Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Are you saying he should replace everybody currently working in national security and hire all new people? Could you name any organization that could do that and be successful? The key to any leadership is to slowly replace the people who are incompetent while your key officials evaluate the situation. Most of the Bush idiots will be leaving NO MATTER who got elected. They were only there to help GW do his thing. I'm sure there are plenty who were there just waiting for him to leave.

It must be a secret republican plan to discredit Obama in the eyes of his left wing supporters.

Excellent piece on the auto industry and the UAW. Harold Meyerson writes in the WaPo:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/16/AR2008121602482.html

And more twists and turns in the Madoff mess:

http://www.thebigmoney.com/articles/news/2008/12/16/madoff-madness?page=0,0

Good Morning...

It will be hard to impossible for the majority of the Crawfordlisters Regulars to come close to admit and thank Pres Bush 2 for the results of keeping the USA safe.

Thank you President Bush !

Now Pray Barrack has the same success

All right (or left) LET IT ROLL

madoff: ganov, meshugge or mensh? a real kasheh.

patsi, our new pirate story. add that spitzer alledgedly was on to him as early as 2006 and about to initiate action when the roof fell in on him.

Patsi..

Grade today A for Craig and CQ
F for Meyerson and Washington Post

The piece by Harold Meyerson is at best a weak attempt to discredit and place blame. What a jump in history and lack of connective facts. This is a tale of two stories – the first is a nice tribute to the leadership of Walter Reuther. But wait – now Meyerson uses a technique of contradictions that are not creditable. Mr. Meyerson – why not stay with your theme on the leadership of the UAW today? Did the success of the UAW die with Reuther and the current leadership is equally part of the problem?

Mr. Meyerson’s liberal bias and clear economic ignorance is astounding. Again, It is poorly written article that will only be valued by a subset of predisposed individuals that look to confirmation of their own emotions.

And one has not to wonder why the Tribune is Chapter 11, NY Times is value of Junk Bonds at best --- With garbage like this from the post – they cannot be far behind

is it just my imagination or are the bushies deliberately holding their tongues and saying only good things for a purpose? shrub's no longer the cowboy, but now the clown or pollyanna. could it be they saw the market tank everytime one of them uttered some inanity... or insanity? obviously keeping it zipped for some reason.

patd...
Good question - but time to fade away.

Off to work - nice day on the Market yesterday !!! And Gosh some of the bailouts on Wall Street are all ready showing a profit !!!

The magic of accounting......

Best to all and Thank You again to Pres Bush for keeping us Safe.

Patsi
Thanks for that WP link regarding the UAW,excellent.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183064

Ping
Thank President Bush,No. Oh and no surprise with you and anything Union,I'm still waiting for you to explain how the American worker is better off in wages and benefits now that this country is down to something like 10% unionization........

tonyb39...
Ah was logging off and you pop up.

Please tobyb39 do not place such conclusions that have NO support or basis in fact.

Where do I bash the Union? Please hyper link and show me....
I have worked with a TEAM success with the employees that have a union representation in prior work assignments.

So please make sure you get your facts correct before what many typical reactions to something you may disagree.

Question – how many people carry the luxury of a cell phone today? It is a luxury do you agree? Not essential to life and happiness… (ok my teenage daughter will disagree but that is expected at that lack of life experience and maturity)

Off for sure this time....
And THANK YOU AGAIN President Bush for the Results of Keeping us Safe from the many that want to attack and destroy.

Thank You Office of President Elect for understanding and pray that you continue to the success

A grateful American

mornin' y'all.

Ping, I'll sit and wait to see how grateful you are to the PE if after he becomes POTUS he follows through and gets us out of Iraq within about a year and a half.

Now you have me intrigued - I'll have to go read Meyerson's article. Might have helped if you gave at least ONE example of his uncreditable facts, but no matter, I'll see what I can find.

Patsi, do you . . . sleep?

Oh, and Ping, btw, who thinks that we are safe if we are at war? Sorry, but that is a bit below your yusual level of comment.

craig...thank you for the shoe videos, I needed the comic relief after reading the war costs of fighting global terror. Billions probably pissed away on the security warnings...we are orange today. Baboon butt red during the 2004 election....really duped us.

Adios, Senor Bush, don't let the shoe hit you on the way out....or if the shoe fits, wear it! You are defintitely a cinderella president.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183069

Ping
Typical,your word and a good one!

"how many people carry the luxury of a cell phone today? It is a luxury do you agree?"

Yes, but Ping, it has changed the way people do business. Since the cell phone has become a part of the way we conduct business, it is therefore an important part of the economy as it changes. And the cost keeps getting closer and closer to a land line. It's progress.

chloe...the luxury of the cell phone is that our government has listened in on all of conversations in the name of preventing terroism.

For some reason, ping sounds like hannity, another great american.

Craig...

When are you going to do a post on Cheney admitting he instituted and authorized War Crimes in a recent interview just like Bush did on National Television some time ago?

OK, Ping, not creditable? Meyerson left out specific references to Bob Corker - who bitterly complained that the White House took away his leverage in negotiating with UAW salaries and benefits down - and a specific reference to Mitch McConnell's rant on the floor of the senate complaining that it is nuts (or some word to that effect) to think that the big 3 can compete with other automakers when their labor rate (he disingenuously included the legacy costs as part of the salary difference when it is properly a separate issue)is much higher than other automakers' in this country. So I've provided the credits for the "uncreditable" facts Meyerson provided. And if you look at the legacy costs of retirement and healthcare that is not covered by Meidcare as obligations of the automakers, rather than as obligations of the workers (McConnell's sleight of hand) the difference is not nearly as great as the republican leadership wants the American people to beliefve as they protect the jobs they've broguht to their respective states by siting foreign automakers' plants in them.

And before you or any other of the republican apologists here jump, understand that I am not a big supporter of unions or the UAW, at least in their more recent iterations, and based upon my own experience as a steelworker - to say nothing of the experience I've had professionally dealing with the coal industry - I don't agree with many who think that the leadership of the big unions have acted in the beast interests of their members.

Let me see if I got this right.

Bush was President before 9/11 I believe.

An August PDB stated that Bin Laden wanted to attack us using Airplanes and did.

So how did Bush keep us safe? Sounds like spin to me.

The cell phone is a technological advance and nothing more...

So the future is finally here...

http://www.snopes.com/photos/technology/year1999.asp

Blondie, I don't know where Ping was going to go with that cell phone nonsequitor. A cell phone is certainly not a luxury in my line of work. Could I survive without it? Yeah, but I could survive without a home computer as well - or air conditioning or cable tv or a second guitar for that matter - but I don't know why I would.

"our new pirate story. add that spitzer alledgedly was on to him as early as 2006 and about to initiate action when the roof fell in on him."

Patd -- I've always wondered why banks were on Spitzer's trail for measley $10,000 money exchanges...it looks to me like a conspiracy to discredit and dump him before he blew the whistle on them all...too bad our resident conspiracy theorists don't spend energy on that story...

AP, it's dervish like. It's a central talking point in the Bush legacy tour.

Absolutely disagree with your assessment of the Meyerson piece, Ping -- this is union busting pure and simple. More of the right's war on the American worker.

Patsi - banks have to report transactions greater than $10k (or multile transactions that addup to more than $10k) because of Reagan's anti drug laws - at least I believe that's when that articular reporting requirement began. I've had transactions reported, but to my knowledge they've never been investigated. If the transactions are repeated frequently enough (as if drug dealers don't know this by now) the FBI, in conjunction with state and local drug task forces, follows up on them.

Blonde, that video you linked is amazing.

Pogo - Good points - My primary point is Meyerson was using a bait and switch..... Entertainment but not Journalism - He does not make complete connections. You do a much better job.

Also the general negative's and labels used are very poor choice on Meyerson part.

Cell phone - Was taking that to the point of Maslow's hierarchy of needs in an economic / social spending – and selection of Priority by some. Nice to have vs need to have.
I am sure that will also spruce up the debate – No I do not think we should all live in the same size brick house – that system has failed everytime…..

Deep thoughts in short clips…..

And wow – the work firewall has let me out!

Hi Pogo...

Got a new TV coming today so can't hang around too long.

On spare computer right now as I had to move everything where the new set is going. Still haven't hooked it up yet and need to buy a 25' network cable to reach before I can use it.

There are more terrorists attacks around the World since Bush committed Crimes Against Humanity with his illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq. And that does not include all the new terrorists that have been spawned since Abu Ghraib from the War Crimes instituted and authorized by Bush and Cheney.

They all need to be tried in the Hague and hung if found guilty. Just like we tried the Japenese and Nazi's for their War Crimes.

But we all know that no one in Our Government will hold them accountable. Remember that those who sat on certain committees were briefed on what was being done in America's name and sat silent. There are many co-conspirators in the Congress that should be held accountable as well.

Take it easy my friend and say hello to Mr. P and Little P as well.

God Bless you.

There's no need to bust the unions. They are doing a superb job of that themselves. We don't have to do a thing. They are going to implode on themselves under the weight of their hard won legacy costs.....all we have to do is sit back and watch.

Ping -- I know you've probably gone off to the great capitalist heaven for the day (kidding) -- but if you check back in...let me say that the entire "George Bush kept us safe" chant is BS.

I heard that during the 2004 election cycle even from DEMOCRATS who acted like big babies. "Oh my God! Somebody help us!"

Or as they say down South -- "Hep me! Hep me!"

