Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Say, what?

There was another phone call that mattered more, and it caused her to cancel the inauguration luncheon. Check it out. She was going to come, then she didn't. That's when this all started. I feel very sad for her right now. I think she did what Teddy wanted and had no idea what to expect.

I believe that the Kennedy family has had its day in the sun. The generation that excelled in politics was driven by their father. There no longer is that force, just the fortune and the legacy. Better for them to live off the legacy than try to live it, todays reality cannot compare with the mythical status of Joe, John & Bobby.

Did the Cuomo cartel pressure her? I was all for her getting the job, but, y'know, the more I thought about it, y'know, well...I guess Andrew Cuomo deserves it more, y'know....
Caroline sure took the pressure off Bat Pasterson...er, David Paterson...now he doesn't have to be the one who snuffed out the last candle of Camelot.

So much for transparency and open communication.

President Obama made a surprise visit to the White House press corps Thursday night, but got agitated when he was faced with a substantive question.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17831.html

I meant "maybe they didn't just not 'show up' ", and I hope that makes sense.

They also don't seem to get it that jobs are going down the tubes right and left. It's really strange.

As for not being able to go to college, if they think this is acceptable, they won;t stay in college long, whatever you do.

When one remembers that JFK,Jr. was nine months older than Obama and could have dipped his toe in the political waters back in 2000 for this seat, the whole "Who will replace Hillary" debacle may have never happened.

Well, Scarborough is right about one thing this morning. He just said that the CEOs like Thane have been living in an alternate universe for too long. Everytime I think about the bailout and that office redecoration, it makes me sick.

They'd have done some trashing of JFK Jr. for failing the bar -- but overall they couldn't have touched him. He was too charismatic. I also think he'd have been a great legislator.

And Paterson is the one looking like a jackass in this deal. (IMO)

Gevan- there's a sad what if.... I just couldn't see how she could do such a complete personality turn about. She spends too much energy on protecting her privacy. No one ever sees her on this island. I heard she bought red paint once at the hardware store, that's about it. No one hides here, John-john use to be seen riding his bike all the time. Big Dawg was always around. Shit, even Princess Diana went shopping on a rainy day.

Good morning Patsi, thanks, way cool is right. I always wonder about who those people are, now I know about one! Wanted to ask you - Do you put great thought into that, or just click them off?

this sounds like prepping the stage for potus april trip south.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/23/fidel-castro-barack-obama-cuba

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/the-curious-case-of-caroline-k.html#comment-192467

patsi, can you imagine how sick that made those small businesses who can't get credit to buy inventory or how many home mortgages that decor job cost could have saved or how many lost jobs?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/the-curious-case-of-caroline-k.html#comment-192470

OSH -- I'm not sure what post you are referring to....

"can you imagine how sick that made those small businesses who can't get credit to buy inventory or how many home mortgages that decor job cost could have saved or how many lost jobs?"

patd -- I know. It truly shows a disconnect that has been growing steadily in the country...

Oh -- and has anyone really taken a look at these dolls supposedly depicting the Obama daughters? I simply can't believe this invasion of those little girls' lives.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/xxfactor/archive/2009/01/22/sasha-and-malia-get-stuffed.aspx

Posted by: Patsi Author Profile Page | January 23, 2009 7:11 AM

Food costs money, and people have to eat. Welcome to America.

Ohh sorry, I thought you congratulated me last night. Must have been someone else!!

Posted by: Bowmanc Author Profile Page | January 23, 2009 3:15 AM

When the honeymoon's over, the hangover is going to suck.

The question is, why did Patterson's camp torpedo her after the appointment was already a no-go?

My theory: Teddy's plan was for Caroline to be NY Senator, then run for NY gov against Patterson...on her way to WH in 2016. Patterson knew he couldn't win against a Kennedy so not only did she need to NOT get the appointment, but he had to poison her political well, too.

-----------------------------
Maybe MoJo is right; we do need new definitions to deal with stateless terrorists.

