Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Woo Hoo or Boo Hoo....

Ya think an answer to Why and How would be provided.

Change?

So is the adoption of the former administrations War on Terror (marketed under a new name) by the Barack White House - A confirmation to Pres Bush and acceptance that the plan was the correct course of action? And in a strange way an appology?
Now that Barack knows more - oh wait - can you trust the Intel agency?

We build a fence around it and leave them to fight amongst themselves.
----
MoJo re: the conversation about Rock'l Ctr being Red Square. Um, that's Atlas, Prometheus, Zeus...it's not commie; if anything, it's Greek.

Congrats! You won by a landslide, just like Nixon. Looks like you'll get a chance to sport that tiara. (I want pictures!)

This war has gone on for centuries. Quit fighting people who look the same as they did 1000 years ago.

Seems like the anti-war prez wasn't really anti-war. Gosh, it sure sounds like we are at the 'gates' of hell these days.

Yes, I think it's time for an update!

"The changes have been discussed quietly for years in academic circles, and both Democrats and Republicans agree that the decades-old White House formula, which is based on a 1955 cost of an emergency food diet, is outdated."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090904/ap_on_re_us/us_older_americans_poverty

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1950s.html

some thoughts on insects moving north and crossing into russia from alaska:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Mosquitoes and black flies, now stirring after a long winter, have probably helped assure that most of Alaska remains unpopulated, says an expert on the creatures."

http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF19/1956.html

Although I disagree with John McCain on many issues, I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to forgive him for unleashing Sarah on the lower 48...and Hawaii. Talk about a "black fly in your chardoney."

Could Chris Matthew's people take her picture off of the graphics during the show's opening, please???

afghanistan......i hope at least some of those goobers know what they're doing and can fend off the crazy people who surround them.

and now, this:

This column is provided as a public service by the Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, in cooperation with the UAF research community. Ned Rozell is a science writer at the institute.

About five years ago, Kevin Fox was flying over the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Alaska when he noticed the upper portion of the clear-running Selawik River looked cloudy. He traced the plume upstream and noticed what looked like a crater in the boreal forest; through a breach in its side, the crater was leaking a slurry of silt, gravel, and dirt into the river.

http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF19/1974.html

Craig....
the question should be "why are we still there".... and IMO, because as pogo said yesterday.... Bush ignored Afghanistan. Obama stated many times that he thought we needed a new strategy in that war. This is one campaign promise he is keeping. As for the other question.... how do we leave.... your guess is as good as mine.

Corey..... what?!! you don't think I owe the swear jar for posting alternative words for copulate and defecate.....

About my comment about Obama not being a fighter. I guess it's kinda like if a team sweeps the World Series and I said, "That was too easy. They didn't have to battle very hard to win it!" and then someone says "What the hell? They had to play 162 games during the regular season! Win 2 playoff series and THEN play the World Series! But, what the hell do I know? I watch cartoons and sports. Bologna sandwiches for lunch today, I presume?

What the heck was that rumor about Curt Schilling wanting Teddy's seat?

He said he'd enjoy the fight, but not the media storm that would go with it.

I see the real quandary as being what happens to all the village leaders who believed us and opened schools for the village daughters. They did that depending on our promises and pledges.

I can't believe that the Taliban will grant these leaders amnesty, nor will they grant amnesty to the school teachers or the parents of the students. Really bad.

Special Ops can take care of chasing down Taliban and al Qaeda leaders and eliminating them. This can be done with a much smaller force than what is currently there. But, that limited force can't be expected to protect the villages.

The choices are bad beyond words for the Afghanis ultimately affected by Bush's bone-headed decision to Westernize the country.

Sturg.... I love it when you play CBob in the morning....

Corey.... I'd bet that Schilling couldn't handle hardball politics. He's too used to being the spoiled adored sports hero.

Not only is Obama repeating Bush's mistakes, he's repeating LBJ's mistakes.

He couldn't be anymore spoiled than those who presently occupy those seats.

Flate.....that's bad indeed.......afghanis hanging off the landing struts of the last escaping helos?

why are the lights always at the ENDS of the tunnels? Quel drag.

"The choices are bad beyond words for the Afghanis ultimately affected by Bush's bone-headed decision to Westernize the country."

Absolutely, Flatus.

Paul Krugman explains why economics professors
have had their heads up their asses.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/magazine/06Economic-t.html?_r=1

Nash, he was one of those now discredited neo-Keynesians. And an enthusiastic one at that.

His article mirrors an Economist piece from a few weeks ago. I wouldn't say plagiarism, maybe great minds thinking alike.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257396

"Quel drag."

Indeed

Olbermann said it last night and I agree. If Obama doesn't follow through on the promises he made to progressives during the campaign he will face a primary challenge from the left in 2012.

All those young idealistic organizers who worked FOR him will be working AGAINST him, along with labor unions, gay rights advocates, environmentalists, civil rights advocates, and the anti-war movement.

Maybe Hillary will give it another shot. That will be fun.

Interesting health care conversation between Gail Collins and David Brooks:

http://theconversation.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/02/whos-to-blame-on-health-care-reform/?ref=opinion

I take back all the really nasty things I said about Hillary in 2007 & 2008.

I was duped.

flatus: One of my favorite jokes about economists illustrates their preference for abstract theory about "self-regulating markets" vs common sense.

Two economists were walking.

"Look," said one. "There's a 20-dollar bill on the sidewalk."

"Don't be ridiculous." said the second. "If it was really there, somebody would have already picked it up."

I take back all the really nasty things I said about Hillary in 2007 & 2008.

I was duped.

Posted by: Nash2.0 | September 4, 2009 8:49 AM

I don't know if I was duped or forced into supporting Obama. Dr. Dean should be really pissed as I believe he was duped.

stand with Dr. Dean

http://standwithdrdean.com/posts

mornin'

(gotta love wireless access you can cadge coverage off)

Wonderful, After 8 years the war in Afghanistan is just beginning? So what the hell were we doing for the last 8 years? Inquiring minds want to know.

I don't usually agree with David Brooks, but his column today is worth reading - by us and Obama.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/04/opinion/04brooks.html?_r=1

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257404

That's a good one, Nash.

Stinky is always finding change scattered around store parking lots. Neither she nor I are proud; we pick up every penny

And, I liked your willingness to reevaluate Mrs Clinton. I think she's a special person.

Blonde wino: Ted Kennedy was duped, also.

I think it was wariness of the Clinton's rather than genuine enthusiasm for Obama that caused so many of us to be wrong.

Obama made us all think he was a left-leaning moderate. Clearly, he is not. He is a RIGHT-leaning moderate and that makes a huge difference.

Even though the Republicans pretend to hate him, they must be thinking, "What a GIFT this guy is to us."
"We attack him and his only response is to advance our agenda."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/04/opinion/04brooks.html?_r=1

Brooks' article really is good, Pogo. He agrees with me completely.

flatus: I think it's time to UNLEASH Bill. He's still seething about being called a racist during the Dem primary. (OK. I admit it. I said that, too.)

I'm sorry, Bill. You're a horny old bastard but you're not a racist.

pogo: Obama's mistake is to listen to the generals that Bush promoted. All these guys know how to do is to put PR spin on a stinking quagmire to make it look like "progress."

oh, those fun physicians, those mad-cap medics...