Bush had much the world, including Middle Eastern countries, willing to ride shotgun for us after 9/11. He could have masterfully used that support, spent money on greater intelligence and improved controls over shipping. But NO -- he threw the lion's share into the war with Iraq....and I have very little sympathy for his decision to try and move into Afghanistan, too.

He made every possible error -- from illegally approving the execution of a foreign head of state (a dangerous precident) to firing Arabic linguists because they were gay. Good Lord.

In fact, Bush set up a situation where we were so hated that people DID start to live in fear -- then he said he'd save us. BS. BS. BS.

Well I guess that everyone knows who has a pension and who does not now don't we.

Later.

"Patsi, do you . . . sleep?"

ROFL, Pogo -- between the dog often wanting out in the night, and arthritis waking me up every couple of hours....it's a trick.

But Pogo -- I've always been a VERY early riser. Comes from being in a farm family -- too often there were two breakfasts -- the pork chops, eggs, biscuits and gravy for a farm crew...and the cold cereal for slackers. I was never a slacker. :)

Everybody Knows that the dice are loaded:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h27HRNm_r4U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h27HRNm_r4U

Wow Sturge.

Great clip sturge...

and as a followup -- here's how I feel about Bush's America...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxvlI4N9h6o&feature=related

Bear, did you see that article in yesterday's Journal about USDA mortgages? Might be a viable alternative for some of the people here.

are we fixed yet?
http://www.windstream.net/wind/portal/NewsChannel.aspx?ArticleID=D954FENG0&CatID=TopHeadlines

craig, i hope that the 70% you and helen have in the can has been saved, backed up and in oldfashioned print on paper in case this microsoft snafu hit your computer.
p.s. need some more words? we've been pretty slack lately in pulling our load for you. slug-a-beds that we are.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183092

Patsi,

Pretty much my sentiments. If there was a way to make a situation worse, Bush and company (one never knows how many decisions were actually made by him). I have never seen a political figure who, at least in public presentations, seems so totally unaware of the climate around them. He is either completely self delusional or some master manipulator pretending total ignorance so as to disguise a truly evil purpose.

Either way, I won't start to feel feel safe until he is back in Dallas. Even, then there is no way to tell how much wreckage he and Cheney are leaving behind.

On Morning Joe this morning in talking about the Time Person of the Year, they flippantly mentioned "The Great Man" theory of history. For those not familiar with the Carlyle thesis, the Wiki is a short rundown

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

Spencer wrote the arguments against the theory and the writers of "Generations" are more in line with the idea of societal influences rather than individuals.

Still, "The Great Man" idea is fun if only because they all seemed to have really heavy maternal or other female influences.

Ping, Meyerson's bent is pro union - has been ever since I've read him. He is limited in what he can write by whatever word limit there is on his column, so it doesn't bother me that he doesn't do a Frank Rich length piece twice a week. That probably limits his ability to convey everything he would need to in order to show his understanding of such things asa the economy. I've read some wonderfully researched and insightful columns he's written, but that said, when it comes to unions, he's pretty paleo.

It's obvious to me that the point of his piece is that unions have served the middle class here pretty well, a point with which I don't disagree, at least up until about the mid 70s. Since then, they have treaded water at best and harmed further progress at worst. I don't fault the unions for the collapse of the US steel or the US auto industries, but when there was an opportunity to work coperatively to try and save those industries, that opportunity was missed by management, labor and the government. I don't think he would agree with this, but hey, when it comes to labor and management, his worldview contains more contrast than mine.

I agree fully with your promotion of economic team dynamics whether a union is a part of the team or not, and am of the opinion that in today's world, thanks largely to the rise of Asian markets, management, government and labor have to work together to move embattled industries forward rather than down and out. I think that is the lesson that the unions (and government for that matter) have failed to grasp - relying instead on confrontation and zero sum game approaches to negotiations(and in government's case, the fiction of open markets) - rather than mutual benefit appraoches. It is why I am not a big union supporter and not a republican - I don't oppose the concept of unions, as long as they recognize and respond to the realities of the economics of the industries in which they operate.

Well, Patsi, good mornin'.

I'm an earlyish riser (at least the earliest in my household - workday or not). Pork chops, eggs, bisuits, gravy - I'd be in heaven (and worried that I'd be there too soon). So how were those chops this morning?

Ping, LOL at th e work firewall reference. OPurs won't let me log on to Typekey - it considers it a soncial & networking site - but I can get onto CQP and comment anonymously - which is why I don't have my little blue key anymore.

Maslow's hierarchy? God, I haven't looked at that since 1976 when I was in grad school. They still teach that?

AP, I'll do that. Of course you're right - Bush's answer to the comment that there wasno AQI befoe we brought them there "So what?" was instructive, and typical of his cavalier attitude towrd screwing up the world and pretending we're safe at home although we're engaged in wars in 2 theaters of operation.

Jamie wrote, "I won't start to feel feel safe until he is back in Dallas."

> Now I have one more excellent reason not to make that 35 mile drive to the east from FT Worth. Highland Park can have them.

For the record, I believe I am correct to say that GW and wife have never lived in Dallas before. Midland and Houston were the residences of records. When he was Governor of Texas he lived in Austin.

sturge, thanks a lot. leonard cohen voice reverberating in brain all day.
btw, what's the story on his "first we take manhattan"?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFBKV0zVXSE&feature=related
something about it reminds me of the prisoner series.

Chloe, are you about, if so please check email

"the pork chops, eggs, biscuits and gravy for a farm crew...and the cold cereal for slackers."

patsi, your slackers were lucky. the rule at home was "if you don't get up in time to eat with the rest of us, you don't eat." that applied to all meals. tends to make one either punctual or awfully skinny and anti-social.

"So how were those chops this morning?"

Ha -- Pogo -- Breakfast is MY meal...growing up it was usually the biggest of the day -- except for the big Sunday dinners etc...we called the night meal supper and it was usually very light.

Times Trend Setter of the Year?

Oh No, how is this going to help Michelle’s children?

http://chickaboomer.blogspot.com/2008/12/obamas-panama-gold-time-one-toke-over.html

Lovers of old movies. on TCM at 10 pacific 1 eastern, on of my favorite "before the pill when girls could still get 'in trouble'" movies:

Love With A Proper Stranger with Steve McQueen and Natalie Wood.

Patsi, I gotta admit I love a big breakfast - I just don't eat them anymore. I've gone through my pancake, omelet, and eggs over easy phases, and bacon, sausage and grits were pretty much always there, and bisuits and gravy had their day as well. (I remember when Hardy's started doing their breakfast biscuits - even in the deep south where people really know how to do biscuits right, I thought they were GOOD - I was particulaly fond of the gravy and the chicken ones). I'll occasionally sin and get a loaded omelet biscuit when I'm traveling, but I've really become a breakfast lightweight., and I kinda hate missing that part of my past. We will do one big gorge out brunch during the holidays, and I can hardly wait.

"For the record, I believe I am correct to say that GW and wife have never lived in Dallas before. "

I'm glad you brought that up, Dooty -- I kept thinking the same -- I never heard that they lived in Dallas.

Solar, while you could be right about the salaries of the Union fat cats, I am more interested in the decisions they make. Hey, jamie and I go way back and while we may disagree, I certainly respect her opinions, and I really don't care what the blog contrarian thinks. Regardless, they are both entitled to their opinions. Like they say, there's a little truth in all opinions. Now if we could just figure out what that little truths in them are and pull them together, we might be able to fix something. Nah.

Bear

The problem that some of the people that I gave advise to start a refi---is that they are having a hard time of it----they are told that the problem is getting funded----by various institutions ,,,,and Ideas???

I figured they would retire to Crwford so Dumya could resume his affair with his brush. I guess Laura is more interested in the cosmo life in Big D (well, relative to Crawford, anyway) than the shitkickin' brush punchin', hoedown life on the ranch.

Pogo -- you just had to laugh all along at that Texas rancher image Bush sold the country. Plus -- I hate that "cowboy" has become a dirty word because of him.

Well, since he's afraid of horses, there's a bit of injustice in that isn't there?

Pogo

I did not mean that I don't respect or appreciate Jamie's point of view,,and he right to oppose,,,but I felt it was lecturing ----I listen to every thing that she says-------but not on this time----
and what I have argued is exactly that the Union Exec's have been making the wrong choices,,,but I'll stop there,,thanks

And having a dry drunk (no offense to sober alcoholics intended) get elected because people thought it might be OK to sit down and have a beer with him was a brilliantly dishonest selling job, too.

Solar, fair enough - I think we agree for the most part - I just don't care much about what the union leaders make.

"having a dry drunk (no offense to sober alcoholics intended) get elected because people thought it might be OK to sit down and have a beer with him was a brilliantly dishonest selling job, too."

It was absolutely mindboggling....

"I just don't care much about what the union leaders make."

I don't care what they make in salary----but having an open record of all things related to where the money of the union member go ---might help to understand some--or most of the decisions that are made ----are they made in favor of the members or to fatten their wallets??---do t hey or family members sit on boards of company's that the union money is invest ed in,,,,etc,etc,,,??

. . . absolutely Rovian.

Solar, good conflict of interest questions. Of course they aren't public officials and probably aren't required by any laws to disclose such info. And they are beholden only to their membership - who can vote them out if they don't like the answers - if they were asking them. Good food for thought Solar, but not likely to have legs.

Interesting article on hybrid batteries, including replacement costs. Wanna see why US automakers are in the shape they're in? Read to the end.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/automobiles/14BATTERY.html?pagewanted=1

Stupid, late, shortsighted.

