Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

I just can't be first. I waited and waited.

nutty: "mentally unbalanced"
yahoo: "a boorish, crass, or stupid person"

[merriam-webster]

good morning, ct, and congratulations on your 1st place showing. this bodes well for the day.

well I want to say that I hope Sea and Ed have a great breakfast, that old seagirl.

Thanks for keeping me company during the storm, helping to entertain me over the weekend. I see the water is low enough to drive thru so it is off to work I have to go hi ho, hi ho. A little smarter this week than last, if you know what I mean.

Toodles
Carol

and since Craig is the Blog Captain and I need to comment on his post today. My response is.......whatever. OK, it's early.

and pat, in post #2 you weren't talking to me, were you? Even though it may fit?

wonder what ed and sea are having for breakfast this am... surely not an egg mcmuffin. latte? basic black? hot, buttered scone? krispy kremes?

ct, no #2 post is a jibe at "nut and yahoo"
our menu of the day

apologies to those who hold high standards of protocol in addressing heads (or otherwise) of state. as you can tell, i am not a big fan of mr. netanyahu

funny pat. I get it. My early morning brain is a little slow. Got to spell it out for me.

GOP operatives (Party of No and Darkness), are now criticizing Pres. Obama because he showed strength of character and decency by not engaging in a school yard brawl with leaders who are supposed to be engaging in Dipolomacy! This is leading by example rather than getting petty and in the gutter with leaders who were allegedly disrespectful to the U.S. Those leaders are the ones who looked weak and ignorant, not Pres. Obama. It is amazing to the GOP that Pres. Obama was able to stay "presidential" and smile through the tyrad of evil and to continue to engage in goodwill. Rather GOP thinks to stay calm and positive is to be weak, and that to be strong one must get angry and blown out of proportion like a leaf in the wind when one is provoked. I say rather that it shows strength to maintain one's position of calmness to stay fixed in one's position to be a peacemaker and to show others and the world that the U.S. President does not get down in the gutter when others are throwing barbs at him and it shows Discipline. GOP claim "he allowed himself to be Disrespected"! How could one allow themselves to be disrespected, however, Pres. Obama could himself have become disrespectful to others and made the U.S. look bad if he had engaged in tit for tat, but that is the old way, and Change has come to the U.S. We know longer have a Cowboy in the whitehouse, but a peacemaker and diplomat who shows us that we do not have to get angry when others get angry with us. We don't have to get that way!

Yesterday, while watching Pastor Charles Stanley who preached on staying silent in the face of evil, and that we had to show the strength of character that Jesus Christ did when confronted with enemies and confrontation -- that is to be silent and not engage in the confrontation but to stay responsible with the response given in the face of such challenges!

That is what Pres. Obama did -- who continued to radiate the energy of goodwill and kept his cool in the face of childishness adversity and really showed leadership qualities and also emulated Christ's teachings....., the teachings the GOP frequently profess they live by. Really?

Bacaangel -- I assume you are talking about the stupidity displayed on Morning Joe today, and I am in complete agreement. Joe S shows his colors as a GOP operative more every day. And Buchanan is back on his jingoistic platform.

Obama certainly didn't look weak at any of these foreign meetings.

I've stopped trying to count how many times Joe Scarborough ises the phrase "destroy America." Sweet Jeezus.

"Obama's Savvy Cuba Move"
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2009/04/jon-lee-anderson.html

Patsi: You would be correct! Scarborough, Rush, Hannity, Karl, Gregg and other GOP operatives are bursting forth with hatred and jealousy, and it looks very ugly indeed!

When your nickname is Bebe and you're a guy...you have to be tough. A friend of mine went to high school in suburban Philadelphia with Bebe...

So MSNBC morphs into Faux News in the morning, with constant charges of "socialism, destroy America, weakness and taxes"....just making me sick.

for those who missed it, here are tm "favorites" donna and mary duking it out

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/19/john.king.political.roundup/#cnnSTCVideo

I love Ed Rendell.

sorry about that snafu on cnn link. guess you have to punch it up yourself....
it's brazille-matalin on cnn for about 6 minutes.

And I love Kim Gandy. Here's a good, short Q&A with her:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21426.html

Golly, Patsi, I think I'd rather spend a week in Patagonia than spend six minutes listening to that pair.

I did a kitchen for a builder from Patagonia......nice guy......

yesterday I felt very bold.....and now I'm feeling a bit wee.......lol

mornin'

I saw Newt on Today this morning. In his testing the waters runup to 2012, his shtick is now criticizing Obama for not doing stuff against Cuba, Venezuela and Hamas - Now lessee, let's cast our memories back for about 8 years - Venezuela has been Venzueaa as we know it since 1998, with a 2002 hiccup and what did Bushco do in that time? Punish Venezuela with sanctions over human trafficing and considered sanctions when Venezuela quit cooperating with US anti drug efforts (in other words - nothing to speak of - after all, they pump 2.5 million barrels of oil per day, and we're one of their biggest customers); Hamas fired one missle into Israel and Newt complains about Obama doing nothing - lessee - under Bushco, Hamas fired hundred os missiles into Israel, in what was presented here as a virtual war - what did the US do? nada. And Cuba? After 50 years of failed policy re: isolating Cuba, Bushco did what - continued that failed policy. Run, Newt, Run - you'll get the votes of some Cuban expats in FL at least.

Patsi - ditto on MJ. I've sworn off it for the past month or so and don't miss it at all.

In my case, I have my ups and downs.

Pogo, how do you think nationalization of assets should be handled?

Goodness, Pogo, I thought you were talking about cannabis until I went back to Patsi's comment--Morning Joe. O.K.

ROFL@Flatus....drink your coffee, Flatus....you also shoveled the Brazille/Matalin blame in my direction when it was clearly patd's fault! :)

Pogo-- I got laughed at for suggesting that Newt was running some time back, and so I'm glad to be vindicated! The whole thing will be about socialists, weakness, South American dictators and taxes. Oh, and taking a damned book from Chavez...good God. Bush was practically canonizing Putin after they met...where was the GOP bitchfest then?

"...it was clearly patd's fault! :)"

Indeed it was!

OK, you torture advocates - here's a little refutation to the claims of its effectiveness in getting information. In two months, the CIA used waterboarding 266 times on KSL & Abu Zubaydah. By the time anyone gives up what they know, that ticking time bomb would have exploded, the rubble cleared and a new citey would be rising in place of the one destroyed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/world/20detain.html?_r=1&hp

"A former C.I.A. officer, John Kiriakou, told ABC News and other news media organizations in 2007 that Abu Zubaydah had undergone waterboarding for only 35 seconds before agreeing to tell everything he knew."

35 seconds my ass. See, the problem is it doesn't work - at least not quickly enough to do any good, so the guys who do it simply LIE about how well it worked. Maybe that 35 seconds was the length of time Zubayah took on the 83rd session before he said, "OK, enough, I'll tell you what I know - we flew 2 planes into the WTC and one into the Pentagon. We crashed another one into a field in PA. KSL & I helped plan it and OBL told us it was OK to do it and gave us some money. BTW, OBL was planning to go hide in Tora Bora. Oh, you knew that? Sorry."

But now I have to leave. Have a good day.

Po.........go

Who here is advocating torture? I'd like to see a show of hands.

Flatus, I don't know. I suppose that insulting the president and continuing to buy VZ oil is the appropriate Republican response. It's BS, and you know it.

RE: MJ, LOL (I gave that up much longer ago than that - I gave it up in Feb. :-))

Really, I gotta go.

I'll rephrase - "defending harsh interrogation techniques, in cluding those that everyone else considers torture."

Po.....gone.

hey guys....
I have another really busy day today..... won't be around again til late afternoon....

you guys are in trouble with Craig's chosen topic if Max shows up..... :0)
(Max... hope you know I'm just tweaking your nose)

and I'm jealous of Sea..... EdVB and I would have a great time discussing the most important topic there is......... baseball.....

have fun!

Holy crap! 21 polo horses drop dead and no answer as to why.

Maybe it didn't happen but I thought Bush pardoned himself & others.

Here's the Florida polo horse death link. It turns out they were all from the Venezuelan team, so this is obviously a plot between Obama and Chavez to embarrass Amurika....

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/20/national/main4956233.shtml

Oy vey!

Patsi...we knew this would happen when Obama starting hanging with the southern, commie gang.

Good morning all,

I'm happy to report that Sea and I did indeed have a great breakfast and a thoroughly enjoyable time. I had to apologize for keeping Sea and her family waiting.

The sign outside said the restaurant opened at 7AM. I saw people entering, one of whom I later learned happened to be Sea, so I tried the door around 6:40 and it didn't open. "No problem," says I, "they must have been employees." So I waited until a little after 7 and went in, only to find that Sea and her folks had been waiting for half an hour. I should have pulled a little harder on that door.

Our friend Sea is a lovely lady with a delightful family. Solar was right to be jealous.

Good post at 7:21 angel. Nice response to the current GOP talking point of the month.

Seems like they have taken the approach - if we can't beat him on substance or politics - attack his social ettiquette.

And Patsi - that is a good point about Bush/Putin. Obama has simply shown restraint.

Warren -- I just cannot believe the BS being thrown his way for simply being a class act. But we'll be seeing more and more of it.

patd...thanks for the CNN link, however, a story to the right of the video caught my eye...

