Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Woo hoo

This doesn't happen to me very often!

I had to go back and read Craig's comment - I was so surprised to be first, I had to submit before I even posted.

I have to say I am very disappointed in the voting, but thrilled to pieces about the house seat in NY. Ole Dede really said Rash picked the other guy/ That's great - a referendum on him. HA!

I'm going to a kick-off party tomorrow for a woman from the da's office when I was there. She left to run against the palooka who is currently our da. They are both dems, so whoever wins the primary will basically be the next da, since people agree that a rep couldn't win anything in this county. So one could thing might happen politically here.

I'm infected with the grumps virus so I'll leave you all to better conversations.

Well, I guess this song is very appropriate today., as Delbert McClinton turns 69 years of age.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNd0OMUPMR4

Hillary 2012.Let's correct the stupidity of 2008

Oh, yes, OD, I wish Hillary's sensible hands were holding the power, too. Dems just don't seem to care about getting their agendas passed - all they want to do is voice their opinions. That satisfies them because they don't really care about actualities, they just want to say what they think.

Hey Baby.......Bruce, Delbert, John Lennon and Blues Harps in Livery-pool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdXzJaCeHP8

Bloomberg won, and it was closer than I thought.

Mpls Dem Mayor John Rybak won a 3d term w/72% of the vote, about what I expected.

St. Paul Dem Mayor Chris Coleman won a 2d term w/68% of the vote, about what I expected.

Maplewood, a St.Paul suburb, threw out their mayor, a michele bachmann wannabe, who spent most of her term making enemies with her constant blaming and carping, her hyperflakey ideas, and her insufferable arrogance. Good riddance.

No surprise in Miami. Regalado wins in landslide. Former cop Joe Sanchez got only 28%.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson won re-election with 77% of the votes.

My only surprise was the Corzine defeat. I thought Corzine win a squeeker.

Today, the Yanks finish the Series. Wait'll next year.

At least doug hoffman was Politically Correct - a member of the One True Faith !

Now, on the Holy Crusaders will march forward to derail fiorina and crist, like the Crusaders of old, taking no prisoners, and leaving no living thing in their path.

Pretty neat, eh, all you republicans ?

onward, christian soldiers.......marching as to war.......

christianity has jumped the shark so many times they all got Fin-burn.........

A chance of a National trend? Come now stop the denial - and listen to the majority.

So sad that some people think the only way to advance our healthcare for all is only through a big fat government control. There are better ways - but the American people have been treated with the limited options technique - would you like the square or the square. Mind control...

Crusaders not - Explorer yes..

Remember Marco Polo - Now we in Florida have Marco Rubio !!

Crist is a bla bla bla.... Nice guy but not a leader

Republican Creationist Bill Foster will be the next mayor of St. Petersburg. Foster 53%, Kathleen Ford 47% of the vote.

Republican Creationist Marco Rubio is one of the many lawmakers who use The Florida Baptist Witness website to reach out to his loyal supporters. You would be amazed at the religious political business conducted there.

Oregon Dem - Hil'ary! Hil'ary!

Tim Pawlenty disgusts me, but it sounds like the GOoPers have their own PUMAs with Olympia Snowe at the helm.

Was anyone besides the CSPAN camera-person even in the room with Senator Franken yesterday afternoon? ECHO-ECHo-ECho-Echo-echo...

So our choices are big gov't (health care insurance we can afford that actually provides coverage when needed) or corporate welfare (tax cuts that big businesses will not necessarily invest back into their companies, their workers or even this country)???

Warren Buffet knows rail freight and high speed rail is the wave of the future & he IS investing in America. Go, Warren!!!

Ping, for the life of me, I can't think of how Pharma and the insurance industry will produce a better product than single-payer.

In fact, if they do, I'll have Stinky record me doing the Dance of the Sugar Plum Faeries and post it on YouTube. That is, if you do likewise when the Rep plan is the failure I expect it to be.

"Politicians, by nature, are fearful creatures..." As you wrote in Listen Up, they fear voters. I think all of these real-time polls have made it impossible for fearful politicians to do their jobs. They are like corks bobbing in the ocean. Which way will the next wave take them?

Here's the deal: reform vs doing nothing --- small businesses can't keep up with health insurance costs and lay people off - fewer dollars are in the economy to be spent, which causes businesses to contract further and lay off more people who lose their health care coverage - when those uninsured people get very sick, they go to the ER and who foots that bill? - eventually, the jobless end up with Medicaid...and the more people on Medicaid, the bigger the program will have to become...thus, growing the gov't.

Yes, we need more jobs in this country AND we need health care coverage we can afford and upon which we can depend. It ain't rocket science and I would bet that somewhere in this country there is a 6th-grade class who could hash this thing out better than the folks in Washington.

