tab for that care.

Parents were advised to report the birth at the local consular office. They would be issued a certificate indicating that the child was a natural born citizen of the US. This was a big deal for most parents because they all considered the likelihood that their newborn would become president at some point in time.

The djs at a Battle Creek station were discussing Palin and her kids travel this morning. They considered it to be no "BFD". They said they would do the same thing if they could. However, they can't. They said they can't even have station t-shirts because "those are or for the listeners". They said, "We'll bet lots of people do stuff like that. It's jusyt that maybe she shouldn't do it because she's famous." On the local R&B station, they had the Tom Joyner morning show on. Some woman called in and said her neighbors went to the butcher shop and put a bunch of pork on layaway for November 4th. They had also already stopped at the liqour store to stock for this big party they were gonna have when Obama wins.

I think we should all pool our funds so that Craig can become a real part of the election night coverage; I'd hate having him seated on the outside bleachers because of lack of funds.
Posted by: Patsi Author Profile Page | October 22, 2008 3:38 PM

Gordo, that is exactly what I was referring to. Berg filed a lawsuit rather than an administrative action. Filing a Motion to Dismiss based on a denial of responsibility for the alleged failure by the FEC is entirely predictable and expected as a response to the complaint to anyone who has ever been involved in a lawsuit, and questioning Berg's standing is entirely predictable to anyone who is familiar with federal standing cases (as to the standing issue). I submit that Berg expected it as well. If his reply brief does not cite the regulations placing the responsibility to confirm the eligibility of the candidates in the FEC's lap (or in the lap of some other agency), the legal basis for his lawsuit is missing and his inclusion of the FEC, or his omission of whatever agency does in fact have that responsibility, was frivolous and possibly sanctionable - although from a practical standpoint, Rule 11 is known more from the courts' failure to impose its sanctions than from their imposition. Because you see, you have to have a belief, based on a reasonable inquiry into the law and the facts, that the law, based upon the facts you allege, supports your lawsuit BEFORE you file it. Absent that authority, the court will dismiss the suit, which Ipredict, and Bergwillcontinue to say whathe's said all along. I stand by what I said, Berg is not after the truth, he's after the appearance of a search for the truth as a platform for innuendo.

http://www.slate.com/id/2074526/

Kennedy had severe health problems including Addison's disease. Additionally, the drugs given to Kennedy were
strong and narcotic. Campbell Brown's analogy is correct.

He also had urinary tract problems..stemming from an untreated sexual encounter in his youth
"Kennnedy had "occasional burninng when urinating, which was the result of a nonspecific urethritis dating from 1940 and a possible sexual encounter in college." This was left untreated and became a chronic condition by 1946 [7i1]. At some point the illness was described as "a mild, chronic, non-specific prostatitis." Sulfa drugs were able to suppress the symptoms. [7i1]. As late as May 1955 he still had "prostatitis marked by pain when urinating and ejaculating, as well as urinary tract infections" [7j1].

In January 1956 he underwent cystoscopy under anesthesia [7d1]. Comment: Was this a sexually transmitted disease? (1) The response to sulfa suggests it was infectious. (2) Kennedy had a large number of sexual contacts before he was even out of college, and (3) it seems unlikely he practiced safe sex [7k1]. As one female acquaintance remarked, "He was not much for planning ahead" [7l1]
http://www.doctorzebra.com/Prez/g35.htm

McCain and Obama running even in AP/gfk poll?

http://www.freep.com/article/20081022/NEWS15/81022061

Exactly, Flatus! Craig can get a Trail Mix Scholarship.

flatus, that would raise a very interesting question - who can determine that a child born to U.S. citizens outside the confines of the U.S. is "naturally born" and whether the opinion of the U.S. counsulate even matters? It would be interesting to see who has standing to bring a suit to raise that issue - a defeated candidate for the presdency perhaps. Certainly not a private citizen.

Holy crap! They just showed a political ad bashing Tim Walberg (R) from Michigan. My former pastor from Adrian had a speaking part in the ad! He said, "Sounds like Walberg only cares about himself!"

Bear;

Just received a phone call from another G. C. that is a gc on paper only, he subs out most of his work.He is going to get financing for one or two projects ( he rehabs homes) and has invited me to do them,.,,,,, the bank that is releasing $ in Shore Bank in Chicago. I assume that he will have to come up with some $ on his own, has excellent credit, and has been using shore for a long time for his credit needs?

pogo -----------------

SoetorObama is using the legal system to keep his "hidden" past a secret. If he has nothing to hide, then why hide the documents? Are you suspicious? SoetorObama has plenty to hide. The very fact that all this sounds so fantastic works to his advantage. People can't believe that anyone would dare try to do what he has done.