"The road-tripping, physician-activists from Oregon known as the "Mad As Hell Doctors" received a pressing call from the White House this week to demand they remove a letter on their website requesting a meeting with President Obama to discuss "the moral, social and fiscal imperative" of a single payer health care system. The reason for the call: too many emails from supporters have overwhelmed the White House inbox."

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/09/prweb2825604.htm

Nash

There is nothing wrong with our current military leadership, nor with Gates's leadership at DOD.

They are the water carriers.
It is a policy issue and that comes directly from the president.
Obama owns Afghanistan now.

Jack

the merry, mad medics in montana next.

http://www.helenair.com/lifestyles/community/article_4254102c-9927-11de-8b21-001cc4c03286.html

Jack, ya know, to an extent that is true. If he would pull our troops the hell out of there, and Iraq for that matter - would he bee seen as giving gifts to the leaders of those countries? (Sorry, just snarky this morning).

Yeah, Flatus, me too - and it galls hell out of me.

if the msm doesn't cover the mad as hell gang or at least give them 20 minutes on "60 minutes", we will know for sure who's pulling the strings. as if there is any doubt.

this bubbling up from the grass roots could be just the thing.

Nash.... you're harder on Obama than I am.... a Hillary supporter. But the election is over.... Obama won. Now we need to keep his feet to the fire as Tony likes to say.

A call out to all you California TMers. Rick and I will be at the lovely Catamaran Resort Hotel on Mission Bay in San Diego from Oct 2 to the 9th. After seeing the Wild Animal Park the very first year it opened 35 yrs ago.... I'm finally going back to see how's it's progressed.

If she keeps this up, I may have to rethink my criticism of Nancy as a leader - she seems to have more balls than Obama.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/26742.html

'"If he would pull our troops the hell out of there, and raq for that matter - would he bee seen as giving gifts to the leaders of those countries?"

pogo, couch it in terms of giving gifts to the american people. take the two wars' costs and spend it on what: health care? education? employment? mass transit? or all the above and more.
self-interest, nationalism, the old arguments of us comes first and who cares about the opium and oil fields.

nash...howard dean was so duped he fixed the primary problems with Michigan and Florida in favor of Obama and the rest is history as they say...

Lots of 'knives in the back' with the Obama team...more effective then throwing their own under the bus.

pat, maybe we could call it a twofer. Too bad he can't give back what Dumya stole from them and us.

Your morning dose of nausea... Newtie giving the President advice on health care

http://tinyurl.com/lvnlgb

Jamie, my understanding of Newt's approach to healthcare is wait until someone is very ill and in the hospital then tell them they are on their own - same apraoch he has to family values.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257381

Blue,

I enjoyed Olbie's comedy routine last night, but it would hae been more effective that instead of calling Beck and uneducated yahoo, he had at least added to the info with who and what all the symbols actually represented.

That era of architechture was truly interesting.

Obama, is not weak. He is a very strong person: The thing with him is that he is no different than any other president that went thru the DNC. he is owned.....it is time for a change, to a t hird party, or someone like one of the crazies....I will vote for Dennis K. or Paul, or C. Hagel......

I don't believe that everyone in the administration want more, and more troops for war: I think that they are split on it. I heard Biden, say different...I also think that they are starting to pay attention to the polls....this is the best time to get the Anti-war crowd going....Craig, please keep these post coming often as you can......

It's official. Fishbowl Summer Superlatives announced.. http://bit.ly/ME6SB

To those who voted for me, thanks. To those who didn't, I hear your voices too.

Looking at that link, jamie, it is apparent that freedom of speech with no requirements of anything remotely connected to reality is alive and well - by the author and the commenters.

maybe it would be helpful to do one of those pros and cons lists to calculate a realistic bottomline. continue the 2 wars vs. discontinue.
and don't leave out the obvious consequences when toting up how much it's costing. like continuing means more injuries which mean more va health costs, more malfunctioning vets which mean costly ramifications to law enforcement, etc.
hard to think of any dollar advantages to keeping the wars going except to benefit companies like haliburton and ze.

Jack: When Bush claimed that he listened to the generals, it was BS, but with Obama, it's true. Just like he relies on his Wall Street guys to tell him how to handle the recovery/bailout, he relies on generals for advice about Iraq & Afghanistan.

Obama is incapable of making his own decisions. His identifies who he thinks are the "experts" and then does what they say.

He also listens to industry lobbyists, Republicans, and conservative Dems. The only voices he doesn't listen to are the progessives.

Hot dayum, Class Clown. No amount of congratulations could do the honor justice.

I take back all the really nasty things I said about Hillary in 2007 & 2008.

I was duped.

Posted by: Nash2.0 Author Profile Page | September 4, 2009 8:49 AM

comment of the day

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257401 "Maybe Hillary will give it another shot."

Nash,
Do you really think the party would put up with her running against Obama? I can't imagine her doing it (although I would be happy if she did).

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257413 "It is a policy issue and that comes directly from the president."

Jack, I completely agree with what you said there. But do you think Obama does his own thinking?

Congratulations Craig!
I'd give anything to see you in that tiara.

Craig, I voted for you, and spent a lot of time lobbying out side of this place. I made a lot of promises to some...not it's time to pay up.......

I had a link that I never posted, about blk water getting paid 26 mil of a 156 mil dollar contract.......Hillary said that she would fire Blk water many, many times in her campaign ....and even signed on to a bill that would have them fired. Blk water is still in Iraq, and getting very big contracts over in Afghanistan, and all of the pak's........why isn't she doing what she said she would do.....I think that it was from the Federal Contract Data, or something like that....

What happens to these people that breaks their promises , she is in the position to fire blk water...and I don't care to hear the-they are the only big contractors that can do this type of job.....send in all of the gangbanger's from all over the country, they are just like the blk water gang, that is the newest version of the KKK to me....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257429

oops, I just noticed Nash gave his opinion on that one.

"The only voices he doesn't listen to are the progessives."

.... and from what I've seen, there are no little voices in his head.

I'm in "wait and see" mode with the President, but there had better be some effort to keep the promises about war and healthcare.

Failure to do that and I won't be voting for him a second time. I like him and the whole family, but that doesn't make up for not keeping promises and allowing the generals and insurance companies to go on screwing the American public.

"send in all of the gangbanger's from all over the country, they are just like the blk water gang,"

Maybe that's not such a bad idea Solar. They'd be just as unruly, but they'd probably be a lot cheaper. You could pay them off in drugs and pardons.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257436

Jamie, just curious. Is there anything about Obama that you know now, that you didn't know while he was campaigning?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/04/white-house-visitor-logs_n_277227.html

Baby steps - White House visitor logs to be released. Kudos to Obama for reversing this idiotic policy.

What Obama is really good at is campaign politics. He knew how to play that game. I don't think he has ANY core principles. In the primary & general election, he could position himself anywhere he felt it was to his advantage.

Unfortunately, while this ability got him elected, it's not helping him very much as he tries to govern.

He's trying to broker backroom "deals" with the right wing, but they're not interested. They're having fun jerking him around, getting him to betray those who elected him, and splitting the Democrats.

To be effective, the President has to BELIEVE in something, not just try to make deals.

I challenge any of you who are still defending him to point to ONE campaign promise he has kept, ONE principle he will not compromise on.

