Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

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Isn't it interesting that some Senators got their early this morning to get an aisle seat. I guess it is like a rock concert.

As we gather together, let us join hands and sing...

everyone have the adult beverages ready???

really relieved, a few minutes ago i freaked and thought this is wednesday, that the speech was stepping on next episode of LOST

I have a lovely Manhattan and I'm sitting by a cozy fire. Here we go!

well, juliaPDX, it's a tall glass of water for me. i put too much red pepper on my Papa John's pizza.

What do you want to sing? Row, row, row your boat?

I have been waiting for the announcement to the speaker... "The President of the United States" in this setting too long!!!!

Craig -- Are you Twittering too or just blogging here?

All this talk of drought ... I've got water.

I've switched from my campaign mode of red wine...to my vodka tonic

so, does leaking the Iraq withdrawal timetable step on the speech in the next news cycle, or does the speech step on it (was that the purpose?)

Craig interesting thought about the Iraq leak

gonna stay here tonight, divalicious -- unless my tweet finger gets itchy

pelosi dress same shade of green as gibbs tie yesterday -- how's that for gender balancing a snarky fashion statement

no HDTV--third world

Justice Ginsburg looking better health than advertised

woot woot Michelle... wonderful fashion statement..no suit !!!!!

Michele looking fantastic

Hillary looks great in the pink!!!!

What is everyone watching -- MSNBC, CNN or the nets?

had to adjust TV color balance for HRC dress

MSNBC....where else???

Okay, it is Mardi Gras time ya'll; Hillary - KEEP YOUR SHIRT ON!!

are they running late?

Timmy doesn't seem very social.

Julia -- Yes she does! She's glowing!

Craig --
They're about 9 minutes off.

Et tu Pelosi...no beads? Where's the NOLA love?

will be interesting to see if GOP witholds applause much -- as happened with both parties so much during Clinton and Bush years

I love they way they did the intro tonight...

I have goose bumps and tears...

Right on time.

I'm just waiting for the "Madame Speaker" statement -- There it IS!

They should put on fancy dress. Black Rod is much more interesting with the introductions

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

good thing i adjusted color balance for hillary's dress, it prepared the TV for Obama's tie -- they must have thought that through :-)

Tons of spring colors in the chamber. Almost like they all decided to dress in an uplifting fashion. What color's your tie Craig?

CNN

Wonder what ol' Shelby is saying to Obama?

Good to see another Oregonian posting tonight..
Hi Oregon Demo!!!

surely he'll give us some happier talk tonight, not all gloom and doom. time for some don't worry, be happy

Ya gotta kiss all the ladies in politics.

OR in the House! Shout out to the Oregonians -- from an OR step-sister.

did Pelosi do an introduction? did i miss it?

Boy are people glad not to see George again.

Oregon!

oh there it is, they almost messed it up -- and wouldn't you know, john roberts is in the room

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/live-blog-obama-speaks.html#comment-203500

He better be saying sorry for the stupid comments he made yesterday. Sessions was right behind him. Thing 1 and Thing 2.

Nancy interrupted Obama to introduce him. Oh well -- I definitely like the looks of the podium better now than in the last 8 years.

like where this is going, "don't need to hear" more bad news. suggests he's going to a happy place. would be the way to go

MSNBC is running the audience reaction at the bottom of the screen.

oh no, sound went off right when he said, "we will recover"

Let's RECOVER THE AUDIO, then we'll recover the economy

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/live-blog-obama-speaks.html#comment-203512

That's why we just changed the channel.

hi Julia

I want to see how many times Obama can make the Republicans stand up and clap on tv.

Notice on the McCain voters.. it's a flat line (MSNBC)

McCain voters rating begining of speech higher than Obama voters according to MSNBC's tracker.

Ear to the ground, chin up, nose to the grindstone, shoulder to the wheel ... Now work in that position.

anybody hear what he said during the audio break, or was it off on all channels?

The McCain line doesn't look as if it is moving at all.

Jamie are the McCain voters awake???? It may be past bedtime

Broadband! Woo hoo!

The Republicans are sitting on their hands. I'm glad I've never voted for one in my lifetime.

that shot of McCain was priceless!!!!!

anybody hearing a weird beeping sound?

I wanna hear fiber to the home.

Nancy could not get Joe to stand up. What's with that? Joe?