The thing about the Gitmo guy who is now an aq leader in Yemen...we know where he is & what he's doing. Maybe a tag & release program. You know how they microchip pets, do they have a chip with GPS-tracking ability. I'm not saying we should make this our policy; this is totally black-ops. If we need to off them while they're at aq summer camp...

what's a stringman's equivalent term for lip sync?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090123/ap_en_mu/inauguration_recorded_music

also, was the musical overlap with the magic hour of ascendency a case of fiddling while the crowd burns?

whatever.... it was a beautiful moment at 12 when mo touched bho on the shoulder.

Here's a silly link, not for everyone's taste-Sorry media, Obama's just not that into you
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/01/obamas_just_not_that_into_you.html

So much for the Cuomo theory.

patsi - Was it your son who was going to the WH yesterday? Details?

Yes Patsi, please tell us about it.

Caroline Kennedy... Who Cares - What a soap opera...

NY got an upgrade with a real Politician - not the PC feel good choice

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/the-curious-case-of-caroline-k.html#comment-192479

Blue
Nice.... The technology is here

Obama talk and show and changes - OK - but they better deliver the same results -
Can you imagine the day --- Only if George Bush was still....

OMG. Patsi. That is just too obscene -- they put breasts on the dolls depicting 7 year old and 10 year old girls? I hope Sasha and Malia never see these. It will freak them out.

What are they thinking?
Besides, I think the Bratz line has been ordered to stop production as result of a patent dispute with Mattel.

I don't think that these people in our custody should be coddled, however if they were innocent when picked up they definitely would not be if they were tortured for the whole time we held them and they would want to kill Americans when finally released.

What would you do if you were arrested and tortured for years and then let go when they realized that you were innocent and you had nothing to do with terrorism?

You might want to exact revenge against the country that tortured you all those years.

I'm not saying that it's okay to join AQ to kill people, but if you or a family member had that happen to them wouldn't you want revenge?

Just saying.

Bush put us in a terrible situation and its going to be hard to correct it.

I sincerely hope that President Obama can turn the corner and take us back to our Constitution and moral values while bringing the Rule of Law back to our shores.

That was the foundation this country was built upon and Bush destroyed it like he destroyed anything he ever touched in his life.

Come on International Community and try these War Criminals since we won't.

ping - After 9/11 the talk was that they were gonna handle this with black-ops; down & dirty and off the grid. I wonder if Cheney had already decided to send Halliburton into Iraq and Afghanistan was just the opening that was needed? It's un-nerving if the GPS chip tech is already there, but it could also be incredibily useful in fighting an ever-morphing enemy.

"Can you imagine the day --- Only if George Bush was still...."

Posted by: Ping Pong | January 23, 2009 7:44 AM

Hey Pingo.....that's a cute little thought.........

faggeddabaddit.......

anon - I know. What ever happened to the good, old days of the Stockholm syndrome when one learned to identify with one's captors. Maybe Patty Hearst should go to Gitmo & give them a motivational speech.

So, Prez Obama is not creating any new torture-eez, so we only have a couple hundred to deal with now. We tag, they go home to cause trouble, we take them & their friends out.

"...Patty Hearst heard the burst of Roland's Thompson gun and bought it." zevon

send lawyers, guns and money....................

Blue....
nice theory..... except you've forgotten one thing.... it's called elections....
Caroline's poll numbers were going south every day.... the people of NY state apparently wanted someone who would truly represent their interests and not just a famous name.... BTW... did you eat your grits this morning.... :0)

I watched Robert Gibbs first presser yesterday.... I thought maybe they'd go easy on him for his first day..... not so.... good... the press needs to wake up and do it's job..... and yes, it was great to see Ms Thomas asking questions again....

Yes, her numbers were sliding...I'm saying that was the impetus to want the appointment. Then she would've had time to prove herself. I think the Kennedy's over-estimated her appeal...just like we were going to be greeted as liberators in Iraq.

Still, by stepping into the public politically, she could've PR-ed herself into a formidable opponent to Paterson...so he made sure that she didn't just slip away quietly only to reappear stronger at a later time.