Obama is the type of manager that maintains the status quo. That type of management may work in some cases, but that's not the reasons he gave for running for the office, during his campaign.

congratulations, craig! and in your honor, the baloney sandwich song by brak. (not too good, actually, but then he probably wasn't fried enough)

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VI_yJsT5Fc

I wish I could believe my junior senatecritter. I really wish I could.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/03/AR2009090303839.html?wpisrc=newsletter

But there's this old punch-drunk cynic in the back of my head muttering that he's still in his first term, still trying to make the ones of us who didn't support his candidacy or give him our votes believe that he represents our interests as well as those who elected him--who elected him because he pandered to their far-right agenda--and that in time his true partisan colors will show on this issue--and all others--

chloe: Yes, I think Hillary (and Bill) are watching Obama's decline and calculating the odds of a primary challenge. They are highly ambitious and they NEVER GIVE UP.

"I challenge any of you who are still defending him to point to ONE campaign promise he has kept"

nash, someone earlier pointed out that he kept his promise about afghanistan. does that count?

nash, that someone was renee

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257388

patd: Among us East-coast elites, it is referred to as "Balogna." ("Buh-LOAN-yuh")

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257441

Chloe,

I think his very "person" is a break from the status quo. That is why the Right is apoplectic with rage.

(My spell checker wanted to edit it to "apocalyptic." They are that too).

As in "Nash, you are full of Balogna."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257444

I hope you're right, because you are giving me hope.
But she'd be fighting the entire party (it's leaders, that is).

sorry, bad link above on the bad baloney song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VI_yJsT5Fc

I rarely disagree with you Ivy, but I just don't see it. However, I hope I'm proven to be wrong in the future. If so, then I'll apologize also.

I don't care about his 'persona'. I care about results.

I think your actions define who you are.

patd:

Yes, you are correct. His actions on Afghanistan are consistent with what he said during the campaign.

Gee whiz. When he said it then, it seemed to make sense.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257438

Chloe,

It was more about what I "suspected" than what I "knew" which is why I backed Hillary. I was happy when he was elected and certainly voted for him. I had hopes that he would find the ability to act more and speak less. It is still wait and see.

The real truth is that I have come to believe that it really doesn't matter what is good for the American public, the politicians will line their pockets, the corporations will continue to rake in billions, and young men and women will continue to die.

If there isn't any change in those things, I no longer want a hand in the activity. Futility in dealing with criminals no longer interests me.

"East-coast elites"

nash, a friend of mine once pointed out how the more hardy, braver and brighter moved westward.

it's all a bunch of bologna or baloney anyway.

... well said Jamie. Thanks, gotcha.

Nash, ba-Lohn-ya? I didn't realize you were royalty. Forgive me, sire.

patd: Northern Maine was settled at the same time, and by the same sort of people who moved west in the late 1800s. They just had a poorer sense of direction.

"Let's keep going until we hit the Rockies."

"Shouldn't the North star be on our right, not directly ahead?"

"Oh my God. We're surrounded... by Canadians."

"Hello, ay. Want a donut?"

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257452

Chloe,

You are smart and fair-minded, and you're willing to give the President the opportunity to prove himself on his merits. Not so many of these characters I see on TV, and even some I'm sorry to say who are my relatives. I see racists and bigots who are livid because their exclusionary franchise has been desegregated. They are out to make the job as hard as they can, and it's not just about politics.

I'd love to wrong about this. Talk me out of it!

Ivy

Major Garrett tweeted about morning press conference: "Gibbs says dust up over presiddnt's education speech Tuesday is evidence of the "silly season." Said it's "much ado about nothing."

I tweeted back that there was nothing "silly" about racists and ignorant yahoos.

I don't know what im going to have for Lunch, but it is not going to be good for me.....

Nash, I expect that the plaid shirts and blaze orange caps on the natives, which they adopted as the official state costume, let them know that they were surrounded by hosers instead of Iroquois.

Ivy,

Now I see what you're coming from on this and what you're talking about. Remember, I don't watch TV and I don't deal with racists and bigots in my part of the woods.

I admit that Obama is a nice, smart, likable person. All those things I say, are about the lack of results. But what do I know about what going on. What do I know about professional politics, for that matter. (nothing is the answer).

So I come here, and I shoot off my mouth, only because I feel like the man should be fighting harder, should show us that he at least cares. That's what I hold against him. His lack of ability. But what's new, when I consider the president before him.

Solar, is that some kind of announcement? Curses, foild again.

BTW, Ivy (and Jamie),
I really appreciate it when you take the time to explain these things to me. I'm always learning more here, and I love to know why people are thinking the way they think. Once I know that, it always makes sense. Thanks.

Chloe,

It's Friday, and usually Natasha feel good on Friday, tell her that I have a taste for Italian and that frozen Conolli again....thinking that it might be the Friday standard.....tell her to hurry it up. daylights a wasting.....bring the trk around will you Sally.......

Rev. Jesse Jackson isn't my favorite opportunist, but he got off a good line today:

The people who clean the sick bodies in the hospitals should be able to afford that hospital bed when they need it.

Solar, You forgot to say please.

"I'm sorry, Bill. You're a horny old bastard but you're not a racist."

ROFL@Nash. I still remember the flap about Hillary mentioning LBJ. I posted at the time, that I was at Vandy talking to a black friend who lamented that part of the problem was that his teenage boy didn't even know who LBJ was. (And he took responsibility for that omission.)

You 'keep' forgetting Solar. I'm more of an order maker than an order taker. :)

Pogo,

Yes, I like to sneak it in there, a little different from the last time, and I enjoy it when the pinks get to buy.....I notice that you don't like to get them all riled up.....I love it.....as long as they buy......

"To those who voted for me, thanks. To those who didn't, I hear your voices too. "

Well, I plead stupid, Craig. When I looked at that thing I thought it was something to insult people. But I guess not.

Economist: Child Welfare report card among rich countries. The US continues to have the worst money can buy.

http://ow.ly/15NKqZ

LOL.
Well, I'd better get out of here then. I have a long drive ahead of me, If I'm going to get Solar fed, before he gets in a bad mood. He's always a little testy, when he's hungry, just like my animals.

Later, everyone .

Please, Please. There is no crying in baseball, and definitely not allowed in the heman Winkle Club....It says so right here...I just looked it up; on page ocho......Pogo, the exception is Ivy, she is too sweet, not mean, and pushy ,and..........like some of the other newbies.......

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257475

Patsi,

You were probably right which is what made turning it into a joke on them even more fun.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257463

Jamie --

That is a good approach, imo. The President would be smart to not take the bait again as he did with the Cambridge incident. As we have seen, the bigots are tinder-boxes who require little if any pretext to fire up their always-simmering rage.

Chloe, here's a f'rinstance about the toxic crap going on out there. Every president since at least Reagan has made addresses to schoolkids in their classrooms, some televised, some not, and I've NEVER heard of anyone suggesting that doing that was in any way improper - until now. The FL state Repug committee chairman somehow is offended that Obama is going to tell kids to study hard and do their best, accusing Obama of trying to indoctrinate his kids in Obama's socialitic agenda. The Repugs are up in arms about it, and have essentially demanded that they be allowed to let their kids skip school, not listen, and do something else instead of listening to the president. I'm sure it's not because he doesn't want a black man to talk to his 4 kids. And I'm sure the sun will rise in the west tomorrow.