The insurance industry is just institutionalized gambling. Unfortunately, it is one of the supporting pillars of our economy. It shouldn't be, but it is.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/bad-timing-for-health-reform.html#comment-269355

Oh Ping,
Just admit it,Crist isn't conservative enough for ya! Rubio sounds nice,he was going to fix the Insurance and property tax mess here in Florida,what a joke! Maybe we could get Palin,Armey and Rush in here to push the Republican Crist out?I would personally love it..Can't stand Crist and all of his anti-gay marriage,no gay adoption stances.Its fitting however that he is constantly dogged by gay rumors...

Happy Birthday to Corey!

Flatus... I agree - Big Insurance cannot remain not touched - funny thing on the way to big healthcare with Pelosi and Reid -- Big Insurance could still win? Go figure.

Why are the big Dem's still protecting today big insurance? Why not open compeition RIGHT NOW? Why not pass TORT Reform RIGHT NOW? Why do we need a big super pill in one Bill that confuses and dilutes?

Obama is not leading.... Step up Barack - You can do it..

But get Pelosi and Reid on a lesh.. You Mr Obama are the President

"Obama is not leading.... Step up Barack - You can do it.."

Ping,
On this we agree....

tonyb... We all can agree that Crist is a huge disappointment - He is less the honest, well he flips and flops like Kerry. In fact he is more like Kerry then a conservative Republican.

I do not agree fully with Marco on many issues but I do believe protections will remain and personal freedom is more in line with Rubio then with Crist. Crist will read the polls and react. Give Rubio credit - at least he has a solid set of values - You may not agree but at least you know where he is going.

Flatus .. I have visions in my head of you dancing with sugar plum's !!! That is great.... You are a good person !!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/bad-timing-for-health-reform.html#comment-269364

Yep Ping,
Your assessment is spot on.....

You know, for people who call themselves Christians, the far right has a really poor way of showing it. Shouldn't the GOP want to help the less fortunate? Shouldn't they want to "render unto Ceasar"?

Tort reform would not help with insurance costs. It was reported again that medical malpractice costs are less than 1/2 of 1 percent of the total cost of health care.

Your talking point about Tort Reform is just that. A talking point.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/bad-timing-for-health-reform.html#comment-269367

Blue,
So true..I say to Grace(my Republican business partner)What would Jesus do? That stops her Republican rants instantly...

"I'm sick with a high fever..."

bear, how ya doin today? any nausea along with that fever? dr. pat's unsolicited and unlicensed advice: drink lots and lots of liquids and call the doc asap at 1st sign of breathing problems.

re fillies and skankees

dark, good sign, warner on imus this morning picked phils over those other guys by 5-3.

"While both Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have talked about the demilitarization of foreign policy and the shifting of resources to the diplomatic corps, the full-fledged fight over money inside the system is now coming to a head as each group jockeys to protect its money under the assumption that once it's gone from your coffers, you can't get it back."

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/11/03/the_real_state_defense_turf_war_begins

"One Reason You Shouldn't Go to Afghanistan With a Beard
Your facial hair says something about you in Afghanistan -- especially if you're a foreign soldier."

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/11/03/one_reason_you_shouldnt_go_to_afghanistan_with_a_beard

mornin'

Blue, the far right takes an "I got mine, you go get yours" approach to helping the needy. They are the rich men that Jesus compared unfavorably to camels.

So the most significant race yesterday from my perspective was NY 23. Despite a huge push for GOP support for the most conservative purist, NYers rejected that meddling from the party's idiot rock star and old fart has been (sorry, Flatus) and that candidate to flip a seat that had been theirs since before WWI. Obama didn't fare any better, but then again, his involvement was minimal and late in the game. I frankly don't see the 23rd as any more significant for next Oct. than I do the NJ or VA governors' races, but then again I don't get paid to opine about that like our fearless leader.

Now to health care - and again, I disagree with FL (aka Craig). I havent't seen any indication that the healthcare debate was implicated in the races yesterday. Time to get back down to business and get a decent bill passed - unfortunately I don't see one that is up for a vote.

Oh, yes, OD, I wish Hillary's sensible hands were holding the power, too. Dems just don't seem to care about getting their agendas passed - all they want to do is voice their opinions. That satisfies them because they don't really care about actualities, they just want to say what they think.

Posted by: bethyboo | November 4, 2009 2:29 AM

You nailed it for me, Beth. In the past few weeks, I have ruminated over the fact that Hillary would have made a better President than Obama and he would have been an excellent SOS. I blame John Edwards. He helped take HIllary down and has a bad moral circuit board in his brain.