It's moving now but they are tracking right with the Obama folks. If these folks were honestly chosen, this may be a real danger signal for the Republicans.

Craig what station are you watching????? You seem to have audio issues tonight...

Craig -- I'm on MSNBC and don't hear any audio feedback. You didn't leave a skillet in the oven did you?

yes, julia, and they showed McCain right on the word "skeptical" -- that's why producers like to get advance text

Oh, isn't he encouraging. Really talking up the economy.

Craig must have the Florida deep river station on

This President makes me PROUD!

Sound perfect on CNN

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/live-blog-obama-speaks.html#comment-203528

Wire is archaic -- the future is wireless!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/live-blog-obama-speaks.html#comment-203529

Joe is humble.

Probably the local station head rather than major broadcaster

was just thinking that audio outage might have been when he announced sticking to Bush's Iraq withdrawal schedule

Accountability? What a concept!

MSNBC has a full report on the speech, I guess from released copy

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29364383/

Everyone off their feet!

everyone agreed on MSNBC about Wall Street spending and big business spending

lieberman looked he swallowed an olive pit

Okay how many standing O's is this so far -- 2 or 3?

I guess that means no new rug in the Oval.

Sorry Diva, I can get 9.6 terabyte over fiber, try that on wireless.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/live-blog-obama-speaks.html#comment-203546

Craig -- Hahaha! Lieberman is grouchy.

oh darn, diva, i forgot to assign an ovation counter

One of the interesting things about Obama's speaking is that applause lines seem to catch him by surprise.

Okay is that Standing O #5 or 6?

if we had a drinking game for standing O's we'd be on our rears...shortly

SO # 7

I'm counting....

Good speach, he is hitting all the right notes.

this is the we DC media types count the president's ovations and then weigh his budget plan.

That's what we call JOURNALISM

I'm drinkign

I think his timing is off..probably nervous..getting better as speech goes on..

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/live-blog-obama-speaks.html#comment-203549

Need both -- some people will never have BB unless it's wireless. I want BB for everyone!

Definitely no new rug.

thanks diva, and their trips to the bathroom don't count -- this is supposed to be a full hour

SO # 8

Thanks Diva for O count... it'll help Craig with his Journalism

This little tidbit from the "speech at a glance" box

Obama has vowed to halve the deficit by the end of his first term. He says his administration has started to go line-by-line through current expenditures and identified $2 trillion in costs that can be cut over the next decade.

Among them: cutting direct payments to large agribusinesses that don't need them; eliminating no-bid contracts in Iraq; rooting our fraud in Medicare; and ending tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas.

Craig -- a full hour counting the applause time.

SO #9 -- Drink!

Do the McCain voters even have a pulse?

Japan has 50 MB to the home for $45/month, and have had G3 for over 10 years. We can have both in dense population areas.

SO#10

yep, julia, we truly professional journalists have other people do the counting for us

Newtie is down right grouchy on Twitter ... Someone needs to send him some cheese to go with the whine.

BTW, I'm only counting the full Standing Os with both sides of the aisle standing. The DEM only SOs will be 0.5's

Nancy has a much more pleasant look on her face than she used to. While she was sitting behind Bush she always looked like she was having to swallow her own vomit.

#11 & 12

Huh, we invented the automobile??

12.5

and we can title this speech Delusions of Grandeur. Just kiddin folkes.

I was just thinking the same thing about Nancy... she looks like a proud Momma...

Biden is a lot better to look at than the dark lord too.

13 & 13.5

Biden's water glass looks a bit pricey. With this deficit, ought to be a paper cup.

Pelosi is so irritating.

I;m standing with that O re: cancer

Invention of Automobile

http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/auto.html

Joe's knees are getting tired with all this standing up and sitting down.

Slow down IDva, these shots are going fast

Amen about the healthcare reform!!!!

don1one^^ I think it's a draw....
ct: no need to add "just kiddin" unfortunately you may be right on the money err....mark...

14.5 and 15

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/live-blog-obama-speaks.html#comment-203581

you got that right, don. and pelosi better to watch than hastert. remember the days when it was both hastert and cheney. aaarghhh!

craig my eyes were blinded by that sight

oh flatus, don't tell me you preferred hastert?

I do want my kids to have access to their own health insurance or health care coverage once they get kicked off my plan.

Lisa^^
??

Opening new bottle

I can't even follow the content anymore-- just counting. That's
# 16.