Man, I gotta run...lunch meeting I don't want to miss...sorry Solar...

"not mean, and pushy "

Aha! You wouldn't call me that if I was a man Solar!
(rp)

Now U want to Box. What did I say? Im innocent over hear...just try to get along..can't we all get along......

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257481

Yeah, I've heard about all that stuff going on Pogo. I rarely see things as racist, but I know it happens. A lot of ignorance still out there.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257481

Pogo --

That "nice" Texas man who wants to keep our duly elected President from addressing the nation's school children is Exhibit 1.

I was up extra early this morning and saw that western sunrise. Amazing.

Solar, one thing you're not is innocent.

How can we ever get out of Afghanistan when we first of all send troops to guard strategic assets, then we send civilian guards to protect strategic assets, and now we're sending more troops to protect the civilian guards who are protecting the first group of troops protecting civilian assets. This is a true WTF moment!

Hey.!!!! who U calling an animal?

"This is a true WTF moment!"

eprof, That's exactly what it is! You just made my day!!
.. gone again.

YOU Solar, that's who.

Thought for the day :
" Put your brain in gear before starting your mouth. "

.. and not an innocent animal, either.

Ok, Boxing it is.....

I get the blue trnks and white gym shoes. You get the short, shorts, pink of course, and pink high heels.....are you ready to Rummmmmble?

See, you just proved my point. lol

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257488

Exactly what I have been saying...there are more of them then there are soldiers...Im thinking that there is a reason for this, one that is not know right now......lots of deals going on???

That Im an animal?...never mind lets call the whole thing off....just get me some sliders.......Pleeease.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/03/obama-schoolchildren-spee_n_276544.html

Chloe, here's a link to a Huffpo article about the RW nutjob reaction to the Obama talk with schoolkids. Whaddabunchofidiots.

1810 Donald McKay US naval architect, built fastest clipper ships
1918 Paul Harvey Tulsa Okla, news commentator (The rest of the story)

476 Romulus Augustulus, last Roman emperor in west, is deposed
1609 Navigator Henry Hudson discovers island of Manhattan (or 0911)
1618 "Rodi" avalanche destroys Plurs Switzerland, 1,500 killed
1781 Los Angeles founded in Bahia de las Fumas by 44 settlers, (Valley of Smokes)
1833 1st newsboy hired (Barney Flaherty-NY Sun)
1842 Work on Kîln cathedral recommences after 284-year hiatus
1886 Geronimo is captured, ending last major US-Indian war
1888 George Eastman patents 1st roll-film camera & registers "Kodak"
1939 The Polish ghetto of Mir is exterminated
1957 Ford Motor Co introduces the Edsel
1965 Beatles' "Help!," single goes #1 & stays #1 for 3 weeks
1981 Newscaster David Brinkley is released by NBC

Whats the possibility that there is one advisor for every war-lord: One for each; with pockets full of cash for them? They want to get rich; off-of our tax money just like Karzai, trickle down does work if done right....

Al Franken talks an anti-healthcare-reform mob down

When Senator Al Franken was confronted by an angry mob of teabagger/anti-healthcare-reform types, he calmly, rationally and intelligently talked them down, setting an example for how to conduct reasoned discourse that relies on facts and rationality rather than jingoism.

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/09/03/al-franken-talks-an.html

Craig..... Congrats!.... now where the hell is my samwich.... :0)

Nash.... I'm with Jamie on Obama. I'm not a progressive.... I'm a pragmatist.
He won the election and now we have to live with him. I do still think there's time for him to do something positive on healthcare.... we'll have to wait and see. As for Afghanistan.... Hillary is all for sending more troops there.

The consensus of the panel on foreign affairs on the Diane Rehm Show this morning was that Obama needs to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan if he is the have continued good will on the national stage. Otherwise they said he'll make this country look as bad as the Russians.

And I'm not saying I agree or disagree with this position. I don't know what to think at this point..... but then... I'm just weaving scarves... not running a country.

John Conyers gets my vote for column of the day.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-conyers/why-david-broder-is-wrong_b_276810.html

And although I know I don't win the free virtual lunch today - lunch.

Will someone get Pogo some food for devils sake...he's starving over t here, all he's had is lettuce for the past few wks.....sorry Pogo, only have a cpl of sliders....want my lettuce?

Pogo... real lunches are much more satisfying than virtual... i've found virtual lunches just leave something lacking...

Are there any good wars? Seem like we have been in perpetual wars, since ww11 no? Later...

WWII

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZDA3NmExZDYzZTBiMGJmOTY5ODAwZmUzZDU1ZmFmNWY=

Nash - I wonder if KO is now feeling bad about all of his nastiness toward Hil'ry during the primaries?

I still think the writers' strike helped Obama. He was a media darling and until SNL mocked them, he had it much too easy. I think he has been shocked that the new wore off so quickly.

PUMAs may be starting to feel vindicated, but it's not a good feeling...would've been better to have been wrong about Obama. Still, it's only his first year and we have what we have, so best to keep the faith and hope he comes through.

Agree with whomever said the Clintons are watching this and she would be up for a run against him in 2012.

Happy long weekend everybody. Fire up yer grills!

One more for the road:

"He vowed that its "Reclaim Iowa Project" will remain active in the 2010 state elections."

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090903/NEWS10/909030352

interesting observation at a town hall by an fsu prof of communications:

"These intellectual and ideological disconnects are a reminder of the power of niche media to create echo chambers that allow us to live in isolated worlds where our own views are rarely challenged and demagogues offer bumper-sticker slogans instead of policy solutions..... [examples]
....we can see the echo chamber at work, propagating myths as political reality and fanning the flames of fear and insecurity in a time of economic crisis and demographic change in the U.S.
As conservative politicians and media pundits exploit fear for political gain at the expense of any real health care solution, we all suffer from the economic drag of an inefficient health care system and the moral failing of a society unwilling to care for its most vulnerable."

http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20090828/OPINION05/908280313/-1/ARCHIVE/Andy+Opel++Anatomy+of+a+photo+and+a+town+hall+meeting

OK Solar, I got my dayum salad - chicken cobb, not bad actually. But does too much lettuce make your sking turn green? Just wondering. Ty, I only eat real lunches and only win virtual ones. Just my luck.

So what is better, boycotting a presidential election because no candidate suports your every view, or deciding which person is best and going with them?
I had serious problems with Obama's stances on the two wars , as I did with Hillary Clinton's, but my candidates were dismissed early-on, and I always vote, so I ended up for Obama.
In doing so, I was voicing support for non-ending war in Afghanistan, and a continuing presence in Iraq, albeit , for now, a diminishing one.
I was not for a build-up into Afghanistan, but I was hoping Obama would lead a domestic recovery quickly.
Obama has always been a gung-ho hawk---his promise to end the Iraq war was full of holes and the plan never spelled out complete withdrawal at all, so we got what we voted for.

Well, Nash, we in the Air Force, when we opened our boxed in-flight meals, used to call that lunch meat "god-dammed baloney again".

there's a new project called afpak channel at foreignpolicy.com in which is an illuminating article entitled "jihadistan" mit charts and polls. might have some good stuff to check out now and then.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/07/03/jihadistan

"Qaddafi proposes abolishing Switzerland"

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/

but, omar, where will we then get good chocolate?