Ping,

If you consider being kept safe the loss of half the value of your 401K in the last 12 months, your home losing 50% of its value in the last 24 months and the high likelihood that you or your neighbors will be unemployed being kept safe, I will choose to live in fear instead then...

BTW, I JUST LOCKED SOMEONE AT 4.5% FOR A 30 YR FIXED...IF YOU WANT HELP IN FIGURING IF YOU CAN REFI...LET ME KNOW!!!

Solar and Pogo

I am more than willing to grant that the union leaders too often were padding their own nests and frequently played footsie with management sometimes injuring workers in the process.

Also, the funds lost by members in strikes is only rarely earned back with raises and benefits gained. So it is a technique that probably should be avoided except when rights and/or lives of union members are threatened.

Still, the damage done by corporate focus on next quarter and the greed of CEOs far exceeds any damage done to the economy by unions.

The greedy gougers are the ones who made the bed and unfortunately the rest of us have to lie in it. They will probably not suffer any punishment that comes close to what they deserve.

"If you consider being kept safe the loss of half the value of your 401K in the last 12 months, your home losing 50% of its value in the last 24 months and the high likelihood that you or your neighbors will be unemployed being kept safe, I will choose to live in fear instead then..."

Amen, Bear!

Personally, I never felt safe with GWB in office.

Wheeee State Department wants to fire Blackwater. Getting all huffy just because they insist on shooting women and children.

Doesn't that wipe out about half the manpower currently in Iraq? At least it might save money since they are so much more overpaid than the real army.

Thought for the day :
" Every human being comes equipped with a brain at no extra cost. "

1942 Paul Butterfield Chicago IL, blues musician (Better Days)

1777 France recognizes independence of English colonies in America
1777 George Washington's army returns to Valley Forge PA
1798 1st impeachment trial against a US senator (William Blount, Tennessee) begins
1821 Kentucky abolishes debtors prisons
1862 General US Grant issues order #11, expelling Jews from Tennessee
1924 1st US diesel electric locomotive enters service, Bronx NY
1925 Colonel William "Billy" Mitchell court-martial for insubordination
1936 Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen & dummy Charlie McCarthy, make their radio debut on Rudy Vallee's Royal Gelatin Hour
1965 Largest newspaper-Sunday New York Times at 946 pages (50 cents)
1965 Astrodome opens, 1st event is Judy Garland & Supremes concert
1993 Northern Exposure star Barry Corbin falls off his horse

Jamie...Blackwater is still in business, perhaps, they will be employed again to fight in the Mexican Drug War. A parallel army...what a concept.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183135

Seems some people feel that anything they get for free isn't worth using. :-)

BWino,

I have heard that Blackwater is already in Mexico training the Mexican Army. Of course, this happened several years ago when a group of special forces troops trained a group called the Zetas. They (the US) funded and armed them also. Guess what? They broke away from the Mexican Army to become a drug cartel of their own. The Zetas are some of the most criminal and create some of the most heinous crimes of all the drug cartels in Mexico.

NASA has found huge hole in magnetic field. Largest ever recorded.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/12/16/state/n161440S23.DTL&feed=rss.news

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183131

"Still, the damage done by corporate focus on next quarter and the greed of CEOs far exceeds any damage done to the economy by unions."

This is whats frustrating to Independents -------the excuses that allow one of the two parties for the abuse that exist today----The Republicans,,,,along with the Democrats have steered the ship that is taking in water now-----and to say that it was more of the Republicans fault ----I agree,,,but how does that answer for it all?? from where we sit ----both parties got us into this mess-----yes the R's want to bust the unions----and no i am not for this-----once again UH will go a long way to ease the burden of the union membership, and will be that much less cash for the leaders to play around with,,and we all can have the same that unions have Health Care?---

A combination of Greed on the Capitalism (corps-wall st.),,,,,and the Unions (greed---legacy $) the blame back and forth is appalling ,,,so if the R's mess things up,,and the D's adjust and mend the troubles they create----why are there almost as many special interest groups (lobbyist ) working with them-the D's--- makes a vicious circle for the middle-class that they both say the want to help----this time it has gone way too far-----the country is in a total free fall----- time for party loyalty should be looked a and switched for a third party----and please don' t tell me that the concept of a third party is just to try to get one of the two ( the real ones) party's to adopt a certain measure ---I have both Republican,,,and Democrat friends and family------

its like watch two sports teams,,,,while the spectators pay for them too play------they don't really care about the people in the stands ,,,they just give them what they want to hear----while not performing,,,and charging millions to play----I don't know what the highest paid athalete gets now ---but I know that no one is worth the money that the public gives them ---for the entertainment----like the R's and D's they get paid big bucks----win or loose-----but he one's that really loose is the bleacher bums? thanks

"They (the US) funded and armed them also. Guess what? They broke away from the Mexican Army to become a drug cartel of their own. "

And yet we keep right on arming these guys...

I hadn't heard of Zetas...I guess this means that the latest wave of violence in Mexico is our doing....one more time...

Drillers break into magma chamber

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7780873.stm

United States Death Map Revealed

ScienceDaily (Dec. 17, 2008) — A map of natural hazard mortality in the United States has been produced. The map gives a county-level representation of the likelihood of dying as the result of natural events such as floods, earthquakes or extreme weather.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081216201408.htm

zetas...thanks for the update, Horsedooty, how ya doing?

If your stomach can handle it, Bush is bragging about how much he did to protect the nation since 9/11. My gag reflex could only take about 60 seconds.

jamie...I wonder how many peeps watching Shrub on the screen starting aiming their shoes?

Reading through the newspapers this morning --bailouts, executive payoffs, Madoff, plant closings, lost jobs, lost pensions and foreclosures -- reminded me of Bob Dylan's line. This country really has become a highway of diamonds with nobody on it...

Best headline today -

Luxury downturn hits U.S. beaver trappers

http://www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSTRE4BG04C20081217

cbob, did ms. magma call the cops?

Speaking of Depression era headlines, DW just sent me the link to the "Boy with the Orange" Xmas story.

Quite the heart warmer!

"Like I say, Mister, I believe that was the wonderfulest Christmas in the United States of America."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=877159

The Pirate Report -

NAIROBI (Reuters) - A multilateral force rescued a Chinese ship from Somali pirates on Wednesday, in a sign foreign navies patrolling the shipping lane linking Europe to Asia are adopting tougher new tactics.

The Chinese boat Zhenhua 4 was one of four vessels seized by pirates on Tuesday, the same day the United Nations Security Council took a strong stand against the attacks and authorized countries to pursue the gunmen on land.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSLH61173420081217

"I guess this means that the latest wave of violence in Mexico is our doing....one more time..." said by Patsi.

Almost all the violence in the border areas is a direct result of a power struggle for control of the narco traffic. The money is so great that the conflicts might never be eliminated.

I don't know that that statement is particularly true but open arms sales in Texas New Mexico Arizona and California make it pretty easy to send arms to Mexico. Converting an AK 47 or greater firepower to fully automatic is not hard for an armorer with a mind to do so.

One of the sheriff's on the border has stated that they are out armed with everything. As an example, if the sheriff's dept has level 2 bullet proof vests to wear the druggies have the new improved level 3 vests. If the sheriff dept has cell phones the druggies have satellite phones to use.

I am not a gun control advocate at all. I just wish the US and Mexico could get it together and stop the illegal transfer of guns from the US to Mexico. As a private citizen who obeys the law means that if I go into Mexico and they find a single bullet much less a weapon in my possession, I go directly to jail in Mexico. That is not a future I wish to pursue.

BWino,

doing petty good rehabbing a broken ankle now. Happened in lat Oct had surgery to put 2 screws in to help the healing. Am now nearly healed. Have an appointment at the Dallas VA tomorrow for X-ray and consultation. Hoping the guy I see who can impersonate Dougie Howser, says, " ok dude, looks good don't break it again."

HD -- good luck with ankle...rough spot to heal.

good day, all, off to work for me.

Doot would you even feel comfortable traveling in Mexico right now? It sounds like a free-for-all.

counting obama, biden, clinton, salazar and any other seats left unexpectedly vacated, what percentage of senators will be by appointment and not elected until 2010?

elected = by election

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183131

jamie, if you are looking for an argument, you'll have to look somewhere else. Plenty of blame to go around.;-)

C-Bob,

I always enjoy the enlightenment you bring to my world.

"1936 Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen & dummy Charlie McCarthy, make their radio debut on Rudy Vallee's Royal Gelatin Hour "

I'm having trouble deciding which is more difficult to comprehend: the concept of a ventriloquist act being performed on radio, or the idea that there was once a Royal Gelatin Hour.

Patsi,

The border is where it is most dangerous but there are drug problems nearly every where. If you went to one of the beach places and flew in, you would probably be ok. There have been about 1500 murders in the border area of Mexico this year. That worries me a great deal. I love Mexico and have considered living there several times. Now, I suppose those are just dreams.

BWino,

thanks for the nice words. I think the ankle is well on the way to full recovery.

also Patsi, the druggies have taken to kidnapping US Citizens to add to their income. Homey don't play dat!

hd, you and me both. I saw a bit on Panama the other night. Looks like a great alternative.

WASHINGTON – Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has rejected two more efforts to get the court to consider whether President-elect Barack Obama is eligible to take office.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081217/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_obama;_ylt=AhPyubqUUZ571kspK8CaGflMEP0E

EdV -

I was all wrapped up in Barry Corbin falling off his horse, and just how that made the list. It's a goofy habit , but it takes my mind off beating the scoundrels with a sock full of dimes.