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/04/20/pkg.busty.mannequin.wcpo?iref=mpvideosview

How can anyone get upset with plastic exploitation?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221129

Thank you for the report, Ed. We were waiting with bait on our breath. I had no doubt in my mind you are both outstanding individuals.

Maybe you or Sea can tell us, what is the secret method of identification when meeting a fellow Trail traveler for the first time? Do you walk around holding a picture of Craig? Do you shout out "ARRRR!" in the crowded room and see who shouts back? Just wondering. My time may come.

" Do you shout out "ARRRR!" in the crowded room and see who shouts back? "

Excellent idea, Ivy!

Can't stay long......work calls....had a great Turkey hunt this weekend......Have a nice Rio Grande in the freezer.
21 lbs....10 inch beard, 1.5" spurs.......very nice.....will be enjoying its taste this next weekend....:)

Ivy,

We didn't need any special sign at The Home Front Cafe. At that hour, I was the only guy walking in wearing a suit and tie.

The one time I had planned to meet other TrailMixers in New York City, I was going to carry a copy of Craig's book, The Politics of Life. Unfortunately, real life intervened and I never made that meeting.

Ivy,

In Vegas we just looked for the crowd around the Alpenhorn, and hollared "Beer for my horses!"

USA OUT OF ISRAEL ! Let them fix their own problems!

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

Netanyahu is an interesting character. He was born after statehood, but his mother was a Sabra. He lost one brother at Entebbe, but spent the majority of his youth in the United States.

The Obama Doctrine:

http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2009/04/19/the-obama-foreign-policy-doctrine/

It is always better to listen to Obama's own words rather than Hannity's slanted caricature of them . . .

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221138

Sounds like when in doubt, holler something!

(^_~)

Important stuff. Several horses left the Derby trail this past weekend. As a result the probable field is way down so we will see who moves up because there are 20 places avaiable and only seven horses still firmly in the running.

http://www.horseswild.com/kentucky-derby/contenders.php

Rez picked "I Want Revenge" who just got Joe Talamo for a jockey ... good news.

And people were afraid that we would be too Zionistic with Rahm Emanuel as Chief of Staff.

Republicans just can't keep themselves from going over the top. Ron Christie just accused Obama of "cavorting" with dictators.

If a handshake is "cavorting", I've done a great deal more "cavorting" with less pleasure than I suspected.

Welcome fragmentssynapses!
... Wow, now that's a mouth ful. :)

Jamie, The movie was great and Helen Mirren was great. She is perfect in a position of authority, and quite funny.

Ron Christie is a bone head!

Craig, I find myself wishing you had given us more opinion on your post this morning. Something you don't do all that often......and I understand why, but.....

And the legend of Susan Boyle continues---

"How a Villager became the Queen of all Media" (WAPO)

According to Visible Measures, which tracks videos from yotbue, myspace, et al--Susan Boyle oriented
videos--including her tv interviews & her rendtion of Cry Me A river--have generated a total of 85.2 million views.

The origin of the youtube audition & the wikipedia article that was created and has generated 500,000
views in a week is explained.

And it seems that the feel good quality of the video accounts for much of the spread of her story-- mentioned here yesterday.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/19/AR2009041900508.html?hpid=topnews

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/world/asia/20ambush.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

Fascinating artlcle in NYT this morning. This sounds so much like VietNam.

full

Joe, That riverbed photo on your link is an amazing shot. Wow.

There is also a very emotionally stunning picture of a soldier taken a minute before he dies.

A cautionary tale, but one that is being repeated much to often.

"Debt Settlers offer promise but little help" NYT

And to be sure, the vast majority of those that have signed on with these "credit specialists", given them access to their checking accounts from which they withdraw monthly payments---rarely have their debts reduced & actually wind up owing even more to their creditors---not to mention the thousands of $ that they can not recover from these "companies".

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/business/20settle.html?hp

Joe, MG, I hadn't seen that one.
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2009/04/20/world/20ambush_CA2.ready.html

E T

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221140

We agree on this one also,,,,,,,let them fix their own problems,
If the $ dries up in that whole area,,,all of it,,,then they can't use us as a wedge for what they want to do,,,,and we can use the $ not spent over there,,to fix our problems here at home,,,,I'ts a total mess over there,,,,thing are so complicated that it is impossible for us to win,,,,even in Afghanistan,,,,,,we should get out of there,,,,we can't win imo,,,,,if we are pushing the terrorist,or whom ever,,,toward the west,,and into Pakistan,,,Pakistan,,,is pushing them east towards Afghanistan,,,they don't want us over in their country,,,,they also have 100's of nuclear weapons already,,,that we know of,,,,,and that country is ready to implode,,,,,so does it make sense to push the terrorist that way??,where they can get to t hem

,,,,R Emanuel is right,,,I hope that this is not just some ploy,,head fake,,,just to say that they tried,,,and Israel did not cooperate,,,,,,I do think that that country ---Israel, will be at war with Iran,,,with or without our $(,people like ,Cheney/Bush are in charge of that country now,,,and as we all know it's very easy to start a war),if its with it,,,then we will be supplying more $ that we don't have,,,,and China will not like that,,,,since they are partnering with Iran,,,,I think that is why R E. is talking the way that he is??,,,good to hear from you,,,,hope all is well and U R enjoying your new home.

PS for an example of things that are put to an immediate stop in that arena,,,,take a look at Dubai ....all the $ has dried up,,,and so have they,,,,they have many,,,many new buildings,,,infrastructure,,,and other project at a stand still cos there is no $,,,,let them take care of their own problems,,,,is the right way to think about it,,the lessons of Vietnam should be looked at again,,,Imo

Another PS,,,found some notes on Pakistan.

Pakistan has 173 million people,,,, 100 nuclear weapons,,,, an army bigger than the US Army, and al-Qaeda headquarters sitting right there in the two-thirds of the country that the government doesn't control. The Pakistani military and police and intelligence service don't follow the civilian government;,,, they are essentially a rogue state within a state. We are now reaching the point where within one to six months we could see the collapse of the Pakistani state.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221153

Coreen, Every once in a while, I have the feeling that these pundits check in here to check the pulse of likely readers and then go write their articles.

We are all political guinea pigs. :-)

I think Craig has even called us guinea pigs before.... or was it his control group?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221154

Cajun Joe,

Those photographs are stunning. It really brings home what these soldiers face.

Morning ,,Side Saddle,,,how was the flick??

Jamie,

Not sure about being a "guinea pig"---like to think
that trailmixers are by nature "enlightened". And if I
have to be an animal---a "siamese cat'--would be ok.

And in keeping with Craig's topic this a.m,---over at
CQ Politics an article that may be of interest to some who post here.

"Sources: Wiretap Recorded Rep. Harman promising to intervene for AIPAC"

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=hsnews-000003098436

The movie was excellent Solar, as well as Russell Crowe. The guy just keeps getting better.

So few good movies, and so many bad ones

George McGovern urges pullout from Iraq this year
"President Obama holds my admiration with high hopes for his message of change in Washington. It is puzzling, however, that he has adopted most of the previous administration's formula for dragging out the withdrawal of our troops from the mistaken war in Iraq for nearly three more years."
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-mcgovern20-2009apr20,0,1546602.story

Coreen

I'm particularly fond of black and white shorthairs myself. I used to love Siamese, but breeders have played around with them too much to get that elongated head, so I look for the Seal Point "throwbacks" with the fuller face and corkscrew tails.

... I think after I link the next one, I'd better just leave (at least for a while) Later. :)

"....what happens when it's no longer George W. Bush's fault? That's what the next 100 days will tell us."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/19/AR2009041901994.html

Everytime a Republican mispronounces nuclear but still wants more of them for power, think of Sellafield and the $200 billion cleanup and the poisoning of the Irish Sea

http://www.bellona.org/articles/articles_2007/sellafield_reopens

Jamie,

Only had "appleheads"-sealpoints in the past, right now, have 2 calicos with green eyes & a golden eyed black beauty---all rescues.

Sorry that should read $100 billion so far. Did the exchange rate from pounds badly.

Coreen,

Rescues get you the best cats. I had my seal point Harry Krishna for more than a decade. He was a truly wonderful cat. Now I have two black and white siblings.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221149

Chloe,

I'll go see it next weekend. I'm really looking forward to her in The Tempest. The role of Prospero was changed to the feminine Prospera which should give an interesting twist on the story.

Rahm is going to lose this battle. First, He isn't even out of the Blago hot water. So he knew in 2006 Blago was engaged in illegal behavior and said nothing? Obama knew nothing of this as he accepted Blago's endorsement? And what exactly were the realtionships spun between Rahm/Obama and the ISM crowd now that the FBI is cutting Cairn and the Britherhood lose?

The the latest crap from Ahmadinjad causes world leaders to walk on on a UN gathering about racism. Of course, bowing and hugging doesn't help Obama either, nor does Saberi. Obama will find increased reports of gestures doing little. How so? So far, the only thing Obama has shown a spine about is allowing the Navy Seals to take out three young pirates and to bash Republicans reacting to a failure of both transperancy and bipartisanship. Anything else? Nope.

