Happy Wednesday!

Kristen on June 29, 2005 at 09:48 AM

Good morning

hi
can I post yet???

Hi Sandy & MNS!

Good Morning, All

I held my breath last night when Bush was talking about how important it was for men and women to enlist to defend this nation, but of course he stopped short of telling us his unemployed adult daughters would be stopping at the recruiters today to sign their enlistment papers.

At some point can we ask that they stop living off the public and get a job?! Daddy Bush keeps going on about how great the market is right now!

I cannot believe, and I should have known better, that he would bring up 9/11 and tie it to Iraq. People are not that stupid. He created this situation, not 9/11.

MNS...some would argue that he created 9/11 as well, since he refused to listen to the intelligence reports!

Church leader endorses gay marriage

Kristen on June 29, 2005 at 10:13 AM

I agree that he is very dim, but that has always seemed a little extreme to me. I will hammer him on a lot, but he was not the only one that failed during the months before 9/11.

Making another attempt to post.

I, too, fumed every time Shrubya invoked 9/11. Isn't that dead horse getting a little tenderized by now??

GAWD what a nastyass bug... you're signed in, no you're not, yes you are, no you're not, yes I am too, JUUUUUST KIDDING!!! ARRRGGHH!

Those are SO much fun to find in the code...

Morning all!!

Kristen I'm hanging out where we were yesterday!

That worked.

I had to blow away my old www.democrats.org cookies and let the all-new site set all-new cookies.

MNS I agree he was not the only one that failed our nation before 9/11, but he is responsible as well. I'm sick of hearing him do his damnest to tie Iraq and 9/11 together. Everything in his speech screams that he believes that the American people are far more stupid than he is, which in general seems physically/genetically impossible.

Then to have the news come out today that the US is poking sticks at N. Korea and saying that we could take them easily just shows this country that these men in power with stop at nothing short of world chaos.

I think that when he was given the Aug. 6, PDB he never read it (if he was given it at all).. He was in the job of his life, and was probably told that he didn't have to do anything because Daddy's friends would run the show. That's why he was on vacation 42% of the time at his phony ranch. (That and the fact that he could get back on the bottle again away from prying eyes).

Kristen,

Looks as if gay marriage is all-but a done-deal in Canada. I'd laugh my arse off if Mexico did too (but I certainly don't ever look for that to happen). That'd send the fundigelicals into snake-handling paroxysms.

I would love a widely-published count of exactly how many hetero marriages were destroyed because a coupla gays got married. Anyone willing to be the number isn't a big-fat goose egg?

Amanda, I heard that this morning as well! The PM had a great quote...

"We are a nation of minorities," Martin said. "And in a nation of minorities, it is important that you don't cherry-pick rights."

Canada approves Gay Marriage bill

Kristen on June 29, 2005 at 10:20 AM

I agree. He is not blameless, but 9/11 was about more than him.

Anyway, from the moment he came into office, I knew he was going to go after Iraq. The fact that he is using 9/11 to justify his desire to finish what his daddy did is what angers me the most. I can't stand the way he speaks as he of all people appears to be talking down to the audience - not sure how that is possible considering his staring point. Too many people bought into his I'm just like you crap.

Does anyone know if this blog is available via RSS or Atom? I would love to be able to subscribe via various blog reading systems.

Glass_Hopper,

Yeah... think we need something like

set-cookie( 'dncsc-cookie-name=;' ) somewhere... maybe the 'sign in' link. I hate finding odd "timing" things in code... glad they're getting the "big bucks" today. Got my own coding traumas :-P

Amanda_B_Reckondwythe on June 29, 2005 at 10:24 AM

A better question would be how many heterosexuals have destroyed heterosexual marriages. I personally know of an occasion when a married woman had an affair with a married man and they both got divorced so they could get married. I'm pretty sure there were no gay people involved in that incident. I'm guessing that everyone has a story similar to that one as well.

Aldon -- I did see a link to the RSS feed directory in my searches. They've always had RSS feeds, but not sure exactly where the link is now ;-)

Amanda, I set my browser to always look for a new page after I cleaned out my cookies file. I seem to be doing ok...at least I'm not getting locked out as often.

Posted by MNSasquatch on June 29, 2005 at 10:27 AM

I said the same thing when the SC appointed him the first time... "it won't be 2 years before we're in some war somewhere". Bonesmen repugs have about 130 years of repetitive history behind them. Like granddaddy Prescott and Pappy, Shrubby carried on the family business of arming someone then starting a war because that someone had arms. Time after freakin' time. Obviously Americans never learn from oft-repeated history.

Kristen,

I closed the browser and opened a fresh one. That always works -- when I've the wit to remember LOL

Amanda_B_Reckondwythe on June 29, 2005 at 10:34 AM

Even more distressing, and no offense to anyone suffering from the disorder, but he must have adult ADD. He cannot finish one war before he is onto the next. And now he and his friends are posturing that they can take on N. Korea also. Here's an idea, let's fight 3 wars at one time, because we are bound to be successful in one of them.

MNS,

Yah. Oh-for-two, so far :-\

could we plaeas impeach GWB...he is awful

Hello everyone.

Some of my Republican friends sent me e-mails today that I thought everyone should know about. GOD FORGIVE THEM. Their propaganda never ends.

The title of the e-mail is: Pictures From Iraq That Are Too Shocking & Graphic for The Mainstream Media.

The pictures are far from shocking or graphic. They show our soldiers grouped with women and children holding signs supporting Bush and the war in Iraq. The most shocking photo is an Iraqi child kissing an American flag.

I was heartened to know that most of the women and children in Iraq could read and write English. God bless the war for that.

With midterm elections drawing near, it is obvious that the Republican Party is determined to get a jumpstart on their continued brainwashing of the American people.

Hello again from Cleveland.

Well, Dumbya had his little photo op last night at the troops' expense. Fortunately, I don't think most Americans are buying what he's selling anymore. Which makes that whole gang of thugs more dangerous, like a wounded animal backed into a corner. Unfortunately, I don't see us getting rid of them soon enough to prevent them from doing a lot more damage.

Wes Clark was brilliant on FOX afterwards. He's taking on an audience that NEEDS to have questions planted in their minds so that some of them can start behaving like responsible citizens again.

Good Morning Again Friends!

Hooray, it looks like the daily BLOG is back. Thanks, Guys!

:)

I'm still having trouble posting because it keeps telling me I'm not signed in, but I am a patient person.

I'm all for impeaching GWB...but how?

Posted by letshelpdean on June 29, 2005 at 10:53 AM

Impeach Bush? Well, if you can figure out a way to do it with a GOP majority in Congress and a bunch of Democrats who haven't shown a whole lot of spine (for the most part) in standing up to the bullshit, I'm all for it! Might be better if we could force mass resignations!

About your ID, I think Dean has a tough job, but he has the right ideas about rebuilding the party from the grassroots up and getting more support from ordinary people and not the special interests. I'm completely on board for that and I hope everyone is rolling up their sleeves and getting involved with their local party.

DMC, that email has been going around. I could send you some truly shocking and horrifying photos from iraq to reply with.

Sorry I meant DMS

DMS,

They never stopped. The boiler-rooms and email-mills didn't even slow down for a breath after the "election". The capture and shaping of minds is a 24/7 job. Too many Dems thought that once the "election" was over with, the GOP bullshit-mills would take a break.

Not on your life, my friend. I have repeatedly warned my fellow Dems about the fact, but none seems to have cottoned on just yet... to our constant detriment. I'm always surprised when anyone is surprised that the spew never ceases.

Oh, could I give some awakening seminars...

I think we should impeach the entire Republican party. But, we can start with the Chimp.

Oh, this is an interesting article! I'll give you an excerpt and then the link to the whole thing:

>>Indeed, it is hard to even imagine what [a] "leveling with the American people" speech would sound like. For instance, if Bush truly wanted to shelve the propaganda and tell it like it really was, he would have to give a speech that would say something like:

"My fellow Americans, let me explain to you what really went wrong with the Iraq policy and why so many young Americans have died in what looks like a futile war without end.

"First, you must know that I have long obsessed about getting rid of Saddam Hussein, taking care of some unfinished business from my dad's presidency. There's also a lot of oil there and my neoconservative advisers saw a good chance to project American power into the Middle East.

"So when the Sept. 11 attacks occurred, I saw my chance. Vice President Dick Cheney and I began merging references to al-Qaeda and Iraq. That way, the casual listener would start associating Iraq with Sept. 11 subliminally, even if there was no real evidence to support that connection.

"We also decided to exaggerate the shaky intelligence we had about Iraq's WMD because we knew that would scare the American people into supporting a war against a country that wasn't threatening us.

"Next, I got rid of officials, like Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and Gen. Eric Shinseki, who had doubts about the Iraq War plans. To keep British Prime Minister Tony Blair on board, we agreed to go to the United Nations, but only because we hoped that Saddam would reject a demand for U.N. inspections and give us a better pretext for war.

"When Saddam crossed us up by letting the inspectors in, we started a war hysteria inside the United States. When the French wanted more time for the inspections to work, we turned `France' into a dirty word, even renaming French toast and French fries into `freedom toast' and `freedom fries.'

"Before it sank into the American people that the U.N. inspectors weren't finding any WMD, I forced the inspectors to leave. Later, after the war was over, when your memories were getting a little fuzzy, I pretended that Hussein had never let the inspectors in and had shown `defiance,' leaving me no choice but to invade as a `last resort.' For details on how I pulled off that sleight of hand, see Consortiumnews.com's `President Bush, With the Candlestick...'

"In the first days of the Iraq War, when we realized `shock and awe' didn't have quite the effect we hoped, I had the U.S. military bomb civilian targets, such as a residential restaurant which we obliterated because of some sketchy information that Saddam might be eating there. We did this even though we knew that civilians would be killed. We were right about the civilians getting killed, but Saddam turned out not to be there.

"All these acts that I've described to you tonight might well be considered war crimes, but I really don't care much about international law. Remember when I reacted to one question about international law by joking, `International law? I better call my lawyer.' That's just the way I feel about treaties and other things that try to tie me down.

"Some of my critics might say that I've been a dissembler, which means someone who doesn't tell the truth. But that's just politics.

"Well, so now that I've leveled with you about how we got into this mess, I'm sure you feel you can trust me to continue protecting the American people and leading our great nation to victory in Iraq.

"As I actually did say in my radio address on June 18, `I'll continue to act to keep our people safe from harm and our future bright. Together we will do what Americans have always done: build a better and more peaceful world for our children and grandchildren.'"
http://www.consortiumnews.com/Print/2005/062605.html

Hello all!

oops, sorry, I didn't realize the part I was posting would take up so much space. I'll try to be more careful next time.

Hiya Rainbow_goddess!

Aman, please DO give some awakening seminars. The future of the world may depend on it.

np Susan

Good Morning Democrats!!

Give Him an Oscar for Crass

In reality, it wasn't so much a speech as an exercise in mind control, designed to pull the 'right' strings so as to keep the public on board the Iraq debacle, at a time when Americans are becoming ever more skeptical.

It clearly showed that the Bush camp is worried about increasing background chatter from not only Democrats but also GOP stalwarts: "Vietnam", "quagmire", "torture", "rising casualties", "terrorist breeding ground", "failure".

"lie", "Fib", "Hoax", "Fraud", "Deception", "Illegal war"...

How about some rational thoughts on getting out of Iraq with honor? I know, I know, honor and Bush are mutually exclusive. Nevertheless...some thoughts.

First, how about turning the job of reconstructing Iraq over to the Iraqis. Goodbye Halliburton and others who are making a bloody fortune off our good tax dollars. Hello employment for local folks with too much time on their hands.

Also, move our troops out of the former palaces. I mean, what kind of message does that send?

We are coming into the summer months so I think it's time we Get Reel about toxic air pollution

Anyone getting the daily email from the Center for American progress? They have some great talking points. Here's a snippet from today's bulletin:

A Wasted Opportunity

In a primetime address to the nation on Iraq last night, Bush wasted a precious opportunity to level with the American public about the struggle we face ahead of us in Iraq, the mistakes that have been made, and the need to change course. Instead, we heard a president who had only two objectives on his mind: 1) wrap 9-11 and Iraq together to help bolster his public approval and support for the war; and 2) stubbornly refuse to change course. As the New York Times noted in an editorial today, Bush "raise[d] the bloody flag of 9/11 over and over again to justify a war in a country that had nothing whatsoever to do with the terrorist attacks." The speech "offered few new ideas for dealing with an insurgency that has claimed more than 1,700 American lives" and "rejected any change in course, ruling out either a deadline for troop withdrawals or an increase in troop levels."

BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) -- Hollywood actor Tom Cruise not only battles creatures from outer space in his latest film "War of the Worlds", he also believes aliens exist, he told a German newspaper on Wednesday.

Asked in an interview with the tabloid daily Bild if he believed in aliens, Cruise said: "Yes, of course. Are you really so arrogant as to believe we are alone in this universe?"

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/29/cruise.aliens.reut/index.html

Will someone please shut this man up? So he easily believes in little green creatures but thinks that psychiatry is a pseudoscience. L. Ron Hubbard would be proud.

More:

HOW BUSH TURNED IRAQ INTO A TERRORIST TRAINING GROUND: The thrust of President Bush's address last night was that the Iraq war has now become the "latest battlefield" in the war on terror, and that we must "defeat [the terrorists] abroad before they attack us at home." There is little doubt, as a new CIA report concludes and director Porter Goss said previously, that Iraq has become the new Afghanistan -- the training ground for the next generation of insurgent fighters. But Iraq certainly wasn't this type of breeding ground before the war. In fact, one rationale Bush proffered for the war was to prevent Iraq from becoming "a training ground" for terrorists. Bush said in November 2002: "Imagine a terrorist network with Iraq as an arsenal and as a training ground..." We don't have to imagine anymore; Bush's war has made it a reality due to the whole host of mistakes that were made in the post-war phase.

Okay, I'm just sharing what I think is good info, but I'm starting to feel like a blog hog. Sorry.

you're not a blog hog, don't worry susan.

The Bush prime-time fiasco was the biggest presidential pratfall in the history of the office.

Up in Smoke - Bush Flops in Prime Time

Bush was expected to lay out a new vision that would soothe the jittery nerves of the country but, instead, ladled out the same tired bromides he’s used for the last five years. Even his worshipful audience of servicemen and women slumped into stunned silence as the Commander in Chief exhumed the pitiable rhetoric of the Vietnam era. The reverberations of Westmoreland’s “light in the tunnel” speech resonated through the Fort Bragg auditorium as Bush blathered on about “no timetable” and “staying the course.” The oratory offered no explanation for why the nation continues to slip beneath the Iraqi quicksand.

good post Mountain Goddess. hi lizzy!!! how's CA? the gz is rocking

from across the pond and beyond....

And in Britain, Lynne Jones, a lawmaker in Prime Minister Tony Blair's ruling Labour Party, said any attempt to suggest that Iraq was a response to the September 11 attacks was "absolute nonsense."

"There is absolutely no connection between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda," she said.

"What they have ensured, in invading Iraq, is they have actually promoted al Qaeda's involvement in other countries, including Iraq."

British MP George Galloway, who was expelled from Labour over his criticism of the war, said, "The truth is, as everyone can see, that Zarqawi and the other extremist formations that have sprouted in Iraq are the result of the invasion, not the reason for it.

"The swamp of hatred against the West has been vastly deepened by the actions of those two world leaders, Bush and Blair."

Bush is an Idiot

(AP) - LONDON-Two French journalists who were held hostage in Iraq told a British documentary program that their captors believed George W. Bush's re-election as U.S. president would help radicalize Iraqis.

http://news.findlaw.com/ap/o/51/06-29-2005/d710000ce5dc3dc4.html

Susan

You're not a blog hog. It's just kind of slow right now.

Great link Mountain Goddess. Very important stuff. I use a reel mower.

Susan, I will definitely not call your post hogging. It is the facts.

Colleen, I use my husband to mow so maybe I should get him a reel mower for his birthday!

So where is everyone? Did people get a little too tanked last night by knocking back shots everytime the dwarf mentioned 9/11?

Interesting article about the reel mowers. I will have to give this one to my husband. I get Mother Earth News and I've been talking up electric mowers to him (we've been using the same gas powered mower for something like 16 years now, waiting for it to die before we replace it) and the info about new reel mowers is something to throw into the mix.

Hello Dems!

Is this the west coast, broadband version of Lizzy? :)

Sorry if posted previously. Can you believe this kind of crap goes on and you don't even need to put tin foil on your head to believe it ???

The UN has learned of "very, very serious" allegations that the United States is secretly detaining terrorism suspects in various locations around the world, notably aboard prison ships, the UN's special rapporteur on terrorism said.

While the accusations were rumours, rapporteur Manfred Nowak said the situation was sufficiently serious to merit an official inquiry.

"There are very, very serious accusations that the United States is maintaining secret camps, notably on ships," the Austrian UN official told AFP, adding that the vessels were believed to be in the Indian Ocean region.

Link

Well, I won't take up more space posting stuff from the email from CAP, but if anyone is interested, visit their site and sign up for their email if you're so inclined. They put out some good info. They're at www.americanprogress.org

I like John Kerry and I voted for him but I don't think his responses were the right ones for the democratic party. Or maybe, what he said was o.k. but I didn't like how it was framed. When asked to criticize Bush's speech it seemed like the best he could do was say that he would do what Bush is doing, but better. My problem is that national security is not percieved as a democratic strong point. I think this is inaccurate but the point is I would rather not fight the republicans on their turf. If we think the war was a mistake and that we need to get out as soon as possible that is how we should frame these discussions. Another words, don't say we are going to do what Bush would do only better. Say what the American people want to hear, that Bush was wrong to invade and now the Democrats are going to provide an exit strategy that works. This "exit strategy" may include many of the things that Kerry stated I just think he doesn't do a good job (and neither has the democratic party) of framing the argument. As much as I hate Rove, that is what he is good at. Think 9/11, vote republican (it infuriates me that democrats were not effective at countering this propaganda but it has been effective for them). I think we need a simple message on Iraq that is better than Republican lite. Something along the lines of vote for America by voting Democrat. What does this mean:

Restoring our image in the world by working with other countries instead of ramming things down their throat.

Make progress on environmental issues by booting the "fuzzy math" people out of office.

Restore our democratic rights by examining Patriot Act and similar legislation and removing controversial laws that allow police to invade our private lives.

Restore the judiciary as an independent branch of government.

Protect the elderly and future generations by protecting social security.

Lead the U.N. in a positive way instead of by hostile takeover.

Keep engaged with countries of concern, but have the backing and most importantly the commitment of other countries before we take actions that will involve us in another war. (Korea, Iran, etc.)

This is just a start but my point is these are all issues that Americans have always held dear and that the Republicans are failing miserably at upholding. The problem, in my opinion, has been an ineffective campaign strategy and the lack of an "inspiring" presidential contender. Please tell me that "hope is on the way".

P.S. The last phrase is not an endorsement for John Edwards as I am not sure he is the answer, just liked it. Also, I would usually preview and make this more concise but with the bugs I am just posting for now. Forgive the length!

Pam, I put nothing past this bunch of thugs and I mean NOTHING.

That's not the only secret places (camps) this regime is keeping, Pam. Look near the bottom of my "observations".

I agree that he is very dim, but that has always seemed a little extreme to me. I will hammer him on a lot, but he was not the only one that failed during the months before 9/11.

Posted by MNSasquatch on June 29, 2005 at 10:16 AM

Hi Sas:

My feelings are, if Rice and Bush had paid attention to the Full report which Richard Clarke had just finished on AlQaeda and brought with him from the Clinton administration and tried to get them to read, that there was a good chance that some of those Arabians would have been stopped prior to their boarding those planes. Clarke's book goes into how he tried to make them aware.

LIMBAUGH: I actively think that liberals seek the defeat of the military. I think they're happy. I think liberals get excited when the military doesn't work because they have a general pacifist view of everything. They think the use of the American military is always unjust, uncalled for, unwise, and unfair, being that we're the only superpower. And any time we take it on the chin, I think they're happy because it allows them to say, "See, this doesn't work."

http://mediamatters.org/items/200506280007

This from a doped-up, washed-up, slob of a man who cowardly backed out of military service when he had the chance to serve his Country. Does he not know that most of the liberals who have denounced this war have actually served?

Hey Chuck, I am still adjusting here but still fighting for our democracy!! I am still trying to figure out who is who and what the heck happen.

Bush slammed for Iraq link to 9/11

SocialDem, we need to MAKE national security a Democratic strong point or the other party is going to continue terrorizing the American people into voting for them because they believe only Republicans can keep them safe.

"I like John Kerry and I voted for him but I don't think his responses were the right ones for the democratic party."

DITTO!

I say, when you enemy is down (and especially, if he's a madman), KICK HIM!

Posted by VineyardLizzy on June 29, 2005 at 11:46 AM

Who's who? As in new screen names? I'm having a bit of difficulty with that myself.

hiy'all!

Posted by Susan_ClevelandOH on June 29, 2005 at 11:46 AM

That's right. Totally agree, but let's point out that they're LYING about EVERYTHING (fearmongering) while were at it!

I love american progress Susan! they are the best!

Jen my bud. How goes it?

PamB on June 29, 2005 at 11:45 AM

I'm just saying that we can't know what would have happened. Even had he put some effort into the report, could we have stopped what was happening? Not sure.

I think it is much better to rip on him for his current actions rather than his actions around 9/11. People get to defensive about 9/11 whereas he is becoming more and more vulerable about Iraq. IMO.

Hi Jen, now that is a name I recognize!. Chuck I posted at your blog finally!!

Posted by MNSasquatch on June 29, 2005 at 11:55 AM

The only thing is- bush keeps referring back to 9/11 like it's his "trump card"* or something. The Dems need to continually discredit the rhetoric, while hammering the current actions like you said.

*You know, our children's death, His Majesty's glory.

Posted by Chuck on June 29, 2005 at 11:57 AM

What we need to do when he attempts to justify Iraq with 9/11, is to ask, "Since you've brought up the subject of 9/11, when will you be bringing Bin Laden to justice?"

good good, thx guys, how bout your fine selves?

Got it Lizzy. Loud & clear. I'll shoot you an e later.

I must leave right now folks. Have to give one of my boys a ride to work. TL! :)

Hold down the new fort, FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!!!

Posted by BlueinIdaho on June 29, 2005 at 11:59 AM

Absolutely Blue!

SocialDem, we need to MAKE national security a Democratic strong point or the other party is going to continue terrorizing the American people into voting for them because they believe only Republicans can keep them safe.

Posted by Susan_ClevelandOH on June 29, 2005 at 11:46 AM

Again, I am only talking about framing the argument. If you get in to the "no, I am better at national security""No, I"M better" argument I don't think that works. I am talking about framing a winning platform around our traditional AMERICAN values of global cooperation and respect, respect for the privacy of individuals and upholding the checks and balances of our system that have allowed us to remain free and democratic..and American. These are specific issues that the Republicans cannot win based on the record if we have an effective campaign strategy and an inspiring candidate to carry the message. The Republicans are trying to make you fight the battle like a boxer who can't dance. They want to clutch and grab you and corner you on the ropes by only talking about Iraq on their terms. What I am saying is we need to talk about it in our terms and in a way that matches our strengths and in a way that resonates with Americans in both red and blue states.

Posted by BlueinIdaho on June 29, 2005 at 11:45 AM

Mr. Rush "I couldn't serve because I had a zit on my arse" Limpbone can't speak to me at all. If his time in service were anywhere even close to mine, maybe I could offer some very slim benefit of doubt.

Yet another poseur. The only difference between Limpbone and any other TV preacher is the coiffure.

BlueinIdaho on June 29, 2005 at 11:59 AM

Come on Blue, we have Bin Laden in hiding. I mean he can't hurt us again, can he?

"Our of sight, out of mind," W's new slogan.

MNS, I wish W was out of my sight cuz he's out of his mind...:)

SocialDem on June 29, 2005 at 12:02 PM

I agree that the dems need to consolidate their views on issues. However, don't they only update the platform before elections? Maybe this is what needs to be revisited so that the party can release their plans on SS, Iraq, Medicare, Health Insurance, etc. now rather than later.

Before you do too much kicking (which is a donkey pastime, I understand), consider that a lot of people who have been taken in by the Bush regime rhetoric are starting to see the writing on the wall and need a friend to turn to. We want to bring them over to our side and the way to do it is not to smack them in the face with their own ignorance. Better late than never that they should see the light.