The site I get this from has an encyclopedic knowledge of Broadway flops .

Was gone last night. Didn't miss much. Same stuff as always. I'm just gonna throw shoes from now on. Jamie, that Stan Laurel website http://lettersfromstan.com/
Is a great way to learn a lot about him. I don't know how they do it nowadays, but in Stan's later years, whenever comedians wanted to do impressions of Laurel & Hardy on television, they called Stan and asked for his permission. That's how respected he was.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183153

Senor Horsedooty,

Sorry to hear about the ankle and hope all heals well.

We know you like Mr. Crawford, but in this case don't you think imitation being the highest form of flattery went a bit too far?

"I love Mexico and have considered living there several times. Now, I suppose those are just dreams."

Damn....that's been a kind of pipe dream of mine, too. I figured I'd never have enough money to retire in the US! And I was right.

Really sorry about the ankle, Dooty.

"Cowboy hat etiquette
NBC’s Abby Livingston adds that on Salazar wearing his cowboy hat indoors, First Read consulted David Courtney, who writes a Texas Monthly column that is a cross between Emily Post and the New York Times' Ethicist.

He agrees with NBC's Pete Williams, who writes that “real cowboys don't wear their hats indoors, unless they're at a square dance or maybe an indoor livestock auction.”

"It's more accepted now,” Courtney said, “but his mother probably would have told him not to do that.""

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/12/17/1719889.aspx

“real cowboys don't wear their hats indoors, unless they're at a square dance or maybe an indoor livestock auction.”

according to blago-types, these things might be considered a livestock auction.

"We know you like Mr. Crawford, but in this case don't you think imitation being the highest form of flattery went a bit too far?"

LOL, I am way not into imitating anyone. This is the first bone in 63 years I have broken. Am gonna try to not have it happen again. I wish I had a great story about how it happened, like fly fishing in New Zealand and fell off a rock while fighting a 9 lb cut throat, but in truth all I did was step off a curb in front of a restaurant and viola, next I know I am on my back and the leg hurts like hell.

So, with the help of some generic Vicodin all the pain is gone now. Really, as soon as the swelling went down, the pain left. Like I said I am on the downhill side of this thing now.

Slumdog Millionaire is great and worth seeing

I saw Milk last night and can say it is a pretty accurate picture of all concerned and the the life and times of Harvey Milk.
Sean Penn is great!

ET --Tom Ammiano has a cameo.

1995 "School after Scandal" closes at Lyceum Theater NYC after 23 performances

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183166

Corey,

Stan Laurel was a remarkable person. Check out my blog for a trivia question about Charlie Chaplin. The answer is in the comments, so guess first.

HD & Patsi - the way they described the CoL in Panama was like the US - in 1953. Could be worth a look.

Is it about Stan being Charlie's understudy in the Karno Troupe?

Here's one that wasn't a Broadway flop -

1903 At 10:35 AM, 1st sustained motorized aircraft flight (Orville Wright)

Don't know how I missed that one.

Ah, I see!

While traditional bulbs on a tree will cost you roughly $6 to $10 in electricity for the season, LED lights will run you a mere 13 to 17 cents, according to the Electric Power Research Institute. If everyone in the United States made the switch, both on trees and outdoor holiday lights, the total savings would be $250 million a year.

http://www.livescience.com/technology/081217-led-lights.html

Jan. 20th -
The program will include a performance by Aretha Franklin.

Aretha Franklin - Spanish Harlem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGyUhGTa8FM

Ben E King - Spanish Harlem

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

this one line in obama's press conference this morning caught my attention
'''the solution to our energy crisis will be found not in oil fields abroad but in our farm fields here at home'''

that should give a boost to the bio-fuel industry

The Doors - Back Door Man

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

Rezdog --------------

So? What else is to be expected? There has been NO ruling that he is a "natural born" citizen. SoetorObama is NOT Constitutionally eligible for POTUS. SCOTUS and the other courts would rather ignore the Constitution than see the country "torched" by the Obots. That's one reason - there are others.
===================
From your link:

"Reacting to Internet-fueled conspiracy theories that Obama's birth certificate is a fake, Hawaiian officials have said they examined the document and have no doubt it is authentic."
-----------------------------------
That statement means nothing -- it's intended for low-information readers.
-----------------------------------
"... many have claimed that the Hawaiian Health Department has issued a formal statement asserting that Barack Obama was born in Hawaii and the images of the certifications of live birth circulating on the internet are valid Hawaii birth certificates. However, on closer inspection, a lot of these purported official statements by the Hawaiian Health Department seem to evaporate.

For example, the October 31, 2008 offical statement by Director of the Department of Health for the State of Hawaii Dr. Chiyome Fukino is: (see link)

... which was extrapolated by the Associated Press to produce a story entitled "State declares Obama birth certificate genuine". The Honolulu Advertiser similarly padded this simple official statement into the November 1, 2008 article "Obama's certificate of birth OK, state says", ... Note that this sentence in the article is not attributed to Fukino; this is purely an unfounded claim injected into the piece by the reporter."

http://drorly.blogspot.com/2008/12/hawaiian-health-department.html

Time Magazine names Obama "Person of the Year". Whoa!!! I did NOT see that one coming!

New York Public Library joins Flickr Commons

The New York Public Library has joined the Flickr Commons, uploading an initial contribution of 1300 images from its photographic collections. Next, the NYPL is promising even more material!

http://boingboing.hexten.net/2008/12/16/new-york-public-libr.html

That statement means nothing -- it's intended for low-information readers.

GORDO -

If I was relying on the World Net Daily for most of my sourcing , I wouldn't be lecturing folks about information levels. Their servers are are so low on information they're located by the Dead Sea.
--------------------------
How to read a flow chart -

http://xkcd.com/518/

oh, god. ditto returns.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183062

PING, that is just utterly total and COMPLETE BULLSHIT. Bush has made the world less safe... I can't believe you would write such crap.

Republicans... I just don't understand their naive they can be. Bush has succeeded in being the most effective al qaeda recruiter in the entire world! If Bush hadn't IGNORED 6 August 2001 warnings of imminent attacks by muslims in the USA, the World Trade Center would still be standing. But then again, The Project for The New American Century wrote their vision of U.S. military might and interventionist goals while lamenting its slow pace.

"Further, the process of transformation, even if it brings revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event – like a new Pearl Harbor..."

"And advanced forms of biological warfare that can “target” specific genotypes may transform biological warfare from the realm of terror to a politically useful tool."

Bush was following "The Project for a New American Century" white paper with most of his foreign policy advisors members of the organization. Bush and co wanted to speed up the transformation. No wonder why he did NOTHING when the warning was given to him 1 month and 5 days before the planes crashed in the World Trade Center.

Great guy... George Bush...

Main Entry:
1fool
Pronunciation:
\ˈfül\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English, from Anglo-French fol, from Late Latin follis, from Latin, bellows, bag; akin to Old High German bolla blister, balg bag — more at belly
Date:
13th century

1: a person lacking in judgment or prudence

2 a: a retainer formerly kept in great households to provide casual entertainment and commonly dressed in motley with cap, bells, and bauble b: one who is victimized or made to appear foolish : dupe

3 a: a harmlessly deranged person or one lacking in common powers of understanding b: one with a marked propensity or fondness for something

4: a cold dessert of pureed fruit mixed with whipped cream or custard
---------------

I'm going with version #2

this video speaks to the Mexican border and I think we were discussing cowboys earlier today.

Blonde Wino this sorta proves Mexico has sorta been at war with Mexicans for a 100 years or so.

Tom Russell singing "Tonight We Ride" preformed on the David Letterman Show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5pbQWhoncY&feature=related

GORDO, has anyone ever told you we don't give a FLYING FUCK what you are writing about????

Colorado Bob ----------

"If I was relying on the World Net Daily for most of my sourcing ..."

Your statement shows that you are low-information about this subject and what I've been posting.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183080

Total spin... Seems to me like the "grader" failed to make the grade himself. Sorry Ping, you're a nice person but a bit off your rocker if you think DUMBYA did anything to make the world safer....

Bob, 2 or 3, it's so hard to choose.

Euro Tom -
An alternative :
Air Borne Fornication

euro tom
now you know that's not going to phase gordo one bit

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183091

OH puhleez... another self-righteous pronouncement of how American workers should not belong to unions and how horrible the American Unions have destroyed the economy.

GRRRRRRRRRR...

I have enough information to know a one hit wonder went I see one.
But mainly I just use the scroll button on your stuff.

"in truth all I did was step off a curb in front of a restaurant "

My mother once broke her ankle in exactly the same way. She said it was the strangest sensation, because she didn't trip, or slip -- just went down.

Flatus,

with regards to USDA mortgages, they are only viable mortgage options if you live in a zip code that qualifies as rural. Most people in suburbia don't make it...

Your statement shows that you are low-information about this subject and what I've been posting.

Posted by: GORDO | December 17, 2008 3:30 PM

DUMBO, no one here is even able to get as low in the information spectrum as you on total distortion and lies about the President-elect's birthplace. You are in a mud puddle with your small select circle of whacko conspiracy theorists who probably believe that Obama is the anti-Christ foretold in the book of Revelations. How 'bout it Gordatious? You ready for the rapture?

CBob... yes Air Borne Fornication. I normally don't swear in here, but that guy is a broken record and now and then I snap when I read the B.S. and lies.

CBob, do you have an email address? Mine is eurotom at g mail dot com.. I want to ask you something if I may...

mqw, yes you are right... when I am tired I tend to not hold my tongue (or is it my fingers?) as much as I should...