A TV journo prof once had me count scene changes on a Superbowl broadcast. Couldn't watch the game, just counted scenes.

we gotta go back to college?

that's cool, could use a good kegger

That college stuff is way important. A college degree is the new high school diploma.

lol
dropping out of HS is unpatriotic.

well I need to refill the vodka tonic..these standing O's are great!!!

Whose counting the promises? Do we have a scribe here?

this national service is great, hope he really pushes for that

Great mention about Sen Kennedy!!!!!!!!!!!!

#17 Education

#18 Education

#19 Community service Hatch/Kennedy

Rum all around!

gee what a concept responsibility starting at home!!!!

ok, here comes the tough love -- spending cuts

Who were those two dead people sitting during the Kennedy ovation?

don1one - Draw referring to Biden/Cheney's look; and as a matter of fact yes, new bottle it is ;-)

I think everyone should have to serve 2 years of public service, having spent 8 years in the military myself. I learned a lot by mixing with people not in my area.

No more college for me. Eight years was enough

diva what is the count???

#20 Home education -- responsible parents

#21 SOs and Cheers! -- pay the debt ! Yay!

#21.5 inherited deficit

# 22 --- eliminate no-bid contracts in Iraq

#23 -- No shipping jobs overseas

lol
Wanna bet on the ag subsidies

My job counts for public service, whew

# 24.5 -- No tax increae for $250K wage earners

#25 -- Tax cuts checks on the way for wage earners with less than $250K

#26 -- Full cost of war on budget full SO!

Mc Cain had to think about standing for the Iraq issues

like that he's getting war spending out of the emergency bin and into the regular budget -- much better accountability -- great line: "no longer hide the cost of war"

I was wondering about #26 ... no more of this "off budget" insanity. You can't pay what you owe if you don't know the size of the bill.

"lol Wanna bet on the ag subsidies -- Posted by: whskyjack"

yeah i know whsky, talk about easier said than done

For singles, check only if you make under $75 grand.

taking advantage of a crisis, he may be able to do more of this than we expect. Depends on how much he can do before the foes rally their troops.

excellent ovation counting, diva. adding the tag lines, SUPER!

Goodness even Newt is getting down with the program

"Energy healthcare and education are powerful zones for americans to focus on and if president obama is willing to innovate we should help"

I missed the part on Ag subsidies?

what... Newt said that... ***picking self off the floor

dang, that's one of the best speech heroes ever -- the corporate dude giving away his bonus

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/live-blog-obama-speaks.html#comment-203626

Eliminate subsidies to the huge Agribusiness Farms that don't need them to make a profit and that actually work to eliminate the family farms.

#27 -- End the war responsibly, Even McCain stands --
Bonus!

#28 -- Safe havens for terrorists gone.

#29 - Support the troops --- extra long SO!

#30 -- More pay for Troops -- and more troops. Huh?

#31.5-32.5 -- Close Gitmo. No more torture.

# 33 -- For Leonard Abbis (?) -- Bank president hero in the audience.

#34 -- We are not quitters girl in audience

Michelle is gorgeous in purple.

he really found his groove by the last third of the speech. vocal inflections, facial expressions, gestures, the works -- all got better as he settled into it

Julia, He's had a few other snarkies, but he actually tweeted this as well:

President obamas call for education reform is encouraging and if he is willing to fight for it would be historic

some great soundbites for tv in those last few minutes

#35 -- Everyone loves our country

#36 -- Standing O for the ending

You are good alicia

now let's see how many republicans try to get their pictures taken with him

Awesome.

Thanks Craig for hosting another wonderful night to post away!!!!

A great call to action

not bad for a first-timer at this congressional speech business. very strong, especially the last part

And he retold us all our myths in a way that plays on our belief.

Good job.

Poor Bobby Jindal

Jack

oops I forgot he is next!!!!

substantively, this was one ambitious speech -- calling to do and spend so much, and still cut the deficit in half

Hell of a speech, I agree 99% with everythin6 the President said, the 1% disagreement regarding the auto industry.

He listened to the advice to be positive.

All in all a very ambitious agenda outlined.

I also like the number of times he used the word 'responsibility', or a form of it.

love how everyone wants BO to sign the program for tonight...cool !!!!!!

I think adding spending is a lot easier than cutting in defense, ag, and health. It's easier to give than take away.