Know why I asked about Mercer Island?

factcheck - like I said - Kennedy's injuries and illnesses were not life-threatening (although Addison'scould have been in the right circumstances). Some of my best friends had NSU- in fact I bet some of all of our bests friends had NSU - even if we didn't have it ourselves - all of my friends who had it were in college, and none are dead from it. I'm sure Kennedy took narcotics to suppress the pain from his back injury. So what? And remember - that was a differnt time and privacy actually meant something. I'm not aware that any similar concerns about Obama's health have arisen. Have I missed something.

Obama seems like he's in damn good health -- he's been out playing b-ball on the campaign trail....not to mention bowling a few lanes...lol.

Gordo, the only ones trying to use the legal system are Berg and Martin. Obama's lawyers are doing what lawyers do - making the plaintiff prove their case. IF the cases survive the Motions to Dismiss - which I doubt - discovery (in Federal Court) will be imposed on the parties and your answer will be forthcoming. Don't hold your breath.

I didn't see yor reference to Mercer Island - and aside from it being a childhood home of Obama's mother because her parents wanted her to go to a leftist school in the 50s. And this means what? That Obama is a commie (and a Muslim) because his maternal grandparents were left leaning? I have no idea what you or Larry Johnson are suggesting - but it has the familiar ring of the innuendo you are becoming so adept at spreading. And last I checked though, it is in Washington State - no disqualification there - sorry - Obama wasn't born yet when she was there - and there is nothing that disqualifies someone from being president because their grandparents (or they for that matter) had leftist leanings. Is there a point to this?

But now, off to have a glass of wine with the wife.

Patsi, I'd leave the bowling alone - apparently he has a hand-eye coordination deficiency. LOL

Bye now.

pogo-----------------

He wants documents hidden - fact.

He is using the legal system to hide those documents - fact.

He does not want the American people to know about his "hidden" past.
------------------------------------

The Mercer Island question was to determine if any of the SoetorObama supporters have knowledge of his past. The Mercer Island visit in August 1961 is important. Do you know why?

They just don’t care; they just think it’s fine to spend that cash on new clothes for the family.
They just do not care if we don’t like it, why should they? They squander billions of dollars a week on two wars that are going nowhere. They have let Wall Street perform their money-grab unchecked, deregulated, and McCain approved under the mantle of “less government”. Surely they knew this would surface and they would take hits for it…this too they disregard with elitist snobbery. They knew this would kill any lingering identity US residents might have with Palin as “Hockey mom of America”. By the way…down here in the Lower Forty-Eight it’s soccer moms, Sarah. Most small towns such as the ones you claim to be the heart and soul of America can’t possibly afford any hockey rinks with compressors and such…our local skating rink only works when it’s flooded with a tanker truck and it gets down below 20F. However, the park has a dozen soccer fields , one of them has lots of seating and concessions and rest rooms,and it’s a big deal.

If you missed The Daily Show on Monday night, you missed Jason Jones's report from Wassilla. He talked with a good church-goin' man who had a huge tattoo on his arm of his ex-wife and the woman he cheated on his wife with (bad construction-sorry) and another ex-girlfriend, all in a state of semi-undress, a boob or two showing. He believes small towns have better values.

Another guy said people in small towns help each other out more - used 9/11 as an example. When reminded that that was in New York, he said well, yeah, but it affected us all. (huh???)

The best part was the interview with the present mayor who said her experience absolutely qualified her to be vp. She noted that she has staff meetings on Mondays and another meeting on Thursday. That was all she could think of the describe her work. No human services or public works it seems - can't remember all the services the town doesn't provide ie police, fire etc.
It was painful to watch the woman, but also strangely entertaining.

I am surprised to see nothing here about Hawaii's closing of its single-payer medical program it started earlier this year. I may have some of the details wrong, but apparently it has closed. I'm glad Obama has taken to hrc's plan, but I'm just interested in what you all have to say about Hawaii's experience. I have no opinion either way - just want to hear your reactions.

I'm guessing The Name of the Rose is considered to be a low-rent story since nobody here has either read it or appreciated it if they did read it.

Miss Teen Louisiana loses her crown after her arrest for not paying a restaurant bill and for having marijauna in her pocketbook that she left at the restaurant. Check please???

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081022/ap_on_en_ot/miss_teen_louisiana

Presdiential race tightens in final weeks according to new AP Poll:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081022/ap_on_el_pr/ap_poll_presidential_race

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

Just trying to have some fun.

I mean, if we constantly report Obama being ahead by a mile, people will lose interest in this election.

Thanks Pogo, Jack, Renee & anyone who sent good wishes my way, found pellets at our local market and he will get me some pallets too! So happy I don't have to worry about trucking them here now. Thanks,

Rebellious Renee- Thank you, hardly ever get to America , every year I hope to do an antique buy trip up there, never get past Brimfield! I saw you worked the elections- you must know Pat Morris?

Those crafty Dems.....getting my former pastor to be in one of their ads! The guy who says "Seems like Congressman Walberg only cares about himself." was the pastor at my church in Adrian when I was younger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91mw4WmrvGE

What are you, the fundie skirt police?

Sex sells.