A/P... Who knows what tort reform will do? I can tell you from the Front Lines that many Doc's have real concern that do impact their method of care.

But why are they protecting the big pockets of the John Edwards and Morgan style making profits on loss?

What is wrong with going after Tort reform on its own and have a National discussion? Why are they sitting on their collective legal butts protecting themselves?

We know why NO CHANGE.... ;We will not find out how it will help at a National level with this same group in Washington

Off to work and seeing how real innovation that goes beyond imagination will make childrens lifes better with safer devices - but lets face it at a cost..

So do you want a future with better medicine or not?

Real simple choice...

Best to all

Social conservatives will trash anyone's personal freedom if it is not aligned to theirs. They don't know why they believe in something they just believe. They are afraid to think for themselves. They take their 'orders' or direction from radio and/or TV talk shows or their pastors and never ask WHY.

Progressives think people are too stupid and only they know what is best for us regardless of what you think.

As for the health care reform, to me it was dead in August. I called a truce with my husband who is still such a believer and I started working on my own situation. I am not a believer as the equation is the same -- government = waste.

"What is wrong with going after Tort reform on its own and have a National discussion? Why are they sitting on their collective legal butts protecting themselves?"

Ping, I agree with you that tort reform is an issue that should be addressed separate and apart from health care reform - and in the states. There is a very good reason for that - with few exceptions, suits for medmal are brought in state courts - in fact it is an unusual medmal case that can satisfy the jurisdictional requirements for filing in federal court, and certainly not under diversirty of citizenship.

Tony, Crist made a good impression on me years ago when he was running for dog catcher or some other entry level job. I thought he was a Florida style conservative--socially liberal and fiscally conservative. I think he was running as a Republican.

At the time, he struck me as being gay.

I thought the handlers who accompanied him were creeps; but, I did like Crist and I did support him.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/us/04scent.html?hp

The paws of justice...

What a load of crap.

Far more significant elections were 2 local Tax measures. One to extend the drug combat tax and another tax increase for a local school district.
Both passed with 70% in favor.
Of the half dozen or so local tax measures only one lost.

Jack

the real election party

http://rawstory.com/2009/11/breckenridge-colorado-voters-legalize-marijuana-paraphernalia/

Corey..... Happy Birthday to you.... you live in a zoo.... you look like a monkey and you act like one too..... :0)

CBob.... I LOVE your late night ramblings.... you say so much in just a sentence or two.... Obama amassing an army, marching to the gates of Rome, then making camp..... brilliant!

you know.... if Obama decided to change his brand of toothpaste....
I guarantee that some Washington based pundit would predict something political about it....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/bad-timing-for-health-reform.html#comment-269359

Blue and I are sharing a brain this morning which is fortunate since mine is burned out from jury duty. With luck this is the last day.

Politicians are cowardly. Their whole reason to exist is supposedly (here in the fine print) to take care of the people they represent. Instead they represent the people who take care of them. End result, they are breaking this country.

We need universal, single payer healthcare. How that comes about can be in the details, but it is the only thing that will help with the budget. We need home grown business, green or otherwise.

Without jobs, the money is running out. Without money we can no longer support the the development of a truly global advancement.

That job will be taken over by the Chinese just as we took it over from the British. Start learning Mandarin.

I hope all will see what I've been talking about for some time. The reason Dems won in NY was that New Yorkers didn't like having Kennedy shoved down our throats anymore than Palin and company telling us what to do. The GOP blew it in not checking their pick before the election before realizing she wasn't a Republican...lol. On other fronts we see why Obama wanted reform before the end of August. Blue Dogs will read the paper this morning and say WTF. Since when were there not more conservatives and moderate Indies than Liberals?

The entire healthcare strategy was a mess from the start and Independents who wanted reform see Democratic over-reach, false information, back room deals and crappy leadership. Even Afghanistan is a mess with the US failing to broker a unity government while touting just last week their victory in getting a run-off. I wonder how many would have died in that re-mess. GM just slapped Merkel while Sarkozy is wonder how long Obama plans to let Iran dither. If this is improvement, we are in deep shit.

So again, there are lots of conservatives in the US. Most are not extreme despite the media casting them as extreme far right. There are more conservatives than uber Liberals (see Gallop). Obama needed to do what he promised but instead he let retards Reid and Pelosi run things. I predicted this Republican victory and in fact NY going to Bloomberg and the Dems should send a warning shot to Palin and Rush that Independents don't want the garbage they are pointing the GOP towards. But then when have they ever listened? Last night showed Independent muscle, not a rebirth of social conservatives.