Another problem for Obama pushing Israel: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/19/Hezbollah-cell-reportedly-aimed-at-Israel/UPI-55641240113943/

Egypt is declaring Iran and HizbA'llah are at work in the Sinai planning terror attacks against Israel and Egypt. By the time Rahm is ready to press Israel as I reported here last week, Bibi will have a good case that 1. Iran is supporting Hamas and Hizb'Allah in efforts to topple Egypt and attack Israel. They are ready to launch another missile as they work with NK and Syria. Think Iran will come clean about getting 50 tons of enriched uranium from NK? Nope. 2. Obama has gotten nothing in return of gestures from ANYONE 3. The UN has shown itself incapble of stopping arms into Gaza let alone pirates. Tryst through verification. Something Obama missed while reading Reagan. This ain't no Reagan my firends and I didn't vote for the guy.

I will say this, A Seder does not a friend to Israel make. Obama will get to the Jewish tipping point FASTER THAN HE PRESENTLY CALCULATES. Hugo and Morales have given Obama nothing. Either has Castro or Assad. Nyet from Putin. Ahmadinejad is laughing at us as Saberi is used as a pawn like I suggested she would be more than a week ago. Yes, now Obama is "gravely" concerned. Tough to convey without gravitas. Nothing Obama has done so far adds to his gravitas. Doors will close in Rahm's face at this rate. Some Jews have already told me privately they were "hoodwinked" to use a term Obama lifted from Malcom X during the primary. Hoodwinked indeed.

Last, Harmon on tape giving assurances to pro-Israeli groups is not even as bad as Obama's AIPAC promises he made while trying to out flank Hillary. Obama pulled all the strings to convince hesitant Jewish voters. Best friend of Israel? I repeat, Obama is getting close to having many supporters realize what he said during the campaign was merely to win an election. His pivot to center is now revealed as less than that. His actions are already having negative consquences.

So let's be clear. Obama insulted Likud during the primary explaining how Likud doesn't represent American Jews. Did he not anticipate a Likud victory after the Hizb'Allah War? He predicted moderates would restore order in Pakistan and the world would help us in Afghanistan. At what point does the credibility fade? Bush would have been tarred for such wrong predictions. Will Jews see this first?

I think so.......

Solar, so may things wrong you suggest. Obama clearly said that our not increasing pressure in Afghanistan under Bush was a big mistake. Your view suggests Obama's view would make matters far worse in Pakistan though you completely overlook Obama's wrong prediction about Pakistan in the first place. Are you suggesting those nukes ought to get into the hands of the Taliban. You will see quite a conflagration before that happens. Since Chinese militants are training in Pakistan, I don't think China would be thrilled either.

Isolation won't get us anywhere and the winds will quickly blow back here. So much shipping and energy come from that region or pass through. It won't take much to see Egypt fall and North Africa join up with Lebanon and Iran, Yemen and others under a new Islamic flag. I hope that Obama doesn't listen to the isolationists.

"Venezuela has been Venzueaa as we know it since 1998, with a 2002 hiccup and what did Bushco do in that time? Punish Venezuela with sanctions over human trafficing and considered sanctions when Venezuela quit cooperating with US anti drug efforts (in other words - nothing to speak of - after all, they pump 2.5 million barrels of oil per day, and we're one of their biggest customers);"

Bush did not complain loudly but tried to extend free trade to Hugo's neighbors which Congress rejected. Our own media defended the attacks Hugo made on free speech and the Press in his country. Bush did speak out about Hugo using his position to call for a loyalty oath. I guess you missed what Bush tried to do and the Democratic rejection of any action.

"Hamas fired one missle into Israel and Newt complains about Obama doing nothing - lessee - under Bushco, Hamas fired hundred os missiles into Israel, in what was presented here as a virtual war - what did the US do? nada."

Hamas started firing missiles after they refused to extend the ceasefire. By then Bush was on his way out. He defended ISrael's right to use disporportionate force, rejected talking with terrorists like Hamas and did not threaten to cut Israel off for refusing to negotiate final status with people desiring to destroy Israel. If you are not sure of the facts, then review the history,

"And Cuba? After 50 years of failed policy re: isolating Cuba, Bushco did what - continued that failed policy."

Yep, so failed that Castro can wait for the US economy to bring relief to Cuba. We should not punish human rights abusers. We should have been happy to work with a Soviet camp. I don't see nukes in Cuba and we have contained their exprot of insurgency long ago. And boy were those Democrats not behind past policy. Gees....does JFK ring a bell?

Max

And Bush did so much better in what way? Shaking hands with an adversary is hardly treason. Maybe the world would be better off if we hadn't had a rude, no nothing cowboy in charge for the past eight years.

Here's one of the main rubs I have with the overtures made to Cuba and Venezuela. In both cases, the current regimes confiscated the assets of American companies and American citizens, without due-process, through nationalization.

Should we normalize relations in the absence of their acknowledgment that they have harmed our legitimate interests? Should we forgo recompense for our injured parties? Should we, through our abrazos, offer assurance to other countries that we will let them seize whatever they want?

As an aside, Pogo made the point about us continuing to buy Venezuelan oil. No matter. Petroleum is one of those commodities that is totally fungible. We could buy Russian oil, if we wanted, and they could easily contract with Venezuela for delivery.

Methinks Mr Obama is most likely being perceived the fool in much of Latin America for his actions of the past few days. And, if true, that is not in our country's interest.

"Rahm is going to lose this battle"

Max
Those who believe they have a win over Rahm Emanuel should look up the story of King Pyrrhus of Epirus.

In winning such a battle they would destroy them selves and their cause.

Remember Rham learned politics at the feet of the Daily machine and the Clinton one. They play for keeps and take no prisoners.

Right now all Rahm is doing is reminding the folks over in Israel which one is the dog and which one is the tail. The Bushies let them forget that and they think they call the tune. It just ain't so.
Remember Israel needs us, we can do without Israel.

Jack

Coreen,

Hope you saw the excellent treatise on the historical plight of debtors in our country and on bankruptcy, etc., in the April 13th New Yorker. 'Annals of Finance'.

"Obama insulted Likud "

So what, he is not running for office in Israel. I think you keep forgetting Obama is the president of the United States of America.
Insulting the Likud may cost him a few votes in New York and the New york delegation will huff and puff but in the end this is a safe time to show he can stand up to his own crazies.

Jack

"Mr Obama is most likely being perceived the fool in much of Latin America for his actions of the past few days"

Max,

And your proof of this is what? This is just more partisan Obama Bad Republicans Good nonsense.

You have absolutely no proof of any of your suppositions other than a handshake. What did you expect him to do, thirty laps around the room to avoid the meeting? Perhaps he should have just gone up and punched him in the nose instead?

Hugo is an asshole, so hugging and smiling with him conveys what image? Now when JFK or a Reagan did that, they carried a tough gravitas to counter misperception. Obama has NONE OF THAT.

Hugo has college kids beaten, shuts down media he doesn't like, plans to destroy rain foreset for his absurd oil pipe line, gives money to FARC and sends special ops into other countries. Even FARC was hoping Obama won because Obama-friendly Americans told FARC Obama would help them. He would under cut Uribe. He has already called for a cut back for military assistance and has held up free trade pacs. Now Mexico is the thorn I predicted here months ago. Morales wants to legalize coke. Hugo hates Unions more than Uribe who I have not see Obama hug.

Do nothing Jamie? Pakistan was not nearly a mess than the moment it appeared Obama would become our next President. Just before then. there was less violence in Iraq, Iran was not as bold or either was Assad, Hamas, or the Taliban. Even Russia and China have snubbed us since Bush was in his final month.

It would serve discourse better to let go of the partisan caricatures and address reality. Bush had hit Somalian pirate centers which had reduce

Though I am no BUsh apologist, he predicted no amount of talking would change Ahmadinejad, Hamas, Hizb'Allah, AQ, the Taliban, the pirates or even the EU. So far he is far more correct than Obama, Biden and Rice. The problem is not the past. The problem is now and I suggest the Decider today is on thin ice having made shakey promises with little back up plans.

Jamie, don't tar Max with a brush that should rightfully be intended for me.

Proof? I didn't make a definitive statement. But, I stand behind what I said based on my years in Latin America, and even more years following trends in that region.

I didn't say that Jamie, but I do agree.

A warm smiling hug. And that, after a bow to the Saudi King. Many Latin American fugures finds Hugo disgusting. I have stated several things Obama could do including telling Hugo he can't nationalize companies without reimbursing them. Cargil? Remember that one? The silence in light of Obama's gestures does make him look at tad foolish, don't you think. Maybe Obama could have asked SA leaders not to support terrorists or asked why Hugo wants to start a new arms race in SA. Perhaps Obama forgot to email me his plans again........

No proof of my suppositions? What has Obama done? How has he defended Free trade in SA? How has he stood up for Liberal principles. Is he not aware of the nasty attacks Hugo leveled at Obama calling for his neighbors and the world to reject Obama's pathetic attempts to save capitalism from long-for destruction? And what about Gates declaring the dangerous activity of Quds and Hugo?

The only spin here it seems, is your partisan defense with little evidence to back you up.

max:

"Though I am no BUsh apologist, he predicted no amount of talking would change Ahmadinejad, Hamas, Hizb'Allah, AQ, the Taliban, the pirates or even the EU. So far he is far more correct than Obama, Biden and Rice."

Nobody predicted that talking would change circumstances within the first 90 days - so quit patting yourself on Bush on the back.