As far as exit strategy, the reason we haven't heard one is that there isn't one and never was one. This business about securing "freedom and democracy" is a smokescreen for securing the oil and establishing a permanent US presence in the region so that those who profit most from our oil-driven economy will continue to do so until the last drop is gone, and never mind the consequences to the majority of the people. Any questions about why Bush hasn't come clean about why we are in Iraq?

On the other hand, now that we've gone barreling in and broken the china, there's no way to slink out and pretend it was already broken when we got there without further inflaming the Muslim world against us and watching the recruiting of terrorists continue to skyrocket. If we cut and run, the Iraqis are NOT going to sit down and sing Kumbaya, and if we understand anything about religious and tribal warfare, and the heavy hand that was required to keep a lid on that place, you know this is true. People who have greater information about the likely geostrategic consequences of our withdrawal are not advocating for immediate withdrawal, even if they thought we had no business going there in the first place and want this war ended YESTERDAY.

So the lying chimp has created quite a dilemma for us. A more wise and skilled leader might persuade our gulf nation allies that it is in their best interests to send in arabic-speaking troops to help stabilize Iraq, while we scale back and instead put in the political resources to stabilize the new Iraqi government. Is it likely that THIS administration can acknowledge mistakes and do anything wise? I doubt it? So where does that leave us? Damned if I know.

I agree that the dems need to consolidate their views on issues. However, don't they only update the platform before elections? Maybe this is what needs to be revisited so that the party can release their plans on SS, Iraq, Medicare, Health Insurance, etc. now rather than later.

Posted by MNSasquatch on June 29, 2005 at 12:07 PM

Well, it seems to me that many of the winning campaign strategies were formulated years before the election. I am thinking of Clinton's strategy as it stemmed from some leadership council several years in the making, correct. Also, the republicans didn't win over night with their contract with america. I would think the time to come up with a platform that we can win back Congressional seats and eventually the presidency is now.

Susan, the Russian's finally saw the light after 10 years losing in Afghanistan and didn't give a fig about the "broken china". IMO, if we stay we cause more problems and more deaths, if we go, we can start rebuilding our military and protect our shores again.

The only reason to stay is so Bush and his corporate buddies can continue to rape the land over there while forcing cash in their pockets.

SocialDem, national security is NOT the exclusive turf of the GOP and we must make that clear. Of course we are the party that cares more about people issues than they do, but the trump card in today's world is national security. If people don't feel safe, they aren't going to hear any of the other fine points we make. It's not about which party is better at national security, it's about leveling the playing field.

Susan_ClevelandOH on June 29, 2005 at 12:09 PM

I agree that in order to stabilize Iraq outside troops need to be brought in whether they are UN troops or as you suggest troops from gulf nations. However, as you point out, since W went in to secure the oil and profits, I cannot see him offering to share this windfall with "allies" or the hated UN. While this seems like the best chance to save American and Iraqi lives, I don't see this in W's future.

MNSasquatch, platform schmatform. No time like the present. Democrats need to be out there front and center talking about these things EVERY DAY because the Republicans NEVER STOP.

Posted by Susan_ClevelandOH on June 29, 2005 at 12:15 PM

I agree, Susan. And if the "liberal media" would ever print what a dem said that would get the ball rolling.

LIMBAUGH: I actively think that liberals seek the defeat of the military.

What these mouths of the Right wing don't get, is that we seek not the defeat, but the use of as last resort!

What harm would there have been to allow the UN to finish their inspections? By now the result would have been, no WMDs, no Terrorists.

And 1700+ US boys would be tossing around a basketball today on some park lot. And 10,000+ would have a leg or eyes where they don't now. And I won't even go into the Iraqi women and children who would be around

Susan_ClevelandOH on June 29, 2005 at 12:15 PM

Again, I agree. However, unlike the GOP, the democratic party has a wide variety of views on many subjects. The party can and should highlight certain issues and pound the crap out of them over the next year and a half.

The issues need to be explained to America and then talked about everyday, despite what else is going on. Talk about rolling back the tax break on the rich that eliminated the budget surplus and put SS back into a semi-crisis. Explain, in detail, which Americans will be impacted by this rollback. Explain how tax cuts to the rich and big businesses have not revitalized our economy and that is just a GOP smokescreen. This is just an example but if you pick 4 or 5 issues (and there are plenty that directly impact a large percentage of Americans) then you can start to turn back the GOP wave.

(AP) - KUWAIT CITY-A former Guantanamo Bay inmate was acquitted of all terrorism-related charges in a Kuwaiti court Wednesday.

Nasser al-Mutairi spent nearly three years at the U.S. prison in Cuba and was released in January, only to face trial at home.

The 27-year-old Muslim extremist was acquitted of joining foreign military forces without permission, harming Kuwait by serving the interest of a "foreign country" and undergoing illegal weapons training.

http://news.findlaw.com/ap/i/631/06-29-2005/17d10009bd4ad864.html

One, in a string of so-called terrorists that have been illegally held for years in Cheney’s “Tropical Paradise” for NOTHING. Ahhh, Bush’s America. Such a human rights champion.

Blue, I understand what you're saying, and please remember that the Soviet Union was falling apart at the time.

Indeed, we need to have an exit strategy articulated. Under Bush, there is NO intention of ever leaving Iraq. That needs to change, but it won't until the American people know the truth about why Bush took us there.

One interesting comment in shrub's speck last night, and I quote, "The American people do not falter under threat-and we will not allow our future to be determined by car bombers and assassins." What I find interesting about this is if you recall the Iraq situation began with a missle attack on a car that was presumed to carry saddam and possibly his sons. I think our future has already been determined by car bombers and assassins. The American people "have nothing to fear but fear itself" to quote a very notable American President. This can be extended to include fear mongerers that choose to hold people in fear as a means of control.

Posted by davidual on June 29, 2005 at 11:51 AM

Susan_ClevelandOH on June 29, 2005 at 12:21 PM

Unfortunately I think we will have ONLY US troops with small numbers of our most staunch allies troops in Iraq until we remove the GOP from the WH. If the dems win in '08, a coalition can enter and help to restore order and rebuild the country. Of course, after another 3 years, this may be impossible.

MNSasquatch, exactly. You articulated the DILEMMA in far fewer words than I did, lol. It scares me because I really doubt that there is a non-messy solution to this problem created by our Destroyer in Chief. And I have a son in the Army who is likely at some point to find himself on the front lines of this debacle.

Blue, yeah, tell me aboout the liberal media. I hate to tell ya, but I think WE are the media now if the truth is ever going to come out.

Posted by Susan_ClevelandOH on June 29, 2005 at 12:21 PM

But isn’t part of the reason for the fall of the USSR, the protracted, expensive war in Afghanistan? (Note to repugs: Ronnie didn’t do it)

I’m not holding my breath for an “exit strategy” from this idiot of a president. He wouldn’t know the meaning of strategy anyway.

I have no problems at all with Senator Kerry's statements from yesterday on Iraq. John Kerry has repeatedly offered a strategy for getting out of Iraq. More so, he is continually asks the administration to engage the Senate in the strategic planning. Someone needs to do that.

Bush offered no plan at all for getting out in last night's speech. Instead, he spoon-fed the nation a recycled 2004 campaign speech that was filled with false linkages to 9-11/terrorism and stay the course rhetoric when the course itself is in doubt.

Democrats need to stay tough on this issue. Don't give Bush a blank check.

What's amazing is how the public has turned against Bush's war even though few national leaders dare criticize it and the press is pushing the WH line with the same zeal with which they helped launch it.

People apparently aren't as stupid as generally believed and are seeing the unfolding disaster in Iraq even through the rose colored glasses they've been issued.

That's why Democrats should take the opposite approach that the GOP does -- treat the public like intelligent adults who can handle the truth rather than foolish children who must be shielded from it.

But I expect them to keep silently cowering in fear of the GOP slime machine and offering muted criticism at best.

This blog is getting frustrating. Took me four tries to post and then when it finally took, the post later disappeared.

I'll check back later.

love that positive attitude!

This is just a test...
Bush orders creation of new National Spy Agency within FBI

Click on my name for full article. I really hope they fix that link thingy. I just don't get that a=.......stuff.

Now, see? It worked in "Preview"

It's all a matter of getting people hooked on their own endorphines, whether by activity, screamer ads, charismatic "religion", appealing to fears, etc. Once you have a crowd hooked on their own endorphines, it's actually quite easy to plant all manner of suggestions, however far from reality they may be divorced.

It's easy; it's slimy and unethical, sure. But it's a tried and true form of hypnosis. While this may be fun at parties, it has no place in governance.

Yet, this is exactly what is going on.

Intel Link

DPD,

Here is your link to the FBI story.

LIMBAUGH: I actively think that liberals seek the defeat of the military.

Hmmm....Rush need look no further than the military's inability to recruit replacements to see that his precious neocon leaders are actually destroying it.

But then, obfuscating the truth and outright lying is what Rush is paid millions to do.

DPD:

Yesterday's thread

Then scroll down to:

Posted by Amanda_B_Reckondwythe on June 29, 2005 at 07:11 AM

Posted by Amanda_B_Reckondwythe on June 29, 2005 at 07:18 AM

Those spell it out for ya ;-) Hope it helps.

More great republican support...

Guy on June 29, 2005 at 12:38 PM

Republicans have tried to tie dissent with the war in Iraq with hatred and non-support of the troops. I believe most people are now seeing through this smokescreen and seeing that in order to support the troops, Bush needs a better plan than let's wait and see how this thing will turn out.

Let me try this again....click on my name.

"love that positive attitude!"

Here you go again!

You've got to be an ostrich to have a completely positive attitude about the bahavior of most Democrats when it comes to standing up to the Bush Regime.

This is just TOO GOOD!

Tomgram: The Immoral Relativists of the Bush Administration

Immoral Relativism
And Other Distractions of the Age of Bush
By Tom Engelhardt

Excerpt:

In his speeches, George Bush regularly calls for a return to or the reinforcement of traditional, even eternal, family values and emphasizes the importance of personal "accountability" for our children as well as ourselves. ("The culture of America is changing from one that has said, if it feels good, do it, and if you've got a problem, blame somebody else, to a new culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life.") And yet when it comes to acts that are clearly wrong in this world -- aggressive war, the looting of resources, torture, personal gain at the expense of others, lying, and manipulation among other matters -- Bush and his top officials never hesitate to redefine reality to suit their needs. When faced with matters long defined in everyday life in terms of right and wrong, they simply reach for their dictionaries.

You want to invade a country not about to attack you. No problem, just pick up that Webster's and rename the act "preventive war." Now, you want an excuse for such a war that might actually panic the public into backing it. So you begin to place mushroom clouds from nonexistent enemy atomic warheads over American cities (Condoleezza Rice: "[W]e don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud."); you begin to claim, as our President and other top officials did, that nonexistent enemy UAVs (Unmanned Airborne Vehicles) launched from nonexistent ships off our perfectly real East coast, might spray nonexistent biological or chemical weapons hundreds of miles inland, and -- Voila! -- you're ready to strike back.
http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=4027

THX, MNS. The link worked in preview, and then not when I posted, and then it showed up on my next post.
AAAAAUUUGGGHHH!!!

Posted by Susan_ClevelandOH on June 29, 2005 at 12:25 PM

I had a nice response and it was lost due to bugs in the system. Oh well! My point is a winning strategy to me will focus on the difference in the two parties. America wants to see a choice. Dems can offer respect in the world by returning to our core Democratic values that have made us free. These values are global cooperation, a system of checks and balances in our government and respect for the privacy and rights of individuals at home. This is much different from Bush's freedom is on the march language. His agenda is inflammatory and it doesn't work as is proven in Iraq. A winning exit strategy protects your son and mine as well as all Americans. It is possible to have an exit strategy that works and a timetable for withdrawal. We do that by global cooperation, something that repubs are too arrogant and shortsighted to do. We tell the world through an election at home that we are sick of the warmongers and that we are a nation committed to peace. We work with other countries in a new spirit of cooperation to withdraw and let muslims run their own country. There are many muslim and non muslim countries that would love to get Iraq back on its feet and a winning strategy means we would control that process. You make it sound like the only way to withdraw is to throw our hands up and start running to the nearest plane and never look back. There are winning exit strategies but Bush and the repubs are incapable of finding it as they are too arrogant to admit mistakes and work in the interest of all Americans.

Good Afternoon, everyone!