Tort reform, full vetting of the consequence of healthcare reform on future costs, covering all legal citizens, curbing the more than $65 billion in Medicare fraud annually, more competition through interstate regulatory reform can do much. The campaign to vilify corporations did not work, especially when the profit margins by insurers have been shown to be less that many loved corporations. Some make less than 4%.

Be honest. A Minority wants to turn Obama's election into changing the system further than the Majority wants. A minority wants America to believe it is the majority and that only their change can do it right. Instead of a more pragmatic, transparent and clever approach, the minoirty would love to slam their wishes through. I rather doubt Hillary would do this, nor Bill. Thatis why I supported them.

Nor would a President Hillary be running around the Middle East retracting her statements to appease the Arab side that has yet to reject their desire to detroy Israel. She would not be covering up Iranian rejections (and other secret facilities) or pushing a Russian deal to sell the Saudis their S-400. Maybe she would have already imposed a no-fly zone on the Sudan or demand her AG go after all in violation of the material support bill. All those cheering her on for 2012 have obviously filtered out much of her position statements.

In any case, my predictions have been pretty accurate. I explained what the Blue Dogs were thinking and Independent reaction to these last several months. Obama thought cuddling the Left would work best and thought he scored points with Fox. Obviously not. Corzine was awful and Virginia moderates pissed. We see this morning an example of Democrats snatching defeat from victory and Bush is not to blame for a change. Like I said, things are going to get worse, not better and Obama better rev up the bus and search for that last suit.

Yep X, Yanks should do it tonight. Now be nice when you explain my remarks today. Otherwise, my invisible check will not be in the mail......

Robert Scheer on the Afghan war -

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-scheer/keeping-afghanistan-safe_b_344958.html

What the hell are we doing?

Jack....
IMO... you nailed it with your 9:18. These were local elections. Most people who went to the polls to vote did so with local issues on their minds. Only in the minds of pundits would someone bother to take time out their busy day to vote for their local mayor or governor because they want to make a statement about Barack Obama.

I tried to watch a bit of CNN last night. But I found that even David Gergen, whom I respect, was hallucinating. I turned in to local news. I'd rather watch about the latest car crash.... at least it's real.

Senor Pescado,

for you here is Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps. She gets Delbert's approval from what I hear. She and her band work on the cruise with Delbert every year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdb6xSO88-Y&feature=related

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/bad-timing-for-health-reform.html#comment-269388

Pogo, I think the current concern is the morphing of the Taliban into de facto al Qaeda members. I didn't see Scheer addressing that factoid.

So far as I understand, personal loyalties are really important in their tribal society. The type of relationship that seems to work is when we maintain a constant presence in a populated area where we have immediately available firepower defending the area.

In that type of environment our troops do best when they're allowed to go local in dress and custom.

Now, the overly restrictive rules of engagement effectively doom the type of presence I described; we simply can't provide meaningful defense if we're not allowed to shoot our weapons.

Oh, wow, good nows (sort of). In flipping up to FSN to see whether Madrid or Milan won last night, I noticed that we now have FBN & Imus - so I can once again catch Craig if he's on in the 30 minutes that the tv blathers in the background while I get ready for work.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/bad-timing-for-health-reform.html#comment-269386

Jamie,

I like this conclusion of yours re politicians: "Instead they represent the people who take care of them. End result, they are breaking this country."

Watching the morning shows and the Dems are letting the Reps run away with the message again. The lack of independents is being touted as a rejection of Obama instead of what it truly was: A rejection of Washington sausage making.

For the most part these are the young and idealistic coming up. They have absolutely no patience with "go slow, negotiate, split deals" crud. They were promised action and want action. NO ACTION no reason to go to the polls. That leaves the voting in the hands of the elderly and the committed who need to be committed.

Only in NY where there was a reason to truly stomp on the right wing was there any movement to reject an insidious movement just as they did a year ago.

Jack, I'm please that the local tax initiatives passed in your area. People are willing to support the things that make a better community--that's nice.

Gotta go now. Play nice.

Flatus - I doubt that Scheer would buy that morphing argument - and it is questionable whether throwing American guys in sand camo with M16s (they still use those?) into small villages of Afghans would prevent that at any rate. When have we ever won the hearts and minds of the people of a country by sending armed troops in to act as the face of America?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/bad-timing-for-health-reform.html#comment-269397

Pogo, I'll let Max respond.

Coming in late on this....but I don't think this smattering of elections has much to do with anti-Obama anything. It has far more to do with the fact that two groups of his supporters didn't show up: youth and African Americans.

He can respond to Scheer, not me. I've about had it with misdirection.

Patsi, my sentiments exactly. In fact, to the extent that Obama was considered at all, in VA the exit polling suggested just the contrary.