And don't forget - diplomacy does NOT mean that use of force is off the table. Instead, it lends credibility to any act of force that the US may have to engage in if diplomacy fails.

At what point does the credibility fade?

For me, I think it was somewhere last April. . . maybe March.

Hey Max,,,,do you have direct contacts with R. Pearl,,Wolfowitz (spelling ?) Cheney and all of that crowd,,,,,,you sound just like them,,,,how much are you getting paid to spout all of their talking points for going to war,,,,let see,,,We are already in Iraq,,,and spent all of the $ that we can get,,,We are in Afghanistan,,,and just sent in more troops,,,that is costing us how much,,,Obama wants another 80 bil,,or so in emergency money for that war,,,,,When is the next payment due to all of those other countries in that area, that they will expect in order to carry out their plans of attacking Iran,,and that is not even the hush $ given to the other arab states,,,,,,and then you come back,,,,and blame Obama for the financial mess that was left behind by Bush,,,as a matter of fact,,,,all of the problems in that area,,were caused by wrong headed thinking of the war like Republicans,,,for what??? for Religion,,,and now,,in the case of Israel,,,for land,,,later going on a run.

Got to run, but I'll be back.

Hi Flatus and others.

By the way, the original Raptor plan was for more than 400. They were to work with F-35s. Gates is calling, not for no extra Raptors, but for less than half what the DOD wanted for our air strength (how about the next two decades?). Since Democrats love bombing things, perhaps this is a bad mistake. In any case, F-35 is not what the Air Force will like providing for ground support, nor do they have much confidence in their getting past Russia Air Defense sold to Iran and Syria.

The F-15 is on its last legs which is why the Raptor was invented. There is a new stealth version of the F-15, so perhaps Obama can order more of them as well as an MRAP that can drive in Afghanistan. Perhaps if we had more transparenacy from Obama, the American People would know what is at stake and why.

Flatus

Obama is playing it close to perfect.

OAS is used to us playing the bully and the fool. What they are really interested in is being able to have enough of the fools attention so they can have a dialogue and maybe influence the foolish behavior a bit.

Openness to communication is one of the most important traits in a US administration from our hemispheric neighbors pov because they get so little of it from us.
What they really hate is hints of fruitismo.

Jack

"I have stated several things Obama could do including telling Hugo he can't nationalize companies without reimbursing them. Cargil? Remember that one?"

United Fruit Company, remember that one?

Because I guarantee every OAS leader of every stripe remembers and is watching Obama with that memory in mind.

Jack

Warren, last week Gates ruled out Force in regards to Iran. He even threated ISrael without a threat to Iran....LOL While 100 days might not be the measure you like, the last more-than-two-hundred-days marking the realization Obama would be the next President has clearly resulted in a broad list of hostile behavior insulting Obama and exploiting the "retreat". FARC has resumed attacks, Hamas and Hizb'Allah are well known offenders. Syria increases arms, Iran laughs and are even now in the Sinai. My observation was of both the gestures AND the increased bad behavior including policies Craig brings up in this thread and others. Activities in the Sinai now are intended to draw Egypt into conflict. The attacks on India were planned to change the equation AFTER extremists knew who they were dealing with in the WH. This is what Biden predicted yet there is no stick except continuing the drone attacks in Pakistan. Musharraf had done a better job.

Yep, Solar question the messenger and avoid the facts. I never voted for Bush and it appears from your partisan perch, they COULD NEVER HAVE ANY CORRECT VIEWS. It is all just partisan, yes? They did NOTHING right? And Democrats advocate the only sane views. That is not how Independents see it. What is happening now is not what Hillary would have done either. See why she is SECSTATE? It shuts her up. Maybe that 3am call was from Hillary telling Obama he had to say something about Saberi and to cool the bowing and hugging.

Isolationists used to be Republicans so I should ask you what old GOP handbook you're reading from.

I could address your points like the billions we will pay with the constant threat of war driving up oil over time. How about the trillions we hand over to oil producers? You cannot make the case that Obma's course will save any money, nor a case that retreat will save any either. Eventually, terror will stop oil/ Eventually terror will hit the EU and the US again. Big bucks. I don't see where your end game goes, but the mess we face today can't be avoided by running away. I did not say bomb tomorrow. A big stick and united pressure with sanctions would be a far better incentive than the farce we see going on now.

Later, but I'll remember your questions when I return....

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/2009/04/025758print.html

Some of the people Obama gave money to while at Trinity and sitting on two boards. No wonder Khadili has been off the radar. This will be tough on Rahm too when making his case to American and Israeli Jews.

max:

"Warren, last week Gates ruled out Force in regards to Iran."

I would like to see what Gates' statement you are relying on - but I doubt that it is as categorical as you imply...

Foreign policy is all about protecting and advancing U.S. interests. We have a test case of shunning contact and [attempted] economic isolation in our 50-year experience with Cuba.

How's that worked out for ya?

Even the the depths of the cold war, we kept relations active with the Soviet Union and with China. They were real threats, unlike Cuba or Venezuela. Obama loses nothing by being polite, respectful of other countries' sovereignty, and willing to engage in dialog.

The proof will be in the pudding. Will there be positive change resulting from this approach or not? It will all be a part of a larger effort to change behaviors and relationships. If it is successful, we will all be better off. If it effectively fails, then how much worse off -- if any -- are we going to be?

Regardless, it will take time. And time will tell. Give it a chance and judge by outcomes, not inputs.

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2009/q1/090317a_nr.html

For Flatus.....

For all, another link to that "crazy Israeli site"....LOL

We do want the "hear" what some people are thinking, yes?

http://debka.com/article.php?aid=1387

CJ, welcome!

I think it's absurd letting relations with Cuba and Venezuela dominate and steer our relationships with the much more substantial republics in South America, and the countries in Central America where there is genuine crisis in the human condition.

Compounding that absurdity is letting those two countries predominate despite the absence of OAS consensus on what is in the best interests of hemispheric development, democracy, security and harmony.

Why does it have to be complicated? Isn't all that needs to happen is for Palestinians to accept Israel's right to exist? Why not start with that?

" Since Democrats love bombing things, perhaps this is a bad mistake. "

Max @ 12:59

But John McCain scored a minor hit with " Bomb, Bomb, Iran " just last year . Made it all the way up to # 86 on the "Flop of the Pops".

May whole point is calling foul on all the Obama bashers who attack him for doing nothing is "How do you know?". It is almost as if you expect the 3 AM call seeking your advice on the latest crisis.

We have seen the proof of the Bush actions and have eight years of rhetoric to measure it by. You have 90 days of meet and greet while forming a cabinet, staffing a White House, and dealing with a major economic crisis.

How do you KNOW what he has or has not done about any of these issues? It might help to have a few more facts other than a picture taken by the nearest cell phone from a bad angle before you decide he is caving in to every tin horn dictator on earth.

"Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent"

Chavez's gift book title. I haven't looked at it, but like Jack, I don't think these regimes have to be reminded about confiscation of assets.

Dexter -

Here's some pictures -

http://www.cameravan.com/allabout/index.html

Ivy, exactly,

Peehaps that is too obvious to the administration. This is the time when Hillary supporters start feeling the weight of their predictions yet we are asked to be silent and support something we never intended to support. I think Debka says it pretty well above.

Bibi was intentionally slighted by the Obama administration while Ahmadinejad, Assad and Hugo were given a far more loving embrace. Rahm demands Israel pull out of settlements and says nothing about Quds and Hizb'Allah in the Sinai or Sudan. He won't even presure them to accept Israel's right to exist. Mark my words, that will not fly.

Flatus,
No sure how you would get my comment as saying that our relations with Cuba and Venezuela should 'dominate' our relationship within the region. There's plenty of bi-lateral relationship underway.

We can do more than one thing at a time -- and we can have lots of foreign policy interests being worked as well.

Jamie -

http://www.artcaragency.com/popup.php?id=112

If you don't stick your thumb in someone's eye, today in the wide wacky world of "Conservative Thinking" ............. That is considered " an embrace ".

Warren you google it.

I think I linked Gate's comments some time back. Pretty absolute if you ask me, but then Obama has a way to reverse himself completing while decalring no change in policy. And the transparenacy regarding his foreign policy is so absent, its scary. Beyond "talking pilomacy" what else is going on? Rejection at the UN and EU? Iran making any gestures back? Assad?

So far, I am far more on target about the crappy Grand Bargain Obama is desperately trying to arrange than you are about "change" resulting in peace. Soon it will go from comical to groteque, but I am hoping sense prevails. I am still hoping on Obama, but so desperate is Obama to make gestures work, Gates is trying to fast track Iranian help in Afghanistan despite reports of Quds supplying the Taliban with explosives. You tell me what is wrong with this picture? Media is spinning it that a "group" of hardliners in Iran is trying to make Saberi a cause to disrupt warming between the US and Iran. If you can't see the absurdity in such a judgement, my long threads won't help.

There are noly about two hundred or so hardliners in control of Iran. Show me which one welcomes Obama, talks peace with Israel or admits a weapon program or support to terrorists. Which one?

Is Saberi just another person to be sacrificed in an effort to make a deal with extremists. You see that idea is not going well in Pakistan.

