Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Now nobody will believe the CIA, ever again, I hope.
How can anyone believe anything those cloak and dagger people testify on anyway?

Mark Twain:
"I would rather tell seven lies than make one explanation."
- Letter to John Bellows, 11 April 1888

Let's pay ATTENTION to the WOMEN!

Martha Mitchell

Nancy Pelosi!

tt

Amen, tiptoe. I'm not a big Pelosi fan, but I'm glad she has been vindicated, AND was strong enough to not back down when she was scoffed at. I'm also glad Panetta owned up.

I have felt for years that you really can't trust many people, and my experience this last week has reinforced that belief in concrete.

I think that's why I can get only so involved in watching politics avidly.

I second Bethy's kudos to Solar for his 3:09 post.

And I am in the same boat on Pelosi...not always a big fan...but very glad she's been vindicated. Of course, we'll see if anybody but Craig points it out.

"I believe that CIA has, in the vast majority of matters, told the truth," Mr. Reyes

Nancy and Right do not belong in the same sentence. She is Left. And what is LEFT out are specific facts as to her claim and maybe she can Slip out of the discussion.

But what is very important is to include all of the discussion - The key point is "I believe that CIA has, in the vast majority of matters, told the truth," Mr. Reyes says...
So if this is correct maybe Nancy is not in the clear- after all her argument was more to the point that she had an aide at the meetings.

Facts- Simply the facts - not spin...

D

This is all so disgusting. Is their anything, anyone we can trust anymore? Nada.

We had another afternoon thunderstorm yesterday. There must have been some 70+mph winds with it. It isn't so much fun being in a tree house in that situation. After I saw and heard things flying by at great speed, I decided to hunker down as close to Maggie, who was under the bed, as possible. I couldn't get under there with her. Neither of us was interested in that cookie.

I think I caught up with the rain that most others got that I didn't in the last couple of days. I can't tell because froggy rain gauge, that has been sitting in the same place for 2 years, went flying also.

Instead of hanging out here last night I watched a little CNN on the Net. Larry King interviewed MJ's dermatologist. That was enlightening. What he said made me even more in awe of MJ. I understood a little better why he needed the drugs so much.

AC 360 gave me a little better insight into why Palin is leaving office. I do think she is/was the victim of oversight harrassment. None of our other politicians are scrutinized as much as she is and it is costing her tons of money. I would have been out of there much sooner.

Both of these people have been victims but I guess it is all in how you want to look at it, whether you have the ability to be empathetic, the ability to feel their pain. And I guess I have been less empathetic with Ms. Pelosi that I should have been.

Obama more like Bush !
From the WSJ...Siobhan Gorman
""The White House issued a veto threat on Wednesday over provisions in the bill that would require more expansive briefings of intelligence committee members on covert actions, taking a position against Democratic lawmakers and in line with what the Bush administration had advocated.

The provision would raise "significant executive privilege concerns," according to a White House policy statement. The broader bill contains several measures to bolster Congressional oversight of intelligence activities.

Mr. Holt said he was surprised Mr. Obama continued to support the practice of more limited briefings.""

In today's NYTimes a story on dying with dignity
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/health/09sisters.html?_r=1&hp

An excellent interview with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg that reminds me of just how proud I am of the women who worked for women's rights when it just was not the thing to do.

"The Place of Women on the Court"

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/magazine/12ginsburg-t.html?_r=1&ref=magazine

(Its a preview of an article for the NYT Magazine)

Count me in on the "not a big Pelosi fan but thought she was sincere about those CIA briefings" side....

Patsi... I quickly checked a few blogs I used to look at when I had the time...
it's being reported.... at least on the left side of the blogosphere....

Craig... nice column.... A

And why my lack of empathy for Ms. Pelosi? I see her as a Queen Bee, a woman who scratched and clawed her way to the top, who turned around and stepped on the fingers of another woman, Hillary Clinton, who was even more deserving than Ms. Pelosi was, who tried to do the same. I haven't forgiven her for that.

KGC, BlondeW, and Pogo....
you did an awesome job yesterday with your posts on healthcare...

and I keep forgetting.... Bethy... I LOVED that video by Pertetuum Jazzile...
that thunderstorm with their hands was priceless....

If it's trust that matters, I, sure as the sky is blue, wouldn't trust Ms Pelosi with the keys to my car.

Reb - check the facts not the self feeding blogs - or hype in a one sided letter that does not represent the truth in and of itself. That is one problem with the news today - there is none.

It is some self serving Dems that have streched and created a letter that in doing so should open the can of worms that indeed still may come back and get madam queen bee pelosi.

Hope for the purge of 2010 just the other side of the then that of the purge of 2006

A WSJ editorial on the AIG verdict had a nice phrase (probably one that's tossed around the law offices all the time, but still nice):
"...a victory for contract law over legal invention..."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124709677873215085.html

Carol, being a public official is certainly a risky business. For example, if a governor is accused of trampling on someone's civil rights, and there is _any_ possibility that the charge may be based on fact, then the State won't defend the governor. It's a matter of public policy--we won't use the public purse defending someone who may be a criminal.

So, that leaves the public official personally exposed for all the legal costs no matter that the charges may later be found to be specious.

Try finding private insurance, without loopholes, that will insure against the potential risk that public officials face.

And, that's why so many elected and other officials are so gun shy about saying what they may be thinking. And why I almost never committed anything to writing or an electronic record.

No matter what her politics, I do empathize with Gov Palin.

photos of Fonville Winans

http://www.spiart.com/galleryff/index.htm

As a contrast, look at how Ms. Pelosi acted-out her drama in the press vs. Mrs. Palin's rambling resignation rant for the press.

BW, I saw her rant as something like, 'Screw you. Life is too short.'.

Obama more like Bush !
Ping Pong | July 9, 2009 7:28 AM

I have always stated that Obama is a 'mirror' image of Bush. On the right side of the mirror, prez says "I am the decider" and the left side of the mirror, "I am the President." Mirror morphing...I noticed it during the campaign.

Mark Twain:
"I would rather tell seven lies than make one explanation."
- Letter to John Bellows, 11 April 1888 h http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242594

Dexter, It was so nice to come here this morning, and find that quote by Mark Twain. Who could read that and not smile.... Twain has a way of putting things into perspective.

"If it's trust that matters, I, sure as the sky is blue, wouldn't trust Ms Pelosi with the keys to my car."
LOL Flatus. Speaking of putting things into perspective. If I were being completely honest, I'd probably have to admit I don't trust either one of them.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242604
Carol, Now I want to hear what MJ's dematologist said that made you realize why ne needed drugs.

We rarely have wind like you were talking about, and I'm glad. I've had enough wind to last me forever. The rain I'll take though.

Flatus...more like, screw you, life is too long and filled with better opportunities and money.

I think Mrs. Blago said it best on "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here" -- the public and press are tougher on politicians than celebrities. It may be true. We pay public servants to work for us, but we elect to pay celebrities if we like their work.

mornin'

Imagine that. Our spooks lying to our lawmakers. Who could have ever guessed that? Oh, and anytime a spokesperson says "It is not the policy or the practice of (fill in the blank) to (fill in the blank)" you know immediately that it is indeed the policy and the practice of (fill in the blank) to (fill in the blank).

Ping, you are incredible. Do you think that Panetta was referring to the noncontroversial activities of the agency when he referred to "significant activities"? JHC, you aren't that stupid.

Flatus, I'm no Pelosi fan, but good lord. The only thing missing is the detail about what Panetta was speaking of. And for god's sake, he didn't say the CIA mislead congress a couple of times - and Reyes was led by hiscomments to conclude that the deception by concealment occurred since 2001. Myabe you shouldn't loan Nancy your car keys, but I wouldn't loan them to George Tennant either.

Renee, thanks on behalf of myself, KC and blondie - it was fun discussing that.

I always thought the CIA would have to kill you if they told you the truth. I have been hearing that since childhood. : )

must tend to watering and the dog....be back in a few. If I do not get this done early, I will 'cook' by noon. If you are here, Jack, I may steam today...monsoon is here!

So, BW, who pays the cost of MJ's celebrity funeral. I certainly wasn't one of his fans so I'm opposed to the public expenses associated with it not being reimbursed by his estate.

There was an interesting line in a poem printed on page 72 of the current Atlantic Monthly issue. I received it before MJ's death. It is from 'Homily' by David Lehman.

"Man has the will
to grieve
a week and no longer."

FWIW, I don't think there's anything inherently evil in pursuing better opportunities and more money. But, I am disappointed that she, or any other unindicted politician. leaves office before the end of a term. That said, I do think there are facts in mitigation.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242615

Maybe in SC, flatus, but not anywhere else. As long as the actions of a governor are within the scope of their duties, occur even colorably in their capacity as governor or they are sued in their official capacity, regardless of the nature of the suit or the likelihood that there might ultimately be a verdict against the gov, they are entitled to a defense by the AG. Now there are matters that elected officials elect to have handled by private attorneys because the AG' s office doesn't have anyone with sufficient expertise in this matter or that, but unless the alleged action is completely private and not alleged to have occurred in any way related to the governor's job, the AG would be on the hook. Sanford's dalliance is a completely private matter that would be outside his duties as governor - it would just happen to have occurred during trips he made in his official capacity, as contrasted with Bill Clinton's alleged dalliance with Paula Jones, which happened in the course of his duties as governor with a state employee (but since it was raised only after he left the office of gov, Clinton had it handled by a private attorney at his own expense.)

gosh who would have ever suspected that Ping Pong would think this is a drummed up deal from the left? Surprise Surprise. Careful Ping the kool-aid will stain your lips.

cool photos of a part of the world I love, sturg.