Patsi - the polling suggested that the voters were more supportive of, rather than opposed to Obama, that is.

God I love Chris Kelly's humor.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-kelly/dud-baby-dud-the-lesson-o_b_345049.html

And there is considerable wisdon hidden therein.

Yes -- I'm more concerned about the coalition that he put together has no staying power.

This morning Cong. Joe Wilson from S. C. opened the door to U. H.

He was saying that he will introduce a bill; that if Congress passed t he Option plan; that they would have to sign up for it. IM thinking that this is a perfect opportunity for them to explain the type of insurance program that our soldiers have...don't they have the very best possible care that our county can give them?

If it is not, then lets take it away from them, and all of those who receive it now. If it is the best care that any country can give to those who are fighting and getting killed for us....the police have it, our firemen have it, all gov. employees have the best ins. coverage...why can't we? If Obama wants to have a 2nd term...he better do something for the middle class now.

This mornings it was reported that there were about 200k jobs lost...this makes him a fn lie'r in the eyes of the middle class people that voted him in office. The independents will not vote for him again if he uses all of the available money for "HIS" wars-they are all his now...

Once again...I think that the Dems, can turn this latest thing (they will all be on message) about " If public option is good enough for the public, it's good enough for congress". I would wait a cpl of day's and see who; and how many of them get on board with this message..then pounce on them. Explain the ins. that our soldiers, The President, and his family, What Bush still enjoys and all gov, employees...let them all give it back, or let us all in on it.!!!

Pogo, Enjoyed that article too. Here's a part referring to the Limpman that caught my attention because it brought someone to mind.

"Rush couldn't be right, (and he can never be wrong) because he's debating a straw man from the future. His point is that X would say Y. And that's always his point: If the thing he imagines happening happens, liberals will react in a way he imagines, and it'll be just like them, too. Except they never do, because it doesn't, so they can't, not that they would have."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/bad-timing-for-health-reform.html#comment-269404

Patsi, I really don't think it was a coalition, more like segments voting for their own interests. That they happened to coincide was fortunate for Mr Obama, but I see it as being a one shot deal which takes it out of the coalition realm.

Question is, will he ever be able to create a coalition that incumbents will respect or fear? Personally, I think he won't.

And, if he can't, isn't it now time for Dems to start looking at alternative candidates?

"Italian court convicts 23 Americans of kidnapping in CIA rendition of Muslim cleric

CIA operatives and a U.S. Air Force colonel had been tried in absentia on kidnapping charges for their involvement in the 2003 abduction of Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, also known as Abu Omar." Washington Post bulletin

Well, you win some and you lose some.

Flatus, Do you think we've seen all Obama has to offer?
You said it might be time to look for alternative candidates, so I'm assuming that you don't think he's got what it takes to pull it together, to become a leader. It almost feels like he lurking in the background, 'waiting' for things to happen, waiting for someone to tell him what to do. I don't know what to make of it.

Maybe leaders really are born to be.

Chloe,

During the campaign I characterized Mr Obama as Prokofiev's mythical Lieut Kije--the hero the emperor's advisors created. In other words, no substance beyond the facade.

He's done nothing to change my mind.

And we are powerless beyond our ability to write and write and write and to cajole and cajole and cajole. What a fate.

Chloe,

"t almost feels like he lurking in the background, 'waiting' for things to happen, waiting for someone to tell him what to do."

He had to up to this point: He had no experience to guide him,! This is why he was susceptible to the special corps that paid his way to getting elected.! and why he has been very pliable to this point; ....hope that he paid back everyone of them now.!!!

"He's done nothing to change my mind."

I hear you Flatus. No surprises here either. Maybe even 'worse' than I expected. All I'm looking for is a back bone.

Thanks.

You're much more optimistic than I am Solar.

Flatus, isn't Italy a member of NATO? Providing Security Assistance forces in Afghanista? A member of the coalition of the willing? And wasn't rendition legal? Isn' tthat what we were told by the Dark Lord and his puppet? I'm con fused.

Afghanistan ... Isn't that ... confused.

(proofread)

I was thinking this morning about what the pay range was back in the seventies (I'm not talking 'minimum wage' here though), and I don't think that average jobs: teachers, communication companies, utility companies, etc. were paying that much less then than they are now. But the cost of living 'seems' to be beyond tripling. Something has changed here. I could easily support myself when I was in my early 20s, but I would have a rough time doing it on my own now.

I think you are right about Obama's support being less a coalition than a group of special interests that happened to intersect. And while I am a bit put off by the early retirement of all those high-minded young voters, I can't fault anyone who didn't get excited about someone like Corzine. He just seems same old same old to me. Plus I still think alluding to the opponent's being fat was dumb. I have to believe NJ ain't exactly a skinny state.