... straight from the horses mouth (so to speak)... or I should just say, our leaders point of view. For Barack, it comes down the point of view of what Americans said they wanted, in voting for him. I am, for one, more than willing to give him the chance to prove it works. Why second guess everything he does, and what is, in fact, already done.

Obama defends greeting Hugo Chavez
"Rebuffing criticism of the warm greetings he exchanged with Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, President Obama said Sunday that the United States, with its overwhelming military superiority and need to improve its global image, could afford to extend such diplomatic "courtesy.

...... He said the 2008 presidential campaign proved that American voters want the president to engage with his counterparts, whether or not they are avowed friends of the U.S."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/la-fg-obama-americas20-2009apr20,0,3975966.story

"Is Saberi just another person to be sacrificed in an effort to make a deal with extremists"

Another straw man.
Price of straw has to be going up.

Jack

LOL and perhaps we can do a lot of things at once without any results anywhere except promoting adversaries seeking to exploit the perception of our own weakening position. That would be like chewing gum while mumbling and tripping while walking. Sure, we can do everything at once. How well and with what results are exactly what we were discussing.

And when frustrated thery anything even it was what Bush had done -that was the reason for increased bombing in Pakistan -a la Kissenger to get the Taliban to the table..........didn't work, did it? Now Pakistan has six months to live. Not promising to ISrael looking out on how things are working for Obama.

Max,,,I did not vote for Obama,I am an Independent,,,never voted for either party,,,,,,,but I do want him to succeed just like I wanted Bush to succeed,,,once He F,,up and attacked the wrong country,,,,you say don't look back,,,I say that we must learn from past mistakes,,,,and I do remember that not too long,,,that talking against the president,,,,was called treason,unpatriotic,by the Republicans,,,why not use the same standard now,,,stop wishing that Obama fails,,,it's just not right,,,If he does even one thing right in that war torn area,,,I will vote for him the next time,,,,,

Ive,,,I think that you are right ,,,it is that simple,,,but with all of our manipulations of that area for oil,,it has gotten very complicated,,,we need to do the simple thing,,,,and get out of that area,,,,let the chips fall where they may,,,,we created that mess,,,and we will forever have people that hate us,,,but if we keep funding one country over an other,,,we will create more child soldiers of hate America,that will hurt us sooner or later,,,our policies just haven't worked,,,Brittan's did not either,,,they went after the oil in that area,,,a learned from their mistakes,and (Russia later on,we helped create the Taliban,,,and Osama,,Who was president Then???),they are not there any more,,,they left us holding the bag,,,and once in a while they provide some support.

Well not going to hog the thread with this subject so gone for awhile ,,

Speaking of Chavez and books. Maybe Craig could figure out how to get Hugo to plug his and Helen's new one. :-)

"Chavez effect creates bestseller"

"It is not the first time Mr Chavez's choice of reading matter has given authors a boost, . . His speech at the United Nations three years ago helped to revive the fortunes of the American intellectual, Noam Chomsky.. . . Mr Chomsky's title, Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance, became the number one bestseller on Amazon after a plug from Mr Chavez during his address.

Bookshops in the US and Europe sold out of copies within days. Tens of thousands more copies were ordered in from the publishers."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8007472.stm

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221206

Rez
What a title
lol

Maybe Obama should return the favor. A warm greeting with a Biography of Teddy Roosevelt. Talk about mixed signals. Nothing like keeping the petty tinpot types confused.

The book was an obvious attempt to stir up trouble, giving it attention as the right wing and others have is just what Chavez wanted.

Obama did right, Just ignore Chavez' crudity and he isolates himself.
When you get in the mud with pigs (as the right wing is demanding of Obama,) all you do is get muddy then nobody can tell you or the pig apart.

Jack

The last,,,last comment,,,,,,,Max ,,,,you seem to think that Mrs Clinton is marginalized ,,and not listened to,,,,,I happen to think that she and pres..C...are in it all the way,,,R. Emanuel,,,and all of the others are there that were there during the Clinton white house,,,I think that she has a lot of input,and if successful they will get a lot of credit,,is this what you really don't want to see?,,,,now im gone

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221211

CBob

I love it. It's not quite my other tartan but darn close: The MacGregor

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/2554851439_99c044b11c.jpg?v=0

I just prefer The Gordon from the other branch of the family

http://www.calgaryhighlanders.com/traditions/regimentaldress/gordon.gif

Maybe I could get them to do me a nice Gordon convertible. :-)

1914 33 killed by soldiers during mine strike in Ludlow CO

They rode up on railroad flat cars, and machine gunned the camp. They weren't soldiers, but Colorado National Guard .

Took a long time for Obama to say anything about Saberi. Straw man in regards to how Iran responded to Obama's gestures? Straw man as a sign of Obama's weakness? Or maybe you mean Strawman in the sense of something to scare away the crows. Then perhaps, you would be right.

Obama was "gravely" concerned after the NYT finally put Saberi on the front page. Maybe Obama could address the Iranian diplomats being held in Iraq for conspiracy to murder US soldiers, a claim Obama brushed off during the primary and while being a no vote on the Kyle Bill. Maybe Obama will tout Saberi as a positive gesture by Iran should they let her go. But wasn't that the Iranian PR point in the first place, to deflect from even greater concerns? They can let her go and give up nothing really.

Next Republicans or anyone supporting any view which Republicans might make regarding Iran will be associated with Iranian hardliners. After all, they all want war.......LOL

With a discourse that skewed will anything positive result?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221215

Jack, I could have sworn I saw HIllary Clinton talk about Saberi during her press conference today. Maybe if Obama and Clinton haul out their magic wands and wave them at I'm a dinner jacket, he will see the light fast enough to suit their critics.

I do believe it is called negotiation and diplomacy. I realize we haven't seen any in a long time, but that is the way most global affairs are settled.

I wonder Cbob if any of those CNG happened to be named
Chivington. Seems to be the family's M.O.

"I say that we must learn from past mistakes,,,,and I do remember that not too long,,,that talking against the president,,,,was called treason,unpatriotic,by the Republicans,,,why not use the same standard now,,,stop wishing that Obama fails,,,it's just not right,,,"

Completely agree with Solar.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221223

keep on flailing nothing like flying straw on a fine spring morning

Maybe sometime you will address a real position by either Obama or some one here.

Jack

Rez -- I suppose it's too much to hope that Chavez is a hillbilly music fan....

rofl@ Patsi

"I do believe it is called negotiation and diplomacy. I realize we haven't seen any in a long time, but that is the way most global affairs are settled. "

POINT!

Solar, good for you. I'm an Independent too, though with one exception, I have always voted Democrat. Some of your comments make some sense so don't think I oppose them all....LOL An emrichment bank is a smart idea. Money with no strings is a bad idea. Obama is not to blame for all the troubles including pirates. He does grotequely overestimate the present health of international justice to solve urgent problems.

Look back? I can't imagine how fucked up things would be with Saddam in power. World events now show us how all things are connected and isolationism is no option. In the end, a Free and Democratic Iraq would be a boon to break the Status Quo while a Grand Bargain will leave the Middle East less Democratic and safe. A Democratic Iraq is a buffer against Iran. A stable Afghanistan is a buffer against Iran. It is Iran that ought to wake up and see we have done more to make them secure than any other country. The Russians and French would be in Iraq now helping Saddam rearm. The Taliban would be in control of Afghanistan plotting against Iran.

Is anybody listening to Obama? Is anybody changing their behavior? Or does evidence point to increased exploitation of our weak position? I would say it is rather astounding the degree Obama has dug a deep hole in a high risk game. He does not have Bush to blame anymore. Sarkosy and others have expressed some reservations about Obama. I can only imagine what our adversaries think or what some allies will now have to contemplate.

Rez -
Chivington , now there's a great American son-of-a-bitch.

I don't think any of his relatives were involved in this massacre.
But a governor of Colorado did the bidding of Colorado, Fuel, & Iron.

"No sure how you would get my comment as saying that our relations with Cuba and Venezuela should 'dominate' our relationship within the region."

I didn't interpret your comment in that way--sorry I wasn't clear. I meant to imply that they _are_ dominating events to the detriment of hemispheric relationships between all players.

"http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221228"

Patsi

I'll bet he plays the local equivalent at his political rallies.
He has always struck me as a southern style populist, a bit like the character in "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" "Pappy" O'Daniel.

Jack

"I can't imagine how fucked up things would be with Saddam in power. World events now show us how all things are connected and isolationism is no option. In the end, a Free and Democratic Iraq would be a boon to break the Status Quo while a Grand Bargain will leave the Middle East less Democratic and safe. A Democratic Iraq is a buffer against Iran."

Iraq was a bulwark against Iran before Shock and Awe even with the constraints placed by the US on it's Norther and Southern sections. It is only since that Rumsfeld debacle that Iran has become the major power it is today. YOu seem to have things badly backwards here.