Whew.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/03/AR2009090302861.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

Eugene Robinson - man, this is a soberin g column.

Posted by: Flatus | September 4, 2009 8:03 AM : "I see the real quandary as being what happens to all the village leaders who believed us and opened schools for the village daughters. They did that depending on our promises and pledges.

I can't believe that the Taliban will grant these leaders amnesty, nor will they grant amnesty to the school teachers or the parents of the students. Really bad.

Special Ops can take care of chasing down Taliban and al Qaeda leaders and eliminating them. This can be done with a much smaller force than what is currently there. But, that limited force can't be expected to protect the villages.

The choices are bad beyond words for the Afghanis ultimately affected by Bush's bone-headed decision to Westernize the country. "
************************************************
The bushcheneytenet CIA got the best intelligence available from Greg Mortenson, but his info contradicted what Jesus told babybush during their midnight trysts. Despite the fact that this particular Jesus never set foot in Afghanistan, and never spoke to any Afghanis, babybushcheneytenet chose to believe him instead of the man who'd gone native. So the plan unfolded, let the alqaeda and taliban terrorists go, turn Afghanistan into a WalMart & Coca Cola opportunity, and waste a million lives and 4 TR!LL!ON BUX bumbling Iraq back into the Middle Ages.

I tell you, the Supreme Court appointed a fogking caligula to run this country.

"Qaddafi proposes abolishing Switzerland"

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/

but, omar, where will we then get good chocolate?

Posted by: patd | September 4, 2009 1:36 PM

Mexico and China. "good" is questionable

1,533d anniversary of the fall of the roman empire.

Has Victor Mature been dead that long ?

Pears grown in the shape of the Buddha

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/09/04/pears-grown-in-the-s.html

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257513

Is that the "real" old fashioned Cobb Salad, Pogo? Where all the ingredients are lined up side by side, and green peas are in the mix?

Like I said. I don't think that obama is weak: I just think that he is showing his strength over the weak....like this back room deal he made with Netanhahoooo

Israel to approve hundreds of new settler homes

Israel will approve construction of West Bank settlement homes before it considers a freeze sought by Washington, a top government official said on Friday, sparking Palestinian outrage.

The plan is also certain to anger the US administration, which has pushed for a freeze of Jewish settlements in an effort to restart the stalled Middle East peace process.

"In the next days the prime minister will approve construction starts and then he might consider a freeze for a limited time under certain conditions," the official told AFP, asking not to be identified.

He confirmed a report in the Jerusalem Post saying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would consider a moratorium on settlement construction "for a few months" after the green light is given to build hundreds of new homes in the occupied West Bank.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat reacted sharply, saying "the only thing suspended by this announcement will be the peace process."

"This is absolutely unacceptable," he said told AFP by telephone from Paris, where he is accompanying Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

In another reaction, France said such a move was contrary to Israel's commitments in the Middle East peace process.

"It is evidently totally contrary to the spirit of the peace process and Israeli engagements and to the dynamic of the peace process," foreign ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier told reporters in Paris.

"Our position is without any ambiguity. We condemn it."

Israeli media reports said work on 2,500 housing units already under way would continue as part of the plan widely seen as an attempt to appease far right-wing members of Netanyahu's hawkish Likud party.

The international community considers all Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian territory to be illegal and a major hurdle to Middle East peace efforts that have been at a standstill since December.

The Jerusalem Post said any temporary moratorium on construction would happen if "conditions are right," including if Arab states move forward with the normalisation of ties that Israel is seeking. lots more here.....

http://www.afp.com/english/home/

ps he is just continuing the bush policy's, to me.....

flatus: Three Stooges' favorite sandwich: baloney & whipped cream.

BlueID: KO will have eat a bit of crow (with whipped cream)

renee: I don't think Obama can defeat the Taliban. It's been suggested that he let the Taliban take control, then try to get them to turn against Al Qaeda, which is the real threat to us.

patsi: Bill Clinton brings out the Puritan in me.

Patsi, no green peas, and If i hadn't asked them to throw it into a go box after they had already made and plated it, it probably would have had all the big ingredients lined up oh so neatly. Actually, order or not, it tasted good. I've become quite the connoisseur of salads - and not those wimpy side salads, but more like meals on lettuce. And I'm partial to honey-mustard, spicy ranch and sweet & sour dressings, and none of them are on my diet, but hey, I've got my limits.

Baloney & whipped cream? That sounds better than sex with an intern.
-Big Bill
(Safer, too. You only have to worry about sodium and sulfites instead of STDs.)

I never had sex with an intern.
-Dick Cheney
(But I had a few waterboarded, and got to watch.)

Baloney & whipped cream? Stay down, lunch.

'Dying Up Here' Chronicles Golden Age Of Stand-Up

Native American comic Charlie Hill launched into a call-and-response with some of Miller's best-remembered bits.

"Why are so many people drinking diet cola?" he shouted.

"Because they are fat and thirsty," the crowd hollered back.

"A cow on speed . . . (rapid fire) Moo-moo-moo-moo-moo."

"How much does [comic] Paul Mooney weigh? . . . 200 pounds; 180 without cologne."

"Last night I was watching an Elvis Presley movie on diet pills and Xanax . . . because that's the way Elvis would have wanted it."

"I went to see the movie Accidental Tourist and something horrible happened in the middle. . . . It continued."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112487409

See y'all. Godd weekend, that stuff.

What obama has going for him: Is the incredible stupidity of the R's ...from my military new letter, that won't let me just link it...

The head of a top veterans' advocacy group is demanding an apology from Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele for claiming the Veterans Administration is encouraging vets to commit suicide.

Executive Director of "Veterans for Common Sense" Paul Sullivan is slamming the RNC chairman for comments he made Aug. 25 on Fox News, when Steele said the VA is distributing a manual "telling our veterans stuff like, 'Are you really a value to your community?' and, you know, encouraging them to commit suicide."

Sullivan said today he "wants to make sure somebody stood up and said 'Michael Steele is lying.' "He said he believes Steele's motivation is to make government-run VA health care look bad and, by extension, hurt health care plans being pushed by the Obama administration.

"I would say that's their attempt, and it's unfortunate and they should not do that," he said.

Steele's office has not returned Military.com's request for comment.

Sullivan's group has not been shy in criticizing the VA previously. It was among the first veterans groups to demand the VA take action after the organization mistakenly sent out letters to hundreds of vets earlier this month telling them they had been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease.

The VA has since apologized and pledged to reimburse vets for any medical expenses they incurred because of the false alarm. The agency said 600 of the recipients – about a third of those getting letters – received them in error. The letters were supposed to go to vets already aware of their diagnosis, to tell them how to claim for benefits.

'Playing politics with vets'

Steele's allegations that the VA is encouraging vets to commit suicide dovetails with allegations of a so-called "death book" or "death manual" that some lawmakers and pundits have referred to in stump speeches and talk-show interviews.

Critics say the book titled "Your Life, Your Choices, "was first produced during the Clinton administration and still was in circulation during the Bush administration, according to John Rowan, president of Vietnam Veterans of America.

Rowan said in an Aug. 26 statement calling it a "death book" was playing politics with veterans.

"This booklet was developed with guidance from clerics," Rowan said in his statement, "and it addresses options most of us and our loved ones will have to sort through as we live our final years. To play politics with veterans' end-of-life choices is not only irresponsible, it is cruel.”