Hey solar.....L..ch

I'm watching all the excitement in Berkshire Hathaway. The Class A shares represent the real power in the company as the Class B shares have virtually no voting power. It's the Class B shares that are to be traded to Burlington Northern shareholders.

Surprisingly, it's the Class B making the larger gains in share value--probably because they don't cost so much as the others.

No matter the relative action of the different classes of shares, I think it's one heck of a deal for us as Americans--putting Mr Buffett's corporation in charge of a core national business which he will build to new heights.

Isn't that a novel idea, investing for the future because you believe in the company and in America? Makes me think of Victor Kiam who bought Remington Shaver because he tried one of their shavers and thought it was a terrific product.

(For the sake of disclosure, I did own a Remington Shaver, and I now own Berkshire Hathaway.)

Carramba.!! Me and my long post's....just for that im going to starve today. Do Not tell me what you had for lunch....lets see what kind of a guy U r hehehe

Bloomberg spent over 100mil to get elected....good reason for campaign finance reform no?

Jamie,

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/bad-timing-for-health-reform.html#comment-269386

love you 're thinking lately..welcome to what has been said for a long time now..and now that you are seeing things from the middle class perspective, and not defending any President; regardless of party. The next thing that we need to get a third party: Even if it's from those that are from the Republican middle, and the Dem, middle...let those extremes of each party on their own...if the middle is built up from within..we will have a third party.

But only if they don't go back and vote for the lesser of two evils like they do now....at election time; the time for putting up or shutting up, we must vote for our country,,,not for our Team, that are just as corrupt as the other team.!!

Chloe-

optimism hallway's had it; and always will...maybe to dumb to not have it....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/bad-timing-for-health-reform.html#comment-269414

Damn it, Pogo, you were supposed to be at lunch.

Flatus

A BNSF map of railroad.

They are western US rail transportation. I didn't realise they were that big.

Jack

Democrats must lead by leading and accomplishing reform -- like health care which is tied to the deficit. Those timid Dems who refuse to take issue with the insurance companies will lose their seats in the coming elections. Those who stand firm for the people will be re-elected to fight on!

The wins of GOP governors will be unfortunate for the people of Virginia and New Jersey. If the people of these states thought they had it bad under Democratic governors, they have seen nothing yet. How long will some people continue to be Fooled by these Wizards of Oz? How long will they continue to circle the Yellow Brick Road? Republican politicians will not deliver the change these people seek but instead will impede it delivering more good and services to big corporations and insurance companies which will only continue the decay of these states. This is very unfortunate indeed because the GOP primary objective is to say no the people and to spead fear -- The Party of No and Fear -- deceptive Wizards of Oz!

Chlo,

This caught my eye:

"Maybe leaders really are born to be."

They are born every day: They just don't have the availability that the ones that control the way that leaders are elected to office: They don't have the $, the clout that it takes to get there....we are restricted to inferior leadership until we change the way we do things...until then; we are at their mercy.!! later going to get my exercise in.

I lied. Uno mas:

Im not sorry that Corzine lost..or happy either. What it shows me, is that there is no where to go...the pendulum swung to the right..is all.!! Watch out dems. The writing is on the wall: do something or get out of the way!!!!

Jack,

Lots of talk about the railroad here..and in Ohio..but still on hold..thanks

Two problems with Obama's election being one of a cult of personality:

1) It gave Dems false confidence (until yesterday's elections) that it would be easy-going from now on......although since they haven't bothered to use their majority+prez power, they've managed to make themselves practically inconsequential. Hard to do and really stupid.

2) As a Hil'ry supporter, I still get no pleasure from saying, "I told you so." because I know that doesn't fix our problems.

I'm still keeping hope alive because he is our prez and I do want him and us to succeed. A house divided, Faux News, a house divided... Don't be boogers.

"we are restricted to inferior leadership until we change the way we do things...until then; we are at their mercy."

Well said Solar.

I don't think the pendulum swung any where.

The point of the local elections I posted were the fact that the voters overwhelingly will support things they view as important and will do so with their tax dollars.
That is the message I got out of yesterdays elections. That and the teabaggers have no power around here.

I think what yesterdays election said is throw out all the old corrupt ideas. The curr3ent health bill is a losser for anybody voting for it because it is a product of old corrupt thinking. People voted for Obama because they wanted a change from that type of thinking and Obama is not delivering.
So lets see that change we can believe in.

In other words Mr Obama "Shit or get off the pot!" We are tired of waiting and listening to your grunts>

Jack

1. It's nice that the pong gave up his pretense of being a moderate & fiscal conservative. His display of support for the 6 day, flat earther shows his true colors. By coming out of the closet, he'll feel better. Good work, Mr. Pong.