Guy, it is not so amazing that the press is cowtowing the official line on this WAR. The US press has always based its income potential on negative news. Negativity sells airtime and Repoops know this. When there was nothing of negative value to report on during the Clinton years the press, with the help of the Repoops, delivered to us all the inside scoop of President Clinton's fate as a human being. It can only be expected that the press would endear this WAR as it offers everything they needto fill airtime. We, as a collective union [both Repoops and Dems] need to change what we value in the news we are spoon fed before the press will change at all.

Bush and 9/11 connection to Iraq:

Some quick questions: Will this new focus reverse poll findings like the one from USA Today/CNN/Gallup, which shows that 50% of Americans now see Iraq being completely separate from the war on terror? Can the Democrats reverse the political setbacks they’ve encountered when Bush wields his 9/11 credentials? And for how much longer will 9/11 continue to be the dominant political story in America?

Link

SocialDem, I appreciate your thoughts, and sorry if I gave this impression: >>You make it sound like the only way to withdraw is to throw our hands up and start running to the nearest plane and never look back

Question of the Day

"sacrifice is worth it"?

DO YOU AGREE WITH BUSH THAT THE SACRIFICE IS WORTH IT????

Poll

Kerry was great as usual on the Today show and other places. I still can't believe this guy who is so classy and well spoken, lost to a incoherent, babbeling "Butt Clown" like George Bush.

Although after finding out that Ronald Reagan is "The greatest American" (as opposed to REAL leaders like Washington, Lincoln, FDR and JFK)well maybe I am not surprised that Bush won....apparently thier are mass stupid people voting in America.

hey, my whole message didn't post! well, I went on to say that in fact I don't think that at all and agree with a lot of what you said. I'm just trying to sort through the administration's dishonest rhetoric about why we need to "stay the course" as well as the far left wing's "just get out now"--which reminds me of "just say no!" And of course the solution is somewhere in between and requires dialogue, discussion, diplomacy and COOPERATION--none of which the Bush regime seems capable of. And I worry about the damage they continue to do.

Is it worth it? Sheesh. That's the most callous and clueless remark since "Bring them on!"

MN,

:))

Great minds, etal

"Republicans have tried to tie dissent with the war in Iraq with hatred and non-support of the troops."

It's the GOP's 2006 campaign strategy. If Dems let themselves be intimidated by it they'll just get whipped again.

PamB on June 29, 2005 at 12:58 PM

I have faster fingers

We do that by global cooperation, something that repubs are too arrogant and shortsighted to do

Did you hear Biden last night, when interviewed directly after the speech, say, "He did not say one single thing about seeking help from other countries, so that we COULD set a time table"?

Guy on June 29, 2005 at 12:59 PM

I think you are starting to again see the DEM leadership attacking the GOP stance on Iraq. Kerry is calling for more disclosure, Biden hammered Bush for comparing Iraq to 9/11, and we have seend Durbin talk about Gitmo. They are starting to get their legs under them again.

test

PAMB, thnks for the poll link. The current results are below:
Do you agree with Pres. Bush that the "sacrifice is worth it"? * 10316 responses

Yes 22% No 78%

Thank you for voting. Click to send us an e-mail to share your thoughts. Plus, see past voting results.

"it is not so amazing that the press is cowtowing the official line on this WAR."

Of course it isn't. After all, the GOP/corporate press did as much as the Bush Regime itself to spread the lies which led to our current disaster. It's no surprise that they're still trying to sell it.

one-timer. so much for bothering to amend the constitution allowing foreign born presidents.

A majority of California voters are not inclined to re-elect Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, marking a sharp reversal of support since February, according to a Field Poll released on Wednesday.

Ah-nold

Everyone, have a good afternoon and evening!
Like my last post, I am disappearing!

Thanks, ABR. When I feel gutsy, or have a link to post I'll try these handy tips. Remember, it took me 2 weeks of trying to get "copy and paste" to work for me. Now it's like falling off a log, which I mastered when I was a kid ;)

From the QT column in todays Sun-Times:

Rush does the math

Rush Limbaugh defending the federal budget deficits:

"There never was a surplus, by the way. It was a paper surplus."

For those who thought the economy was managed by moving bags of gold coins from room to room.

scottie

guy,your 12:59 p.m. is our second agreement this week.

lol dpd! too funny. rush never responded to those school kids who wanted to debate him, right?

Right-ee-oh, {{Jen}} He even took the audio of him making those lame brained comments OFF his web site. When asked about the Debate Challenge, he said he doesn't remember what he said (2 days later) and that he would have to check his archives and get back to the reporter. He never did.

Hi Kristen! Hi Everyone! Just a quick post before running to a meeting, though I'll be lurking throughout the day.

Re: Tom Cruise - He clearly has been totally assimilated by the Church of Scientology. EVERYTHING he spouts that is not related to his movie is straight out of the literature of this cult. The only thing even remotely surprising is just how openly public he is, as the cult tends to protect its beliefs to avoid public ridicule. There are some interesting Scientology "debunking" sites out on the web. If you're at all interested in why Cruise is saying what he is saying, then check out these sites.

Re: Bush's speech ... he has always used 9/11 as his "free pass" to justify anything he wants to do. For example, take the Patriot Act, which was supposed to protect us from terrorists. Look at all of the instances where it has been used for non-terrorist related activities. His continued use of 9/11 shows his increasing detachment from reality, and continued attempt at redefining facts.

Anyone wanting to know what's really going on with the attack by the United States on Iraq should watch Satellite Dish Network Channels 9415 (Free Speech TV)or Channel 9410 (LINK TV), Channel 332 (Robert Redford's Sundance Channel) that is carrying Al Franken's Radio Show, the Political LEFT's counter to the Political RIGHT's Rush Limbaugh Show. If you can't get these channels, one can always check out this site daily on the web:

http://www.democracynow.org

what a loser, DPD!

Can you hear me now?? Did I make it in?

paige!!! hi!

Afternoon, all. Jen, thanks for the GMail invite - I really like it.

Oh, and I went and deleted cookies on my work computer to help me navigate this blog and lost my password to Westlaw! Twenty minute phone conversation later, I am back up and running. Geesh!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050629/ennew_afp/afpentertainmentus_050629010443;_ylt=AqRAHmJnWN3RGAHnl1twm0sXO7gF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5bGVna3NhBHNlYwNzc3JlbA--

dylan sells thru starbucks

Hi Jen!! Whew, feel like a desert wanderer coming up on an oasis. How are things?? I've had mucho trouble getting on the blog.....

Bush bombed (no pun intended) that speech so bad last night, shame on him for bringing up that false link with 9/11 again. Guess that's Rove's strategy, use 9/11 when your polls go south.

cool Cyn! sorry bout the password!

anyone else want an invite, let me know

i have to go, mom duty, see y'all later

"The violence has left much of Afghanistan off-limits to aid workers and has heightened concerns that the war here is escalating into a conflict on the scale of that in Iraq."

helicopter missing

we should have kept a stronger force in afganistan, not diluted it to play pay back games with saddam. like kerry said.

i know, we have to sign in a lot, but i'm glad you made it!

speech sucked. 9/11 mentioned 5 times

Jen,

I got those song lyrics together. They are on my website in .PDF format. I'm glad you mentioned it because it's actually fun to listen to the song and read the lyrics.

Thank You!

paige, hello. i am mastering this thing little by little but it helps to not have any other things to do with myself...

Hi Greg! Isn't that the truth?? Mine is all herky-jerky, are you having that problem?? I'm on a cable modem too

oh god gregg.

i can't take this stuff

i'm going to go do some mom stuff and it will be a relief to repeat myself thirty times on the subject of her needing a shower after the news today. oh boy.

later loves.

bye Jen! Have a good afternoon!

TEST

Well, I just got bounced, and I wasn't posting anything. I had to reregister, and when I did the order of posts changed from DPD 1:18, Jen 1:20, to DPD 1:18, Martha 1:19, Jen 1:20 and then the screen flashed again and I had to refresh and go to the top and get back on the open thread and the order is suddenly DPD 1:18, Mark 1:19, Martha 1:19, Jen 1:20.

Do the longer posts take a while to show up?

we should have kept a stronger force in afganistan, not diluted it to play pay back games with saddam. like kerry said.

Posted by gregg on June 29, 2005 at 01:31 PM

Afghanistan smashed Russia literally with fancy footwork and small ambushes. Russia left Afghanistan with their tails tucked. I imagine they are trying to do the same with us.

Well now we might get something done about reducing greenhouse gas emission.

Insurance pricey now? Just wait for warming
Insurers urge governments to take action to cut greenhouse emissions

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8403523/

OK, so how do I make my link hot?

Booted again. YES, I Am registered. I hit the "Back" button, and it gets me on again w/out having to log in every few minutes, FWIW.

Greg, why do you post all the negatives and non of the positives? You must be a great dude to hang out with on a sat night.....I would rather pull my fingernails out with pliers...

raul could you send some of the finger nails to us so we could encapsulate them in lucite and send them to w?

jen see you later. gonna go see war of the world's this afternoon. excited.

Greg, I'd hang out with you anytime!!

Raul, you obviously don't know Greg. He is one of the funniest people on the blog and does a lot to keep things positive in what is a very negative environment in this country.

have fun gregg and stop by the scientology church on you way...

Posted by gregg on June 29, 2005 at 01:46 PM
Enjoy the movie, I hear it's really good and apparently right up Tom's alley with the aliens and all. :-)

One more time - Heyyyyy!

DPD hope i get the chance to try that.

Love the DNC front page! Good JOB!

{{{{Dawn}}} Sorry I missed ya at the Reef!

It's always open for you paige! With all the trouble here....... yikes!

Paige,

It's kind of confusing to explain because if I post the script in here it turns into hot link...

I'll have to do it in 3 posts I think..

nevermind.. It won't even post part of the link.

I found out by going to and website and looking at "page source" under the "view" tab...

Social Dem,

Your comment above is one I felt at the time.

"I think we need a simple message on Iraq that is better than Republican lite."

Listening to John Kerry last night reminded me of why we did not win an election that certainly should have gone Democrat.

I've lost all my patience it seems. (what little I had left)

So today I must admit I stopped at FOX news during a 3 party debate of GW..... don't even know who the men were never really saw them before but they were seriously HONEST for anything FOX.

That's why I stayed to watch. I was almost crying. If the fundies watched that show. ALL 3 were not happy with gw or Iraq. It was wonderful to watch.

fill me in is raul a troll or a good guy? i took offense but maybe i should have been more gracious?

raul have you had your engrams evaluated lately? if not send them to me and i will bring them to share with tom and katie after the show...

Hey Dawn! Glad your experience at Fox was better then mine...I flipped to it last night to see if I could catch Clark...instead it was the most vile hate coming from Hannity.

hello? my posts are getting lost in space?

Don't know Greg, but that remark was pretty smarmy.

gregg on June 29, 2005 at 01:54 PM

not sure but he does seem a bit mean spirited...

Paige, thanks for the info and hang in there cause things are getting better in this country....

geez...what a pain in the backside this is turning into!

I know...I know...be patient!

Kristen

And Clarks part last night that I caught was not thrilling. Unfortunately.

Posted by RAUL on June 29, 2005 at 02:00 PM

That's cool Raul, I know things will get better and meanwhile I appreciate Greg's sense of humour.

Thousands riot in China, attack police, burn cars

BEIJING (Reuters) - Thousands of Chinese rioted in a dispute sparked by a lopsided roadside brawl, set fire to cars and wounded six police officers in an outburst likely to worry communist leaders in Beijing desperate to cling on to power.

China tells U.S. not to meddle in oil deal...

Liu said "economic cooperation between China and the U.S. serves the interests of both sides and commercial activities should not be interfered in or disturbed by political elements."

There are growing concerns in Washington over the deal as some U.S. officials are uncomfortable with CNOOC, 70 percent owned by the Chinese government, controlling a major player in the U.S. energy sector.

I am waiting for Raul to post some Good News, myself.

thanks Paige and i will try harder also...sorry Gregg...and ps I'm no troll.....

raul, what are some things you see getting better? no games but what are they?

take your word for it raul but gimmee some stuff to feel good about that i might be missing.

Reef is open Kristen

The word "troll" is a tad oveused in this room me thinks. :-)

blackmale, ain't that free market shit a bitch when the chickens come home to roost? pass the duck sauce please.

fyi, my university is starting course in Mandarin Chinese this fall. Seems to be the wave of future business...

communicates alot of meaning to me blackmale.

bbl, off to the vet

Posted by gregg on June 29, 2005 at 02:06 PM

My guess is war will start with China when they ask for the money we owe and we don't have it.