BW, we need separate 'misleading' from 'holding back' from disclosing the tremendously sensitive details that an elected official or staff member simply does not need to know.

Misleading is clearly wrong and a violation of a sworn trust. But. 'holding back' on exceedingly sensitive details that a critter simply does not need to know is a completely justifiable practice consistent with one's oath.

Flatus...AEG paid for the memorial. The city of LA paid for outside control of the event (and they are looking for donations). I am assuming Jacko's estate paid for the funeral.

AEG provided the feed of the memorial for "free" to get the networks to help sell more of MJ's music. Brilliant marketing. Unfortunatelly, our best export in this country is the entertainment industry. It may be all that America has left that the world will buy.

Flatus...words are confusing and can be misleading...what about the photos? Doesn't the CIA take a ton of photos???

I'm still waiting for the goopers to apologize to Nancy P for all the airplane crap not too mention the headscarf kerfuffle.

No matter what, I am not a fan of Pelosi or Palin, but I have to admire their strength and stance...sure makes the men look weak. The girls have more balls than Larry Craig and deeper voice, too.

"...our best export in this country is the entertainment industry. It may be all that America has left that the world will buy."

I think Americans should be very proud of it's success. It's one of the industries that has been well managed and adjusts to changes in the world. And so, they continue to prosper. It's just surprising that California isn't doing better than they are, being how much of it comes out of there.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242633

WSJ - "Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon E. Panetta has told lawmakers that the agency "concealed significant actions" from Congress, according to a letter released Wednesday from seven Democratic lawmakers.

"The letter also contends that Mr. Panetta said CIA officials have misled Congress since 2001.

"House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes sent a separate letter on Tuesday to the top Republican on his committee saying that Mr. Panetta's appearance led him to conclude that the CIA had "affirmatively lied" to the committee.

"The relationship between the CIA and Congress grew poisonous over the course of the Bush administration after revelations concerning programs such as CIA's coerced interrogations.

"All but two members of each of the House and Senate intelligence panels at the time knew nothing of them, though the four top House and Senate lawmakers were informed. Mr. Panetta has vowed to repair relations with Congress."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124709503805414883.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Flatus, you are in the process of trying to justify actions about which you know little or nothing. All we have to go on is what is in the letters thathave been released, and the word Reyes used was "misled". Concealing significant actions is not IMHO the same as the "completely justifiable" practice you describe (and which btw with respect to the oversight function of the Senate and House Intelligence Committees and the classified briefings certain high ranking members receive under our system of checks and balances, I don't buy for a minute). Notwithstanding the constitutional question about which we obviously disagree, the excerpts from the letters above and even the frickin' WSJ take on the matter don't jibe with the justifications you are putting out here.

KGC...just took a look at your blue corn. Very nice.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242638

It's hard for some to apologize, when they either don't know, or won't admit that they were wrong. That apology will never fit into their agenda.

Chloe

Yep, California has a movie star governor and his state is in the financial dumper. Perhaps, Arnold needs to start giving back some of the money he earned from 'acting' in the Golden State. Movie royalties to fill the state's coffers. After all, these were the same people that Bush gave his most generous tax cuts during his regime.

Chloe...the only political guys that apologize are the ones who have a problem with their zipper.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242637
"Doesn't the CIA take a ton of photos"

Of course, along with DoD.

But they, too, can be misleading and/or misinterpreted by the analysts. Case in point, the photos that Gen Powell was presented with and, in turn, presented to the world. A fraud in which I believe Gen Powell was an unwitting participant.

And our ultimate photo and electronic eavesdropping capabilities are a _very_ closely held secret.

Good point, Flatus.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242607

KGC --

Thanks for linking the article about the nuns and their fearless approach to death. I've seen this in my own family and in my past work. We who yet feel "far from death" cling to our denial for "dear life." Those who are closer to the end of life whether through illness or age infirmity seem more accepting of the natural order.

"the only political guys that apologize are the ones who have a problem with their zipper."

.... and then go out and do the same thing again.
I personally wish we could just stay out of their sex lives, and let them and their wives work it out. But once they dramatize everything, how can we not comment on it?

Blonde, I assume you have the week off.... their loss, our gain. :)

OK, Tour de Francophiles - if the stage ends as it stands now, David Millar will be the new leader of the Tour with a 30 second margin - but I kinda doubt that Astana is going to let that happen with Lance in 2nd and Contador in 3rd (and 3 others in the top 10).

Ivy,
I am sooo glad you are back. Aside from the bear, we haven't heard enough about your road trip. Did you take pictures that you can share with us?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242641

"...don't jibe with the justifications you are putting out here."

Pogo, the "details" I was referring to are the technical aspects of the collection that, although fascinating, offer no insight as to the finished intelligence furnished the consumer.

And, actually, I know quite a bit about how things work and the technical capabilities involved.

Yes, Chloe...vacation time for me. I just watered my gardens (permanent landscaping plants are on a watering system). We have four active veggie gardens...we just dug holes in our rockscape and planted seeds...I owe C-bob a world of thanks. The birds are fantastic this year...except for the hummingbirds as I have less this year than ever before. The one hummer I do have, however, is one ardent suitor...he has been doing dive displays most of the summer. I am enjoying the natural world as the human world seems so "unnatural" these days.

I don't know if it's happening to anyone else, but the sight seems to be slowing down this morning.

Ivy, I should have also asked: You didn't happen to get a picture of that bear, did you? I'm sure a camera was the last thing on your mind.

"I am enjoying the natural world"

... that's what's important, and what you just described sounds heavenly, Blonde. We sure get too caught up in the details, sometimes, when the big picture is right there at home. How's your husband doing?

Hubby is fine...his parents are fine as we went to visit them in Phoenix. We traveled on the day MJ died...and we were listening to Sirius radio when the news broke about him being taken to the hospital. By the time we got the rest area on I-10 (Texas Canyon), my hubby heard he had died from a fellow bathroom seeker. It made the six hour ride go quickly.

Flatus, I don't doubt your knowledge about technical details of intelligence gathering, and I would agree with you that those things don't need to be disclosed. But from the accounts of both the WSJ and the NYT, that is not what is at issue here. What neither you nor I know is what was withheld that misled Congress. What I was referring to is this:

"“This is similar to other deceptions of which we are aware from other recent periods,” said the letter, made public late Wednesday by Representative Rush D. Holt, Democrat of New Jersey, one of the signers.

In an interview, Mr. Holt declined to reveal the nature of the C.I.A.’s alleged deceptions,. But he said, “We wouldn’t be doing this over a trivial matter.”

From the NYT article on Panetta's disclosure.

That does not in any respect sound like the technical details to which you are referring.

BW, we have no hummers this year. And, if the bluebirds made their annual passage through our yard, I didn't see them. Robins abound, as do our wrens, cardinals, woodpeckers, and the other birds that call this part of the Carolinas home. Through song and dance, they constantly thank us for the habitat we provide.

"Through song and dance, they constantly thank us for the habitat we provide. "

Same here Flatus.

Flatus...this is the first year in 15 years that I haven't seen the usual number of hummingbirds. The rufous should be migrating through by the end of the month. I am seeking a lot of doves, mockingbirds, orioles, cactus wrens, thrashers, quail and roadrunners.
Maybe like the bees.....the bees certainly have returned in great number.

Pogo, you are correct in your 10:17.

Deliberate misleading of our Congress is fundamentally wrong. What I don't want to see happen is a return to the Carter Administration where he tried to force open our drawers full of carefully collected information providing background through which we developed our opinions and estimates.

It was not a matter of pride of ownership, but of our genuine concern that lives would be put at risk, and that , in some cases, decades of work in developing and protecting sources would be wantonly opened to our nation's great and long-term disadvantage..

"By the time we got the rest area on I-10 (Texas Canyon), my hubby heard he had died"

Makes you realize how quickly it all unfolded.

Some thoughts from Ottawa: What Sarah Palin represents
"One of the charms of print journalism is that columns must be filed in advance of publication. This affords the reader an opportunity to judge how well they have stood up to the last evening's breaking news. Whereas, by the time the live television commentator's remarks have been overtaken, no one can remember what he said anyway. He can now say something else." http://www.ottawacitizen.com/News/What+Sarah+Palin+represents/1769155/story.html

Carol,
If you read that link I just posted, I think you'll like what the last line said about Sarah: "She has the heart of a lion, and she will not run away."

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/story/1133642.html

Thank God, someone in the adminstration speaks out against Chavez who has made his ex puppet in Honduras the center of his present ravings.