Defenders say the book is a guide to help veterans with end of life planning.

There is no "death book,"Sullivan told Military.com. He called Steele's comments "egregious" and "an outrageous slander against [the] VA designed to create an atmosphere of mistrust and fear among the millions of our veterans who rely on the VA for medical care."

In addition to an apology from Steele, Sullivan wants one from Fox News for giving credence to the idea that the VA was encouraging vets to commit suicide.

Sullivan claims that Chris Wallace, host of Fox News Sunday, selectively cropped quotes from a Veterans Health Administration document to "falsely suggest that the Obama administration is pressuring veterans to end their lives prematurely."

During the show Wallace challenged VA Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs Tammy Duckworth over whether the VA was still recommending the "Your Life, Your Choices"book to veterans.

Duckworth said the book is still posted online but that the VA does not actually recommend it because it has been under revision since 2007.

In an emailed statement to Military.com, Mary Ryan, executive producer for Fox News Sunday, said: "In its July 2, 2009 handbook, the VHA directed healthcare providers to give patients educational material about end of life counseling. While it referred to 'other published materials,' the only material that it specifically referred to and actually directed patients to on its website was 'Your Life, Your Choices.' "

SEE THE FOX NEWS INTERVIEW ON THE 'DEATH BOOK'

SEE SEC. DUCKWORTH'S RESPONSE

The VA declined to comment on Steele's charge it is encouraging vets to take their own lives or on the controversy over the "Your Life, Your Choices"book.

But in an email to Military.com, VA spokeswoman Katie Roberts said the agency has fielded more than 150,000 calls from veterans, veteran family members and even active-duty troops, to its suicide-prevention hotline since it was established in 2007.

Roberts said nearly 3,400 of the hotline's callers were convinced not to take their own life.

Sullivan added veterans in need of help should not be frightened away from getting it, and he fears that's what talk of a "death book"can do.

"Veterans at VA facilities have told me they were very distressed to see on the news that the VA is encouraging veterans to commit suicide,"he said. "The important issue is we want veterans who need help to go to the VA and get help, and get it in a timely manner.”

I listened to Thom Hartmann for about 10 minutes this morning and he is going nuts over his disappointment with Obama..The same goes for Ed Schultz and all the others.

These are the same people who trashed Hillary and Bill Clinton day in and day out for months.

They fell for the motivational speaker. Perhaps they should just keep quiet for awhile.

Even I accept that it is in our interests for Obama to succeed.

Next Wednesday's speech is the key. I hope he steps up to the occasion and shows some guts.

Went out to do lots of shopping and come back to these racist yahoos all over TV. They might as well haul out the dogs and fire hoses. What's next, another Murrow Building?

"But do you think Obama does his own thinking?"

Chloe
I'm not for certain, one would hope.
But Nash may be right.

As I said yesterday.
Obama needs to remember his title is
"Commander in Chief", not "Facilitator in Chief"

He does tend to behave as a facilitator and let things go round in circles.

Pogo
good link about Nancy, looks like she is ready to use her veto power if need be.
In some ways, with her majority she is as powerful a person as there is in government.
That is until the troops are called out.

Jack

So much 'buyer's remorse' surfacing.

Unfortunately, there appears to be little to gain from it at this point, since if in fact Obama is not what those
who elected him expected, well we all wind up losing.

Public Option Now!!!

Make Medicare available to all..

I would purchase it in a minute if available..

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257533

Agree with all you said, OD.

And Jack -- you're right. In fact, I tried for a long time to keep my mouth shut about the line of disappointments. I'm thinking there's nothing to do buy hope he is better than he appears.

Coreen
I live in one of those states (SC) where my presidential vote is meaningless.

After the smear campaign Rep Clyburn orchestrated against Mr Clinton, I could not bring myself to vote for Mr Obama. I don't know whether I could or would have had the contest been closer here. I suspect I wouldn't have.

An open request to Obama to make it right...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-elk/i-am-a-former-staffer-of_b_277135.html

Democratic votes wouldn't have mattered in Tennessee, either, Flatus. Tennessee has gone to hell in a right-handed basket.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257533 "Next Wednesday's speech is the key."

You expect 'another' speech to make a big difference?

" He does tend to behave as a facilitator and let things go round in circles"
Jack, That's what makes it so dam hard to know where he stands on anything. And when you finally think you understand his position, 'he/they' change it again (not real sure who 'they' are).

"if in fact Obama is not what those who elected him expected, well we all wind up losing."
Coreen, Unless he actually listens and adjusts, then it could help. He's obviously listening to someone, why not also hear from the oters.

If there are doubts out there regarding his decisions (and heaven knows there are), what harm in hashing over those doubts? It's not like it's treason or anything. We don't want to have to censor ourselves out of fear. Asking questions seems like a harmless enough pass time.

Flatus,

I respect your decision. I proudly wrote in Hillary Clinton here in CT---though I knew that it would have
no effect---it was necessary for me to stand by my own
principles.

Chloe,

Trying to be optimistic at this point. Not sure who
Pres. Obama listens to, but as OD said so well,
it is in all our best interests that he succeed.

And by the way---I missed the lunch ride today. What
did you do with 'his majesty'. I could have gone for
Italian, but not the frozen canoli---told him it has to be
fresh baked---and only chocolate.

It was so very nice here today that we had lunch outside---by Long Island Sound.
Raw clams, salad, & almond crusted sole.

Speaking of living in a red state. Arizona is so red that the governor and the legislature (both solidly red) are getting ready to sell the capital and other government buildings in order to lease them back from the private sector!

"It was so very nice here today that we had lunch outside---by Long Island Sound. "

Coreen, Sounds heavenly. It's still hot here in Houston.
Solar had sinkers for lunch... I just tossed them out of the truck window to him, as I drove by. We were both in a hurry.

Oh, Coreen, Optimism is a good thing. Good advise.

The right wing is getting really nutty these days. It reminds me of the more extreme left-wing silliness of the late 60s. (Some of us actually believed that a Marxist "revolution of the people" was imminent.)

This nonsense subsided in the 1970s. I would like to think that the right-wingers will go through the same sobering-up process.

If not, we may be headed toward some really nasty events. Think Germany in the 1920s & 1930s. Political & economic chaos. Street fights between mobs of the right and left. Assassinations.

If you think, "That can't happen here," that's what "reasonable, rational" political moderates thought in Germany.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257547

ROFL!!!! E-Prof -- is this a joke or are you serious? (It's getting so hard to tell in this season of crazy....)

"Now we need to keep his feet to the fire as Tony likes to say."

Hi Renee
Its a catch phrase for me.Its all about constructive criticism and helping them keep their promises.I want Obama to succeed, but he won't if we all remain mum .I hate how he's treating gay service people, healthcare,Afghanistan,but I'm trying to force myself to look at the bigger picture.I had to do it with Bill Clinton and NAFTA!! I believe in the squeaky wheel theory.

Nash -- I think the climate is more like a South American Banana Republic....

25 Best Blogs 2009

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1879276_1879279,00.html

------------
Hint :
World Net Daily didn't make the cut.

I understand that the 24/7 cable news has a lot of hours to fill, but why do they fill it with the ignorant and crazy. Balanced coverage doesn't mean caving in to stupid.