Posted by SocialDem on June 29, 2005 at 11:42 AM

I thought the same thing. I have always liked John Kerry but when I heard his response, it suddenly came to me in what a friend of mine would call "a blinding glimpse of the obvious" why Kerry lost (doctored voting machines aside).

If I had to do an armchair psychoanalysis, I'd say that Kerry was so traumatized and personally changed by the reaction to what he had to say after the Vietnam War, that he has now become afraid to speak without pulling punches. I think he's afraid to ever be a target that way again, so he says nothing that really makes waves.

The word "troll" is a tad oveused in this room me thinks. :-)

Posted by BlackMale on June 29, 2005 at 02:06 PM

Me thinks if the shoe fits...wear it with style!

For those fighting to learn the html code for blogging and use Firefox browser.

BBCode - Firefox Extension

Download and install into firefox. Restart firefox. Right click into the comments box and select the bbcode and html code ( may have to go to the setting and select this first). The xhtml code does work also here. Its a very good short cut.

Semper Fi

Thanks Pam, it is sunny here....

I sure would like to see Kerry visit a "spin room" or two after Bush speaks.... He has ton's to say on his website and via e-mail... a public appearance or two on live TV would be nice once in a while.

Gregg, the economy is growing at a pretty good clip in the first quarter of 05...jobs seem to be improving......war of the worlds opens today.........my children our healthy..

raul come on give one to take to see tom and katie or they will think i associate with a bad crowd...

BlackMale, he DID make an appearance last night...live on CNN immediately following the speach!

CHUCK, what is your user name over at politicalcrossfire.com?

munciecarl on June 29, 2005 at 02:10 PM:

I just had an idea... is there an extension that would help people work around the current sign-in/posting problems? If not, how much work would it take to build one? I may be a software engineer, but I don't know anything about Firefox extensions.

It's great to see such positive attitudes about the change in the public's opinions on Bush and his war. However, I think it's important for Democrats to not kid themselves. We still have a problem with these die hard Republican states --like the one in which I find myself living. People here don't see anything wrong with what Bush said last night. Rah rah for our troops, and if you disagree with the President, you're not supporting our troops.

My Kerry-Edwards sticker has been attacked three times in the past five months. The last big chunk of it disappeared from my window this past weekend. Plenty of people here are irate that anybody in the local area would have voted for Kerry. It's a bit baffling that they are so angry about my support of the guy who lost, but I think maybe it's an important sign of what we're up against.

I have a suspicion that the worse Bush does, the more angry and defensive these people will become, and the more determined to fight against any positive change offered by "them bleeding-heart liberals." But we're going to need some of these people to work with us, if we're going to make any real change.

did every one buy their Democracy Bond? A little by many makes a lot...
\

Do it!

Posted by WantaBlueRibbon_inGA on June 29, 2005 at 02:15 PM

I completely agree with you. With no disrespect intended to my wonderful fellow Dems here, I often feel that some here live in a bit of a vacuum almost exclusively posting to people who agree with them, and not taking several hours per week to absorb what the constituency on the other side sounds like.

There was a woman interviewed on CNN today, a war widow, with a simple smile on her face, saying that she wrote a letter to the president asking him not to bring the troops home too early because she doesn't want her husband to have died in vain, and when specifically asked if she thought Iraq had anything to do with 9/11, she smiled and said that she believes they did. You cannot educate people out of something they believe with this kind of fanatacism.

I live in Texas. My vehicle has been attacked too. I had a negative sticker about Bush taken off my vehicle and my car was scratched with what appears to be a key.

Posted by Mountain_Goddess on June 29, 2005 at 02:14 PM

Ouch... didn't make it home until a few minutes after the speech. Plus, I had MSNBC (Chris Matthews) on lock... My bad..

Posted by letshelpdean on June 29, 2005 at 02:16 PM

My family is experiencing very tough times in part because of the pro-business/anti-worker climate in this country (very tough), and I'm not giving money to my party that I don't have, especially when my opinions mean nothing to my party. I think my money should buy me access. It doesn't.

This is how I view this situation. If you differ, donate.

"He did not say one single thing about seeking help from other countries, so that we COULD set a time table"?

Posted by PamB on June 29, 2005 at 01:00 PM

Sorry, I stepped out for lunch PamB. If you are still there I did not hear Biden say that but good for him!

glad to hear about your kids raul. not so sure the economic stuff is on point but if the kids are alright life is good...will report back on the flick...bbl.

Posted by letshelpdean on June 29, 2005 at 02:16 PM

Ouch... currently, all my democracy fund monies go into the gas tank. I donate to the DNC when I have extra money. Another monthy bill is almost impossible at this time.

Posted by letshelpdean on June 29, 2005 at 02:16 PM
Posted by Nikki on June 29, 2005 at 02:23 PM

Actually, let me clarify. I think my being a registered Democrat should buy me access. I don't think I should have to give money to get access. That was a poorly stated way of saying that I am tired of being told that my money is good here, but my ideas are not.

Was anyone watching Hardball after the speech when those 2 black muslim women stood up and spoke at that Evangelical Christian church? Wow! is all I can say. I'll try looking for the transcript.

I understand the lack of funds...I do not have much...SS...I'm giving up a dinner (at Ryans)out to give $20 a month...hoping that many people will give to make a substantial fund to get our country back.

Posted by Nikki on June 29, 2005 at 02:26 PM

Plus, according to Rove, Dems outspent reps by $172M during elections and we still lost.

Posted by letshelpdean on June 29, 2005 at 02:27 PM

Sorry,

I don't think money is what it will take.

BlackMale on June 29, 2005 at 02:25 PM:

Interesting... So, the Republican strategy for the next few elections is to keep raising the price of oil. This causes all of the middle and lower class people to spend all of their otherwise disposable income on filling their gas tanks, thus leaving them nothing to donate to the Democratic party. Since the Republicans get their funding primarily from the rich, elite, and corporations, their fund raising will only increase as those are the folks raking in the cash due to the rise in oil prices, while the Democratic party gets starved out of existance.

What a strategy!

I guess the only way to counter it is to donate to the Democratic party no matter how little you have. Which, if you're going bankrupt, what's the difference if you owe a tad more while having successfully contributed a little of what you did have to the Democrats. Of course, you no longer will be able to declare bankruptcy, thanks to Bush, which is even more reason to donate now.

This is my daily appeal to all of you to join me for an hour each day (you can spend the whole rest of the day here) at www.politicalcrossfire.com/forums where there is a Democrats Only forum as well as other subject forums on which you can discuss things with the dark side as well (but they are freaks, and they are infuriating, I warn you).

What you would do is register, post in the general forums so that you can be idealogically identified by the Democrats Only forum moderators, and then click on the Democrats only forum after you have 5-10 posts, and apply for membership.

I don't anticipate it, but if you ever have a problem getting a response, contact me at blue_state_of_mind@yahoo.com and I'll try to intervene.

It's a good forum but more importantly, it offers a threaded view where we can pursue particular lines of conversation in more depth.

Come, please come. I'll bring a bundt cake. ;-D

GregG, The movie reviewer on TV this morning said that WOTW is more Horror flick than Sci-Fi, and that it should have a R rating. He recommended not bringing kids to it.

Posted by BlackMale on June 29, 2005 at 02:29 PM

Exactly. We have larger problems that aren't fixed by throwing money at them. They pertain to message and strategy and when they're fixed, I think Dean won't have to pander for money so relentlessly because people will just be inspired to give it.

BlackMale on June 29, 2005 at 02:29 PM

Do you really believe Rove when he says the dems outspent the reps? I would love to see the books on that.

Now that Tom has thoroughly trashed the lightweight Matt Lauer, i want to see him take on Rush over the topic: "better living with drugs, pharmacology rules in the new millenium".

or Tom vs. Rev. Edwards on the topic "did God create the little alien attached to my neck and when?"

Posted by Marc on June 29, 2005 at 02:31 PM

Sounds like someone doesn't understand what being really broke is. Good for you. This means it isn't happening to you. That's always nice.

I still can not login without putting all my data under registration! Anyone else having the same problem?

Department of State Travel Warning- Iraq

The Department of State continues to strongly warn U.S. citizens against travel to Iraq, which remains very dangerous. Remnants of the former Baath regime, transnational terrorists, and criminal elements remain active. Attacks against military and civilian targets throughout Iraq continue, including in the International (or "Green") Zone. Targets include hotels, restaurants, police stations, checkpoints, foreign diplomatic missions, and international organizations and other locations with expatriate personnel. These attacks have resulted in deaths and injuries of American citizens, including those doing humanitarian work. In addition, there have been planned and random killings, as well as extortions and kidnappings. U.S. citizens have been kidnapped and several were subsequently murdered by terrorists in Iraq. U.S. citizens and other foreigners continue to be targeted by insurgent groups for kidnapping and murder. Military operations continue. There are daily attacks against Multinational Forces - Iraq (MNF-I) throughout the country.

There is credible information that terrorists are targeting civil aviation. Civilian and military aircraft arriving in and departing from Baghdad International Airport have been subjected to small arms and missiles. Civilian aircraft do not generally possess systems, such as those found on military aircraft, capable of defeating man-portable, surface-to-air missiles (MANPADS). Anyone choosing to utilize civilian aircraft to enter or depart Iraq should be aware of this potential threat, as well as the extremely high risk to road transportation described below. Official U.S. Government (USG) personnel are strongly encouraged to use U.S. military or other USG aircraft when entering and departing Iraq due to concerns about security of civilian aircraft servicing Iraq. Due to safety and security concerns, U.S. government personnel are not authorized to travel commercially on Iraqi Airways. Currently, U.S. government personnel are only authorized to travel commercially on Royal Jordanian Airlines.

All vehicular travel in Iraq is extremely dangerous. There have been numerous attacks on civilian vehicles, as well as military convoys. Attacks occur throughout the day, but travel at night is exceptionally dangerous. Travel in or through Ramadi and Fallujah, travel between al-Hillah and Baghdad, and travel between the International Zone and Baghdad International Airport is particularly dangerous. Occasionally, U.S. Government personnel are prohibited from traveling to select areas depending on prevailing security conditions. There continues to be heavy use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and/or mines on roads, particularly in plastic bags, soda cans, and dead animals. Grenades and explosives have been thrown into vehicles from overpasses, particularly in crowded areas. Overland travel should be undertaken only when absolutely necessary and with the appropriate security.

Recommendations:
The U.S. Embassy is located in the International Zone. The Embassy can provide only limited emergency services to U.S. citizens in Iraq. At present travel to and from the International Zone is extremely limited. The U.S. Embassy does not provide visa services to the general public. American citizens who choose to visit or reside in Iraq despite this Travel Warning are urged to pay close attention to their personal security, avoid crowds, especially rallies or demonstrations and to inform the U.S. Embassy of their presence in Iraq. All Americans in Baghdad are strongly encouraged to register with the Embassy at the following website: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/home.asp ( https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/home.asp ) .

American citizens may obtain the latest security information or other information about iraq by calling the u.s. embassy, located in the international zone, at: 1-240-553-0584 x5340 or x5635, or iraqna cellular phones - 7901-732-134 and 07901-168-383 or by e-mail: usconsulbaghdad@state.gov ( mailto:usconsulbaghdad@state.gov ) or via the u.s. embassy's website: http//iraq.usembassy.gov. Their after-hours number in case of extreme emergency is 1-914-822-5493.

Updated information on travel and security in Iraq may be obtained from the Department of state by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States, or, from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. For further information, please consult the Consular Information Sheet for Iraq, the current Worldwide Caution and the Middle East and North Africa Public Announcements, all of which are available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website at http://travel.state.gov ( http://travel.state.gov/ )

This is about the only fact-based information I've seen from the govvies in what seems forever

Posted by BlackMale on June 29, 2005 at 02:29 PM

Don't find myself beliving anything Karl Rove says...How many phone calls to your senator's or rep's office do you make? I get a reply from a senator often. I let them know how I feel about important issues and that I will be watching how they vote. At least it's something.

Posted by Marc on June 29, 2005 at 02:31 PM

Feel free to sign up for democracy bonds then. Here's the link:

http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/06/democracy_bonds.php

Posted by Marc on June 29, 2005 at 02:14 PM

Sorry Marc lost my dial-up, I didn't see any extension for signing in. There are alot of extensions though.

You might contact the Firefox web site and ask how.