Craig, please show me where Panetta proves that Pelosi is right. It would be smart if we get to the bottom of the claims because Pelosi did not have here case made by Panetta. Many see this Pannetta move as a way partisans can block an investigation of Pelosi. And then of course, there is the lying about Harmon to consider. Panneta has not said that the CIA lied when they said Pelosi was informed of "harsh interrogations".

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242651

Chloe --

Thanks much for the welcome back. It's fun to visit away, but it's also great to be home...one of our stops-along-the-way was to Staunton, VA which I learned only Yankees pronounce as "Stawn-ton." The local way is "StAN-ton." Hubs says why don't they get rid of the "u?" Besides Mary Baldwin College, it is the site of the birthplace of Woodrow Wilson. Interesting house tour with period artifacts, and inside the staff were in frenzied preparation for the presidential "Pierce Arrow" to make its annual Fourth of July parade run. Staff people were vying for seating privileges (I'm an observing-human-nature-behind-the-scenes type person.) I wish we could have stayed for the festivities - looks like a quintessential American town.

As the centennial of Wilson's presidency approaches, as well as WWI anniversaries, I hope there will be more focus on this president's achievements which may be underrated by history.

"If you want to make enemies, try to change something."

--Woodrow Wilson

Flatus, I think they call that common ground.

Pogo, you going to write the order or do you want me to do it?

Chloe...truckers have known for years they drive both the information highway and the roadway. It was actually a bonding experience at the rest area. Reminded me of Kennedy being shot....hubby and I heard the news he was rushed to the hospital and looked at each other and said...he is probably dead.

And, now, Stinky is taking me shopping. Maybe, at an opportune time, I'll deny the presence of my billfold. She would probably say that would be contemptuous.

http://www.investigativeproject.org/1085/mainstream-islamist-convention-features-hate

repost of an event that Obama sent his point person to. Think the WH would issue a comment? Didn't Obama learn anything from the Wright affair?

Some people questioned the claims that Hizb'Allah or Hamas had anything to do with beating protesters in Iran. This sad story shed some light:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iran-dissident9-2009jul09,0,4511872.story?page=1

Lockheed continues its amazing string of fortune:

http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,194404,00.html cruise missiles

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aLSngSRfWm7o F-35

http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,194015,00.html Anti-Ship missile to match China's

http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,193497,00.html Murth wants more F-22

I would buy Lockheed stock if I had more to spend......

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242658

Flatus --

The demise of the ruby-throated hummingbird through loss of its South American habitat has been predicted for a decade or more. We may be seeing that come to pass.

Another fun sight in the PA mountains (besides the bears) was a covey of wild turkey chicks...what cuties!

"The local way is "StAN-ton." Hubs says why don't they get rid of the "u?""

Ha!, I agree with your hubby Ivy. There's a street here spelled Kuykendahl, but is pronounced Kurkendal. You'd think they could just make it easy on us and spell things they say they sound. And as for you being "(I'm an observing-human-nature-behind-the-scenes type person.)"... that's one of the things that makes life so interesting. :)

Another great quote! Thanks Ivy.
"If you want to make enemies, try to change something."
--Woodrow Wilson

ivy...I fear more than the ruby throated hummers are dying-out. We get 14 types of hummers passing through this way and this year has been awfully sparse. Same for my sis who lives in the mountains ninety miles from here. We had a similar problem with the Mexican freetail bat...they were being killed by the hundreds by superstitious Mexicans. Sad.

BTW, I was born and raised in PA and your trip sounded wonderful. PA was the first place I ever camped.

"Reminded me of Kennedy being shot....hubby and I heard the news he was rushed to the hospital and looked at each other and said."

... you two have been together a long time. That's very good to hear. My hub and I have been too. It's nice to have someone that you've been through it 'all' with... the memories are worth so much.

And while Carter was doing that he had the CIA begin the slow bleed operations against the Soviets using Afghanistan as bait. He also had secret policies towards Iran that pulled the rug out from the Shah.

Clinton had secret negotiations with Russia that ended up limiting the Russians to selling weapons and technology to Iran and other former Cold War partners.

JFK was extremely angry that the Western Press even mentioned our missiles in Turkey.

Craig, of course Max asks you to prove what you cannot, with the suggestion being that since you can't do that, Nancy lied about what she was told. Panetta didn't say the CIA lied when Pelosi was informed of "harsh interrogations" ... and he didn't say they didn't, either. We know full well that the only folks the CIA would have lied to in their briefings were the Gang of 8 - which Pelosi became a member of when she assumed the Minority Whip position in 2002, and the members of the House (and Senate) Intelligence Committees - of which she was a member. So where are we with respect to Pelosi? We know she was lied to according to Panetta, but what don't know which of the "significant actions" she was lied to about, but on the other hand Panetta claims the top 4 House and Senate members were informed of the activities. Max is doing his usual slight of hand with proof, knowing that the information needed to respond as he asks is not available. Literally, with respect to watrerboarding, which is what we are really talking about isn't it, Panetta apparently said nothing. So all we know is that panetta has adknowlledged that the CIA lied to congress over the past 8 years. That neither proves nor disproves Nancy's assertion that she was not told about waterboarding in the one briefing she received on the interrogation practices, but it does tend to lend some credibility to her assertion, and certainly opens up the possibility that she was telling the truth. Oh, and investigate Pelosi? Give me a break - that isn't going to happen.

TdF'ophiles - David Millar is tied with Cancellara and Armstrong (on a virtual, on the road basis) with just under 11 km to go in the stage.

Chloe....hubby and I are still newlyweds as we were married on April 1st, 2007. My first hubby 'dumped me' in the desert in 2001....I started dating Bart in 2001, but it was a long romance.

Chloe...Bologna, our dog, was at our wedding.

I thought you talked like a newlywed at times. I should have known..... I take what I said back. :)

Nothing to it, Chloe...we need a flow chart to track the trailmixers.

Oh, how sweet. Bolgona get's involved in everything. I love that picture of her (I think her) checking out your blue corn.

Yep, Bologna loves the garden and her turtle and tortoise. And I did dress her for the wedding.

TdFers, the peloton is flexing its muscle. With 2 km to go, Millar's lead is down to 20 seconds. Not likely that there will be a change in the yellow jersey today - but tomorrow - big mountains, so hold on to your hats. A final report will be forthcoming in a few minutes.

If you ever thought about making your own wine, this is the year
It's going to be a big crop and nobody is buying

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090709/NEWS/907091004/1349?Title=Grapes-go-unsold

TdFers, well, Thor Hushovd won the stage - and nothing changed atop the GC standings.

KGC...bad news regarding the wine. Time to develop a cleanskins shoppe in the Russian River area.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleanskin_(wine)

"It's going to be a big crop and nobody is buying"

I HATE recessions. I know they're probably unavoidable, but still, things change and never go back to being the same. I know that's probably weird to feel that way, but I just 'hate' inconveniences. A slight problem I have, since they're also unavoidable.

One does not need to choose up sides between Pelosi and the CIA in this matter. It's more a matter of reading history and understanding that whatever 'damage' has been done by elected politicians to the CIA, and one might include Kennedy, Nixon, Carter, GWB, Frank Church and many others in that number (who were for the most part trying to carry out their constitutional duties), the fact is that far greater damage has been self-inflicted by the CIA, often by overreaching its authority, playing politics (including geo-politics) with intelligence, and by its incestuousness and self-promotional culture leading to, among other things, the failure to uncover its own internal problems, (e.g.Aldrich Ames). And this is to say nothing of the culture that would give us Phillip Agee. Between Agee and Ames, far more damage was done than Nancy Pelosi could ever do by merely questioning the CIA's 'veracity.'

Maybe we'll actually get to eat some of the good grapes this year. Here in Texas, they've been terrible the last few years. A lot of it comes from California, but the problem I think is in the shipping. The best fruits seem to always go to the huge buyers, like juicers (and in this case, I guess wine makers).

"I did dress her for the wedding."

Now I"d REALLY love to see a picture of that. Do you have a photo bucket?

"It's more a matter of reading history and understanding that whatever 'damage' has been done by elected politicians to the CIA, and one might include Kennedy, Nixon, Carter, GWB, Frank Church and many others in that number (who were for the most part trying to carry out their constitutional duties), the fact is that far greater damage has been self-inflicted by the CIA, often by overreaching its authority, playing politics (including geo-politics) with intelligence, and by its incestuousness and self-promotional culture leading to, among other things, the failure to uncover its own internal problems, (e.g.Aldrich Ames)."

Wow! I love that sentence Joe.

Chloe..no, photo bucket, but I can email to you, if you feel comfy with that (and you will get to know my true identity!). Actually, B-lo hates to be dressed except for her blue jean jacket. She used to model on ebay for my gf who bought the remaining clothes from a pet store that was going out of business. Bologna was still a puppy and earned a whole wardrobe of clothes.

Nope New Pogo, Craig asserts that Pelosi was right. Nothing you said disputes that. Slight of hand? If we stick to Craig's claim, what slight of hand?