Thanks Diva, but I had to give up at 20 shots. good Malbec though.

mmmm Malbec one of my fav wines!!!

certainly enough in this speech for newsies to talk lots about it -- so WH gets what it apparently wanted in leaking the less than ambitious war withdrawal plan. that probably goes to the back burner

Great speech. Now bracing for a very negative speech to follow by Jindal. Eeewww... must get another Manhattan ready...

I think he did a good job of giving supporting reasons for a very ambitious agenda. Very much struck the right tone with all the responsibility talk, tha will help sell it to the queasy middle class. If it is the responsible thing to do they will support it.

Jack

Wonder if Jindal is busy rewriting...seemed to me that both sides of the aisle responded well to most of what BO had to say...

gosh the opposing party rebuttals such a tough job -- amazing that so many compete to do it. not sure i can remember any that made any difference. can anyone think of an example?

ct still here? (Carol?, thot i heard that)
Not coffee, wine. Wine has so many carbs that is acts like a stimulant. Sleepiness is after the sugars burn off and the alcohol takes over, so the idea is to keep drinking.

Of course, after a while everything starts to blur and you don't care anyway. :p

I liked the line equating high-school education to patriotic duty, Jack. Our educational system is in crisis and pumping out A LOT of under-educated kids. Kids should be forced to graduate.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/live-blog-obama-speaks.html#comment-203652

Make that a Rob Roy by special delivery please.

Do we really want ideas from some one from Louisiana? It is close to 3rd world status.

Jack

can you call something a "response" if it's written before what your "responding" to?

Matthews must have thot he was off mic

The DEM rebuttals were easy. Back int he day when I wored nthe HIll I always looked for ward to SOTU then getting the budget and pouring over the indices for all the items that the GOP admins were cutting -- them I'd make a few calls to OR to find out how the cuts would affect their budget -- and presto! Press Conference!

wow, that first outside shot of jindal's mansion looked like the opening credits of HBO's True Blood

Yes, Don, alcohol has it's stimulant phase before you hit the wall.

jindal sounds like a kindergarten teacher

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/live-blog-obama-speaks.html#comment-203660

Can you call something a speech when the text has already been printed by the news organizations? Isn't it a "Reading" :-)

Holy cow, Bobby Jindal sounds like a Disney World tour guide. I can't listen to this.

When I wored on the HIll === wonked on the Hill -- I never whored on the Hill -- hahaha.

Smithsonian, maybe.

Jindal is punting

I think Jim Webb's made a difference--no more wimp Democrat characterization with him.

i'm worried he'll start quoting from "My Pet Goat"

more lies about disney to vegas line

made this Vodka tonic a tad stronger in honor of Jindal... & Mardi Gras...
Is he passing out beads yet???

Pretty good evening..

Hopefully he's read it right-side-up.

Why in the world would he use that Mag Rail to Vegas lie? How many times has it been debunked now.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/live-blog-obama-speaks.html#comment-203667

Champ -- OMG I agree! He is sooo annoying! Like he's leading us on the "Jungle Book" ride.

Boy the Obama voters are very neg on the MSNBC audience reaction

well there ya go, champ. he can't be a Disney tour guide. he's against Reid's Vegas-to-Disneyland fast train

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-slhCjiJ3k

i got some King Cake and a plastic baby Jeebus over here. Some plastic beads too....

USA! USA! USA!

Hey bobby lets all do it like louisiana, lol

Wonder how much Federal money it takes for bobby top look good?

Jack

throw me something, mister!

jindal..putting me to sleep..need to stop watching so I can drive..

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/live-blog-obama-speaks.html#comment-203680

Now that's downright Unamerican!

Alicias send your half sis in Oregon some King Cake!!!

Did the GOP fall asleep on draft day or what? Their farm system is worse than the Mets. Jindal wished all of America a "Happy Mardi Gras", for Pete's sake.

How are people enjoying Jindal's campaign video.

How many times is he going to pat himself on the back.

Bobby Jindal is even worse than I thought.

Some one from Louisiana is going to show us how to stop corruption?

I wouldn't talk about beads after that remark about the Hill Diva.

:^)

isn't Reid fight for that project, Jamie. What's the backstory?

No comment. I work for the State

YAWN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is this an actual Governor of an Actual State or is it a College Republican debater?

Rachel Maddow is pricless

where they you have it folks. i'll leave this thread live for after thoughts.