I know Tom, .................... long ago we had this conversation one day, and it was some how decided that we all lose by throwing around the F- Bomb.

I think that was the day Pissed Off Patricia came up with :

"Fecal matter enters the rotating device. " for " Shit hits the fan. "

God I laughed.

------------

Plese Bob, Gordo is right about WND. How could you suggest - even suggest - that a site that publishes such scholarly, well researched unbiased studies as the one reported in the following link is low information?

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=56494

Tom it's under my pedigree on the right -

http://colorado-bob.blogspot.com/

this is a hometown guy from Lubbock. Joe Ely. Lubbock has produced Joe and Buddy Holly and Colorado Bob. Must be something in the water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZbXz4LZDy4&feature=related

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183193

ET ---thank you for another great post----like I said you are at your best when---mad ,,tired,,,and ranting on long posts :-)

"... total distortion and lies about the President-elect's birthplace."
--------------------------------
"No person except a natural born citizen... shall be eligible to the office of president..." Obama has admitted that he is NOT, NEVER was and NEVER will be natural born! He has NO right to be President!

Barack Obama has ADMITTED he had dual citizenship at birth. This is not in question like his place of birth is. Even if Obama can prove that he was born on American soil, which he can't, he still is ineligible because of his dual citizenship."

http://americamustknow.com/default.aspx
---------------------------------
DUAL citizenship is disqualifying - birth location doesn't matter.

Wow,

Looking at the names here, I have to check my calendar to be sure it's 2008 and not 2006...lol

OK, I was looking at the WND website "Who Reads Us" page, and was wondering, Gordo, are you Chuck Norris, the liberal jewish woman or the christian/conservative 12th grade homeschooler?

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=78861

Rick Warren is going to do the Innaugural invocation.
I suppose we have to have one, but I can't take too much more of God being on our side. Go pick on someone else for awhile.

"dressed in motley"

motley?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183214

Gordo,

Dual citizenship is only a disqualifier in your imagination.

GORDO -

" He not busy being born is busy dying "

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183176

Corey, No it has to do with relatives.

You can look in the comments if you give up. Carol G got it by virtue of being awake at 2:00 AM and doing a wee hours google of Charlie Chaplin + Rock and Roll

Here's a tip for the citizenship crew, be more mainstream . Do like the Republicans in congress, find out if Obama supported deporting Elian Gonzalez back to his father.

That's a burning issue we can get behind.

Pogo, I vote for the 12th grade homeschooler... LOL

it's late... I did all my christmas shopping for my family via Kohl's website. Amazing deals ! LOL...

Solar, as always you are so kind and friendly.

Now I am off to bed... goodnight all.

"Since Barack Obama's father was a Citizen of Kenya and therefore subject to the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom at the time of Senator Obama's birth, then Senator Obama was a British Citizen "at birth", just like the Framers of the Constitution, and therefore, even if he were to produce an original birth certificate proving he were born on US soil, he still wouldn't be eligible to be President.

The Framers of the Constitution, at the time of their birth, were also British Citizens and that's why the Framers declared that, while they were Citizens of the United States, they themselves were not "natural born Citizens". Hence their inclusion of the grandfather clause in Article 2, Section 1, Clause 5 of the Constitution:

No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution shall be eligible to the Office of President"

http://www.blogtext.org/naturalborncitizen/

has anyone noticed that he-who-calls-himself-gordo does not sound like our old gordo? the original seemed to be a gentleman and more civilized in his repartee. yes, the links are the same, but the extraneous bits and pieces employ a different syntax with a touch of crassness. me thinks he is here in name only. the spirit we knew must have been overtaken by others or has been disbursed into the ether. either way, we have lost him and mourn therefor. come back, old friend, if you can.

Jamie,

Better to have Rick Warren that to have a pedophile protecting Catholic Bishop get up there and say everyone in attendance is a sinner, undeserving of communion and will in fact burn in hell since Obama is a pro choice dog...

ET, you don't get it. Gordo couldn't care less about the truth. He mindlessly follows the BS asserted by the lawyers who filed the cases WND tracks - despite the fact that NONE of them has produced a single fact beyond speculation (and that is referred to informally as something less than an iota in the law) that Obama was NOT born in Hawaii. It's a little trick that plaintiff's attorneys use all the time to try and shift their burden of proof to the defense - the problem is the law doesn't woork that way. Even WND reports that the various lawsuits challenge Obama's eligibility in various ways - in other words, the lawyers and nonlawyers who have filed the suits collectively have thrown all the fecal matter they can against the wall, hoping some of it sticks. Thus far, they haven't gotten a single judge or justice to buy any of their allegations, but I'll give them credit for originality.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=83462

Of course, that doesn't mean much - as the results of their lawsuits challenging Obama's eligibility in various ways reflect.

"You are all condemned men ..... We keep you alive to serve this ship .... so row well, and live."

She said it was the strangest sensation, because she didn't trip, or slip -- just went down. - Patsi

That's what it was like the second time my hip went out, the titanium one. One moment I was standing still on two legs and the next moment I just dropped - a weird sensation indeed. As I dropped, I remember yelling, "NOOOOOOO!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183209

CBob

Maybe we could turn it into a game for all occasions. Think of all the off color terms you have ever used and give them a G rating. So far we have

Fecal matter is in the rotating device
Airborn fornication
Common intercourse for you and your horse

Any other suggestions?

Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band - Texas Eagle

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

did someone say pirates? blackwater? today's fix.
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/spytalk/

to get back to the music about Texas and Mexico, I offer one last video by Joe Ely written by Tom Russell. "Gallo del Cielo"
"Rooster of the Heaven" roughly translated.

Only cock fighting song I know of.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z16LHag7Lf0&feature=related

Chloe

Motley - the costume worn by a jester

http://blackberrycool.com/wp-content/uploads/jester.thumbnail.jpg

Used to refer to the many colors and patterns and has now taken on the meaning of being comprised of many different things such as a motley crew.

Investigator casts doubt on Obama's birth residence

"A private investigator has released to WND an affidavit that casts doubt on whether Barack Obama's family lived at the address listed in the published notice of his birth in 1961.

Baro's affidavit documents an interview his staff conducted with Beatrice Arakaki, who has lived at 6075 Kalanianaole Highway in Honolulu since before Obama was born.

Arakaki told Baro's investigators she had no recollection of Obama being born or of the family living next door having a black child born to a white mother.

Baro's investigators were unable to locate any current or past resident of Kalanianaole Highway who could recall Obama or his family living at the address listed in the Sunday Advertiser announcement. "

http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=83851

Del McCoury Band is one of if not the best bluegrass band on the planet today.

I'm not sure Rick Warren is better than a pedophile bishop.

http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2008/12/17/oh-puke-rick-warren-to-deliver-obama-invocation/

jamie, my motley question was in my mind's eye picturing cbob dressed in motley with caps and bells. don't you think boots and a ten gallon hat are the better accessories for him?
but thanks for the info.

the pretenders - middle of the road

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdd0PJqslfE

patd

I know he looks great in fringed leather.

Ray Lahood to Transportation

on that dual citizenship thing - has anyone ever seen gordo quote anything from the constitution or other laws of these here yoo nited states that states, or even suggests, that a natural born citizen may not hold dual citizenship? Now I'm not acknowledging that Obama holds dual citizenship, but I have not seen that cite - but then again I don't read as deeply or as often as I might, and sometimes I go days without reading Gordo's tripe or following his links to WND and sites of its ilk, so I may have missed it. Oh I've seen the opinions of Gordo - well of the people like Donofrio who Gordo takes at their word - but I've never seen any legal AUTHORITY to substantiate that claim - and courts are funny that way - they like to see some legal authority to back up what the lawyers say someone can or can't do. I've seen stuff that suggests that OTHER countries' laws suggest that under THEIR laws you can't hold dual citizenship, but I've never seen anything under OUR laws that have that same restriction - and again courts are funny that way - they like to see stuff in our laws that say someone can or can't do what an adverse party says they must or can't do. I was jus' wondering. Seems to me that might mean something.

(btw, Baro's affidavit is double hearsay - IOW it don't mean fecal matter in a court)

Bethyboo- still here? I sent you an email. Sorry, not trying to be exclusionary folks, just chocolate business.

ET- I recall that in fact Craig himself said that he does like to see what Gordo et al. are up to.

"No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution shall be eligible to the Office of President"

Gordo,

Did you get lucky and get tickets to the Inauguration of our 44th President, Barrack Hussein Obama?

Pogo,

From all I've run across the NBC definition is not settled law, but a theory advanced by Donofrio and a companion suit as a basis to stay there electors in NJ and CT from acting, both of which were denied.

Gordo and his cohorts like to sound off like it's a forgone conclusion that a nbc must have two citizen parents as a minimum. The Supremes don't care to delve into it and won't for now it seems.

"An associate lawyer in a Chicago-based firm whose partner served on a finance committee for then-Sen. Barack Obama has advocated for the elimination of the U.S. Constitution's requirement that a president be a "natural-born" citizen, calling the requirement "stupid" and asserting it discriminates, is outdated and undemocratic.