JustBlogIt - Firefox Extension

Another right click blogger helper. I've never tryed this one.

Semper Fi

MNS, as big a liar as Rove is, I think he may have been adding the 527's into the Dem total. Dem leaning 527's were WAY ahead of the Pug counterparts (which consisted mainly of the Shit Boat Liars for Bush)

Hello

Oh.. BTW...

Did anyone else want to throw the coffee table through the TV last night when Bush said "This 4th of July, I ask you to find a way to thank the men and women defending our freedom, by flying the flag"

Uhh.. We flag our flags anyway on 4th of July Idiot! Now everyone will think I support this bogus war! Arrrghhh!!!

its pretty pathetic that a president uses a tragedy to attempt to boost his own agenda.

and when did iraq attack usa? i musta missed it.
i have MS which doesnt stand for mighty stupid.

Posted by letshelpdean on June 29, 2005 at 02:37 PM

A matter oif fact.. all the time. Here is one of my favorites.

Poosibility of war with Iraq (Page 1)

Possibility of war with Iraq (Page 2 )

I have at least 10 of these letters. I stay in contact with my senators.

Posted by BlackMale on June 29, 2005 at 02:42 PM

And conversely, if you don't have a flag, and/or fail to fly it you are obviously NOT supporting "Our" troops.

Posted by BlackMale on June 29, 2005 at 02:46 PM

Couldn't read your letters from your senator, BM, but I think a lot more people should do what you and I do and stay in touch with our Reps and Senators and the White House.

There was a woman interviewed on CNN today, a war widow, with a simple smile on her face, saying that she wrote a letter to the president asking him not to bring the troops home too early because she doesn't want her husband to have died in vain, and when specifically asked if she thought Iraq had anything to do with 9/11, she smiled and said that she believes they did. You cannot educate people out of something they believe with this kind of fanatacism.

Posted by Nikki on June 29, 2005 at 02:20 PM

That's what I'm talking about, Nikki! And we can make ourselves feel a bit better by recognizing it's fanatacism, but the reality is that these people are serious and passionate, and you can't "bring the country together" without recognizing and even embracing their passion.

Though I draw the line at people who can't handle my opposing point of view, that's for sure. Which reminds me that I was thinking about starting a "Voters civility" campaign for the next Presidential election. I mean, if you don't support democracy itself, what is it about this country you think you can be so proud of? Pfft.

We need to stop ignoring the ignorant and the fanatical and start realizing that they're a big part of this country. We need a strategy not just for fighting them but for somehow enlisting their energies.

And as a side note, I'm not all that sure we should be leaving Iraq right now. I am damned sure we should not have gone in the first place, but I don't want to see us abandon the mess that we've made (we, the country as a whole) and breed ever greater hatred just because it's a way of shoring up our own defenses against Bushie. Bring him down, yes, but don't use the citizens of Iraq for our own political ends.

And maybe that's an impossible goal, I don't know.

Hope your car is okay. :-(

Posted by DPD on June 29, 2005 at 02:48 PM

Exactly..

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said Tuesday he's been talking to Democratic leader Harry Reid about nominees for a potential vacancy on the Supreme Court but doesn't have any inside information on whom President Bush might nominate.

Reid later offered four names of people he said would be good for the court: GOP Sens. Mel Martinez of Florida, Mike DeWine of Ohio, Mike Crapo of Idaho and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. They "are people who serve in the Senate now who are Republicans who I think would be outstanding Supreme Court members," Reid said.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/06/29/senate.scotus.ap/index.html

WHY does Reid believe that repug congressman, who have been more concerned with individuals in persistent vegetative states and baseball players that use steroids than they have addressing the real concerns of America, be “outstanding” justices??? Note to Reid: perhaps consider a JUDGE for the supreme court! BTW: included on Reid’s list is the lying Martinez who handed out the talking points for Schiavo and Crapo who initially refused to sign the anti-lynching resolution.

We need to stop ignoring the ignorant and the fanatical and start realizing that they're a big part of this country. We need a strategy not just for fighting them but for somehow enlisting their energies.

This is what I have said for years. Find a way to get through to them and get them to understand what fools the Rep's are making of them.

Oh.. BTW...

Did anyone else want to throw the coffee table through the TV last night when Bush said "This 4th of July, I ask you to find a way to thank the men and women defending our freedom, by flying the flag"

Uhh.. We flag our flags anyway on 4th of July Idiot! Now everyone will think I support this bogus war! Arrrghhh!!!

Posted by BlackMale on June 29, 2005 at 02:42 PM

OMG BlackMale! I had to laugh, if in horror. Shortly before the election, a Republican co-worker took to holding the door open for everyone, and then, just as one of us "known liberals" passed through, he'd quip, "Bush supporters enter here" or something equally childish.

I commented on it to many people. It was childish, rude, etc. So, naturally, Bush is using the same playground bully tactic on the entire nation. Nice.

BlueinIdaho!! If you get a chance shoot me an email ok? Same goes to Heretik and Chuck-Chuck!!

I have a link to send you. :-)

BlueinIdaho on June 29, 2005 at 02:50 PM:

I think this is a shrewd strategy. Remember, the most likely to leave the court is Rehnquist, an extreme right winger who never has been a true "conservative". Thus, any nominee who is left of Rehnquist would be an improvement. I know too little of the four Senators that he named, but my gut impulse is to say they are not right of Rehnquist.

The shrewd aspects are that they are Republicans, so hard for Frist to discount. If one IS actually appointed to the court, they won't shift the court to the right, and they leave a vacancy in the Senate!

reid may have a good idea. Martinez steps down from his seat for a confirmation hearing that he won't win. Instant open seat which would be appointed by Jebbie. Sure to PO a huge chunk of the State.

Same for DeWine, and the others. They won't pass the hearing stage, but they would have to quit the Legislative body in order to avoid conflict of interest during the hearings, when the Senate votes on them.

GW will be coming out to tell you how great the economy is, with false figures. The Labor Board said that 300,000 fathers are staying home while the wife works. 270,000 jobs lost in June and 77,000 the last two weeks. G.W. will change this figure and lie. Consumers are down 37% from the last month in spending, but you will hear Greenspan say how great economy is and inflation
is down and it is actually the highest it has
been.

Nikki at 2:20

take comfort that today, considerably fewer people posess the incomprehensible blind faith as shrouds the women in your post.

Good afternoon, all.

Didn't see the speech last night, but heard Bush was back to tying the Iraqi invasion to 9/11. That's was obviously for his base's benefit...to give them something to hold on to as the situation gets deadlier and more embarrassing. I'm surprised he's not trying to tie it to Social Security privatization, too.

It all sounds so familar to those of us who lived through the Vietnam era. Lyndon Johnson would give a speech from time to time to ask the American people for patience...that we were promoting freedom in Indo-China. We all know how that ended.

Odd that Bush met with the Prime Minister of Vietnam the other day. Here we are thirty years later and committed to becoming most favored trading partners. Our withdrawal doesn't seem to hurt them in the long run.

MonicaSmith identified the real problem yesterday on the blog. We need to find a place to establish a permanent military base within striking distance of the Middle East. The British have one on an island in the Indian Ocean. If we could get a friendly nation to give us a long-term lease, we would be free to withdrawal from Iraq and let those people figure out for themselves what kind of world they want to live in

No matter how defensive those Bush fanatics get about Iraq, they're going to have to face our eventual withdrawal and probably an Islamic theocracy that doesn't resemble democray in any way. And I'm betting they let Saddam loose, too, after he turns over the billions he has hidden away in Swiss and Virgin Island bank accounts.

Posted by Marc on June 29, 2005 at 02:56 PM

I just have a real hard time with an appointment of a legislator that is well-versed in advocating and seeing only one side of an issue, being part of a system that is intended to view an issue equally. I know the appointment of a congressman to the bench has happened many times before, but with our current administration, lady justice would not only peek under the blindfold, she would tear the blindfold off.

Did Bush cry last night??? There goes my impression of him as a man's man / burly racher--yeah right! LOL...

Belated Hi {{DAWN}} I had to log off several times, and while I was at it I downloaded those programs Carl posted. THX, Carl

This you are not signed in when you are isd getting old. Hope they fix it soon.

BlueinIdaho on June 29, 2005 at 03:10 PM:

No question that it is undesirable to appoint a legislator. But, given the range of bad choices Bush can pick from, I don't see these are the worst. How about our highly esteemed Attorney General? No fear that he is a former legislator. But, I think you'd agree he would be a disaster.

Absolutely Marc. Thanks for the perspective.

bbl

Reid is shrewd. At least one of his republican picks was part of the nuclear option compromise. Frist will either have to forgive him for not towing party line or make division of neocons and moderate republicans more likely. Very shrewd.

Meanwhile in the House Pelosi disappoints. They voted to give themselves a COLA adjusting their pay to over $168,000. Meanwhile there are folks surviving on $5.15 an hour. Here was her chance to make a stand. At least the fight on this did come from our side though.

Sorry about inability to link. Here's web address.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050628/ap_on_go_co/congress_pay_raise;_ylt=An8asZdfdFh4m4FJ7Qz.9hdp24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

Posted by WantaBlueRibbon_inGA on June 29, 2005 at 02:49 PM

I agree with most of this. I ask you to consider this: If a Republican were to say, "I think our party has the right vision for America, but I'm tired of hating half my country because they don't agree with me. They are as passionate about what they believe as we are about what we believe. What we need is a way to get them to understand that supporting business is what's good for America and that we need to support our president in everything he does, because that makes America stronger. Now, how do we go about making them see that our way?" how would you feel about it?

Our van was okay until some stupid woman in a brand new 'vette smashed into us the other day knocking us into the Dodge Ram minivan ahead of us and crunching us between the two. My head snapped back and I think I have whiplash. I've never had whiplash. Does it go away?

I'm torn on this new site. I like where they put an area for different parts of the country to congregate and strategize but I don't like the blog format. It takes too long to find and read.

Posted by cwaltz on June 29, 2005 at 03:32 PM

I AGREE. So use this for chatting but join the Democrats Only forum at politicalcrossfire.com (and you can talk to Republicans too).

• Wednesday, June 29, 2005 | 9:25 a.m. ET
From Mark Murray, Huma Zaidi, Michelle Jaconi and Katie Adams

First glance
Now raise your hand if you still think Karl Rove’s 9/11 remarks last week were unintentional.

Facing mounting U.S. casualties, an increasingly skeptical public, and a growing chorus of criticism (even within his own party), a confident and resolute President Bush last night directly tied the situation in Iraq to 9/11 and the war on terrorism. To illustrate this renewed focus, he made five direct references to 9/11 and two references to Osama bin Laden. But in both his inaugural and State of the Union addresses this year, he never mentioned Bin Laden. And although he did mention 9/11 in that State of the Union, he didn’t do so until more than half way through the speech.

Some quick questions: Will this new focus reverse poll findings like the one from USA Today/CNN/Gallup, which shows that 50% of Americans now see Iraq being completely separate from the war on terror? Can the Democrats reverse the political setbacks they’ve encountered when Bush wields his 9/11 credentials? And for how much longer will 9/11 continue to be the dominant political story in America?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3626796/

I hope Bush stays firm on his commitment to staying the course in Iraq. It will be like Chinese water torture to incumbent Congressional Republicans. Each election becoming more difficut than the last. It will start polluting the waters at the local and state level as well.

The same goes with Bush's Social Security privatization with reduced benefits agenda. Let him talk it up.

In the meantime, we start talking up universal health care and universal higher/vocational education. The Irish used both of these ideas to turn around their economies. With the outsourcing/underemployment crisis heating up, we will be out in front with solutions that help workers and business.

I understand the deciet that this administration put the American people through to authorize the war in Iraq. I beleive in firmly that he committed an impeachable offense. However, I cannot help but think of the "pottery barn" rule that if you break it you fix it. President Bush broke Iraq and for national security reasons we must fix it so it does not become the next Afghanistan. Before we pull out we must make sure that Iraq is a fully secure functioning nation. I know most dems on this blog doesn't agree with that, but anyone who studied foreign affairs know this to be true. The village idiot from Texas put us in a catch 22 situation. Just my 2 cents.

Posted by Cyn_NY on June 29, 2005 at 03:33 PM

The only thing Karl Rove ever does unintentionally is farting...and perhaps sweating...he is a tad girthy.