Jack, we have made improvements in that area. Corruption that is. Also the economy hasn't hit us as hard as it has others.

Weren't the Republicans in power when Katrina blew in?

As I said Poor Bobby.

Only people listening to him are people looking for comic relief

Thanks again Craig... you are a great host!!!

sjs... if my memory is correct.. YES it was Rep power when Katrina blew in...

Jack... I'm sure The Daily Show will have fun with Bobby tomorrow PM

sure, julia, thanks for stopping by

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/live-blog-obama-speaks.html#comment-203694

The 8 Billion is for rail projects nationwide. The one for California that has been in the planning stages for ages is the high speed from Los Angeles to Sacramento. Reid isn't involved in it. The Republican Right has been doing one of their numbers of claiming in countless emails that there is a line planned to Vegas.

Here is the Politico comment about the Jindal speech and the mag rail lie from Hannity and Rush

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/19125_Page2.html

Here ya go JuliaPDX!

http://www.gambinos.com/shop/images/kingCake.jpg

Thanks again Craig, and everyone that stops by. This is a great group

I think EVERYONE will be having fun with Jindal tomorrow.

Oh and those same emails say that there is money in there for groups LIKE Acorn. The first ones said there was money for ACORN and that one got slapped down hard, so now they sneak the buzz word name in with LIKE.

The whole thing is a pack of lies. I just keep sending back the web address for the whole 700 pages with a note for them to try reading and thinking for themselves.

Alicias..Merci beaucoup

ct:

"the economy hasn't hit us as hard as it has others"

Is that due to the fact that your economy took a downturn much earlier due to Katrina?

(that is actually an honest question...)

but a good question Warren

Warren,

So many of their poorest people were literally sent elsewhere and have not been able to return because they can't afford to live in much of the new construction. So Louisiana not only got an influx of money but lost a great deal of their poverty burden.

End result they are on an upswing as the Port of Louisiana is so necessary.

Our jobless is not bad and housing hasn't lost any value. Our housing prices were more reasonable in the first place.

I live in SW La. and after Rita businesses had to close because you couldn't find anyone to take the jobs.

And I can also say the prison business is booming.

Warren

A lot of Federal money has been pouring in to Louisiana since Katrina. From what I understand they haven't seen the down turn in construction the rest of us have. Also, oil.

Jack

Yes after Katrina, we spread our poor all over the country. We didn't get any thank you notes either.

Well folks it's been fun. Have a good rest of your night.

Every cloud has a silver lining. There's a term for businesses that prosper on the downturn...I wish I could remember it...my business class memories are fading...like me...don't let the bed bugs bite.

Fun with Jindal - Free Press...... !! Got to love it...

Fema tried to make up for Katrina by overdoing after Rita. I think there was a lot of waste there. I saw people who made money on their insurance also get Fema funds. There were people who needed help who didn't get it. It wasn't a well managed program.

To bed, hard day tomorrow after 4 day weekend.

Divalicias -- thanks again for the ovation monitoring, put your report on the post above

Laissez les bon temps roulez!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z72-n3kxY3E&feature=related

Rita help nothing like east coast of Florida before election while Jeb was still in office

minnie the moocher
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33nTnawq6jk

Aww.. Craig -- thanks -- glad to be of help!

Well then isn't Louisiana one of the best arguments for the Stimulus package?

I'll say it again:

Why is it socialism for a government to provide an obvious basic service like healthcare?

And we have given billions to the banks and people are now getting pissed about spending money to keep people in their homes.

Rising prices in the housing market = (1) more equity for individuals, which will increase spending, and (2) better balance sheets for the banks.

The govt has been wasting money for years. Now all of a sudden - when we are improving our infrastructure, giving a break to the lower and middle class, keeping people in their homes - and heaven forbid - spending money on education and healthcare - people are crying foul.

(I suppose people would rather we throw our money into destroying the infrastructures and economies of other countries in misguided wars.)

Warren

And against the phlosophy of the Republicans. Louisiana is a low tax / low spending state. See where it got them.

Jack

The GOP needs to wake up and realize that Obama is doing something very different. He is on top of the political game right now because he is playing less politics than anybody (which I suspect is both a genuine desire to improve our Country at the same time as it is a well thought out political calculation). In other words, the shit the GOP is doing now would be working very well if HRC was president - but with Obama - they are actually going to have to be constructive.