Passive > " I'm an Independent too, though with one exception, I have always voted Democrat. "

Aggressive > " Since Democrats love bombing things, perhaps this is a bad mistake. "

Wrong Jamie, Saberi was a calculalted act to make Obama look bad and feeble. It was a manufactured olive branch committed in the aftermath of the CBS decison to air the torture of an Iranian dissent on 60 Minutes tw Sundays ago. It gives the Mullahs a gesture option to deflect from real dangers we seek to address. You overlook the behaviors for the last three months and point to Saberi as a sign of renewed diplomacy as tact? How about it being a intentional Iranian act to show us the futility of both diplomacy and threatened force (the view of the Mullah and Ahmadinejad)? As was his act before a conference on racism today. Perhaps you are just cherry picking what ever you can grasp to fit what you imagine is going on in the diplomatic realm you are convinced of was never used by Bush....LOL And when Obama told the public he would bomb Pakistan and defended such public statements as being transparent to the American people, how do you explain the silence, the behind the curtain dealings, the strategies kept from the American people? Does Obama come out and tell us Iranian enrichment is now okay? Does he tell the American people it is right to pressure Israel but not demand as a precondtion the recogniton by militants tof Israel to exist? Does he reveal the extent NK is working with Iran or Syria? Does he explain how much worse the moderates have made Pakistan and that conservatives there are more likely to oppose Sharia Law?

No, I don't think so, but then again, I don't get those private emails from Obma like you all seem to be getting. Perhaps you can publish them here....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221225

Rez, I don't know if you saw the link up thread, but your horse got Joe Talamo as a jockey. Excellent rider and one of my favorites.

I've moved over to Pioneer of the Nile with Garrett Gomez up since Old Fashioned is out.

warren, I'm shocked, SHOCKED that you find Hannity misleading and Ron Christie a bonehead. LOL

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221177

Max, you defend the indefensible. Congress was controlled by Republicans in 2002, and 2005, so dems' rejection of anything was symbolic only. And Bush did not implement any kind of trade embargo with Venzuela following anything that Chavez did or said - had he done so, you might have something to support. Bush suggested extending free trade to VZ's neighbors as a strategy to sanction VZ - after all the Repug pushback against NAFTA and CAFTA? Give me a break - he might as well have suggested that we sanction Chavez by declaring gravity inoperable in VZ. Instead, we continued trade with VZ apace, at least in the oil markets.

(Flatus, that is not entirely accurate about oil's fungibility. Oil is no more fungible than any commodity - Cuban sugar for instance. We buy 1.5 million barrels of VZ oil daily - over half of VZ's production - and Venzuelan oil is shipped directly to the US - an embargo on VZ oil is something that could be accomplished - if we weren't so thirsty for it, that is).

Our trade embargo in Cuba was implemented with the aim of regime change from within once the conditions in the island made the people miserable enought to effect it. It was a failed policy. Our blockade was to stop Russia from siting missiles there - that was effective. The two are distinct and separable issues.

As to the Israel-Hamas thing - what, you want words? LOL Israel was going to use whatever force it deemed appropriate - knowing that the US would NEVER do anything to interfere or even openly disapprove. The point is that Newt is now critical of what he perceives as a non-response by Obama to a single incident - and it's ridiculous criticism and is clearly not credible in light of the events and responses over the past year or so.

1894 136,000 mine workers strike in Ohio for pay increase

Craig seems to have a talent for this.

He picks a topic, and sure enough in the way back machine there's almost always some nugget like this :

1920 Balfour Declaration recognized, makes Palestine a British Mandate

I never thought Saddam was a rational containment on Iran and aplauded the Israeli strike on Saddam's reactor which Reagan almost tried to stop. He did stop the India/ISrael strike on Pakistan program. Can you imagine the world had Israel not hit that reactor?

Again, don't make me a member of what you wish me to be a memeber of. Saddam was a direct line from the Grand Mufti. He murdered hundreds of thousands and even hit our Navy. I never touted Reagan as the end all and his arms for hostages was pathetic.

However, Carter/Zbig getting the Soviets into Afghanistan and arming OBL was a greater mistake than building up Saddam. The former lead to the Taliban, AQ and much of the extremism in Pakistan and ironically the current administration plan to end the Carer Doctrine in what may turn out to Carter on steroids.

1948 the UN recognizes Israel as a State.

I do believe that OSH just might have a hunch bet in this year's Derby

Chocolate Candy Mike Smith
Desert Party
Dunkirk Edgar Prado
Friesan Fire Gabriel Saez
Patd General Quarters Julien Leparoux
Hold Me Back Kent Desormeaux
Rezdog I Want Revenge Joe Talamo
Musket Man Eibar Coa
Papa Clem Rafael Bejarano
Jamie Pioneer of the Nile Garett Gomez
Quality Road John Velazquez
Regal Ransom
Square Eddie
West Side Bernie
Win Willy

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/racing-information/contenders

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221199

joe, you don't understand - Obama is expected to do everything as Republicans suppose Reagan would have, and to have instantaneous positive results. See, after 8 years of image only - nevermind the results - the fact that almost everything government does - especially diplomacy - is a process, not a photo op, has been forgotten.

Flatus,

From this a.m., yes I saw the summary re: history of debtor prisons, etc., in the New Yorker you posted this weekend, but not a subscriber so did not read the full length version.

Max,

I'm fine with Israel taking out that reactor. The "poor poor Palestinians" crowd doesn't find a fan in me. Israel has made mistakes, but they have been pushed and hammered for over 60 years. Her people have been victims in war after war when all that was needed for peace was to allow the country to exist.

Yes the Palestinians have suffered, but it is more the fault of the surrounding nations than it is of Israel.

Pogo, more specifically, here's how it worked while I was watching it. OAS countries were precluded from selling oil to Cuba. The USSR was about the only entity they could do deals with, but it was more than cumbersome for the Soviets to accomplish physical delivery.

So the Cubans would 'buy' their oil from the USSR. The Soviet Union, would, in turn, arrange for the Venezuelans to ship the oil to Cuba, with the Soviets servicing Venezuelan customers in areas of the world where the logistics favored such a mechanism.

A very sophisticated way of taking advantage of petroleum's fungibility. Should the item of trade have been fish eggs, roe from Volga sturgeon would hardly be fungible with eggs from Caribbean bonito.

" However, Carter/Zbig getting the Soviets into Afghanistan ......"

I like that one , Jimmy Carter got the Soviets to invade Afghanistan .

Slick

"the California Democrat with a longtime involvement in intelligence issues, was overheard on an NSA wiretap"

LOL

I just noticed this on Craigs post. Guess I need to read better.

Wasn't Harman a supporter of wire taps?
Talk about being hoisted by your own petards.

Jack

Pogo, read what Gates said. The US will never say or do anything to stop Israel is a wild assertion.

In an effort to limit my bandwidth I can only say now your read on Hugo v Bush is wrong and that your implied comment that Free trade doesn't pressure Hugo doesn't make sense.

On Cuba ---The two sanction policies to deal with Cuba are linked. Think about it. The second effort has resulted in social unrest to the point of thousands of Cubans fleeing their country. Our efforts limited Castro from exporting his revolution. This black and white judgment just isn't supported by facts. Castro declared he would make all of Latin America Communists.....LOL The sanctions clipped his wings and showed his experiment without money Russia no longer gives to be a joke. I don't put me in the do not talk to Cuba camp. I was just talking about the score card.

Pogo, sanctions prevented Saddam from rebuilding WMD, they worked in slowing Iranian nuclear weapon programs, they have worked elsewhere. Even South Africa succumbed. Funny how you are quick to dismiss a rather peaceful means to curb bad behavior, the only non violent means international justice has today to change anything.........

There is such a disconnect between the former
"Masters of the Universe" and everyone else.

"The Wail of the 1%"

As the privileged class loses its privileges a collective
moan rises from the canyons of Wall Street.

http://nymag.com/news/businessfinance/56151/

max:

"LOL and perhaps we can do a lot of things at once without any results anywhere except promoting adversaries seeking to exploit the perception of our own weakening position."

Our position "weakened" in 8 years under George W. Bush who did many of the things you are now suggesting in terms of Foreign Policy.

And for you to annoint yourself correct and Obama dead wrong - after just 3 months - is assinine.

Jamie,,,put me in for chocolate candy,,,,Sea can bargain with me for him,,,,,,hahah

max

"Sarkosy and others have expressed some reservations about Obama. I can only imagine what our adversaries think or what some allies will now have to contemplate."

Your girl Hillary didn't think much of Obama at the start of the primaries . . . and how did that work out for her??

We always allow more than one Trailmixer per horse. It's strictly for bragging rights.

1961 - American Harold Graham makes 1st rocket belt flight

--------
I'm still waiting for my rocket belt to arrive.

If you all haven't read the link that Craig posted above you should.

I believe it is what in political circles would be a high and inside fast ball, for anyone that wants to take on Emanuel over this Israel issue.
It looks like the Bushies had Harman with her political drawers down.
It is bad when your enemies have a picture of your butt. It gets even worse when they are passed on to your friends.
Wonder what other Israeli supporters in congress were caught with a wire tap.

Yep a ninety mile an hour hard ball just under the chin

http://static.cqpolitics.com/harman-3098436-page1.html?docid=hsnews-000003098436

Jack

Wow,,,The dow taking a big nose dive,,,down 263,,,oil under 50

Scientist Hawking 'very ill'

British physicist Stephen Hawking has been rushed to hospital and is said to be "very ill".

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/21/2548012.htm

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221258

solar, as i recall, oldsea said something about the candy horse when the potential horse list was published last week.
playground rules: share your toys.