The paper was written in 2006 by Sarah Herlihy, just two years after Obama had won a landslide election in Illinois to the U.S. Senate. Herlihy is listed as an associate at the Chicago firm of Kirkland & Ellis. A partner in the same firm, Bruce I. Ettelson, cites his membership on the finance committees for both Obama and Sen. Richard Durbin on the corporate website."

http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=82680

Oh, and Baro's investigators could just be poor researchers. Oh, and I don't know how many people live in the house 3 doors down from me and across the street. Could be 3, could be 4, could be 1 or 2. I just don't know. And the child of the elderly couple who lived 3 doors up from me FOR 18 YEARS was called Cissy - I don't know what her real name was - and she had cerebral palsy, or at least that's what I was told - I never saw her in 18 years. And I have no idea what the names of the people who lived 4 doors up was, or the ones next to them. Coulda been Soetoro, coulda been Obama, coulda been Smith. But I think one of them had a kid while I lved down the street - but I could be wrong. And I think more than a couple of families lived in those houses while I lived down the street. If investigators asked me about those folks, they could put together an affidavit saying that they were unable to say that those folks - whoever they are - lived on my street 38-57 years ago. If they asked my sister, she'd know a little less than I do 'cuz I'm a little nosier than she is. It's amazing how little you can learn by just asking people things about what happened in their neighborhood.

Rez, that's Barack Hussein SoetoroObama to you, buster. :-)

Settled law is law that has been challenged through a lawsuit, litigated and ruled upon. That clause of the Constitution has been challenged recently only. Not litigated. Not ruled upon. And the challenges have not been found to have merit. What's that old baseball term about 3 strikes?

Ping Pong - george bush made us safe ?

I. a. In early January, 2001, the bipartisan Hart/Rudman committee made its report on US security. The committee recommended that the FAA make airlines harden their cockpit doors to prevent sky-jacking by terrorists. The bush administration declined to make airlines secure their planes, saying that it would cost "as much as $200 million, and pose a hardship to our already troubled airlines."

b. The Clinton defense, and intelligence teams had warned the incoming bush administraton of the dangers posed by alqaeda. The bush team chose to concentrate on planning he invasion of Iraq, instead of concentrating on alqaeda.
c. The FBI had some of the alqaeda 9/11 terrorists in their sights months before the event, but officials at the highest level of the FBI called agents off, citing the "shortage of resources".

The result of bush's parsimony and incompetence was the 9/11 attack. bush set 2,800 people up for murder, and allowed al qaeda to cause property damage 20 times greater than the cost of prevention.

II. The bush administration had more than 4 years to beef up the levees and sea wall around New Orleans, and to stop or reverse die off of the mangrove and wetlands, and the erosion of the Louisiana shore line. The danger to New Orleans was not news. Many government and newspaper reports had detailed the inadequacy of the levees and seawall, and the die off of the wetlands and mangrove that protected the city.

The bush team also had 3 years in which to plan and implement Homeland Security disaster response efforts. However, Homeland Security was focused on taking nail clippers away from people at airports, and placing the bearers of nail clippers on lists of possible terrorists. Also, the bush administration squandered money on tax benefits for wealthy people and no-bid contracts, while pretending that it had everything under control. Finally, bush and chertoff lied about their feeble and incompetent efforts to send relief to the Hurricane Katrina victims. The result of bush's parsimony and incompetence was the destruction of the greater part of an American city, and another 1,000 US citizens killed.

If that is what you call safety, I'd hate to think what you would call reckless endangerment.

btw "papers" (in this case, law review articles) written by lawyers calling for this that or the other are worth about the recycling value of the paer they are written on. The one thing that you can get from them is a pretty good sert of references tothe law in existence on the subject. There is no conflict of interest issue involved with writing such "papers", and most law review articles are papers "advocating" a position. Look hard enough and you'll find a paper taking the opposite position, or a scholarly response to the article. I'm betting that Gordo has not even bothered to read the article. Oh, Bob, if low information means that the articles on a subject in a publication repeat the same things over and over, WND qualifies - in spades. Well, I gotta run along - things to do, places to go, that sort of thing.

Was Stanley Ann in HI or Indonesia when Barry/Barack traveled? Why the question? Do any of you know what I'm referring to? Probably not.

lol@ Pogo,

All that time I thought the G Man had just made a typo; Senator/Soetor Obama

"And the challenges have not been found to have merit."

WRONG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Oh, and I don't know how many people live in. . .I do 'cuz I'm a little nosier than she is.". . .

"Oh, and by the way can I bum a cigarette and some change, I need a drink real bad."

xr, of course that doesn't speak to the safety of the 4208 military personnel killed in Iraq or the 30,700 wounded service members (hosile action only) never mind the additional 34,000 who required medical air transport for non-hostile injuries and disease.

http://icasualties.org/oif/

not particularly safe for them, I'd say.

now, bye.

RIGHT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See how easy that is. LOL

ET,

you still around . . DW just sent me a link on TESC. thought you might enjoy.

http://photo.evergreen.edu/portal/SnowdayatEvergreen/index.html

still WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

gordo won that one'' he had more exclamation marks

OSH

Can the candy make it across country in the winter? We have snow.

Mr. Bush did not keep us safe and secure.

Mr. Bush did keep:

a. his fat ass out of jail, despite his many illegal, immoral, inane and potentially treasonous acts.

b. taxpayer money; how many of the "misplaced" billions found their way into his pockets and into the pockets of his fat cat friends in the oil business?

c. our irritation level high; each day, his fractured sentences and his fractured logic and his fractured understanding of the law caused our blood to boil anew.

d. the death rate high -- whether in New York, in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon 9/11, in New Orleans or in towns all across America, as irate individuals with no health care coverage suffered heart attacks and other maladies relating to 1) having no affordable medical care; 2) having no home, to avoid the cold; and 3) having no dignity and no will to live, having lost their hopes and dreams; and 4) having had to listen to this fool and his minions destroy the nation, inch by inch, over the last eight years.

"Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band "

ROFL -- Remember when Del had to leave the Steve and Del Tour because of Steve's on-stage language? Del basically said, "I love and respect yer music, Steve -- but we get a family audience!"

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183069

Ping
I didn't have time this a.m. to answer you sorry. I feel from reading your many post's that you slam unions and the UAW every chance you get but you also offer some good points,just my opinion.I enjoy your posts really,you remind me of my very Republican and anti-union Grandfather,you also bring back memories of wonderful debates with him..I will not go back and look up your posts and link them as I'm not trying to change your mind at all,your entitled to believe as you will and I'm entitled to do the same..If I have offended you in anyway I'm sorry!

How'd the dollar do today?

Has the rest of the world figured out that Bernanke has told we don't support the value of our currency?

Well, after having made the last brutal sacrifice to the market the Fed can make... their day after response remains the same as ever:

"Sure, Tuesday was nice. BUT WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR US LATELY!?!?!"

All the old fantasy addicts there yearn for is for Greenspan to say he sees this is a brief adjustment and to pronounce in his inimitable ponderiffic way that stocks are somewhat undervalued...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183180

C-Bob
Thanks for that link.I replaced all my tree lights this year with LED's.I found at Walmart LED's encapsulated with a bigger bulb look and there wonderful.I can't believe how cool they are,I live in Florida and believe me the old style lights would kick the AC on from all the heat they put out..Nice

Solar
I bet I can bring you out of lurking,it was 80 and sunny today!HA HA

heck it was 80 and sunny even in SC today......bootiful........

Oldsea - I answered your email - just being slow.

Driving home last night I saw what I thought was a thick finger of fog floating across the road, but turned out to be smoke coming from an apartment building next to mine. It really smelled bad - like an electric fire - but there no flames. The smoke was billowing out.

So I called the police to check it out and they linked me to the fire department. I heard the fd drive up and then away maybe 10 or 15 minutes later. Don't know for sure what it was and doubt those apts have fire places and I sure didn't want an apartment building fire.

People!

"it was 80 and sunny today!"

Tony! Don't rub it in!!! It was cold and rainy here AGAIN! And supposed to be the rest of the week. Sick.

And I've still got the flu....even more sick.

Oh -- and Mr. Bush-who-keeps-us-safe is getting ready to sell nuclear tenchnology to the UAE.

Patsi
Isn't UAE the new home of Haliburton?
Wonder if it comes with a non extradition clause for certain individuals.

Jack

Tony

You know what you can do with that 80 degree weather,,,like this type key you can##%#@@%@@#%% and as for that sunny day you can %%^#^^$%^ other than that I hope you get sun burn on you sitting part and can't sit for the rest of the time that Im cold. hahahha----Tony enjoy---that is what its all about-----I take each day as it comes------had to shovel my drive way,,and my neighbors also----all my neighbors think that Im nuts----I have a snow blower but I prefer to use tha shovel----for exercise ----

Ssturg ---just relax in that big ole comfy rocker and think good thoughts ,,,don't let the fact that Im freeeezzzzzing my patunias offff bbbboootherrr you at all, even my key board looks like frozen cubes of ice bbbbbuuuutt thats ok---you enjooooy the 80 dgreeeee s!!!!! ps you are starting to sound like me when you say boootifu,,,,or were you using my dictionary again :-))))

It must not have been in his morning briefing. Bushie kept us safe and liberated Iraqi didn't mention the 130 Iraqis killed or maimed from car bombs in Bagdhad today. Bet their families just loved all that liberation.

Chole

Go to the show over the weekend??

sturge, did you feel the earth move yesterday? nothing salacious, i mean the earthquake. just heard about it.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gGL7HfGXfus_72M0ocXAk4c5CYTAD953UKJ80

that's all I did was hear about it......didnt feel anything but they keep saying we're due for a big one any day now........

solar.....well, that's what happens when you live in a toddlin' town.............

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183262

Nope, he's not my type

Hey Solar, how ya doin? Just looked in and there you were!