Equally nice to have questions answered. Wonder how long the honeymoon will last?

RebRenee..
The water is boiling... made both grits - and steal cut oatmeal... House divided

Blue....
I saw on MSNBC's website where Chuck Todd was grumbling about Robert Gibbs.... he didn't think Gibbs was answering any questions.... sorry, I seem to have lost the link....

but there's plenty out there of what others thought about Todd's inane grilling of Gibbs over the flubbed oath.... here's one example...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-nickolas/the-idiotic-start-to-chuc_b_160080.htm

Ping... I've tasted grits only once..... I think if one adds a little maple syrup they'd taste just fine....

OSH -- OH....I went back and checked. You were referring to my post about your encyclopedia mention. Yes -- it WAS nifty. And thanks are thought through carefully, I think.

Yes -- my son went to the reception yesterday. The President was working when my son was there, but he got to meet the First Lady, and said she was impressive -- and very nice. He really enjoyed it.

" That is just too obscene -- they put breasts on the dolls depicting 7 year old and 10 year old girls?"

Yes -- and I am outraged about it. How does some toymaker have the right to exploit these little girls?

Lucky me, I get to break news:

Aide: Successor chosen for Clinton's Senate seat

"Gov. David Paterson has picked Democratic U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand to fill New York's vacant U.S. Senate seat"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090123/ap_on_re_us/ny_senate_seat

Also, Paul Newman died.

Yes -- and I am outraged about it. How does some toymaker have the right to exploit these little girls?

Posted by: Patsi Author Profile Page | January 23, 2009 9:03 AM

Blame their father. There are more reprehensible ways to make a living than marketing toys, you know. The girls are public figures, and taste is subjective.

If you think the girls are being exploited now, wait another 4-8 years. They'll either use the exposure as a platform for their careers, or it will destroy them. Their father's ambition is the cause either way.

"Bush put us in a terrible situation and its going to be hard to correct it."

You are so right, anon. I guess you have to look at it like a prisoner who is cleared by DNA tests after doing fifteen years of hard time. I don't care what he's turned into. He has to be released.

But my God, Bush has put us in a helluva spot. Not to mention some innocent teenage boys that I know damned well were rounded up by Blackwater and warlords.

(Blue, your Stockholm syndrome line is priceless.)

It'll all work out. Sasha will be appointed as a Senator from New York in the year 2048 to fill a vacancy resulting from Malia's appointment as Secretary of State. And most of us will be dead.

Just you watch.

Bethy, I absolutely agree with your anger at the situation Lampe finds herself in.

My daughter is responsible for a non-profit with 25 points-of-service. They are largely staffed by upper level college kids who are very well paid.

She holds the location supervisors responsible for the misdeeds/absences of the college kids. Responsible at least to the extent that they have robust documentation and counseling records for each of the kids. When a kid doesn't make the grade, the supervisor _must_ initiate separation action. Not doing that places the supervisors' jobs at risk because they won't be able to maintain mandatory daily staffing levels.

The remaining student employees get the message which, in turn, becomes known to potential applicants. The grapevine helps weed out marginal candidates who will self-eliminate from the hiring process for these jobs.

oldseahag...thank your for the following post and article -- I enjoy silly ever since Obama adopted the word for the debates...

Here's a silly link, not for everyone's taste-Sorry media, Obama's just not that into you
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/01/obamas_just_not_that_into_you.html

Patsi,

That's great.....out of thousands of militants and non-militants encountered by our military.... you know " damned well" that they decided to round up 240 odd innocent teenagers......and ship them Gitmo.......

I haven't finished my first coffee so maybe I'm missing something........but please......do tell???

It's a reality of our modern media/celebrity culture...

If Barack and Michelle are good parents, they discussed the ramifications of his candidacy on the girls, and obviously decided either the risks are worth it, or they could amply prepare their daughters.

And once again, I can't begrudge a guy for trying to make a buck. Have you gotten a power bill lately?

Bonde wino- I hear you!

Were there Bush twins beanie babies?