Remember the month after the 2000 election when the election results were see-sawing and they would show every time Gore had the lead the stock market would go up. And every time Bush had the lead the stock market would go down. Has anyone noticed what the stock market has done as Obamas lead has gotten stronger and stronger.

They should have dressed her like an eskimo. I mean, she's from Alaska. Played that up.

Nike fudges, recognizes fastest marathon runner as "a" winner

C.W. Nevius, Chronicle Staff Writer

Wednesday, October 22, 2008
(10-22) 12:18 PDT San Francisco - --

Marathon runner Arien O'Connell will be a winner after all.

O'Connell ran the fastest time in last Sunday's Nike Women's Marathon, but when she finished she was told she couldn't be awarded first place because she hadn't run in the "elite" women's group, which was given a 20-minute head start.

O'Connell said she was contacted early this morning by a Nike representative who said they were going to award her a trophy and recognize her as a winner.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/22/BACI13MAIT.DTL

Nike should be ashamed of themselves. If you have the fastest time --you won! Elite runners what a stupid concept.

Isn't Palin running for VP? Besides, you've seen the polls, Obama's gonna slaughter McCain on Nov. 4th. Nothing to worry about!

"We're electing a president, not a pinup poster."
lol

See what I mean, You just can't write this stuff. I feel sorry for people who try to make a living writing satire with irony. Their imaginations just can't keep up with reality.

Jack

Name of the Rose

Bethy,

Are you talking about the Umberto Eco book or the Sean Connery movie made from it?

Ha! Jack -- I was just about to post: "Ah, the irony."

Check please!

Washington is pretty darn blue, but even here the Obama folks aren't taking any chances. I've had three phone calls asking for help with GOTV work.

On top of that I had to call the auditor to get a vote by mail ballot for my son and they have a recording going saying you can wait in line or leave a message "due to heavy call volume" and then they count you down so you know how many people are ahead of you.

When I finally got a human being who said they had just sent out more than 100,000 ballots on Friday and another similar batch would be going out this coming Friday. This county only has about 900,000 people in it.

Jamie,

Thurston County got theirs to our boxes Friday. Don't know about the volume here.

Rez

I think I found what I want for Christmas.

Look at these electric sharpeners.

They are high dollar the cheapest being $70 up to several hundred.

http://www.edgecraft.com/page2a.html

Jack

Corey

What ya need checking.

Jack

For you "Dancing With The Stars" and 2008 election fans....

http://themitchellblog.blogspot.com/

Jamie - the book. the movie was so stupid! My sister will not let anybody play the movie in her house - it was gloomy it drove her nuts! lol

I found the book fascinating and thought they were crazy to try to make a movie out of it..I've never really heard anybody talk about it, tho, not just here. I find echos of it in so many places, and occasionally in comments here.

Corey

Something like this
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2028/2299697383_cb77968a34.jpg?v=0

Yeah KGC, but that's a little too sexy. LOL!

Too sexy you say..
how about this one

http://www.heidicody.com/images/art/eskimo/eskimo.sm1.jpg

I enjoyed the movie, but you are right that it really didn't reflect the book. Eco is a very poetic author with lots of dense, layered meanings in the material. You just can't film that, so they settled for a dark ages mystery thriller.

A wing nut friend from TX emailed this to me today.

Barack Obama, the presidential Democratic Party candidate, is for banning all guns in America. He is considered by those who have dealt with him as a bit more than just a little self-righteous.

At a recent rural elementary school assembly in East Texas, he asked the audience for total quiet. Then, in the silence, he started to slowly clap his hands once every few seconds, holding the audience in total silence.

Then he said into the microphone, 'Children, every time I clap my hands together, a child in America dies from gun violence.'

Then, little Richard Earl, with a proud East Texas drawl, pierced the quiet and said: ''Well........dumb-ass stop clapping ! "

Jamie - I might have enjoyed the movie if I hadn't watched it at my sister's house, and if I hadn't liked the book so much.

I guess what I am picking up on is the overall idea of the many ways and times in history is the constant atttempts to control others.

I see it in both parties and in the gop messages. Palin demonstrates it more than McCain, but the big gop drive is to not control guns but to control sex. Don't control how people treat each other but do control religious behaviour.

Some of the more excitable people here show intolerance for others here - calling others names like stupid, morons,etc.

It's not that I'm finding fault particularly, esp about here because I know most of it is emotion. What gets me is how constant the drive is to control and the many tiny ways people try to control, even un-consciously. That book made me see them.

There were so many details in the book that I can't remember them all, but I was convinced. After the first time I read it, I re-read it about 4 months later. That was 24 years ago andI'm still channeling it today, obviously. I'm glad you've read it, too.

Bethy

If this place reminds you of The Name of the Rose, you need to read his other famous book Foucault's Pendulum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foucault%27s_Pendulum

Politics, intrigue, and conspiracy theory ...

New thread

Midnight thread -

The Next Vice President- Both Tickets would like a Change
Golden Parachute for Hank Paulson
Lump of Coal for W