2. Speaking of closets, marco rubio is reeaaally pretty. Is he gay ?

3. But, how can it be that an urban II type Catholic shows up on a Southern Baptist website ? That would have roused gerry folwell to remonstrate and harold criswell to rant and froth at the mouth. Don't today's Southern Baptist still hold the belief that the Vatican wants to burn all the unbelievers at the stake ? Maybe they have difficulty using the same narrative for both Catholics and Muslims simultaneously.

Jack,

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/bad-timing-for-health-reform.html#comment-269428

I agree; and maybe all that the pendulum did was to lean a little to the other side...but he better get a lot of toilet paper to clean up his bs...

All politics is local - The proof: I was getting really irritated by the election crawl on the screen last night about all of the propositions in other towns.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/bad-timing-for-health-reform.html#comment-269419

after I got out of the service I worked for the Frisco RR for a couple of years. That railroad was morphed into the Burlington Northern. I made $5.00 per hour and it was a union job. I was the richest hippie in FT Worth. Foolishly I quit that job to go to Boston to Art School. I found a job (working all night) for $2.00 per hour to help augment my GI Bill money. I guess I was the last of the clan to work for the railroad as my father retired from the Union Pacific and his father retired from the Missouri Kansas Texas Railroad. The MKT was called the Katy. My son has no interest in working like that even for the big money.

Craig @ Crooks and Liars -

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/cls-book-chat-craig-crawford-discusse

Some Presidencies are sprints, and others are marathons.

One year into the Kennedy Administration saw a fiasco at the Bay of Pigs and a disastrous summit with Khrushchev. One year into the Bush II administration and they were looking for ways to blame Iraq (and Clinton) for 9/11. One year into Johnson and the stage was set for massive warfare in VietNam. One year into the Clinton administration and health care reform was dead.

Only the Reagan Administration of recent presidencies could chalk up major success in the first year, with victories on the budget and tax fronts.

Obama may be a disappointment to those who thought that he could 'change' Washington culture and the legislative process, but let's see how it plays out over the longer term before we all decide to elect Mitt Romney next President.

P.S. In November 1982, Chuck Robb was elected Governor of Virginia, succeeding a Republican.

Just in case there are those of you out there who missed the lecture on rationalization in PSY 101, here's a perfect example.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/nyregion/04district.html?hp

“I think Doug Hoffman likely would have won if he had been the Republican candidate from the get-go,” said Mike Huckabee, the former Republican presidential contender. “It wasn’t a spike in the end zone for the Democrats. They got that seat not because Democrats were brilliant, but because Republicans were stupid.”

"Many conservatives attempted to frame Mr. Hoffman’s defeat as a victory, saying that despite Mr. Hoffman’s loss, conservatives prevailed because the moderate Republican candidate, Dede Scozzafava, was forced out of the race.

“Our number one goal was to make clear that the Republican Party cannot take someone as liberal as Dede Scozzafava and thrust her out on the voters and expect the voters just to accept it,” said Brian Brown, executive director of the National Organization for Marriage, which worked to defeat Ms. Scozzafava, the Republican candidate who faced a challenge from Mr. Hoffman."

And what the hell is it with the Repugs now - except for boner and the Dark Lord, the spokespersons are all either entertainers or defeated candidates from races long over.

Blue.... don't be boogers.... but..... but.... being a booger is so much fun!

IMO, Corzine lost because he represented the status quo and corrupt politics.... the people of NJ decided it was time to throw the bum out, and therefore, voted for the opposing candidate who just happened to be a Republican because Corzine just happened to be a Democrat.... if their party affiliations had been the reverse, the same result would have happened.

The Obama administration would be wise to realize that most people don't vote along strict party lines. They vote the person whom they think will get the job done. People aren't going to give Obama another term because he's a Democrat.... they'll give him another term if they think he's accomplishing something.

RR,

Right on.

Renee, what Joe said.

C-Joe,

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/bad-timing-for-health-reform.html#comment-269428

Yes, lets hope so, and I will continue to be optimistic about it.

I just finished a phone call with a blk business man in Ohio..he can't understand what is taking so long for banks to release $ for set aside government contracts, that have been awarded to us. We have asked for start up $ for these gov. contracts...