Panetta was adding chips to the poker play regarding Pelosi. He also made claims about Cheney and then back peddled. Of course, then, Democrats knew the documents Cheney needed wouldn't be released, but that didn't stop them. Perhaps Pannetta ought to stick to figuring out why we missed elections in Lebanon and Iran. Maybe he can figure out how many weapons Hamas and HIzb'Allah really have. Maybe he can uncover where Quds is and what they are up to.

I can can think of a thousand ways the CIA could better its business instead of entering the political realm.

No to investigting Pelosi? Panetta claims the CIA lied in regard to disclosing information to her about interrogations? Speaker of the House calls the CIA liars and that she never knew nuttin. Had this been a Republican the partisans would be screaming.

And when the CIA told Congree that Iran was killing US troops in Iraq, did Pelosi listen? When Iraq hung in the balance who did Pelosi support? The people of Tibet? So why not say something about the Uihgers now? And what about the exiled Iranians living in squalor in Iraq camps? Has Pelosi even said anything about women protesters dying at Evin in Iran? Did she get a shred of help from China regarding NK and those two American reporters when she fled following her rant about the CIA?

I repeat, Pannetta laid down a smoke screen for Pelosi because the cries for her head are loud. Nothing Pannetta said vidicates Pelosi and how Craig now thinks she was right, is a strange stretch at best.
No problem. In 1984, they just rewrote history to make it conform to present views. Pelosi is useless and a sad drag to Democratic leadership. She is not Big Mother.

"It's going to be a big crop and nobody is buying"

I HATE recessions.

Chloe the same scenario is going on in department stores, automobile lots, etc.....the death of consumerism and the waste left behind.

Blonde chloe at doubt.com

(If you ever want to set up a photo bucket and need help, it's very simple..... if it weren't, I couldn't have done it.)

.... and I 'already' love Bologna.

"the same scenario is going on in department stores, automobile lots, etc.....the death of consumerism and the waste left behind."

Yes, I agree Blonde. That's exactly what I meant by inconveniences. Aside from the pain it is causing so many people who needs jobs, etc., I don't have the selection I had when things were good. I know that sounds petty, and it is, but like I said, I hate recessions.

Solar, for you:
Do We Need a Second Stimulus?
A more troubling question is why so little is being spent from the first.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124709595712615003.html

... well, I've been talking way too much, as usual... gotta go.

"dumped me in the desert"

LMAO, BW! Now I KNOW you are a country songwriter at heart! There's a song in that one!

BW

The Cleanskin idea is kind of cool and especially in a recession could offer a lot of opportunities.

Max, we are limited by the facts we know. Nancy Pelosi said the CIA lied to her 7 years ago. Panetta said the CIA misled Congress for the past 8 years. Asking Craig to prove anything beyond that is, yes, slight of hand. You think Panetta put a smoke screen out for Pelosi, fine. Prove Nancy wrong - we already know that the CIA's chart detailing the briefings they gave was error ridden. This is the second strike. Depending on how you count, "slam dunk" could be the third. At some point, after so many screwups, you have to stop believeing the partisan BS being pumped out by the CIA - I've reached that point. I hope Panetta can restore some semblance of trust between the CIA and Congress. There are, after all, constitutional issues in play.

Solar, if you're around .... lunch.

Proving Pelsi wrong is far easier. There were others that were briefed. They do not support Pelosi's recollection.

The hisotry of the CIA during Bush's terms do not show they were at bat for him. Curve Ball and others constantly poked at administration policy and the CIA participated in that 2007 NIE Report that was merely a partisan attempt to stop a feared US attack on Iran. In any case, I don't see why Craif hails Pelosi as right based on Panetta. That was the gist of what I was saying...

And more from the people Obama wants Israel to negotiate with:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/2009/07/026874print.html

KGC...cleanskins can be excellent wine and are sought-out in Australia. When flying within Australia, you are allowed to take bottled wine on board in the cabin...except for cleanskins. You can basically bring your own bottle to the shoppe and fill it up...so the government doesn't want any unopened bottles on board the flight. Flying with wine was easy in Australia...not so easy in the US.

Max says:

"the CIA participated in that 2007 NIE Report that was merely a partisan attempt to stop a feared US attack on Iran. "

So, let's take your statement at face value and then you can explain why you would trust the CIA?

...RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET AT LUBBOCK...

AT 312 PM CDT...THE TEMPERATURE REACHED 106 DEGREES AT LUBBOCK/S
PRESTON SMITH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THIS EXCEEDS THE PREVIOUS DAILY
RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 103 SET IN 1998.

c-bob...good news for the oven, no?

Patsi.... ROFL!
let me attempt a stanza....

hubby dumped me in the desert....
thought I was no good...
now I'm happily remarried...
and havin' all the fun I should...

It's hard for me to gauge whether we have our usual hummers up here or not... the weather has been so cold for this time of year that our flower garden grown specifically to attract them isn't blooming yet.... today the high is only 68 degrees....

Chloe.... I hate recessions too. It means I have a harder time selling my work. And it's not because of the loss of money.... it's the fact that I LOVE to weave.... but it's hard to justify making more inventory when nothing is moving. Most craftspeople I know feel this way.

Ping....
so I looked at a few headlines on some blogs.... BFD....

as for news.... I've completely given up at the moment on tv news of any sort...
it's the freak show of Jackson and Palin.... although I will admit that I am grateful to them for completely breaking the addiction I once had of cable news shows...

Thank you RR and Patsi for the lyrics!

There are reptiles in the desert
You don't want to meet
And the worst ones of all
Walk all over you with two feet.

Max, Youre 10:37 am,

Max, don't you have enough on your plate already. Stay out of Honduras will you? The same goes for Obama, and Clinton. It is non of our business what goes on over there. there have no American lives lost, or property damaged.!!!

From what I understand, there was just the action to prevent Z. the president from changing the constitution that prohibits him to be a life long president. He wanted to change it like Chavez did. The Military followed the orders of their Supreme Courts is all.

Max, stop yelling for American interference all over the world. Take a nap, and when U get up: Maybe U won't be so grouchy when you get up, and keep yelling out for more, and more wars. HA!..........think that you are having bad nightmares, and mixing them up with the real world. hahaha

I am sorta amused that some of the more strident women here stand up for Palin and profess to not be an admirer of Pelosi whom has much more gravitas and professional achievements. I might add that Pelosi is still in Congress as she did not quit her elected post early. I am more amused that these same women profess to be Democrats or left leaning Independents. Crazy world.

Jamie...thank you for the lyrics. He was also a snake who could only take!

I am out of deposit slips for my checking account...does anyone else have this problem? I write fewer checks these days and pay electronically, so I have plenty of checks, but no deposit slips. The banks are once again behind the curve on this one...I need the deposit slips more than the checks.

Blonde -
Yep , it was really a good day.
I didn't get as high a temperature as I had hoped ( 305 for 4 hours ), but as we started foolin' with it , I found about 4 leaks, or imperfections. That are good for another 100 degrees.
We baked 2 loaves of bread after the clouds came back.
Shot 25 min. of clips. Processing them now.

It makes people smile, as they approach it, a big grin comes over their faces.

Pogo,

Next time you can have the tie.......looks like I put u on your guard by taking the last one. I had a lunch that tasted sooooo good. I had a blt, in one hand, and a concrete finishing trowel in the other. I like being busy and enjoy the hard work of concrete.......a lot more than not working, being idle all the time. BUT........things will change if

OBAMA RELEASES THE STIMULUS MONEY NOW!!!!!!!!!

ps Chloe thanks for that link about the next stimulus money. How can they tell that we need another one, before releasing this one......there is still...70 -80% still not allocated.

I did see that Chu: The secretary of energy did get 100 million released to Mnn, I think it was for a corp that will get busy with energy conservation. That is what Im talking about.

c-bob

Congratulations and pretty exciting! And will you post the oven website address for us to view the film?

Hell, Pogo, ...... I like working so much that you can put me to work even after Im gone ( dead), and meet up with my buddy "EL Diablo".

In the Barcelona suburb of Santa Coloma de Gramenet, the deceased are fighting climate change. Last November, the town's cemetery installed more than 450 solar panels on tops of the mausoleums, called niches.

Esteban Serret's company, Cons-te, S.L., manages the graveyard and helped convert it into a solar park. He says the sun is one of Spain's best sources of alternative energy. The graveyard should generate enough wattage to power 60 homes annually.

Some were initially skeptical of putting the panels in such a sacred place. But Serret says that relatives of the deceased "tell us that it's very good to produce clean energy from their grandfather, grandmother, to put the energy to the new generations."

Sorry from NPR........all things considered.

http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=2

jamie since you are in Tacoma you might be interested in attending Immanuel Presby Church on the 3rd Sunday evening for what looks to be world class blues performances. It is called Blues Vespers.

http://www.ipctacoma.org/lifeatimmanuel.php?id=1

might be interesting .

According to former Senator Bob Graham of Florida the CIA lied or to put it in a nicer tone, mislead.

Graham disputes CIA on briefings

By Nathan Crabbe
Staff writer

Published: Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 1:02 a.m.