Yes. Saw Four Christmases. Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon. Very funny movie.

What you been up to?

You all better pray each night that Obama manages to keep you safe.

glad you caught me......I was just getting ready to pray for something weird.......or something........

weird.......

"And I've still got the flu....even more sick"

poor baby, here take a little chicken soup. it'll make you better. if that fails, a nice hot toddy with good whiskey, butter and honey. even bad whiskey will do.

http://www.grandmaschickensoup.com/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183273

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183276

Patsi,Solar
Ok,I won't rub it in.HA HA. Patsi you feel better because you need to be ready for your beautiful granddaughter come next week.Solar I used to do the same back in Flint,I had a real long driveway and a real nice snowblower but I liked shoveling to get my cardio rev-ed up.The neighbors thought i was loco,maybe a little.HA

1:40 am and I woke up for some strange reason.

REZ... I miss Evergreen !! LOL... Red Square became White Square. I remember a few times we had that happen over the years but still it's a rarity.

patd, I see no difference between GORDO's current rants and those of earlier, except perhaps they get more desperate as he and the tin foil brigade realize that, no matter how much they try, their conspiracy theories and paranoia take them on a very short and unproductive journey... round and round in the same old circles.

Oldseahag, I remember Craig saying something about GORDO's posts adding to the mix; that's his choice and I can understand it. Every soap opera needs it's villain to keep people's attention, but we don't have to like it. No one has to like my posts either, but I'll call B.S. on the lunatic fringe's fantasy scenarios as long as the games continue.

patsi, your toddy
http://www.ehow.com/video_9519_make-hot-toddy.html

Chole

A light bulb just whent off in my head about a hobby that I started about 6-7 months ago called FTA---Free To Air----with a reciever (satellite) I can try to pick up signals,,from all over the world____t hat is from outer space---this has been keeping me busy ---the signals are free, but it is a challenge to get them down and get a picture. This is ok but, I can't wait till spring and get to work---

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183286

Good point...

I am sure many have prayed day in and out that we will survive the dark ages of the Bush catastrophe and the worldwide upheaval he has created.

Personally Bozo the Clown would make me feel safer than the neo-cons who have destroyed our economic system and helped foster a burgeoning hyper-militant terrorist network around the globe.

Soon back to bed... I have to re-wake up in 3 and 1/2 hours...

Hello gentle people. It's almost 8:00 pm and I'm grouchy.

First I find out that our local high school has an adult violent sex offender on the basketball team. No one on the school board seemed to know about it. The principal knows and she can't keep this person out of school because there is no apparent law that prevents adults convicted of felonies from schools. Outrageous. Still working on that one but the more I find out the more I am disgusted and frustrated.

Then I get an email that says that Gov. Tim Kaine is eliminating the federal funding for a program that pays about a third of my salary. I don't think he can do it -- who knows what he's proposing to do with the money -- but the federal grant says he needs to spend it on child care resource and referral. Grrrrr.... another battle to fight.

Then I find out that Obama has asked Rick Davis of Saddleback Church -- anti-gay, anti-woman's rights, anti-choice evanangelist Rick Davis to give the flippin' INVOCATION at the Inauguration.

That's just the icing on this day. Does Obama really need to grind it in the faces of the GLBT community AFTER the shame of Prop 8?

I would rather have had Rev. Jeremiah Wright. No really -- why not Rev. Al Sharpton?

Arrggh! I am truly aggravated.

Thank you for letting me vent. I feel slightly better now.

One more thought... how sick is it that when gas prices have fallen, rather than continuing to conserve energy and fuel, some auto buyers are starting to flock back to gas guzzling SUV's. Are people in fricken denial??? Are we that selfish that we don't care that energy prices are unstable and the effects on our environment is devastating? I mean, how crazy is it to start chanting "drill baby drill" than to say "this is our planet and we have just about ran out of time to save it, so let's take this seriously." ... ???

I don't get it... I really don't. I would like to think that people would still conserve energy and not over-consume simply because the prices have dropped. With OPEC promising a cut of 2.2 million barrels of oil production per day, prices will probably rise a bit. If we were all smarter, we'd still drive more efficient vehicles and take more advantage of car pools and public transport...

just my rant at 2:07 in the morning.

What makes you think this is a meaningless gesture?

Remember,he always knows what he is doing. Like the way he figured out how to win the caucuses.

Perhaps he does not need certian constituancies now that he has been elected.

Why not have Elder Bernice King do the invocation? The daughter of Martin Luther King Jr and Coretta Scott King embodies the values she learned from her parents' example. That would be a far more impressive message as far as I am concerned.

diva, so sorry about your funding cut. am afraid that's becoming a trend... and usually hitting the programs that are needed most in bad economic times.
re the other problem. check to see if your state has a sex offender registry. here's a link to a nat'l one; but most states nowadays have something on the books when it comes to schools. http://www.familywatchdog.us/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183294

Alicia
I'm with you on this.Obama is smart so he must have a sound reason but I can't for the life of me figure it out.It hurts to see any of these homophobe's given one minute of free exposure especially with the President because in a small way it legitimizes them to the masses.

Don't slam Bam, say GOPers: Republicans slam party leaders for ads linking Obama to Blagojevich

BY KENNETH R. BAZINET
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU
Wednesday, December 17th 2008, 5:19 PM

Squires/AP
Then Senator Barack Obama with Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich in 2005. Even some Repulicans are mad about a GOP ad linking the two.

WASHINGTON – Several high profile Republicans are bashing their party's leaders for launching a web ad linking President-elect Barack Obama to disgraced Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/12/17/2008-12-17_dont_slam_bam_say_gopers_republicans_sla.html

"Obama places a lot of stock in inclusion."
well then he surely will have the benediction given by an american islamic leader won't he?

"I can't wait till spring and get to work---"

I love the spring....it can't get here soon enough for me either Solar.

LOL

A right winger preacher to give the invocation?

Now that is a bit of triangulation that would have even embarrassed the big dawg.
lol
I'm just going to sit back and listen to the Clinton haters spin, spin, spin.

Cbob
Just hook all that spinning up and replace all the old out of date coal fired electric plants.

Jack

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/12/the-permanent-government.html#comment-183298

My hope is the Rick Warren is the bone he is throwing to the evangelicals just before opening the military to gays and lesbians (as if they weren't there already)

What I want to know is something more important than the invocation. Who will be the poet?

lol

Spin , spin, spin

Jack

Gee ask and receive. The Innauguration Committee has selected Elizabeth Alexander to read at the ceremony

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/17/AR2008121702027.html

Here's her homepage

http://www.elizabethalexander.net/home.html

LOL Jack. :)

Does this mean David Duke is seeking a position in the new administration? Or is that a sheet too far?

Sturg -- You made me spew wine on my laptop with that one!

Status seekers---Potlatch---------The same waste that goes on today---the more things change,,the more they stay the same!!!!!!!!??????

Some of the most puzzling lifestyles on exhibit in the museum of world ethnography bear the imprint of a strange craving known as the “drive fro prestige.” Some people seem to hunger for approval as others hunger for meat. The puzzling thing is not that people hunger for approval, but that occasionally their craving seems to become so powerful that they begin to compete with each other for prestige as others compete for land or protein or sex. Sometimes this competition grows so fierce that it appears to become an end in itself. It then takes on the appearance of an obsession wholly divorced from, and even directly opposed to, rational calculations of material costs....Vance Packard struck a responsive chord when he described the United States as a nation of competitive status seekers. Many Americans seem to spend their entire lives truing to climb further up the social pyramid simply in order to impress each other. We seem to be more interested in working in order to get people to admire us for our wealth than in the actual wealth itself, which often enough consists of chromium baubles and burdensome or useless objects. I t is amazing haw much effort people are willing to spend to obtain what Thorstein Veblen described as the vicarious thrill of being mistaken for members of a class that doesn't have to work. Veblen's mordant phrases “conspicuous consumption” and “conspicuous waste” aptly convey a sense of the peculiarly intense desire for “keeping up with the Joneses” that lies behind the ceaseless cosmetic alterations in the automotive, appliance, and clothing industries.

Early in the present century, anthropologists were surprised to discover that certain primitive tribes engaged in conspicuous consumption and conspicuous wasted to a degree unmatched by even the most wasteful of modern consumer economies (that has changed now—I think?) Ambitious, status-hungry men were found competing with each other for approval by giving huge feasts. The rival feast givers judged each other by the amount of food they provided, and a feast was a success only if the guests could eat until they were stupefied , stagger off into the bush, stick their fingers down their throats, vomit, and come back for more.

The most bizarre instance of status seeking was discovered among the American Indians who formerly inhabited the coastal regions of Southern Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington, Here the status seekers practiced what sees like a maniacal form of conspicuous consumption and conspicuous waste known as potlatch..The object of potlatch was to give away or destroy more wealth than ones' rival. If he potlatch giver was a powerful chief, he might attempt to shame his rivals and gain everlasting admiration from his followers by destroying food, clothing, and money. Sometimes he might evens seek prestige by burning down his own house.,,,Potlatch was made famous by Roth Benedict in her book Patterns of Culture, which describes how potlatch operated among the Kwakiutl, the aboriginal inhabitants of Vancouver Island. Benedict thought that potlatch was part of a megalomaniacal lifestyle characteristic of Kwakiutl culture in general. I was the “cup” God had given them to drink from. Ever since, potlatch has been a monument to the belief that cultures are the creations of inscrutable forces and deranged personalities, As a result of of reading Patterns of Culture, experts in many fields concluded that the drive for prestige makes a shambles of attempts to explain lifestyles in terms of practical and mundane factors

more to come about this subject if you want?