The NY Senate seat is great theater. Apparently Caroline Maloney is going to enter the primary against Gillibrand. A thriving business is political campaigns --maybe that is what will save the economy.

anyone have a link to latest press briefing transcript?

will these transcripts be as available to public as in the wjc days? loved reading those mccurry quips

This just in: the RMS Lusitania has been sunk by German U-Boats. You heard it here first.

Good day all.

"you know " damned well" that they decided to round up 240 odd innocent teenagers......"

You are putting words in my mouth. I didn't say all of them. But were you paying ANY attention during those early months in Afghanistan? You heard stories about it. Then, the son of a friend of mine came home injured and was horrified by what Blackwater and the warloards were up to.

"Have you gotten a power bill lately?"

yes...and they had tacked $30 onto it because of that TVA accident. A-holes.

"First Lady considers Sasha, Malia dolls 'inappropriate'"

Good for her! They are absolutely inappropriate.

Patsi,
OK ....not sure of details early on.....but that was 8 years ago and the issue of Gitmo now involves the ones still there......

Legislators should have voted against the bailout bill

About the dolls, we are a boob-obsessed society. Once breast implants became popular, they are no longer 'age appropriate.' Anyone can get them! Ask Ru-Paul.

A friend in NYC told me Paterson was under pressure to appoint someone from upstate. (This woman knew Jackie O and is feeling pretty bad about what's happened to Caroline by the way. She thinks Caroline was just doing what Teddy wanted and trying to be a good Kennedy.)

But at any rate, why would he have been under pressure about the upstate? Is it to garner him support there for his upcoming campaign?

Gillibrand has the same stand on gay marriage as Obama and Biden.

Gillibrand's Gay Marriage Evolution
January 23, 2009

The Empire State Pride Agenda released a statement this morning saying it has received assurances from the junior-senator-in-waiting, Kirsten Gillibrand, that she supports gay marriage - an issue that could prove troublesome when she has to defend her new seat against a potential challenge from the left in 2010.

ESPA Executive Director Alan Van Capelle and Gillibrand apparently chatted last night after it became clear she was Paterson's pick (although supposedly that wasn't a sure thing until sometime around 2 a.m. this morning).

"After talking to Kirsten Gillibrand, I am very happy to say that New York is poised to have its first U.S. Senator who supports marriage equality for same-sex couples,” Van Capelle said.

“She also supports the full repeal of the federal DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) law, repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) and passage of legislation outlawing discrimination against transgender people. While we had a productive discussion about a whole range of LGBT concerns, I was particularly happy to hear where she stands on these issues.”

This is a huge issue for ESPA, especially given the tenuous state of the gay marriage bill in Albany in the wake of the state Senate leadership battle.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/01/gillibrands-gay-marriage-evolu.html

Glad to hear that about Gillibrand's position on gay marriage. I am not particularly concerned about her gun stance. I think the NRA has used that as a club against Democrats for long enough.

Really, now Gillibrand has a more "evolved" position than Obama

Patsi,
An NRA supported Dem isn't uncommon at all down here in the south.

RE: NRA and the South...Oh, I know that, Jax....I'm in Tennessee. Hell, I grew up around guns and have a rifle myself (one of my father's).....I just despise the NRA.

It is a shocking day in Belgium ... In Dendermonde (VERY close to where I live and work), a crazy man forced his way into a day care and started stabbing babies and staff members. Two infants are known to be dead, as is one of the adult workers. Several adults have been hurt because they stood between the man and the children. The man was under psychiatric care. Besides these horrible deaths, the real pity is that the Belgian judicial system will probably determine the man was insane and will not have to spend much time in prison. Even if he is found competent, all he has to do is behave and he will be released after 1/3 of his sentence is served, and for murder, the max is usually 16 years.

Anyway, I feel sorry for the families and the poor traumatized children and staff.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7846815.stm

Gillibrand does seem to have a spotty record on gays.

Nashville had a special election yesterday for an "English Only" law some groups have been putting big bucks into. The voting turnout was huge and the BS law went down in flames. Once in a while the South gets it right.