"(I suppose people would rather we throw our money into destroying the infrastructures and economies of other countries in misguided wars.)"

Well, uh...of course, Warren...it's the American way...
:)

A great guest post on Steve Clemons blog. Read it and then go back and listen to Obama's speech.

"The Obama Code is based on seven deep, insightful, and subtle intellectual moves. What President Obama has been attempting in his speeches is a return to the original frames of the Framers, reconstituting what it means to be an American, to be patriotic, to be a citizen and to share in both the sacrifices and the glories of our country."

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/2009/02/guest_post_by_g/#more

I can't wait to watch Hannity tonight. That is if his head hasn't already exploded.

More on Phelps with a neat video of the Sheriff:
http://www.thestate.com/154/story/694370.html

I'm sure in the Hannity universe everything was wonderful. that's just left and down the road from the twilight zone.

People are dying everyday because pot is illegal. Not because of actual use of the drug. Now of course the same can't be said of alcohol.

warren,
you certainly won't have as many people dying from speeding in cars

Not only that warren, but the most effective treatment of alcoholism from my observation has been marijuana. Guys I know who were destroying their families with alcohol started to get their shit together when they put down the bottle and picked up some papers. It's not a perfect solution and certainly not for everyone, but that benefit shouldn't be trivialized.

Although it is crazy to say and still unlikely - I think there may be a chance pot could be legalized within 10 years.

I think the gateway argument is nonsense. It is a gateway drug because it is illegal.

Hear me out. Pot is illegal. And people tend to group all illegal drugs together. So kids grow up and see adults and their peers smoke weed - and think he - that isn't that bad. Then - once they have tried one illegal drug - it makes it a lot easier to try other ones.

If pot was legalized - and a clear distinction was drawn between mary jane and harmful and dangerous drugs such as coke and meth - I think you would see an increase in marijuana use without an increase - and perhaps even a decrease in the use of harder drugs.

I totally agree with you champ.

And who beats their wife after smoking a joint. (Again - the point is not as trivial as it may sound)

The US just can't afford pot laws any more. we have more people in prison than any other country in the world and too many cells are for drug charges.

California is full of pot dispensaries, I know a Vermont prosecutor that never prosecuted a case in his career.

Not to mention the border problems because the Mexicans supply so much.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/live-blog-obama-speaks.html#comment-203611

I never wanted to be in the military, I just wanted to hang in the barracks.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/02/live-blog-obama-speaks.html#comment-203743

My Mother's 3rd husband was a wife beater. He was a total drunk too... I have far less respect for heavy alcohol drinkers than people who smoke a few joints here and there.

Weird thing about that creepo husband... everyone liked him when he was sober, except me. I despised him and made it known. Thanks to my Gram who said to my Mom that she had enough now, and she could do what she wants, but Gram wasn't going to hang around it anymore. That finally put the breaks on the marriage. I suppose I was the only one who said "GOOD" when I found out the guy was dead. To this day I see absolutely nothing redeemable or worthwhile about that worm.

That said, my Mom's 4th husband is a very sweet man. He has been a saint to her, and has been a great grandparent to my nieces and my nephew. He drinks too, time from time, but he is gentle and genuine. He's 86 years old now (Mom is 70) but as he goes into the twilight of his life, I have realized how good he has been to her and others.

blah blah blah... off to work

President Barack Obama gave America the audacity to hope again.

(great lead)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obama_analysis

LOL Tom,
Navy had the best pot, but the Army had places on post that were off limits to us.

Being a young guy from smallmont, CO i learned a lot from the people I met and traveling all over the world.

NEW THREAD

Navy also had the most gay guys... at least that was my experience...
And no I never was in the military, I just hosted a lot.

NEW THREAD... :)

Obama must have seen how sickly Lieberman was and Obama gave him a big bear hug..
Anybody catch my man Dennis Kucinich just talking a blue-streak at Obama as Obama passed him as he exited, signing programs...Obama was all smiles but he was all mouth-clenched and attentive as Dennis was trying to get a point across.
Obama sounded good when he said he'll close Guantanamo Bay and end US sanctioned torture...and basically end the US involvement in Iraq...but don't worry folks, the US Embassy in Baghdad will be working overtime forever...the US military presence in The Region will keep increasing since Obama is focussed on building up a huge occupation of Afghanistan and who knows what will happen in Pakistan proper.

NEW THREAD