Former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham said Friday that his detailed diaries show Democrats were told less about the interrogation of terrorists than the CIA claims.

Graham said the CIA claimed he was briefed four times about extreme interrogation techniques as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

He said he called the head of archives at the University of Florida, where his notebooks are stored, to check if he had listed the briefings.

"We established that three out of four of these alleged briefings never took place," he said.

For his part, Graham said he doesn't recall being told about waterboarding or other extreme techniques in his briefing. He believes that "misinformation is out there" based on his experience.

"I think the Republican-led CIA of that era, among other things, was loose with the facts and loose with the record," he said.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090516/articles/905169963?Title=Graham-disputes-CIA-on-briefings

Must run errands...be back later and thank you some great lyrics of life.

oh Dooty....
I just know I'm gonna get in trouble for this post.... but I fully agree with your 12:52 post.... I almost said something this morning to Carol.... but thought she might think I was picking on her and didn't....

I don't care what excuse Palin gives.... she quit.... period...

and, IMO.... Pelosi is the toughest woman in politics today.... as well as the highest ranking one too... and one gets nowhere in politics without stepping on a few toes.... and that goes for Hillary as well....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242716
Gosh, Doots, how can you use "gravitas" with either of them without including 'lack of'?

Max, there were 2 other people present at Pelosi's briefing - one is the CIA agent who briefed her, and we've already seen that the records of the briefings, based on the briefing agents' memories and notes, are not reliable. The other was fellow congressman and ex-spook and head of the CIA assisination arm, Porter Goss, who said "We knew what we were talking about" without ever saying that the specific techniques were discussed. I'm sure he did.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/08/politics/main5001003.shtml

"CIA records show Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi was briefed in September 2002 on harsh interrogation techniques that could be used on terror suspects, but the records are unclear on whether she was informed that waterboarding - a form of torture - had already been used against a prisoner.

***

"Even the CIA suggests that its account of the meetings will not settle the debate over who knew what and when.

"In the end, you and the Committee will have to determine whether this information is an accurate summary of what actually happened," states the May 6 cover letter from CIA Director Leon Panetta to Rep. Silvestre Reyes, Democratic chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. "

Even the CIA agent and ex-CIA agent don't prove Nancy's claim wrong. Frankly, I don't trust a word they said.

Renee, why do you say she's the toughest? I wonder how she would fare with Mrs Merkel. And, I think Ms Clinton could whip the dickens out of her.

It's harder to kill women, and children when you have seen their faces!

It has become more difficult to bomb Iran
People power has upset Israel’s careful calculations about the pros and cons of air strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities

NEW YORK — In the weeks since moderate Iranians threw down the gauntlet to the conservative clerics who run their lives, Israel has watched the unfolding drama with trepidation.

Since the discovery of a serious Iranian nuclear program at Natanz in 2003, trepidation has laced Israeli views of Iran. Already an enemy by virtue of its support for Hezbollah in Lebanon and terrorism against Jews generally, suddenly Iran loomed as a potential source of the ultimate nightmare — a nuclear attack.

But the discomfort caused by the the dramatic clashes between Iranian moderates and the regime is of a different nature. As long as the vacant stare of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Hilterian rants of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad embodied "Iran," Israel could avoid thinking too seriously about what military types call "collateral damage." Many suspected Iranian nuclear facilities were located in busy suburbs, some beneath busy cities.

Now, however, Iran has donned a very different face — not just that of Neda, the young protester whose tragic death has been watched by millions on YouTube. The new face Iran has turned to the world is a composite. Yes, the mullah and Ahmadinnerjacket are still in there, but so are hundreds of thousands of people risking their skin to repudiate them.

This is not a minor issue for Israel, nor for American military planners who might have harbored hopes of reviving the idea of a preemptive strike on Iranian nuclear sites. A former head of Israel's Mossad intelligence service, Meir Dagan, let slip the dilemma facing anti-Iranian hawks when he told journalists recently: "If the reformist candidate Mousavi had won, Israel would have had a more serious problem because it would need to explain to the world the danger of the Iranian threat, since Mousavi is perceived internationally arena as a moderate element."

In effect, Dagan said, Ahmadinijad was Israel's choice because it would have been a lot easier to send a wave or two of F-15s to bomb Iran if the world knew that Iranians had, indeed, overwhelmingly reelected such a cretin.

Now, images of street protests vastly complicate that calculus. Imagine the revulsion if such air strikes, as they regularly do in Afghanistan, led to the unintended deaths of dozens or more of the very Iranians who are being cheered in the streets today?

Again, I forgot the link.

http://www.globalpost.com/bio/michael-moran

"I am more amused that these same women profess to be Democrats or left leaning Independents."

I don't remember anyone 'professing' any loyalty to any party above all else here. (?) What amuses me is that some men think it is their business which way some women lean.

Some more history that "everybody knows" that now can be filed under "It ain't necessarily so"

http://www.salon.com/books/review/2009/07/09/macmillan/index.html

Another thing that amuses me, is that some people see to usually only drop in here long enough to insult someone. Crazy world indeed.

"Even the CIA agent and ex-CIA agent don't prove Nancy's claim wrong. Frankly, I don't trust a word they said."

I wouldn't surprised, if they really looked carefully, that they didn't find the briefing script and the list of attendees all neatly filed in the appropriate office.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242727

Dooty, Thank you. I've put it on my calendar. This time of year, I can drive in the evening and it is an easy drive.

Gosh if I were Leon Panetta I'd get a food taster

Flatus, nor would I.

s

Bethy and I are having a trailmix margarita meetup this afternoon - if it is ok with her --I'll take some pics and post them

Flatus....
I should have said the toughest woman in US politics....

Nancy outranks Hillary.... maybe that will change.... and maybe it won't ....
I do think Hillary is smarter....

Chloe.... I'm gonna defend Dooty.... lots of people (both men and women) on this blog have said which party they belong to and which way they lean....
and if I were to say that I think Ping leans right.... would you tell me that it amuses you that some women think it is their business which way some men lean? If one wants to be treated like an equal than one must play like an equal, IMO...

And are you amused as Dooty is Renee?

Jamie,
Thank you for posting that link.
On a related note:
"The Past is never dead. It's not even past."
William Faulkner, "Requiem for a Nun."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242730

Dooty and Renee,

I don't think anyone was defending Palin's abilities as much as condemning things said about her that would never be said about any man. It is the gender negatives. That things could be said about her that would never be said about a man in the same condition if there was even a male counterpart to the comments.

Now I do admit to calling her Carribou Barbie as a way to fault her for using her looks and glib talk without saying anything manner to attain power, but I would also refer to Mitt Romney as a Ken doll who wouldn't have obtained his position if it weren't for surname and influence.

Pelosi, I respect her for her achievement and most of her positions, but I don't like her mainly because of the way she treated Jane Harmon and Hillary Clinton. I can call her a barracuda because I would call a man who was equally vindictive a barracuda. I also don't like getting stuck with REid because of her machinations when I think there were many Democratic Senators who would do a better job.

Chloe....
nope..... just curious....

And Renee, Should I be amused or put out, if Ping say something nice about Obama. Does that make him some sort of 'bad' Republican? I just want to get all the rules straight here. Don't want to 'amuse' anyone.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242734

Flatus,
spoken like a career S-2 guy. Pretty obvious that the CIA did not tell everyone the same thing.

But, who's the toughest man in politics?

Well, here's the kind of sh*t the GOP is going to throw at Sotomayor.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/09/frank-ricci-gop-to-showca_n_228788.html

And exactly what does the average firefighter have to say about the qualifications of an appeals court judge to sit on the highest court of the land? They'll have 2 of the 3 elements for a perfect storm - Jeff "I thought the KKK guys were OK until I heard they smoke pot" Sessions and Frank "Title VII protects against unfair discrimination against white males" Ricci.

Jamie...
that is a balanced position, IMO....

as for condemning things said about women that would never be said about a man..... Pelosi was called a "Queen Bee" and accused of "scratching and clawing" her way to the top this morning.... if such terms aren't sexist, than I guess I don't really know what is....

but I'm as guilty as the next person of having my own prejudices...

Jamie,

please let me know if you go to the Blues Vesper. Just curious.

wrt Polosi treating Harmon or Clinton harshly, I cannot say one way or the other. I did not see it. But I wasn't looking for it either. I agree that we should be able to call BS on anyone woman or man without fear of condemnation. That said to defend my post earlier about being amused, I was just simply stating that it seemed that some were being inconsistent in their views.

You also have to remember that I am a self-appointed "Yellow Dog Democrat". I am not particularly moderate.

Chloe....
I'm not getting into playing a game with you....

I believe in treating all people as equals.... both men and women....

Hey flatus, I happened across this re: your comments this morning about governors and the defenses they are or are not entitled to from the AG office - or in this case the De[partment of Law.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/09/adn-confirms-palins-story_n_228683.html

RR

The trouble is finding terms for the male of the species to express the same condition. :-) Men have been so good about contributing names for women, but there is a shortage of terms for men. Maybe we need to go into the creating words business.

Everyone can recognize a "Queen Bee" as someone who uses their position to browbeat others and accrue special favors for oneself while being vengeful toward any competitors. What would you call a man.