Posted by Hank on June 29, 2005 at 03:38 PM

I agree, but I don't think he has a workable plan to do that, and I think he should have had that plan before ever going. In any event, the larger problem is that Bush has no plan to rebuild Iraq and make them able to defend themselves, and so how are we to keep backing a plan that doesn't exist much less work?

Posted by SandyH on June 29, 2005 at 03:35 PM

Good insights Sandy (are you a male or female?). I agree with much of what you said.

Posted by Nikki on June 29, 2005 at 03:30 PM

Argh, I just discovered what all these posts mean about having to sign in and not being signed in... grrr.

And yikes, Nikki! I'm glad you're not hurt worse! Unfortunately, all I know about whiplash is from 70s TV shows, when it seemed a popular reason for somebody to sue. Though I didn't get the idea it was permanent, it does suggest maybe seeing a doctor.

I get your point, entirely. I would still vehemently disagree with the republican platform, and by that logic, republicans (insanely) will still disagree with ours. I just think there has to be some way past the feeling that we are two stinky kids sharing a room with a line of masking tape down the middle, arguing about the tape placement, and screaming bloody murder every time a sneaker or t-shirt comes close to crossing the line.

Nikki, just a tad? I don't think his head can fit through most doors. :)

kinda recovering from our "GW Speech" drinking game last night...Just watched the speech again, and there is one thing that REALLY sticks with me...the lack of response by the troops....just thought it was kinda of interesting...

(BTW....NEVER.....EVER, use Jagermeister for your little drinking games.....)

Posted by Nikki on June 29, 2005 at 03:30 PM

Whiplash should go away in due time. As for W's war plan, we must see to it that the Dems make an impact in the the 06 mid term elections. For now it is the only thing we can do.

Hi All!

{{{PamB}}}, thanks!!! okay, testing...

http://www.suntimes.com/output/iraq/iraqbush29.html

Thanks, Carl!! I think this worked. Looks good on preview. Here goes...

hhhmmmm...

Posted by Hank on June 29, 2005 at 03:50 PM

Do I need a doctor on the whiplash thing or does it just go away by itself? Do I have to worry about this being something worse? Would you know?

I'm still not able to post links...waaaaa

Posted by Cyn_NY on June 29, 2005 at 03:43 PM

That might be a whole other issue.

lol

Double waaaa...

http://www.suntimes.com/output/iraq/iraqbush29.html

I give up. (for now)

I hope Joan has seats on the 3rd base side today, it's 88 and humid with a High orange ozone alert.

How did you do that DPD? I still don't get it...(temper tantrum, stomping my feet) lol

How did I do what? It works on Preview, but not on post. Quite the conundrum.

Does it go away?

Posted by Nikki on June 29, 2005 at 03:30 PM

Rear ended, Feb. '99. Lost 17% use of my neck. Still hurts, never will recover, thanking G-d I have 12 visits a year to 'practor on my county health insurance.

Get treatments, don't settle for meds. Medication makes the pain go away then you use the injured neck and all it does is cause more damage. Depending on which vertebra you injured, you might have other health issues arising from it. The swelling will effect your certain nerves.

Please, take care.

Posted by WantaBlueRibbon_inGA on June 29, 2005 at 03:41 PM

Thanks for the concern. Our van definitely got the worst of it. Figures. Hit by a bright, shiny new silver 'Vette that got a scratch on the front hood into a new, shiny, silver Dodge Ram SUV (I'm pretty sure it was an SUV, not a minivan. Who cares.), and we got both bumpers crushed, front headlights hanging off now taped up, on our 1993 Ford Aerostar van with a huge dent on the driver's side door from some drunken idiot who backed into us in a restaurant parking lot, and we're driving uninsured because we haven't had the money to pay for insurance.

Good simile on the kids in the taped room thing.

Well, my personal belief, I've said it here before, is that we've lost touch with the Democratic Party that is the champion of the poor, working and middle classes. The unions are losing faith in us. People are losing faith in unions and allowing themselves to be duped into thinking of them as communist organizations, as if it's antithetical to capitalism to have bargaining power in the workplace the same way that the wealthy do. I think, and I have said, that until we truly turn our attention to right here, and stop making Iraq and the war on terra our number one points of attack (it can be included, but sometimes you go full days here on this blog, and little other than Iraq is discussed), and reach out to people...like MY family....the way that Bill Clinton did, and solidify the unions and help with recruiting, we are lost. That is our message, that is our voice, and without it, all we have is talking about how bad the other side is, not what we can do better.

I have strong conviction on this.

Posted by Hank on June 29, 2005 at 03:50 PM

According to all the TV reports I have seen, the ONLY applause was started by a member of W's advance team. The WH is trying to spin it as being a "Solemn" occaision, and that is why the troops sat on their hands.

Hi, Nikki. I'm a she. I hope you aren't as banged up as the van.

Hank, I don't agree. Sometimes you can't fix things. It's like a bad relationship. Dear Abby used to say, "Yyou have to ask yourself, is it it better if I go or stay."

I think we are making things worse staying in Iraq. Now that Saddam is gone, the different factions need to work this out themselves. Our occupation puts off the inevitable and gives other foreign elements a reason to come in and make things worse.

By the way, Afganistan has always been a warring tribal society. Alexander the Great couldn't crack that nut. Every time some power comes in there like the British or the Soviet Union, it ends up the same.

My X does auto body & repair. He was more concerned over the car getting fixed, which he bought new parts. I didn't come with new parts.

So use this for chatting but join the Democrats Only forum at politicalcrossfire.com (and you can talk to Republicans too).

Posted by Nikki on June 29, 2005 at 03:33 PM

Thanks for the suggestion.

It was solemn alright. They haven't a prayer and they know it.

Posted by DPD on June 29, 2005 at 04:00 PM

Thanks...

DPD, I can't post a link either. How does it work?

Testing

WHIPLASH:http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/whiplash/whiplash.htm

AFternoon, folks.

Nikki, I agree that we need to get back to championing the little guy. And we need unions now more than ever.

Glad I didn't watch the speech last night, from the discussions I've read I probably would have caused major property damage. It just boggles my mind that that slimy little weasel is our president.

Jaline, some men appreciate fine wine and antique cars. Don't settle for anything less.

Political Site of the Day

Afternoon all!

While I'm asking for help. Why can I post on my son's computer, but the family one gives me the failure to deliver/URL message?

Posted by Nikki on June 29, 2005 at 03:52 PM

Anytime you suffered a neck inj in a MVC you should get it checked out by your dr. If you have a hair line fx on your neck or if your spine is out of whack it could get worse if you ignore it. I work at a hospital and see that stuff all the time. Bottom line is better to be safe than sorry. Besides your auto insurance or theirs should take care of the cost. You did report the incident to your auto insurance co. right?

Posted by DPD on June 29, 2005 at 04:00 PM

Thanks...

Hi Tonito!

Sandy,

I won't settle, but I'm not seeing any serious relationship for me in the future. I'll be like one of those bottles that are left in the cellar forgotten about. ;)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/23/AR2005062301692.html

Trying to make it easier to buy government access. One of our guys is in on it. Give this a read.

Posted by Hank on June 29, 2005 at 04:13 PM

We don't have auto insurance.

Thankfully, we were entirely not at fault in this accident. I'm not sure how to get it paid for though. I have health insurance, but they won't pay if there was an accident where someone else was responsible.

OK, I had the Nat's Inst. of Neurological Disorders site linked, it worked, and then it disappeared. Cut and Paste time:

What is Whiplash?
Whiplash-a soft tissue injury to the neck-is also called neck sprain or neck strain. It is characterized by a collection of symptoms that occur following damage to the neck, usually because of sudden extension and flexion. The disorder commonly occurs as the result of an automobile accident and may include injury to intervertebral joints, discs, and ligaments, cervical muscles, and nerve roots. Symptoms such as neck pain may be present directly after the injury or may be delayed for several days. In addition to neck pain, other symptoms may include neck stiffness, injuries to the muscles and ligaments (myofascial injuries), headache, dizziness, abnormal sensations such as burning or prickling (paresthesias), or shoulder or back pain. In addition, some people experience cognitive, somatic, or psychological conditions such as memory loss, concentration impairment, nervousness/irritability, sleep disturbances, fatigue, or depression.

Is there any treatment?
Treatment for individuals with whiplash may include pain medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, and a cervical collar (usually worn for 2 to 3 weeks). Range of motion exercises, physical therapy, and cervical traction may also be prescribed. Supplemental heat application may relieve muscle tension.

What is the prognosis?
Generally, prognosis for individuals with whiplash is good. The neck and head pain clears within a few days or weeks. Most patients recover within 3 months after the injury, however, some may continue to have residual neck pain and headaches.

Me talking, now. After my car accident (car was 6 hours old when a kid ran a red light and totalled it) I went to an Osteopath. They are medical doctors who don't believe in using drugs to mask the pain, and use bone and muscle manipulations (like a chiropractor) to treat the problem, not the pain. FWIW

Government scientist denies falsifying Yucca Mountain data

WASHINGTON — A scientist at the center of a controversy over potential falsification of documents about the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump insisted before Congress on Wednesday that he did not alter paperwork on the project.

Hi, Tonito!

Well the linking ain't working for me...

Anyhow, Chairman Dean is appearing on that idiotic-phony chris matthews "Hardball." I don't watch him anymore, but I'll be watching tonight to see Chairman Dean. WATCH YOUR BACK, Chairman Dean, matthews is a rovian demon now!!!

Posted by christopher_blunt on June 29, 2005 at 04:09 PM

Glad to hear someone is with me on this.

Posted by DPD on June 29, 2005 at 04:16 PM

Thanks DPD, I appreciate it.

wooooooooooooooo.....PLEASE let this be true....

BREAKING: Time Magazine to Reveal Plame Leak, Spare Cooper?

While New York Times officials have maintained that Miller will not reveal the source who leaked to her the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame, a source close to Time Inc. told E&P that the company is considering handing over documents that would reveal the source.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/6/28/193723/786

(still can't figure out how to post links..really starting to not like the Blog software..)

FLASH: President Bush'Speech in Total Viewers:

CBS 5.8 [million]
NBC 5.3
ABC 5.0
FOXNEWS 3.4
FOX 3.1
CNN 913,000
MSNBC 313,000

LOL...

Milk! It does a body good?

Crud! I love milk! Now I need a dairy cow to go with my garden.

Report Warns of Threat to Milk Supply

About a third of an ounce of botulism toxin poured by bioterrorists into a milk truck en route from a dairy farm to a processing plant could cause hundreds of thousands of deaths and billions of dollars in economic losses, according to a scientific analysis that was published yesterday despite efforts by federal officials to keep the details secret.

Posted by Jaline on June 29, 2005 at 04:01 PM

Oh Jaline, that's scary. It's really important to me to be healthy and strong.

I'd better call....a lawyer. I'll just look in the yellow book under 'A' (for ambulance....).

I'd personally love to see us put the minimum wage "COLA" on ballots in an effort similar to the GOP gay marriage attempts in 2006.

LOL...Posted by BlackMale on June 29, 2005 at 04:23 PM

BlackMale, why are you LOL...am glad that matthews came in dead last though. I can't believe msnbc let him take Keith Olbermans's slot...jeesh!

On the theory that those who don't know the past are doomed to repeat it, I have the following observation. I could never understand why we didn't see a strong reaction like this:

"(CNN) -- Critics of the U.S. war in Iraq have condemned President George W. Bush for attempting to link the insurgency there with the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington."

..when the Republicans chose to hold their convention in New York City before the last election. This was a blitzkrieg straight to the heart of the democratic party and yet I don't remember hearing any significant indignation. Why did they hold their convention in liberal territory and on such sacred ground? Didn't our party leaders know this was an in your face move to forever link their party to 9/11 and to politicize this tragedy for their gains? Where was the indignation then because that was the most blatant attempt to politicize 9/11 ever! And what was our response? Why didn't we expose it for what it was? I don't say this to belittle our party but to ask for a little imagination when it comes to strategizing and campaigning. Our counterparts took bold steps that were designed to deal a psychological blow to the party. I mean, how symbolic, the convention is in the heart of democratic territory on sacred ground and we claim it as Republican. All I am saying is no more Republican lite. The time is right now for a counterstrike to the heart of the Republican Party. My question is do we have an architect in place that can map out the right strategy or are we going to continue to drift along in the wake of the opposition?

Nikki, I agree that we need to get back to championing the little guy. And we need unions now more than ever.

Posted by christopher_blunt on June 29, 2005 at 04:09 PM

Agreed, that was fired up, Nikki, and well said!