Jamie -- The news of Elizabeth Alexander is a bright spot in this dismal day I've had. Thank you.

Blowback from the Warren invocation deal.

This country is so damn used to being Divided we wouldn't know what United looked like even if United walked up and handed us its business card.

"Gay Leaders Furious With Obama"

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16693.html

Jamie...I heard the poet is going to be a disembodied recording of the late William Burroughs, just to even things out. :)

William S. Burroughs -- A Thanksgiving Prayer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8m_J6sXj_0

Patd -- Thanks. I don' think Kaine knows what he is doing -- he can't cut a dirct federal grant that is specifically purposed. The aggro is that we now have to fight for what is rightfully to be used for specific programming -- instead of whatever Tim Kaine wants. We've been through this battle before with Jim Gilmore and Goerge Allen -- it just gets tiring and frustrating when it's a DEM gov that I worked to elect who is screwing with me.

As for the star basketball player/violent offender -- he didi a plea deal with the Commonwealth Attorney that got the sexual assault charges dropped . He plead guilty to one felony count of abduction -- sentenced to 10 years with all but 45 days suspended -- and probation. So he doesn't have to go on the sex offender registry. The actual case involved three male basketball players who assaulted a younger female student off school property. Two of the b-ball stars were adults at the time, one was a juvenile. They were originally indicted by the grand jury for forcible sodomy, multiple counts of carnal knowledge of a minor and multiple counts of taking indecent liberties with a child. Both adults did a plea deal with the CA to felony abduction and the sexual assault charges were dropped. One of them transferred out of the county and attends high school in another county, where he's playing basketball. The other adult transferred to another school in the county where he's a star player onthe B-bll team -- and gets his picture on the sports pages for his scoring ability. So we know who he is -- but the School Board didn't know that this sports star is also an adult violent offender. It might be the case that the SB lacks the legal authority to expel him. Meanwhile, the young girl who was attacked by these three thugs gets the treat of seeing the pictures of her attackers in the newspapers being lauded for their point scoring.

This is wrong on so many levels.

Bethy, down in Florida where we lived we had several high-rise ACLFs. Most of the apartments were fairly compact with storage space at a premium. So, the nice older ladies who occupied most of them would store their stash of booze in the oven.

Every year, the fire chief would plead with the ladies to double check their (seldom used) ovens before they decided to roast a chicken.

' Looking at the names here, I have to check my calendar to be sure it's 2008 and not 2006...lol - '

Bear earlier today ...............
----------------------
It's more than that Dear Bear.

I remember driving off POP with my posts about wind and storms.
She was scared, and begged us to stop. But Katrina was the story,. How could we stop ?

Bear ........ you have always been one of the great I.Q. risers, I never missed.

A good run down of the basic screwups Bush apointed to the SEC,

It's New Orleans all over again, or Iraq or.........

Is there any thing in this administration that isn't a total screwup?

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/12/thinking-about-the-sec/

Jack

Some one I always missed -

A.J.
He was a hot dog for the polls. We were watching Bush fall that late summer, and A.J. always had the new poll of his falling numbers.
He'd post it, and howl, it was wonderful.
Then a hurricane came, and he never came back.

You all know how pitiful our lives have become, when our intellectual, and emotional lives are sitting with some electrons & key strokes at the edge of The Dead Sea on GORDO's low information reader server.

C Bob,

Reckon GORDO's low information reader server is a coal fired reader server? It would explain a lot on so many levels.

Another couple I miss.
I miss Mad Mustard & Nash.

Coffee with Maine & Houston. How fine is that ?
Those guys could raise GORDO's I.Q.

Hey Dr. Dooty -

I made something you'll like =

http://the-shin-bone-star.blogspot.com/

But I never went anywhere with it.

C Bob,

I heard from Mad Mustard after the second hurricane and he had moved to Oklahoma for work related reasons and where he lives broadband doesn't exist. Dial up is not an answer for him and satellite is to costly.

Nash got beat up pretty bad during the Obama/Clinton primary. He did give as good as he got but in the end he just disappeared. If he comes around he doesn't post and if he does post it is not as Nash.

I always had high hopes for " The Shine Bone Star ".

I do like that site. I am a mere mortal in your presents but I am learning something daily.

did you watch the Joe Ely and Tom Russell vids I put up today? I think they are two of the best singer/songwriters going today.

Mad Mustard in Oklahoma, beyond the net ?
Now there's a sin.

-------------
Note to readers :
Mad Mustard will beat you with a sock full of dimes, and you'll laugh and feel good.
We lost him to U-Tube a long time ago.

C Bob,

it is not too late for "The Shin Bone Star" You could work on it some more, you know?

Yep -
I saw that.
Ely was here, a while back, flogging the book. He got better gifts than young Crawford. I told him how proud I was that he didn't let the road kill him.
He smiled and said that he loved it.
I smiled.
I loved it too.
If one loves it, it's your friend. If you don't, it will eat you.

I may be back. I need to go to the VA tomorrow for an X-ray and consultation and have to get up early but I am having a tough time falling asleep tonight. If I don't show back up, I was successful and will see you tomorrow.

As an add on...I still love the road. I agree with your assessment. Manana amigo.

Note to readers :
Dr. Dooty has a dog named after Jimmy Stewart in a movie role. When I read that for the first time, ........ well let's just say it was I knew he was cool.
Guess the dog's name, win a 100 bonus bucks.

Old people who can't sleep !

Not here.

The Texas Eagle -
I may post this song too much, but I doubt it.
This is how it was when Tooter and I jumped the freights out of San Berdo, back to Lubbock, and Momma.

There was this electrical storm firing in the desert. I'm on a tiny piece of blue Samsonite luggage, watching lighting bolts plunge into the ground, 56 yards from the train. It's an empty 100 car train of automobile carriers, and the engineer has the burner turned up. We were " Fuckin' Flying " across Arizona, at 85 miles an hour. My skinny ass on the Smapsonite, watching God turn the desert to glass.

I love me some railroaders.

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

I've been thinklng about today's question. And I vote Madonna for the Jr. Senator from New York -

Madonna - Express Yourself

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMt53HYkfY8

Give Madonna a job, she's clearly the smartest woman on the planet.

Plus she's got 2,123,249 hits on U-Tube clip, for a song that's 19 years old .

What more do we need from a Jr. Senator from New York ?

What do you want from a Jr. Senator from NY?

1) knows where Elmira is located.
2) has seen Joe Indian Pond in the Adiroundaks
3) ate funnel cake at the Chenango County Fair
4) knows where Chenango County is
5) knows which county is the poorest in the state (try Jefferson)
6) knows that most upstate New Yorkers would prefer to have the "city" & Long Island become part of New Jersey.

Hi Jamie, I haven't had any problems shipping in the wintertime cold, it's the heat of summer that melts the chocolate. I ship by Priority, so there is still a bit of time to order and still receive by Christmas.

ET- I wrote that because of your "we" in your post. Not universal, just royal?

Wang Chung - To Live and Die In LA

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1uzsm_wang-chung-to-live-and-die-in-la_music

Bow -
Good government = funnel cakes

You win.

My latest email from Boone :

I’ve told you this all along — our addiction to foreign oil could bring us to our knees, and there wouldn’t be a damn thing we could do about it. Now take a look at today’s headlines. OPEC just announced it’s cutting production by 2.2 million barrels. Remember – this is on top of the 2 million barrels in cuts they’ve already made since this summer! These guys are serious about getting the price of oil back up right where they like it: $75 a barrel, $100 a barrel, $150 a barrel.

This is exactly why now is the time to pull together and Push the Pickens Plan. Every time the price of oil drops, America falls asleep. The Saudis don’t. The Iranians don’t. The Venezuelans don’t. But we do.

President-elect Obama said it best a few weeks ago on 60 Minutes. “Oil prices go up, gas prices at the pump go up, everybody goes into a flurry of activity. And then the prices go back down and suddenly we act like it’s not important, and we start, you know, filling up our SUVs again. And, as a consequence, we never make any progress. It’s part of the addiction, all right. That has to be broken. Now is the time to break it.”

I couldn’t agree more. We’ve got to break that addiction now. Before it breaks us.

CBob- I agree about Pickens Plan. I joined his army a while back but don't receive any email- guess my email program thought it was trash. I don't know what things are like where you are and haven't read the gas sales figures, but people here are being very frugal with their money in all regards. Gas got to 5.02 for regular here. Don't think the salty yankees are going to forget that anytime soon.

When someone asks if Maslow's heirarchy of needs is still relevant and still taught in school, then there is something wrong. That's like asking if Freud and Skinner are still relevant. Hearing that question here yesterday floored me.

Jax is right. This is a fan club, and it isn't even Craig's anymore. It belongs to someone else, and you damn well better understand that before you speak. Come to think of it, I don't recall hearing anyone discussing Craigs thoughtful piece yesterday:

"As a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, Obama could not have been more scathing in his critiques of George W. Bush's foreign policy. But as president-elect, Obama appears to be installing a continuation of the incumbent's agenda. Wow, what happened to change? Or did Obama learn something in those secret intelligence briefings that perhaps the rest of us would be better off not knowing?"

(ha! as if anyone is listening) :)

Wow, Craig; you mean the whole "change you can believe in" was just a line of bullshit to get elected (not to mention grammatically incorrect)? I would have never guessed myself. Must be why you're making the big bucks.

God Bless the United States of Chicago

Happy Holidays, also.