Patsi...I live in a bilingual state...the cost for printing government materials in both languages, interpreters for court proceedings, etc. is a point of contention for some, I believe the gain is much better. As I say, I may just learn some Spanish --so much can be lost in the translation.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/the-curious-case-of-caroline-k.html#comment-192545

Blonde,

Think about a state like California that is already so overdrawn that they are sending IOUs instead of tax returns. They have all those services in English, Spanish, Russian, Mong, Viet Namese, Chinese and heaven only knows what else with ESL classes in all of them as well.

Yet the students who do best seem to be the ones whose parents insist on English only. Just as all the other immigrants from Europe did in the late 1800s. They had their own language in newspapers, stores, and theater, but English for their children and full asimilation into American culture with college graduates by the third generation. (non english speaking, partially english speaking, English speaking)

Schwarzenegger pandered to the voters with the rollback of the vehicle license tax and made the fiscal crisis worse.
Davis was on track to make real progress in getting the budget and revenue stablized.

Thanks, KGC.

And what about braille? Should the government make sure braille is included? It is government for the people and by the people, not just for the people's financial planners.

Boy, we still have some Bush to wash and wipe off.

Oh ET -- sorry about those horrible killings in Belgium!

Blond,

The CA legislature is notoriously liberal and the farside of liberal at that. There are all sorts of unintended consequences to doing the "noble" thing. It is always a juggling act between the maximum amount of freedom and equality vs the outcome and cost.

I would love to see a truly civilized discussion of busing for instance. I opposed busing in the 1950s when it was a black child being bussed past white schools in order to go to black schools and I opposed it in the 80s when it was black and white children crossing each other in freeway traffic in order to integrate schools segregated by defacto placement.

Considering all the millions spent to do that, wouldn't it have made more sense to bring the bad schools up to superior condition in equipment, books, and teacher salaries rather than subjecting children to two plus hours a day breathing automobile fumes?

There are all sorts of issues such as that where you are caught between a desireable goal: Integration and a factual result: Deteriorating inner city schools, cutting "elective" courses such as music and art to save money, and children separated from their neighborhoods whose parents might not have access to an automobile in case of emergency among other things.

Jamie...you have summed it up perfectly -- "It is always a juggling act between the maximum amount of freedom and equality vs the outcome and cost."

Obama needs a Feng Shui master in the cabinet as we are so out of balance. Perhaps a strategically placed water fountain which flows to the white house instead of flowing away from the white house....anything to stop the fiscal bleeding.

Flatus...if you're out there today I can only pray you read this story. It's hilarious.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/world/europe/23crapstone.html?_r=2

Lardo

That is hilarious. It's fortunate Wetwang, East Yorkshire; and Slutshole Lane, Norfolk aren't near each other.

Must head to work, but have a great day all...LL thanks for the comic relief.

PS the one keystone cop on the far right of the photo looks like Dan Blocker of Bonanza fame.

"English for their children and full asimilation into American culture with college graduates by the third generation"

Which demonstrates the superiority of ESL classes over the old methods Jamie loves.
Now people who immigrated here as children are able to go to college they don't have to wait for the grandchildren to be the first one to go to college
.
The interesting thing about living in an immigrant community is you get to see the real effects of ESL education for children. It is like magic, they go to school and almost over night these little 5yr olds begin speaking English with me.

Jamie , thanks for giving me yet another example of my favorite word for the week. your statement was an excellent example of the nativist/anti immigrant misinformation that is out there.

Jack

I think Flatus will particularly like the reference to "Gasworks"

NEW THREAD

Joe Kennedy, father of Jack, Bobby and Teddy, was a crook and a philanderer and a bad role model for the boys who took after him. Each had their successes but they were short lived except for Ted who for some reason continues to be admired and re-elected. I admired Bobby most but he and Jack didn't live long enough to leave much of a legacy. Their mystique seems to stem from the Camelot myth and assassinations. It's past time to move on because that generation of Kennedy's (Jack, Bob and Ted) were all over-rated. Now Carolyn has shown she has nothing to offer. So, let's just move on . . .