What he is saying is that he knows other small biz people in the western states that are 'black' business owners. and are very disappointed in him; but wish that the turn it around in the following years; or he will be a on time President..the " African American's will see that he is no better than what we had the last few years" and he is a retired Air Force person..doesn't understand why Obama is sending our kids to Organist to get killed, he asked me " didn't we get our revenge for 9/11 already"

He has tied his hands about the wars..he won't do the right thing...just like LBJ didn't after he was told that he would suffer politically if he pulled out of Vietnam. He is beholding to the Big Corps Just Like Bush was; and I don't see him changing his friends for us, the middle class..we don't eat arugula. He has his hands tied just about everything...he better get them untied and get the banks to start lending money to small corps, if he and the Dems want a chance to stay in office..

.Really pissed off this am...another friend just lost his house ( and 2 family member's so far) and his 401k he has to start all over again..with a bad credit history...good thing he has a son to take him in...

Organist= have no freakin idea what that was about.!

Pogo, what did U have for lunch? I would have told you and rubbed it in,,just for kidding around :-)

What he is saying is that he knows other small biz people in the western states that are 'black' business owners. and are very disappointed in him; but wish that the turn it around in the following years; or he will be a on time President..the " African American's will see that he is no better than what we had the last few years" and he is a retired Air Force person..doesn't understand why Obama is sending our kids to Organist to get killed, he asked me " didn't we get our revenge for 9/11 already"

Solar,
do you expect the President to call or go down to the bank where you guys are trying to get the loan? Just because this President is African American doesn't mean black people will get to get in line first.

New Thread

Sheesh, Doots, if you hadn't left the railroad and gone to art school, you would never have been a fully qualified, college trained, starving artist :)

I don't know if you have access to the RFD network on TV. Every Monday at like 5-pm they have an hour of train films. Totally whimsical. I record it every week.

H. D.

Not thats not what I meant or what he meant either. Hid administration should do something to address the way that banks are hording $, and not lending it out...he did want the Job as President: He did say that he would get the banks to lend the small biz corps, when he bailed out the big banks...and his still does...he is giving big money to the citi group that just filed for bankruptcy ( or did before, and will again) while they were foreclosing on peoples homes...

The Republicans got us into this huge fkn problem that we are in...Obama said that he could fix it...he has only supported his corps buddies...I do understand that he had to shell out a lot of money to shore up the big banks...and other corps...but he also knew that the country was in a huge tail spin about jobs, and loss of revenue for the small corps to do any business with...he didn't care about us....no I don't want him to go to the bank a sign for a loan for me...or any other thing....just one fucking phone call to that pig Giethner, that was in wall st. fucking up the economy, along with that shit Greenspan( order the banks to lend to people that can get the economy going again)..yeah he is better than what McCain and Palin...so what?

Other than youre ridiculous( I know thats the way that it was intended) question...Im glad that Y had a positive report from you 're doctor..I have the same tests coming up this month on the 9th...I think that my BP won't be as good as yours...but not bad..should be about 120/65 or so...

I have sometimes been annoyed by Bob Schiefer's carefully selected and scrupulously neutral language. Of all people in the news business over the last decade, Schiefer seems the most fastidious and conservative when it comes to making assessments. So, when Schiefer says the recent Afghan election was a fraud, I believe it. Now, the question is, will the fraud work ?

I'm beginning to change my mind on Afghanistan, but I still think that the remnant of the enemy, caught as it is between the jaws of Paki Army and our soldiers, can be extirpated. Even if osama bin ladin and al zawahiri have only 98 men following them, they are too damn dangerous to be allowed their freedom. It would be like allowing 100 charles mansons to leave prison.

The future will belong to sane people in Afghanistan only if we follow the Mortenson's advice : be respectful to the clan and village headmen, build schools for boys and girls, and pay for teachers.

Almost all Afghans want the same future that we want : a better life for their kids and grand kids, some security (for afghans, a blanket and little mutton in hard times), and respect for their elders and womenfolk. Almost all of the Afghans resent our presence, but they are also aware that the taliban ways and ideas bring about disasters, like prohibition of music and sports, religious deaths quads, and NATO occupation.

I cannot see any plan working that presumes our soldiers can or will successfully take on the role of surrogate Peace Corps volunteers. At least, not until the countryside submits (ironically, al islam) to the future we select for them. We did that very thing with astonishing success in Germany, Japan, and Italy after WWII. However, those societies had a long tradition of being submissive serfs serving their betters. By comparison, Afghans are free and defiant.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/bad-timing-for-health-reform.html#comment-269426

Completely agree, Blue.

"but let's see how it plays out over the longer term before we all decide to elect Mitt Romney next President."

People keep telling me I'm crazy, Joe -- but he's the guy that worries me....

"Really pissed off this am...another friend just lost his house "

Things are ugly out there. People are not paying those of us with no clout....and I know the foreclosure feeling. I'd have lost my house a couple of months ago if it wasn't for a good friend in the music business.