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (Reuters) - High on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, buried deep under the crumbling limestone of a temple to the goddess Isis, archaeologists believe the body of Queen Cleopatra may lie.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/scienceNewsMolt/idUKTRE53I10T20090420?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0

Pat

Im no playground bully,,,,but I do love teasing people that I like,,,so two on a horse is ok,,,by me, I have never had any luck with the horses,,only bet a few times on them,,,and I think that one of em,,,might still be trying to cross the finis line,,,,Zorba not ride horse,,,he just dance funny HA!

clinton re saberi as reported by aljazeera

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/04/2009420163127901511.html

from a canadian story on hillary back in march:

"In a rare diplomatic exchange, the United States also directly gave a letter to Tehran seeking help to resolve three separate cases involving Americans. Usually such diplomatic exchanges are made via the Swiss.

The letter asked for “humanitarian help” for three Americans she said were unable to return to the United States.

They are missing ex-FBI agent Robert Levinson and a freelance journalist, Iranian-American Roxana Saberi, who was jailed at the end of January in Iran. The third, Esha Momeni, is an Iranian-American student."

http://www.canada.com/news/Exchange+with+Iran+cordial+Clinton+says/1449405/story.html

Flatus, that's not commoidities' fungibility - that's just "laundering". Fungability is where the origin of the commodity is irrelevant. Oil is only fungible from the perspective of it's uses and properties.

Max, with Cuba, sanctions didn't work to accomplish their goal it was to have the Cubans overthrow Castro - not to have the Cubans populate Florida. The missile blockade did work. The only connection between the two policies is that Cuba had the same leader throughout all but the last 3 years. Conflating the two and listing other examples where you claim sanctions did work - and which represent different situations - does not demonstrate their effectiveness in the case of Cuba. How easily you ignore the simple fact that all the trade sanctions have done to Cuba is deprive its populace of the very trade opportunities that have helped private enterprise arise in other formerly (and presently) communist and socialist dictatorships, two of which that spring to mind posing actual potential if not real threats to the US - which of course, Cuba never did aside from being a Soviet outpost in the Western Hemisphere.

Bob, I heard that about Hawking on the radio today - needless to say, he's got a tough road ahead if he' sto survive this infection.

OK, here's some food for thought as I head out:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/business/global/21auto.html?hp

Auto sales in China surpassed those in the US in the first quarter - for the first time.

manana.

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/04/a_rahm_bomb_for_jane_harman.html

Here's one for your legal mind Pogo.

The economic sanctions against the Castro regime was designed to do many things and one was to prevent Castro from the sanctionless reality where by more cash and easier transit would help him to export his ideology. You narrow it down to regime change, but like Iraq it was not desined as such. The people did rise up and many escaped to America. It marginalized Castro has led to his final chapter of a bankrupt and discredited legacy in which he is still a murderer, then that is still better than a different outcome affecting Mexico or Columbia. On the other hand your speculation about what would have happened is just that. The Cuban people never saw any victory over the US these last 50 years and weren't thrilled with Castro's attempts to use them during the Cold War as fodder.

Shall we say the biggest backers of the embargo were the very people who escaped?

My comments about sanctions still stand. International justice cannot move forward without non-violent sanctions to curb vile and criminal behavior. What part of that don't you get? The 2007 NIE was not a Bush crafted document and was praised by the Left despite the high confidence sanctions made Iran stop for a while. Weapon inspectors in Iraq also have proof sanctions worked. There are numerous other cases so I hardly find your objection to sanctions unsupported? Do you have another solution besides "talking" endlessly as we have done while Iran almost completes a bomb? What would have happened in Gaza without sanctions? Peace? How about the latest Iranian missiles?

Today most world leaders who attended the Swiss racism conference walked out in abject disgust with Ahmadinejad. International justice? He should be arrested and put on trial for material support of terrorism. He should be rejected by the UN. The fault dear Brutus is not that we are underlings, but........

" The economic sanctions against the Castro regime was designed to do many things and one was to prevent Castro from the sanctionless reality where by more cash and easier transit would help him to export his ideology. "

----------
Ideas as corn flakes :

John McCain tells me that Sarha-ha-ha Palin is the leading energy expert in America. They spent 150 grand on the packaging.

Maxtrue sed: "Pogo, sanctions prevented Saddam from rebuilding WMD,. .they worked in slowing Iranian nuclear weapon programs, they have worked elsewhere. . . ." maxtrue- April 20, 2009 3:17 PM

Max,

Notwithstanding your 4:54 comments, I don't expect anyone to go back through the blog archives but, with respect to Iraq and Iran, this sanctions are the best thing since sliced bread is not something I recall as one of your mantra around here for the past year. Tell me I'm mistaken.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/business/21nafta.html?nl=pol&emc=pola1

"In Shift, Obama Doesn’t Plan to Reopen Nafta Talks"

"The administration has no plans to reopen negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement to add labor and environmental protections, as President Obama vowed to do during his campaign, the top trade official said on Monday"

Another corn flakes ad I'd like to see :

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4792/picture18z.png

" sanctions prevented Saddam from rebuilding WMD, "

The republican stance was that sanctions didn't work. That's why we went to war.

Looks like the bread landed butter side down on this one.

If sanctions worked so well, how come Iran is such a threat? Or are they?

You can't have it both ways Max.

Jack

Jack -
You can if you never have to say you're sorry.

Cbob,

btw, I got 8 hopeful good starts in peat pots sitting in the sun today. Had to incubate them in the spare bathroom (mine) turned windowless greenhouse. Nice and toasty though. When I clear my ground spot and transplant I send some pix.

I guess those Hopi girls knew what they had back in the day. LOL

"And that, contrary to reports that the Harman investigation was dropped for "lack of evidence," it was Alberto R. Gonzales, President Bush's top counsel and then attorney general, who intervened to stop the Harman probe.

Why? Because, according to three top former national security officials, Gonzales wanted Harman to be able to help defend the administration's warrantless wiretapping program, which was about break in The New York Times and engulf the White House"

From the link Craig provided above
And did she then dance all pretty for them?
As I remember she did.
Remember how Bush was able to get the intellegence committee to do what ever he wanted. At the time we all jokingly said that he must have something on them. Well It has come out that Bushies were aparently using nsa wiretaps to influence Jane Harman.
It appears that the NSA people are the ones talking. I hope they don't like intellegence gathering being used for domestic political purposes.

Jack

March 2009 Tenth Warmest On Record For Global Temperatures

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090418090255.htm

I believe, and I may be wrong, but didn't the good folks at CQ break the Harmon story ?

Not around here Bob

But April is threatening to kick some ass later this week. up into the 80's
Today is more like a march day cool and very windy.

Jack

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221298

Bob
It is written as if it is their own story from their own sources.
If they did they deserve our thanks and a big "Attaboy"

Jack

Jack -
Yep ...... an "Atta Boy" , because if this pans out like I think , it means Harmon was blackmailed, by the Bushites.

"They recognized the ear of corn on his unit patch and knew immediately that Herron and the other Nebraska farm boys he works with were the American soldiers who’d been helping Afghan farmers grow more food."

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=62087

sort of a corn story for you bob and sort of a community building story too
Some of their lessons learned are ones I learned in the neighborhood.

Telling Tales: Radio Talker's New Book Reveals Cable News Secrets

Click Here

One more time :
Click Here

With all the talk of the Middle East, I forgot to mention that Yom Hashoah (Day of Remembrance) begins at sundown tonight to remember and honor those lost in the holocaust

http://www.ushmm.org/remembrance/dor/

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/cnn/telling_tales_radio_talkers_new_book_reveals_cable_news_secrets_114397.asp

CBob

Have to publish the whole link. Craig had to turn off the bells and whistles until they find out why some change the whole site.

"it means Harmon was blackmailed, by the Bushites. "

Kinda looks that way, I wonder who else was.

I have a little list that I've always wondered about.

Jack

Not so much off topic as it might appear to be on first reading.

I just finished a book, of course a murder mystery, that I enjoyed and which taught me something about myself.

The book is about a Manhattan Project scientist who is killed in Oak Ridge - present day. The man was killed by a very small particle of iridium-192. Others investigating the crime were also exposed.

The authors are Jon Jefferson, a journalis, and Dr. William Bass, world famous forensic anthropologist who breated the first Body Farm at U of Tenn in Knoxville. That's where they lay out dead bodies in different conditions and study carefully how they decompose. I'll bet Patsi knows about this guy.

During the investigation they dig into the history, social and political and scientific, of Oak Ridge and the whole project. Mesmerizing. The people involved and the different laabs, i.e. Los Alamos, are so complicated, and the idea of a secret enclave of great brains stupifies me. Bletchley Park in Britain also amazes me, where all those cryptologists were sunk so deeply into their expertise that some supposedly had breakdowns - what testaments to human strength and ability.

My main point, however, is that my real enjoyment comes from Willaim Bass' intense desire to learn, not to pontificate, but to observe and then try to understand.

He and his students don't decide that this body is going to decompose this way or that way. They say,
I WONDER. They are aware of how much they don't know, and they try to make inroads on their lack of understanding and knowledge.

I love that attitude - I just love it. I crave listening to it. It lowers my blood pressure to see calm and committed people with a desire, NOT TO PROVE OTHERS WRONG, but TO LEARN AND TO ADD.

It has the same beauty of a Pavarroti aria or Goya's portait of Dona Isabel de Porcel or a baby laughing or a magnificent sunset or dawn.