Scratching and clawing - There you have the cat images, but if you call a man a "tiger", he would probably be flattered.

We really need to go to work on this project. I'm all for starting a Committee to Create Insulting Terms for Men.

Jamie, Isn't the word you are looking for 'prick'?

Jamie.... LOL!

I once tried to find a word to describe a male bimbo on this blog and came up with the word bimbette.... but I have to admit it doesn't quite have the same ring to it....

" Everyone can recognize a "Queen Bee" as someone who uses their position to browbeat others and accrue special favors for oneself while being vengeful toward any competitors. What would you call a man. "

Jamie ,
We call em' ass holes.

Great link to that "history" article, Jamie. I've just started a book you might like:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312428324/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

"I am more amused that these same women profess to be Democrats or left leaning Independents. Crazy world."

That's complete BS and you know it Dooty. What I have said is STOP trashing Palin in sexist terminology. I have NEVER said to support her politics, or that any woman should be supported simply because of gender. So stop trying to rewrite history. ESPECIALLY this woman's history.

"some of the more strident women "

PS -- thank you very much. I'll try to be more ladylike.

jamie, I'm sure there a re a few women from my past who might be able to help you with male gender-based slurs. :-(

CALLAHAN: If she wants to play lumberjack, she's gonna have to learn to handle her end of the log.

Back to the photon factory .

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/09/adn-confirms-palins-story_n_228683.html

Pogo, it was my bad for specifying governors--it was just that they've been so much in the news lately. The personal burden is much more likely applied to lesser elected officials without broad executive authority.

The counter-argument to what's in your link is, 'Based on historical records, 30-percent of the staff attorneys' time is spent doing personal lawyering for the governor. Therefore, it seems fiscally prudent that we reduce the number of staff attorneys by one third.'

I suppose the fallback position would be using campaign funds.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242770

Patsi, LOL. Just WHY would yo do that?

Flatus, oh, I don't defend the practice of providing governors with a defense for personal matters - I just was pointing out that if there's an official component involved the governor is part of "the State" and they don't have to pay for their defense, and AGs don't have the discretion to prejudge the merits of the charges or claims brought.

"PS -- thank you very much. I'll try to be more ladylike."

Patsi.... ROTFLMAO!!!
I think I pissed my pants.... too late to ask for a Depends....

Chloe.... don't be mad at me.... unless you want to be....
I just thought you treated someone unfairly over a difference of opinion.... much the way you were treated when you first appeared on this blog....
but god knows I ain't no saint.... I've made plenty of mistakes here....

Renee, I'm never mad at you. We both say what we want. So what. Besides, you didn't say anything to make me mad.

( you must know that I treat men and women equally too.... it wasn't me who broke it down into a man/woman thing)

.... love you Renee.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242769

Patsi,

Isn't that what Palin used herself? A little wink here; a smile there? Pretty hard to separate the sexist from the gender when the one that is being put up on uses her gender to help her define the argument. Kinda like not attacking the kids but she is allowed to put them out there as examples of how she does things.

And I don't always know what is BS here and what is not BS here. For me, it seems to shift depending on who is talking and about whom is talked about.

I made the 'mistake' of taking what Dooty said personally. For myself and for Carol. But, still, I meant what I said, and don't think it was uncalled for.

"And I don't always know what is BS here and what is not BS here. For me, it seems to shift depending on who is talking and about whom is talked about. "

I would say that's a universal organizational dynamic--which doesn't make it good--just universal.

news on the energy front:

US could score big if we lead in the energy race some have compared to reaching them moon.

Three areas that could be home runs are carbon trapping, cellulosic and coal liquefaction. We also have advanced designs for terror and earthquake proof reactors using little or no water. We could just let the French and Russians sell their products.

Some have said the cost of Obama's energy bill over a decade could cost the equivalent of a thousands nuclear plants. That number would make us a clean energy consumer and an energy exporter besides providing the unions with a lot of construction. The point is what exactly we are spending our money on. Do our proposed policies help us win the real energy race going on now?

The countries that break these targeted barriers below will be the winners. The era of pilot programs is upon us as the race unfolds………

First three carbon sequestration projects below. Is there anybody opposed to these plans if they work? Wouldn't this ability go a long way to cut short term carbon production until even cleaner technology becomes commercial?

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/raytheon-tests-carbon-sequestration/

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20090522/ulaunches-first-carbon-capture-and-sequestration-test.htm

Cellulosic as a regional means to run hybrids and local electrical generation is another grail. Pre-treatment of biomass has lead Chinese researchers to be able to extract hydrogen through a fermentation process using little input energy.

Below is some relted cellulosic news:

http://www.bigskyco2.org/research/geologic/phaseIII

http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2009/04/23/making-advanced-biofuels-from-cellulosic-biomass-is-not-an-illusion-it-is-about-to-happen-a-biofuels-digest-special-report-on-advanced-biofuels/

Coal liquefaction ala Asia is going to happen. You would think the Germans would have a lock on this, but we might be the winners yet........

http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/climate/2009/01/08/china-coal-liquefaction-and-more/

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2007/07/14/first-coal-liquefaction-plant-proposed-south-kalimantan.html?1

Did I say winners" We'll see if these guys be able to protect their patent if it works (see above in China)

http://www.energycurrent.com/index.php?id=3&storyid=17320

Chloe....
love right back atchya..... we both stand by what we said and that's a good thing, IMO....

AnnaMolly.... as you can surely see.... there's a lot of strong women here....
we can disagree and stand our ground....
hope you'll agree to stick around....
but if for some reason you will not...
it's not in vain that you have fought...

I'm not writing any more songs.... :0)

"A little wink here; a smile there?"

Can't you see that this is in itself incredibly sexist? Your interpretation of her mannerisms? I never felt she was coming onto anyone. Unless, of course, women better damn well never wear open toed shoes, wink or grin at anyone. How many times have I seen a man grin and wink. I never thought he was using sex to get ahead.

My whole beef with this is that the slurs are aimed at all women, not just her. I could direct you to a bunch of feminist sites that might further explain this, Doots -- but I think you'd find those women even more "strident" than me. LMAO!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242781

chloe,

I am sorry if you took it that way. That was not my intention.

OK let's just say that Palin is stupid!

and no I don't see it as "incredibly sexist". It looks from my vantage point that SHE, SARAH F. PALIN is attempting to use her sexuality, NOT AS A COME ON, Patsi, but as a way to get attention. THAT IS SEXIST in my opinion. All I am doing is pointing out that. You don't like, OK you don't like it.

Thank you Dooty! And I'm sorry if I took it wrong (based on things that happened when I first got here).

Ok then, something we can agree on.
Some of Palin's ideas are STUPID!

http://www.quantexenergy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=16&Itemid=24

Wouldn't it be lovely if this worked?

I find feminst beligerence sexy......in a beautiful woman.

Coal liquifaction is not going to fly in the US because of the fact that it is VERY dirty - producing 2-3 times as much CO2 as equivalent fuels made from petroleum, and James INhofe notwithstanding, the American people believe global warming has a human componenet and won't support the development of technologies that increase the earth's carbon load.

Carbon sequestration is in its infancy, and there is no consensus on how it can be done in any other than an illusory manner.

Cellulosic ethanol is a possibility if the technology advances enough to make it commercially viable. It's certainly a better alternative than corn ethanol in many respects, but the cost and state of the technology are not among them.

Get smart - invest in solar - it's just a good battery away from being an exploding technology.

Dooty, I take that back.
MOST of her ideas are STUPID.

hee hee

http://www.naebunny.net/~mommylemur/?p=2153

Dooty...
I don't think Palin is stupid.... but I do think she is too ignorant to be President of this country.....

I don't like all the sexist slurs that have been thrown at her.....
but I don't respect the way I see her as having used her children and I don't respect the way she just quit her governorship.... if she had quit and said that she wanted the time to pursue a national office, I would at least give her credit for her honesty.... I do think she is in politics for the long haul and if she does become the Republican candidate for any national office she will receive more votes than a lot of people now think she will...

Chloe, unless, I'm misunderstanding the term, back in the 50s the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co crunched up coal and transported it through pipelines using water as the transporting medium. It was for the Eastlake generating station.

"use" her sexuality Dootster, or do you mean "exploit" her sexuality? Brad Pitt uses his looks every day. There is a confidence in feeling attractive and desirable apart from any fantasy of copulation or exploitation.

Attractive people do use their looks all the time as attractiveness is positively related to intelligence and competence despite the popular myths.

Palin knows there are posters of her in nothing but a bikini and a hunting rifle. So? Again, I think the inuendo suggesting exploitation and the inabliity to distinguish between using attractiveness/desirablity v flirtation or intentional sexual signaling goes too far. That is, if you use a gender fair measure. Unattractive men compensate in other ways. They think women are sexually impressed with power and money. Just watch Donald Trump. He's flirting all the time.......

In Hillary's case, being less than Penthouse-Ready, media exploited other gender double standards in suggesting Clinton was "bitchy", "using tears" and even playing the gender card. Quite remarkable.