Natasha,

His Majesty requests you presence at least once a week: On Friday's is that too much to ask for?. I forgot about the baked chocolate canoli; ok......If you read today's lunch post's: It is very obvious, that Chloe was looking for a way out of buying lunch...I won't say anymore, but will let the way she bullied my around, but enough said, but she kept getting aggressive in order start a fight, so she wouldn't have to pick me up, but I won't go into any of the details, especially the way that she wanted to have a boxing match, over lunch, but I won't try to sway you, all you have to see is the way that she herself said that she just flung, my lunch toward me; she flung em in the direction off on coming traffic.....Im lucky that some nice young mamacita stopped in time. I told her what happened, she took me to lunch.....gonna have a new pink in the club house pretty soon......dang I forgot her phone #.....be right back..

Pardon me if I chuckle as libs such as Ed Schultz who once maligned the Clintons now gripe about Obama on health care and quote Bill.

Tony,

I agree with you and Renee, and some of the others: Obama is our President, and by all counts; a lot better then John McCain would have been. But if he dosen't reverse some of bushes policies, and stop extending all of his programs, it will look like a third Bush term, imo......

Craig,

Here is the biggest WTF moment of the year so far...

I was flipping through the radio down here in TX and I caught a couple minutes of the Michael Medved show...he said that the Birthers aren't Republicans, but actually fringe people or Democrats who are trying to make Republicans look bad and that no Republican participates in such ridiculous conspiracies...

I guess I know why he doesn't review movies anymore...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257557

Not a comfortable irony. I would love to hear you say that to the face of the "thrill up the leg" crowd who spent months drooling over him.

Patsi, the sending of troops to protect the civilian guards who replaced the original troops is what was reported last night on the Rachel Maddow Show. Today, it was reported that Secretary Clinton sent the civilians home and canceled parts of the Wackenhut contract. Still, there are more than 68,000 civilians present in Afghanistan. And, listen to this: many of the civilians can't speak English as they are from parts of the middle east and Asia. It's a crazy, chaotic situation there and we should get the hell out of there asap. Like right now!!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257543

Amen to that.

Liberals Finally Discover Obama the Centrist.. http://bit.ly/kVEXQ

Posted by: Colorado Bob | September 4, 2009 12:27 PM :

"Al Franken talks an anti-healthcare-reform mob down"
*************************************************
If only he could stop talking like a damned smartass comedian with his supporters.

Well, darlin's, life is slowly returning to the knobs. I'm serious. We've been living in a sort of suspended animation for a loooooonnnngggg time--But now folks are beginning to perk up, and the sounds of music are abroad in the land that we haven't heard since--Lord, last season--

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

And the sounds will continue to build and build until, less than eighteen hours from now, we'll stand up (some in situ, some in living rooms all around the listening area) and burst into a mighty roar that all but drowns out Bob Kesling:

"IT'S FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!!!!"

Later, darlin's, I gotta hunt out my orange and white game day clothes--

(A safe & happy Labor Day weekend to all--love & hugs)

Eprof -- I meant that thing about Arizona privatizing the state house. Is that true?

Reports: Gov. Jindal took state helicopters to church

Louisiana’s Republican Governor Bobby Jindal is receiving heavy criticism after local media revealed he has been using taxpayer money to make helicopter visits to churches in the state.

According to one Louisiana newspaper, the governor’s chopper-travel habits have cost the taxpayers over $180,000.

The Advocate reported: “In May, June and July, there was rarely a Sunday when the governor didn’t board a taxpayer-funded helicopter to attend church services in far-flung parts of the state. He traveled by helicopter to churches less frequently in March and April.

“Over five months, Jindal took more than three dozen helicopter trips. Fourteen were to attend church services, according to state records.”

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow was joined Thursday night by Interfaith Alliance president Rev. Dr. Wenton Gaddy, who wrote a letter to Gov. Jindal expressing his concern about the expenses, and Jindal’s emphasis, as an elected official, on making high-profile visits to churches.

In response to their letter, the Interfaith Alliance was attacked by a spokeswoman with Jindal’s office.

Nevertheless, Jindal still has “a separation of church and state problem here,” reenforced Maddow. “… The governor has been sold to us as a fiscal conservative, a social moralist and an enemy of government waste. You know, none out of three ain’t all that bad, is it?”

“I think he owes us, the citizens of the state, an apology,” said Rev. Gaddy. “I think he owes us a reimbursement.”

Maddow added that the governor’s office had attacked the Interfaith Alliance for supporting same-sex marriage, making it “not surprising” that the alliance would take exception to something Gov. Jindal had done.

“Sound to me like she is attacking your faith,” she said. “She is attacking your religious credibility in attacking you because you’re not anti-gay.”

“I don’t mind being attacked,” said Gaddy. “I wish he had answered the question that the citizens of Louisiana deserve to know what’s going on here and what he’s gonna do about it.”

If we'd elected President Clinton last November, the puguglicans would be complaining that her speech to the students had no value for boys.

Sexist resentment, racist resentment, and Inquisitorial Christian resentment power the puguglican party. But the fuel to incite the bigots, and light them on fire, comes out of the pockets of the Ruling Class.

They attack the working class, fighting to deny working people fair wages, medical insurance, disability insurance, decent public education, workers' comp benefits, and the right to seek justice in the courts.

Then they turn around and manipulate the emotions of working people, hoping to stir up race war, war of the sexes, and the aut-de-fe, even if people get killed. Even if they stir up maniacs to take potshots at the President.

Where the hell is the Secret Service and the FBI when these Ruling Class vermin incite violence?

Front page story this morning. No buyers so far. But, if you want to buy a capital building, it's for sale. http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2009/09/04/20090904budget-dps0904.html

High school football tonight. Grandson is a starter at middle linebacker for his h.s. 6'0 and 225, and I wouldn't want to have him hit me.

"Special Ops can take care of chasing down Taliban and al Qaeda leaders and eliminating them. This can be done with a much smaller force than what is currently there. But, that limited force can't be expected to protect the villages."

Its said that Cheney's assassination squad was the very same one mentioned above.

During an interview with Ranger Pat Tillman's parents they said that they believe that McChrystal was involved in the cover up of her sons death and was not held responsible for his actions.

So how involved was McChrystal in the death of Ranger Tilman? Was it his Special Ops team that assassinated Ranger Tilman under orders from Cheney and McChrystal helped cover it up?

I would believe that since it involves Cheney who we all know is an acknowledged War Criminal. Also since its now public knowledge that Cheney had a Assassination Squad that answered directly to him and McChrystal was both Gates and Cheney's choice for the position he now holds in Afghanistan.

That's an amazing story, Eprof,....meanwhile, there's nothing more fun than high school football!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257550

Nash2.0...

Careful Nash, now your sounding like me. LOL...LOL...LOL...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257568
"If we'd elected President Clinton last November, the puguglicans would be complaining that her speech to the students had no value for boys.

Sexist resentment, racist resentment, and Inquisitorial Christian resentment power the puguglican party. But the fuel to incite the bigots, and light them on fire, comes out of the pockets of the Ruling Class."
X-Rep
Very good post and so true..

Watch this you tube video.

Canadians come out to talk about health care.

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

Good video.

Public Option Now!

Dump any Democrat who doesn't fight for it..That includes you Senator Wyden!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257556 "Chloe was looking for a way out of buying lunch...I won't say anymore".