It has dawned on me that that is why I have so few fixed opinions esp on political points, and why I cant get too involved in some of the discussions here.

Max - did you say you don't look back? I disagree with you in that it seems to me that 50% of your posts are looking back in order to predict the future, and your predictions are set in stone.

We have to look back - that's the resaon for experimenting - but it seems to me that when we look forward we have to be ready to observe more and argue less.

Sorry for the rant - it took me a little by surprise - but even when I don't post amidst all the discussion, I do have reactions and I guess they build up to a critical mass and then..................

Jack,,,,nice Stars and Strips article,,

Max

A cpl of weeks ago there was a report from the Atlantic Council,,,,,led by sen, Chuck Hagel,,,(whom I would vote for ---for any office) and sen, J. Kerry,,that said we are running out of time to help Pakistan change its present course,,Petraus said the same thing,,,he told congress that the insurgents could take down Pakistan,,,this has been building up for years they said,,,Why is it Obama's fault all of a sudden??

Analysts believe that under immense American pressure, tough military operations ,, including Predator drone attacks - against militants helped by US intelligence,,,, have caused a disconnect between Pakistani jihadi circles and the military establishment. This is claimed,,,,, is a major reason for the snowballing insurgency.

the inspector general of Sindh province , warned in a statement that there was credible intelligence to suggest that militants had entered the southern port city of Karachi and planned major sabotage activities. These could include an oil refinery complex and power stations.

Pakistani Senator Mashahid Hussain commented to a television station ,,,that,,, All intelligence agencies of the world keep connections with various elements, including the CIA. This is essential for information-gathering and I don't think anybody should have any objections when the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence keeps such contacts with militants. After all, Israel's Mossad talks to Lebanon's Hezbollah,, and Palestine's Hamas despite them being bitter enemies."

In 2001,( who was president then?) the US compelled Islamabad to make a u-turn on its Afghan policy and withdraw support for the Taliban. Pakistan however convinced jihadi circles that all the steps it was taking in line with US policy were superficial and temporary.,,,they felt like they were had IMO no?

Despite a lot of hostility between alQaeda and then-president General Perves Musharaf the situation remained mostly under control until 2006, only because there was still some trust between the militants and the army.

This trust was completely shattered in July 2007( who was president then?) when Musharraf sent troops into the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad, after Musharraf stepped down as army chief in late 2007 but under immense US pressure the army was forced in 2008 to undertake Operation Lion Heart against militants in the Bajur Agency.

The corno di toro giallo peppers failed to germinate, all 36 .

bummer

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221311

Bethy

We all should rant so lovely.

Jack

Thanks, Jack, I hope I made sense.

KGC and Julia - I just got an email from a Leah Donahey of CREDO telling me that the special election coming up is a repub trojan horse essentially and not to vote for any of the props.

I read them casually the other day and they sounded okay to me. I'm hoping you can give me some info on this.

It seems to me that she is the one who worked for Howard Dean, and said that god cured a woman of breast cancer and not docs - and she also worked to get biblical lessons made mandatory teaching duties in the south.

Do you know any of this? Boy, I hope - course I guess we'll get plenty of advertising coming out soon, huh?

Hopius corn shoots shooting up .......mein bruder says.....hey.....it's green......where's the blue? I says it's on the ears not the stalk.........he says oh that'll take awhile.......i says all things cometh to him who waiteth, especially death........

he says what's death got to do with it?

I says, whadda you, a wise-ass?

Bethy,

I too enjoyed your post, and agree with it completely.
What's the title of the book? I've read books you've recommended in the past, and very much enjoyed them.

he says no, I'm just trying to think like Epictetus.........

i says, yeah, right.....ever since you went back to college you aint made a lick of sense.......

.... now this is a good thing.

Obama to attend meeting with credit card firms
".... the White House made clear in a statement that Obama would participate in the meeting as well. He is expected to press the companies to change what administration officials see as deceptive practices that have saddled consumers with high debt and high interest rates."
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idUSWEN742420090420

Chloe - This book is Bones of Betrayal, but there are three earlier ones. Carved in Bone, Flesh and Bone, and Devil's Bones, in that ordder - you might want to read them in taht order. there are also two non-fiction.

He was also in Patricia Cornwell's book The Body Farm, a Kay Scarpetta thing.

Enjoy.

bethy.....seems like they missed Bone of Contention

Thanks Bethy.
Would you recommend I read them in order?
(I've read all of Patricia Cornwell, including The Body Farm).

bethy - very insightful and very Socratic...

"I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance." -Socrates

Solar - I would love to vote for Chuck Hagel too. I was dissappointed he did not end up in Obama's Administration and really hope he was at least asked.

All - Dick Cheney is on Hannity for anyone who wants a little rise in their blood pressure...

Bob,

Some of Stinky's peppers take like three weeks before they germinate. She always bugs me to sow another batch; I say that we should let them go awhile longer; she says I'm just being lazy. And then the seedlings emerge.

Somali pirate suspect en route to NY
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/piracy/5191126/Somali-pirate-suspect-en-route-to-NY-US-officials-say.html

Chloe,

The credit card companies justify their usurious rates based on their claims that they have high default rates in segments of their cardholders. I say they're like the money changers and should be cast out of the temple.

Bethy,

I didn't even sense a hint of rant in your (excellent) comment.

the money changers were cast out of the temple relatively near in time to when the temple was by romans
destroyed......a cautionary tale?

nah......can't be.........

FYI

for mixed ensemble

This excerpt of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize-winning work, Double Sextet, appears on boosey.com by the kind permission of eighth blackbird. 2 MIN.

http://tinyurl.com/cpghym

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221333

Flatus,
I agree. That's why it's so good to hear that Obama thinks it's important enough to be there himself. He seems to be involving himself in all the right things, imo.

I'm thinking that the little old lady from pasadena is now deceased and mustang sally is at least 69 yrs. old......my how time flies.......

"...my how time flies...."

... ain't that the truth.

Spot the old timers

Willie Nelson - 1997 - Funny How Time Slips Away
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZaZqx9v3dU

I haven't seen an oak tree but the ginko tree's leaves are the size of squirrels ears must be close to planting time.

Jack

Oh man Jack, You linked that great song, which reminded me of my favorite version by Ray Price. And that lead me to remember one of my favorite all time songs by him. (glad you linked Willy)

For the good times
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tMu87-J_mo

What we always called a buckle polisher.
You don't have to know how to dance just hug each other and sway to the music.

Jack

Chloe back in the 60's that was a scandalous song and would have been more so but this one came out.

Help Me Make it Through the Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkQnSPgdgOM

This is a version by Martina McBride

If you are an avid reader and would like to share your opinions, Flashlight Worthy Books could use your help with book descriptions.

http://www.flashlightworthybooks.com/allbooks.php

Click on the category
Click on any book in the category that you have read.
Write and submit your thoughts about the book.

Willie and Kris
loving her was easier

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zGGzsiA1dA

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221347

Yep Jack, That was another favorite.
I never had any idea they were considered scandalous though.
'Course, back then, I lived in my own world.
You've brought back some good music memories.

The Highwaymen - The Last Cowboy Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbR3K9DEAjI

The Highwaymen - Desperados waiting for a train

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJA4TGOAn98

Hey Baby Que Paso

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btKm5SktuKU

Sir Douglas Quintet - Who Were You Thinking Of

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4A8vphF-s8

Elvis has left the building

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdFXur5OocI

Night all

Jack

This is the only article listed in Google news about Emanuel v Netanyahu!

Whatever's going on behind them infamous 'closed doors', I hope this doesn't turn into one of them political 'big deals' in a negative way.

tt

Yeah, Sturge, but there's always the next one.

Chloe - I would read them in order myself, and if you don't like the first one, go for this one just for the topic. Frankly I think you'll like them all. Also, there might be a waiting list for the new one.

I also like Kathy Reichs, who is the author of the books on which Bones (sorry, Surge!) is based, on tv. Her books are much better than the show. She is the real thing and incorporates a lot of her own experience in her books. Her first one is Deja Dead.

There is a site called Fantastic Fiction which can help you track down all the books many authors have written-a wealth of info.

Thanks, Flatus, but when I see how long those posts get, I feel as if I'm ranting!

Warren - that ole coot Socky was a pretty cool dud, huh? I do have my own little prejudices and biases. but do not discuss them in public because I know they are based in ignorance and aren't worth a hoot - and because I don't want t o expose myself as an ass.

Are you guys familiar with this website for old songs?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=upchucky.com&aq=0&oq=upchucky

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/04/the-emanuelnetanyahu-smackdown.html#comment-221162

No, Craig didn't call us Guinea Pigs...I posted that we were his Guinea Pigs one day and Craig took offense to that and we cleared the air...this was about two years ago.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COLORADO BOB: Tom Kennedy died surfing in the ocean off San Francisco---art car guru is gone:

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-tom-kennedy21-2009apr21,0,2234068.story

Looks like Dodd really IS in trouble in CT:

http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/04/17/chris-dodd-raises-1-million-but-almost-zilch-from-connecticut/

Thanks Dex .... I saw that , sad news . Did you get the Camera Van Link ?

Flatus - You're right , but mine just went past 28 days. and the other ones are moving along. The peat pots will of course, make me fool this morning at inspection of the troops.

psst, cbob,

NEW THREAD