Dooty might as well called Palin a slut. Maybe he's just projecting his own sexual desires.

There are some Palin-looking porn stars that spoof her. You could google them up......

New Pogo, read the links. What will fly is what works. China is using a dirty process. Still, 30% of the cost of a barrel of oil will make it fly in many places.

We are testing a completely different method and even more conventional methods could be greatly helped with sequestration.

Again, read the links. I know Clean Coal, despite our President's backing, is a hard thing to swallow.

Well, I'll leave you guys to figure out the political and energy futures of Palin and the US, respectively. I expect solutions by tomorrow. But now I've got some work to do that Mrs. P has mandated before we slip out to this litlle restaurant we like for a quiet dinner over a nice glass of wine.

Funny how you posted that comment NP right after facts that refute it. That Congressional Report was way back. There have been some new links since then.

Perhaps building 1000 nuke plants would be more effective than cap and trade.......

I think the costs are the same.

I read the links before I commented. Wishful thinking, technological infancy, call them what you will, but they ain't answers yet.

Good move NP.....have fun.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-24279

OMG, George W Bush winked all the time! Was he trying to be sexy? If so, It certainly didn't work with me. It makes me kind of nauseous to even think about it.

Pogo,

"nvest in Solar", but of course :-))), and MAN are you competetitive, now U are announcing Dinner.

nvest=invest, and that other dumb word is competitive

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-24279

OMG, George W Bush winked all the time! Was he trying to be sexy? If so, It certainly didn't work with me. It makes me kind of nauseous to even think about it.

I used to use.....a nod and a wink, and it got me somewhere: Now when I use a nod and a wink, all it gets me is slapped, twice if Judyy catches me. hahaha

Max Max Max,

no I don't even think she is good looking. For me to think a woman is sexy she needs to have something beyond plumbing and toys to play with. Like a brain. Smart women are sexy in my opinion. Nice cheap shot. Go back to your war scenarios. You don't know what you are talking about.

maxtrue @ 11:40 am :

"Of course, then, Democrats knew the documents Cheney needed wouldn't be released, but that didn't stop them."

More to the point, cheney knew they wouldn't be released.

"and toys to play with."

???????

Just got home and haven't read too much yet. I have my monthly NP meeting again tonight. It's the one that you guys finance with your medications bills. I will eat/drink proud and I want to thank you in advance.

Chloe, one of the things I love about this blog is that ya'll do the research and all I have to do is read your links.

I liked the article you linked from the Ottawa Citizen. You know what? Before it is all over, I may end up voting for Sarah Palin for president in 2016. Of course she will have to make a few changes first.

And Chloe, what I got from that interview with the Derm. last night is just how much MJ loved his kids, the good things he did for others, more insight into his pain, etc. He seemed to have such goodness in his heart yet have so many others turn it into evil. If he was really evil, it wouldn't have bothered him. Evil people don't care what others think.

And what is also funny, not really, is that it's more likely that the people with the really evil minds are the ones who like to turn other people's good into evil because that's how they think. They don't understand really good people. They persecute really good people.

Mr. pong believes the CIA. Wanna buy a bridge ?

The Guardian reports that the global rupert murdoch owned/run propaganda mill has been hacking into private phones. :
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090709/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_newspaper_privacy

I can't tell exactly what they are going to do about the hacking, xrep....is Murdoch getting by with it?

The Allies ought to roll up the murdoch empire, imprison all the principals and editors for life, and auction all their assets off. That pimping ferret deserves waterboarding X3/day.

Do you get my point, mr. murderch ?

some kids build tree houses.........other kids tear them down when they find them............

Patsi,

I don't know, but I hope not. H. R. M's Government is looking into it. If the Brits go after him, it will give us Yanks the political license to do the same.

That pimp is the worst thing ever to come out of Australia.

some kids re-build the tree house and add some really vicious booby traps.....other kids just re-build the tree house with the knowlege that it will soon be torn down again............

Just had some time to peruse some of the later blog posts. Let's see strident, defined by Wiktionary as, 1.Loud; shrill, piercing, high-pitched; rough-sounding. How can you tell from a post??? Hmmmm.

Actually with the day I had today at work I could very well be all of the above. I don't ask you to agree with me. I do have a right to my opinion. Is that OK?

I have to go to my meeting so I don't have time right now to be more strident. I will be back. I'll try not to shout. Maybe a nice bloody Mary might help. Make that a double.

I'm all for tree houses.

Some pals and I spent most of a couple summers up in a big catalpa tree, around '55, '56. It was very peacefull up there. Up the alley, some other kids built a really neat 2 story shack, but that was in the sun, and got horrifically hot on summer afternoons. The catalpa was paradise.

I hafta go feed Sweetie, now. Seeya.

hadda go look up "catalpa"

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/catalpa_speciosa.html

for those who don't mind making fun of ms palin here's a new entry in the Urban Dictionary:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pulling+a+palin

Yes, I am saying that the CIA is misleading the congress.

--Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.

it don't get much more cut and dried than that.

Sen Ensign's PARENTS gave $96,000 to Ensign's mistress and her husband as a series of $12,000 'gifts' in order to comply with IRS gift rules.

You can't make this stuff up, folks. SNL, The Daily Show, Colbert, they have nothing on reality.

The link for those who want confirmation.

http://realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com/2009/07/09/the-generosity-of-the-ensign-family/

Song for the day:

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

Pelosi at work

http://futurestorm.blogspot.com/2009/05/hr-1966-offend-someone-online-go-to.html

How can anybody here support this crap?

keith answered it pretty well....I'll repost his comment

Keith said...
May 7, 2009 9:22 AM

You're a [deleted]. The actions must be severe, repeated, and hostile.

"So if you offend someone on Facebook you could go to federal prison for two years?"

NO! If you continually post harassing messages to their account you may...but one instance? No.

"If your blog insults someone and causes them to feel bad you could go to prison for two years?"

NO! Unless you repeatedly do it in a SEVERE and hostile manner...like posting a different way to kill the person every day for a month.

"If you are in a bad mood one day and you send fire off an angry tweet on Twitter that you maybe should not have you could go to prison for two years over it?"

NO! Obviously you have no concept of the word "repeated".

"Freedom of speech is one of the cornerstones of a free society. If we are not free to express ourselves without the fear that someone will be offended, then what freedom will we really have left?"

Freedom of Speech is not absolute - there are some valid restrictions. In this case, they're not restricting WHAT you say, but, rather, HOW you say it (Repeated, severe, hostile). Say something once, it's okay. Say something moderately offensive, it's okay. But harass someone over the internet in a manner that ALREADY WOULD BE A CRIME IF YOU DID IT OVER THE PHONE - then you're in trouble.

i like that part about how it would already be a crime if you did it over the phone........

"If he was really evil, it wouldn't have bothered him. Evil people don't care what others think."

That was always my take on MJ too, Carol. He reminds me of that really beautiful song, Vincent.(corny, but true). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dipFMJckZOM

.... hope you have a wonderful dinner Carol. Be sure to let us know how it is.

Sturg, and then we have all the additional possibilities coming out of elder abuse which includes psychological bullying.

I'm back, didn't have the bloody Mary, ate too much, pooped from a hard day at work so I really don't have any strident in me but DOES ANYBODY WANT TO RUMBLE? Oh, sorry for yelling.

"...RUMBLE?"

Okay. I can go out to the wood stack and get a couple of clubs, there're knives in the kitchen, and I might have a chain or two in the garage. Who, where and why?

They had a demonstration asking for Gov Sanford's resignation or impeachment this afternoon outside the Statehouse. Looked to me like they had more media reps than demonstrators.

I want you on my team Flatus and I'm going to stand right behind you and watch your back. OK?

And thank you to whoever posted the link for everything you can do with dehydrated tomatoes. I've got some in the dryer right now.

You sound just like one of our officers in Vietnam. :)

Flatus --

That was troubling news earlier today about your lack of hummingbirds. I assume you put out nectar feeders, but to no avail? I have seen the numbers dwindle at my feeders, but there have never been NONE. It's distressing to hear about your situation.

I have a dehydrator but have never done anything worthwhile with it. Over the years, lost the instructions. I'm not sure I'm motivated to try using it.

If I'd been in Vietnam Flatus and survived, I'm afraid I'd have had my brains fried by now from using too many heavy drugs. Couldn't have handled that at all.

We just buried a young vet here today. He just got back from Iraq. He was at a party trying to break up a fight and some young guys who crashed the party shot and killed him. So far they have arrested five guys and one is the son of a police officer. The fellow was due to go to Aghanastan soon. It was so sad.

Ivy, yes, I have the feeders out, but nothing. There used to be several around most of the time just a few years ago. I keep my fingers crossed so maybe...

It's really nice having you back here safely!

Didn't dehydrate your hummingbirds, did you?

And I do want to say that I was so proud of Ms. Pelosi when she became the first female speaker of the house. I stood up in my living room and applauded for her. I am still proud of her accomplishment.

Carol, that's really a sad story. These guys come back after doing our business for us and then crap like this happens. The guilty are probably too stupid to understand what they've done.