I'll believe that when I see it!
(laughing hysterically at that whole post Solar)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257506 "i've fouNd virtual lunches just leave something lacking..."

... yeah, an hour later and you're hungry again.

Mr. paranoid,

The Office of Special Ops, the dis-information org run by the forger and liar, doug feith was closed by the bushcheney mob a couple of years ago. It was never involved with chasing down terrorists. Under the bushcheneyrumdum junta, Special Ops was always a forgery, disinformation, and over-the-top propaganda mill. Yellowcake was probably an invention of the Office Of Special Ops.

However, there is undoubtedly some "James Bond " type org within the CIA, which would fit the job. It probably has an incuous name like, Office For Foreign Affairs, Social Intelligence Agency, And Observing Tribes Having Earned Rials Assisting Salafist Shits Exploding Stuff (the acronym : OFFING ASIANS AND OTHER ASSES)

I voted for Craig. When do we get bologna? And where is video of Craig's acceptance speech?

Corey, I think he made a half-hearted acknowledgment of our support. But I'm not aware of anyone here being invited to his victory party.

Corey, Flatus -- Having won office, I am not certain I want to serve. Governing is no fun at all, compared to campaigning.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257581

Your funny, Craig! Two completely different skill sets are required. I think a lot of us recognized his puffing of his accomplishments and resume. Most thought it was not significant; I thought it reflected a character defect.

I wonder what that reporter from Chicago thinks. What's her name, Lynn something or other.

http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=6249

History will show that from the time the Democrats wrestled away policy from Bush, the players in the war on terror took steps for the next round. While Obama seems locked into a strange dance on the settlement issue, Iran, Syria and their proxies position themselves for the next move.

Now what does this have to do with Afghanistan? Unlike Viet Nam, we have a real game on dominos here. Unfortunately, as long as this administration fails to present a realistic strategy that ties together the dominos, Afghanistan remains an enigma. LIke healthcare, Obama, who had no real strategic vision, is caught between the Left and Right. Let's see if he does better than a deer on a freeway. I hope the vacation time has led him to some somber reflection. This ain't selling hope anymore. This is a matter of selling clarity, specifics, end games.

A note: My sources tell me the Russian mystery ship is a quite disturbing tale. Maybe we will find out one day, but it may be related to the link I provided in my link above.

I voted for Craig too.

Solar, I don't see you mention that Rangel just woke up one day and realized he was a millionaire. I could go on with other Democratic notables, but it seems trite, doesn't it?

xrep...

"Now the man who greased the chain of command that orchestrated this great deception is prepared to assume total control of US operations in Afghanistan: Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal. It was McChrystal who approved Tillman’s posthumous Silver Star, a medal given explicitly for combat, even though he later testified that he “suspected” friendly fire."

Pat’s father, Pat Tillman Sr., told the Associated Press, “I do believe that guy participated in a falsified homicide investigation.”

Mary Tillman, who excoriated McChrystal in her book, Boots on the Ground by Dusk: My Tribute to Pat Tillman, said, “It is imperative that Lt. Gen. McChrystal be scrutinized carefully during the Senate hearings.”

Morrell’s statement has more spin than a washing machine powered by a V-8 engine. McChrystal has never explained why the early reports of Tillman’s death were covered up, why his clothes and field journal were burned and destroyed on the scene or why Pat’s brother Kevin, serving alongside him in the Rangers, was lied to on the spot. Even the cover-up was covered up. This should be a cause for dismissal–or indictment–not promotion.

What particularly rankles about Obama’s choice of McChrystal, whose background is in the nefarious and shadowy world of “black ops,” is that his actions in the Tillman cover-up feel emblematic instead of exceptional.

When an anonymous Army interrogator “at great personal risk” blew the whistle to Esquire in August 2006 on an extensive torture enterprise at Camp Nama, he described the then unknown McChrystal as being an overseer who knew the ugly truth. Torture at Camp Nama included using ice water to induce hypothermia. It was not a rogue operation unless we consider Generals like McChrystal “rogues.” As Esquire reported:

http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/05/tillman-family-is-mcchrystal-clear/

This is the latest on the families take of McChrystal.

So...Craig duped us into voting for him? Where's Nash?! LOL!

"Corey, Flatus -- Having won office, I am not certain I want to serve. Governing is no fun at all, compared to campaigning."

Craig, what if we get you a troop of Herald Trumpeters? They seemed to perk Nixon up.

We really need your leadership now.

The Winner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRWlnv0_svU

"So...Craig duped us into voting for him? -- Posted by: Corey"

Yep, Corey, seemed like a good idea at the time. But without Air Force One as a perk, it now seems like just too much work.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/09/gates-says-afghan-war-only-now.html#comment-257588

LOL--good one Jack--

High School football???

Go Bulldogs Canton McKinley High School

We were suspended from the league my jr year --the booster club was busted recruiting player.

O-hi-ans take their high school football seriously
Members of the Cleveland Browns used to teach there during the off season.

LOL, kgc! Mississippians take their high school football seriously, too. I got a notice tonight that my high school team is 3-0 for the season so far. Go, Wildcats! (It's been a looong time since I was in high school....)

In the in-box;

http://moreoldfortyfives.com/TakeMeBackToTheSixties.htm

Sorry if this is a dup.

Baloney!

well.......what a fest it was tonight........all day spraying white on boxes........spray spray spray..........then to the jazz blues gig......the DJ on the scene says, "You guys DO play jazz dont you?" I said......."We play a bunch of songs and some of them we do kind of jazzy-like................"

I wadn't being a smart-ass, i was just trying to tell him what we do in case he'd rather back out of the deal........

I was wearing my buffet uniform because my jazz-blues hotel gig shirt got washed with a pen in it and became rather sprockled........
He says, " This is a jazz club meeting......"

I says, "Oh shit."

we figured: screw it, we're here, it's one hour, the money ain't gonna hurt, and proceeded, much like jake and elwood, to do our regular set........they first realized we weren't jazz guys, and then they began to dug the rhythmn and blues we put across.......and then the one hour was up, we picked up our filthy lucre and threw the crap into the vehicle and beat feet to the next one at the marina........it shouldn't matter but it was an almost entirely black audience about mine own age.......they liked what we did....that means a lot

so we got to the crabfest and set up and found that they had a little woman who wanted to do a comedy act before we started and could she use one of the mikes? sheeeee-it.........grab aholt and make funny........

huge crowda pipples probably down for the laborourious day

yas aint lived till yas hoid the jazz voision of mustang sally......

we did ray charles, wilburn harris, the cherry pie guys, 39-21-40 shape, take the A train, fly me to the moon, ipanema, the lady is a tramp, all of me, old cape cod and watermelon man and we was as good as gone...........

"extended guitar wail"

--frank zappa notation on his sheet music....

and those two beautiful ellington whoppers don't get around much any more and do nothing till you hear from me.......

great festi....................

The current campaign represents the first time we have gone into the Taliban heartland in Helmand, really taken the battle to where they live.
The Taliban really can't do much to hurt us beyond the 50 or so dead this last month, practically all from roadside bombs, and that is going to go down as we improve our tactics.

So give it a year or so. We continue to kill AQ along the Pakistan border, and the Taliban might well conclude that it is time to talk to get us out.

new thread at 6 folks