Thanks, Flatus.

In my two-week absence, my garden was hard-hit by heat prostration. This, in spite of my daughter's purported plant-sitting duties. And grubs galore...those little roly-poly insects that are chewing up everything at the roots! Any ideas on how to combat them?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242862

I do wish the Speaker was a better speaker.

Oh no Ivy. There is only one hummer, maybe two, I have left and I put out new sugar water for him and her every couple of days.

I watched the ceremony when she took the gavel. Everybody there seemed genuinely happy, including the Republicans. And I was thrilled, too.

Flatus, do you want that dehydrated tomato site? And you can make jerky, turkey or turkey jerky. I used to make beef jerky all the time but now my teeth don't want to work that hard.

Ivy, I think the most effective way is sauteing them in sesame oil.

So does anyone still believe that the CIA does not mislead, lie or omit on going programs to Congress for oversight.

A while back Seymour Hersh made a remark that stunned everyone at a event he was speaking at. Could this be what Panetta found out about and when he did, go directly to the oversight committee about it?

"So what are the "significant actions" that these seven lawmakers insist were kept from Congress? Another theory being bandied about concerns an "executive assassination ring" that was allegedly set up and answered to former Vice President Dick Cheney. The New Yorker's Seymour Hersh, building off earlier reporting from the New York Times, dropped news of the possibility that such a ring existed in a March 2009 discussion sponsored by the University of Minnesota.

"It is a special wing of our special operations community that is set up independently," Hersh said. "They do not report to anybody, except in the Bush-Cheney days, they reported directly to the Cheney office. They did not report to the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff or to Mr. [Robert] Gates, the secretary of defense. They reported directly to him. ...

"Congress has no oversight of it," he added. "It's an executive assassination ring essentially, and it's been going on and on and on. Just today in the Times there was a story that its leaders, a three star admiral named [William H.] McRaven, ordered a stop to it because there were so many collateral deaths. Under President Bush's authority, they've been going into countries, not talking to the ambassador or the CIA station chief, and finding people on a list and executing them and leaving. That's been going on, in the name of all of us.""

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/09/was-the-cia-hiding-cheney_n_228864.html

I would bet that this is what Panetta found out and he is trying to cover his you know what since when this does become public knowledge with Hersh's book that will include this story all hell will break loose.

So lets wait and see what unfolds over the next few months and see what is in Hersh's upcoming book.

No, Carol, I'm just not motivated to use it. If we have enough tomatoes, I'll probably bottle some tomato sauce. I have done jerky in the past. I suppose I could try a dry martini.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242869

BLECHHH!!!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242866

Carol --

Changing the hummer feeder was another one of my daughter's jobs while I was gone. In our southern heat, it should be changed every two days at least. I made two quarts of nectar before I left. When I returned, there was a quart-and-a-half remaining in the fridge. I suspect a few birds got tipsy on fermented sugar water.

That Hersh is always coming up with some interesting shit, isn't he?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242869

Reminds me of those folks who turned the 17-year cicadas into gourmet treats.

(^_~)

Ivy, I've left my sugar water out for 3 days the other day and the hummer came up to the window, hovered and looked right at me as if to say get off your lazy ass and fix this. I did.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242879

Carol --

They do that, yes they do! No dumb birds, those hummers. I'm not sure their lifespan, but I'm convinced the same individuals return here each year.

Flatus, I only have some 4 year old Sky Vodka and several Dox Equis my sister left after her visit. Can I make a martini with that?

Mine's a ruby-throated hummer and his woman.

Ivy, I should have added fresh crushed garlic and a chopped chili to the ingredients. That would probably work with the cicadas as well.

Another bit of wildlife I encountered in the woods of PA...skunks! I then realized #1, they are actually cute, and #2, we don't have them in my neck of the woods. I hadn't smelled that smell in several years! Must have been run out of the state by the competition from our polecat politicians!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242883

Carol --

I'm not sure if they nest here or in South America...let us know if you see baby hummers...

ct...

Yes he is and his facts are usually backed up pretty damn good.

I've been waiting for his book to come out so we would know what other Crimes have been committed in America's name by the Bush\Cheney War Crimes Family.

And I do wonder if the Republicans on the Intelligence knew about it and did nothing to stop it. That goes for Democrats as well.

And if they did they are all guilty of War Crimes and Murder.

Good night.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242884

As C-Bob would say, "Yum."

Add fresh crushed garlic and chopped chili and I'll eat just about anything. I also like my lemon, melted butter, garlic and Tony's seasoning. Throw anything in that sauce and I'll eat it. I told you I almost gnawed off a finger one day trying to get the last drop of that juice.

Anon, I'm not sure I want to know the answer to that question.

I must admit that I don't treat women and men equally. I try to treat women better than men.

Carol, I'm a traditionalist. I think I would have the vodka on the rocks before dinner with maybe a twist; and, with dinner, the beer. (Keep the Dos Equis chilled or it will go north on you.)

And, with that, I'm off to bed.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242887

Anon --

There was a stupefying interview on Rachel with the author of a new book about "The Family." I hope we hear more about this, especially if it is a real group, and if Republican politicians (or any others) are linked with it in the way described. If what the author says is true, this cult-like group has found a way to justify immorality and crimes by its members because they are "chosen." I'm sure Rachel will be re-running that momentarily.

The author is on Rachel now - Jeffrey Sharlet

Here is the book -

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Family/Jeff-Sharlet/e/9780060560058/?itm=1

The Family's affiliates appear to be a Who's Who of the latest GOP scandal headliners to whom "the normal rules don't apply."

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2003/03/0079525

Ivy, I saw a little of this on Rachel and it is truly disgusting. What repellant people! I can't help remembering W thinking he spoke directly to god, as well. This group sounds a bit like scientology.

The basis for this group seems to be a re-defining of christianity in that this group maintains the other is not about helping the poor and dependent, but rather consolidating power in the hands of those who already have it, and using the poor etc as beasts of burden for those in power, reckoning them as not individuals.

At least that's what it sounded like when Rachel described it. I would suspect the group's future is going to be doing some changing once this gets out.
The media should love it.

KGC and I lowered the level of tequila in a bottle or two at the local cantina today to celebrate her birthday. We had plenty of laughs and even some serious talk.
She took a couple of pix, but somebody else sat in my place!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242897

Bethy --

Apparently Jesus was playing the Meek for fools...it's the powerful and duplicitous who will inherit the earth.

Glad you had a good visit with KGC...looking forward to the pix.

Thursday, July 9, 2009
Tony & Larry Take " The Maria Telkes " to 335

http://cbsolaroven.blogspot.com/

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242902

C-Bob --

What lucky gal got the honor of smashing the bottle on 'er bow?

Anybody have experience with Kindle, the "book machine" from Amazon?

Here is a link to the Kindle thing-a-ma-bob. I always said I would cling to my books to the bitter end...maybe I will eat my words? Might still be a little too 'spensive...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00154JDAI/?tag=yahhyd-20&hvadid=57738120011&ref=pd_sl_943ntst4l2_e

Ivy -
Perfect question .

As I researched this project, one thing became clear to me . That the designer of this oven had been forgotten. Her name had been replaced by "Slant Faced Oven" , or " 60/40 Oven ".

I didn't care for that at all . This is the 50th anniversary year of Maria Telkes making her first oven , the one that my oven is based on.
She made 437 F. in 1959 . I didn't even get close to that.
I plan to make sure everyone remembers Maria . Her name is going on the nose .

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/07/nancy-was-right.html#comment-242840

Max,

Than language was included to try to come up with something that would have covered the case where that mother pretended to be a teenage boy who courted then dumped the young girl who then committeed suicide. As well as stalkers that bombard emails with threatening messages or attempts to spread viruses, We're not talking about spouting off on a news site. The wording may need to be tightened, but persistent threats are not about being "offended". Done face to face, it is assault.

Not everyone on line are the coterie of sweetness and light you find here.

Ivy,

Best song on that subject from Camelot

Seven Deadly Virtues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dmYR7PN-Ow

Ivy -

We will be be sprinkling corn meal over the nose.

"Barack has the advantage of hindsight"--PRICELESS!!

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25760252-5001021,00.html

07.09.09 -- 5:39PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (107)
The Deeper Questions

There's a lot of salacious back and forth today about the Ensign scandal. But beneath the tabloid headlines there's a critical question that needs to be asked:

Which is more emasculating? Getting paid a hundred grand by the guy who screwed your wife? Or being a fifty-something United States senator and still needing mom and dad to cut the check to pay off your mistress and her husband?

Thoughts?

--Josh Marshall

We've known for a while that Sen. Ensign (R-NV) gave a 'severance' payment of at least $25,000 to his ex-mistress and her husband. Now it turns out it was $96,000. But it gets better. Ensign's lawyer is pointing out that he didn't pay any money -- his parents paid them off.

--Josh Marshall

Thought for the day :
" In fashion be a reed in the wind, In principles be a rock in the stream. "

All you reeds out there, ............ straighten - up !

NEW THREAD, y'all.

tt

someone should tell ms palin that those waders are useless when you're in over your head............