I guess I get down on the "little guy" thing in Georgia because it seems like there's a huge demographic that wants to shoot you if you suggest they're in any way the little guy. They're under-paid, under-educated, and often living without any health insurance, but they're proud, oh boy are they proud. I think Bush does a better job of playing to that pride than Democrats. Democrats tend to highlight their deficiencies, instead. And when they hear a lot about the problems in this country, they think they're hearing, "no, the U.S. is not the greatest country in the world," and that just doesn't sit well.

Your passion, though, is what's needed.

Speaking of minimum wage...

Join us this Thursday in the fight to...

Rally to win fair pay for Ohio´s workers.

Featuring:
Senator John Edwards

Tim Burga, Ohio AFL-CIO

Dr. Richard Wing First Community Church

Sam Gresham, Columbus Urban League

Maude Hurd, ACORN

Theotis L. James, Central Ohio AFL-CIO

Ohio Senate Democratic Leader C.J. Prentiss

Ohio House Democratic Leader Chris Redfern

Thursday June 30th
2:30 pm

King Arts Complex

867 Mt. Vernon Ave

Columbus, OH 43203

Nikki, I agree that we need to get back to championing the little guy. And we need unions now more than ever.

Posted by christopher_blunt on June 29, 2005 at 04:09 PM

Agreed, that was fired up, Nikki, and well said!

I guess I get down on the "little guy" thing in Georgia because it seems like there's a huge demographic that wants to shoot you if you suggest they're in any way the little guy. They're under-paid, under-educated, and often living without any health insurance, but they're proud, oh boy are they proud. I think Bush does a better job of playing to that pride than Democrats. Democrats tend to highlight their deficiencies, instead. And when they hear a lot about the problems in this country, they think they're hearing, "no, the U.S. is not the greatest country in the world," and that just doesn't sit well.

Your passion, though, is what's needed.

oops, sorry about that... :-)

Posted by Nikki on June 29, 2005 at 04:16 PM

Nikki I hope you recorded the name of the individual at fault, as well as recording his/her DL#, plate # and their auto insurance. If you didn't and your still worried about the cost of an ER visit you should still get yourself checked out. Most hospitals have a pretty good financial advocate assitance through their social services or through their business office. All you have to do is ask for assistance when you get their. Like I said, better to be safe than sorry.

I do not know what your finincial status is, but you can always look to see if their is a free community clinic in your area. They generally take a little while to get into, but like the ER they will still check you out. And the services are generally free. I hope that helps.

post try #3!

Dawn CYE

Nikki I posted in as Chuck in OHIO on one thread- Did your hear the speech (or something). Man. I spent about hour looking around over there and it's like the gd Alamo or something. Democrats look to be outnumbered 10-1 and it seems as soon as one makes a post, multiple attacks are launched. Mind you, I've only spent an hour in what appears to be an endless field of posts and topics.

I'm just reminded that "A man/woman convinced against his/her will is of the same opinion still." Those are some staunch hard core idiots over there.

I don't know anything about this bill, will read up on it before I request we back it.

Hoyer Introduces the Secure America's Vote Act

U.S. Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) of Mechanicsville has introduced an election reform bill called the "Secure America's Vote Act of 2005."

Coming soon to a Congress near you .....CAFTA.

It made it out of committee.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/06/29/senate.cafta.ap/index.html

from my senior Senator, who can still bring it!

Dear Robert,

Last night, President Bush addressed the nation about the war, but he refused to level with our troops and the American people and offer a strategy for success in Iraq.

Our soldiers in Iraq need more than vague assurances of progress from the President. They need an effective plan to end the violence, bring peace and stability to Iraq, and return home with dignity and honor.

Unfortunately, the administration's view of the war is ignoring reality.

As an example, the Downing Street Minutes, and statements by former Administration and British officials on the issue have raised new doubts about the way the Administration went to war in Iraq. But the truth should come from the White House, not Downing Street.

The Administration will not face the facts or develop an effective strategy. Secretary Rumsfeld and Vice-President Cheney can't even agree on the strength of the insurgency and the time and resources needed to defeat it.

Last Thursday, I called on Secretary Rumsfeld to resign as the first step in a new strategy--and now I ask you to join me in calling on this Administration to level with the American people and develop a plan for success in Iraq:

http://www.tedkennedy.com/iraqstrategy

Counting provisionals when voting in the wrong precinct. Well, well. What kind of laws will we adhere to there? Who gets to re-make the ballot? Nobody trusted the bi-partisan boards in OH, how can you trust those in FL who are elected, sometimes all Repugs? And if provisionals are on DRE's how do you take off some of the offices the voter isn't supposed to vote for? They better study this one before HAVA 2002 is in compliance the first federal election 2006.

(I thought this was supposed to be a piddly office job?)

;)

Yeh "little guy" is not a good term. How about "victims of Republican Oppression?"

Posted by WantaBlueRibbon_inGA on June 29, 2005 at 04:29 PM

Thanks for that feedback.

I know the type you're talking about here. This is the problem. Let me get back to this later because I'm on the phone and behind schedule.

I'll be back.

Last Thursday, I called on Secretary Rumsfeld to resign as the first step in a new strategy--and now I ask you to join me in calling on this Administration to level with the American people and develop a plan for success in Iraq:

http://www.tedkennedy.com/iraqstrategy

Posted by bb on June 29, 2005 at 04:38 PM

Go Ted!

The worst part of it is, HAVA gives out less funding for upgrades than voter awareness. Most monies is going for new machines.

Nearly all voters might change poll sites

Most Union County polling places don't meet the accessibility requirements of the 2002 Help America Vote Act. All polls must comply by Jan. 1, 2006, or the county could be required to repay money it's getting to buy new voting machines

speaking of a little guy who is a victim of republican oppression, i sure wish i had enough money to make a contribution to all the congresspeople and worthy causes that present themselves to my in-box on a daily basis.

Posted by christopher_blunt on June 29, 2005 at 04:41 PM

"Little guy" is not a good term and neither is "victims of Republican oppression." Use of the word "victim" will get Limbaugh and his drones railing and besides, we don't really want to think about ourselves that way. I think the key to this has to be that there is inherent dignity in all work, whatever it may be, and even in the person who would work if given the chance, and it's time to come out of the shadows, stop feeling like a second-class citizen because you struggle to make ends meet, stop allowing the very people who make 570 times what you make to convince you that if you unionize to gain strength for yourself, that you're a communist and you're lazy. Look, pro-athletes don't sign contracts without representation. They play a game, carry or hit a ball, and make millions. That's great that in this country we reward all kinds of talent. But why should the guy who (I think of my husband when I talk about these things) gets called out in the middle of the night when something breaks in your apartment not be able to afford the cost of living in an apartment? Why should one man or woman work 20 hours a day for a week in Texas for $35K per year when in New York, you work an 8-hour-day for a wage that makes you able to support your family? Why? Because unions in New York fight to make sure that people's labor is not undervalued in the workplace.

If the wealthy have agents and lawyers, and that's considered enterprise, why is it considered something different when YOU do? Ask yourself, who gains when you see things that way?

Posted by bb on June 29, 2005 at 04:53 PM

I hear that.

Wired Again?

(UPLie) Harking back to the 2004 debates, diligent Bush watchers have once again spotted wires at a presidential event. But this time the wires weren't leading to a microphone in Bush's ear, but to the testicles of the soldiers seated behind him during his latest "stay the course in Iraq...9/11" speech.

Throughout the speech, soldiers sat rigidly behind Mr. Bush nodding in unison with every spoken word, and once actually clapping (at the instigation of a White House staffer.)

At a morning-after news briefing WH press secretary Scott McClellan insisted that, "No soldiers were harmed in the making of this film ... er...speech. In fact they weren't even shocked once. We've learned at Gitmo and Abu Grahib that you only have to hook up wires to men's balls in order to get them to do or say anything you want." McClellan then added laughing, "What are you going to do about it?"

Even in the face of the WH acknowledgemnt of testicle wiring, prominent centrist or "New" Democrats called the charges, "the work of tin foil hatted conspiracy theorists."

It was a joke, Nikki

Lawmaker's Wayward E-Mail Refers To Constituents As 'Idiots'

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- A New York state lawmaker (Republican) says he's embarrassed, after he mistakenly sent out an e-mail message that referred to his constituents as "idiots."

Stephens - "just watching the idiots pontificate."

I'm reposting this from last night:

Here's an example of how to make a link:

<a href="http://example.link">Example Link</a>

Will come out as:

Example Link

...underlined and clickable in the post. Copy and paste the URL between the quotes (and be sure to quote just the URL). No spaces between the angle-brackets and the "a" or "/a". Whatever text you put between the "a" tags is what gets printed out in the post.

<i>italics</i>

<b>bold</b>

Lists:

<ul> start a bullet-list

<li> add a line to the bullet-list </li>

</ul> end a bullet-list

<ul>
<li>List item one</li>
<li>List item two</li>
<li> and so on</li>
</ul>

• List item one
• List item two
• and so on

Be sure to close off the list-items with the /li tag and close off the whole list with /ul .

Mwah, Amanda! I printed that out. Now I don't have to hunt down my son's html book!

Mark Fuhrman seeking to profit from the Schiavo case. Pardon me while I hurl.

cbsnews

That was a poorly stated way of saying that I am tired of being told that my money is good here, but my ideas are not.

Posted by Nikki on June 29, 2005 at 02:26 PM

Hi Nikki,

Did you see on the new web site and blog information, that they plan on having more involvment with the DNC office and we bloggers? Also there will be opportunities to express ideas to Howard and others. Hang in.

In the meantime, for anyone without a lot of money to donate, find Dem candidates in your state trying to replace a Republicans or just to keep his seat, and work for them. It can be even from home. It is very gratifying.

Hey Howie!

Sometimes you don't know what you had until it's gone... bring the old blog software back!

The problem, the Congresswoman said, is that the machines "haven't been provided with appropriate software and safeguards. If they had the appropriate software and safeguards, then the machines wouldn't be a problem. So either [provide] that, or go back to paper ballots," she advised.

Rep. McKinney, along with Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL), had been on hand for a hack demonstration in the Leon County Elections Office, in Florida, in May 2005. The demo was one of three meetings that had been organized by Bev Harris and the team at Black Box Voting. Diebold has since issued a vitriolic letter to Mr. Ion Sancho, Leon County Elections Supervisor, for allowing Black Box Voting to conduct the hack demo on site.

Seems Diebold doesn't like anyone Testing their machines

Posted by christopher_blunt on June 29, 2005 at 04:57 PM

What was a joke, Christopher? Please be explicit. Yes, I'm asking you to explain your humor so that I can deduce whether or not I did, in fact, miss something.

{{RoseZ}}

Here's my favorite reference. Not all of those will work on the blog (I'm reasonlably sure the HTML limited to the examples above). For example, the nifty little divider line (<hr>) doesn't work. But there's plenty enough HTML to be expressive and not-dangerous ;-)

Posted by PamB on June 29, 2005 at 05:12 PM

That is WONDERFUL news, Pam! I'm sure there's a lot of folks like me who have less-than zero cash, but are willing to donate time and elbow-grease to the DNC.

Lead on, Dr Dean! DNCSC rawks, too! (PS, you guys hiring? :LOL:)

Posted by PamB on June 29, 2005 at 05:12 PM

It IS gratifying, but I personally, this is just me, cannot afford to work for someone for free.

Posted by BlackMale on June 29, 2005 at 05:01 PM

I'd like to see the whole e-mail if you come across it. If you see it, post it, okay?

Posted by WantaBlueRibbon_inGA on June 29, 2005 at 04:29 PM

I think I should redirect this to you:

Posted by Nikki on June 29, 2005 at 04:53 PM

Read if you please.

Anyone who has seen my feelings about Lieberman and the DLC, will know how much this article bothers me!

When Barack Obama ran for the Senate he distanced himself from the centrist Democratic Leadership Council (DLC). Hillary Clinton is taking the opposite approach as she tacks toward the Presidency.

According to Roll Call and the Des Moines Register, Hillary is set to assume a key "policy role" in the DLC starting in July. Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack will assume the chairmanship from Indiana Senator Evan Bayh, another presumed candidate in '08, with Delaware Senator Tom Carper becoming vice chairman.

Clearly, Hillary hopes that by identifying herself with an organization devoted to bashing the Democratic base she can solidify her moderate credentials. "A senior Democratic aide suggested Clinton's involvement with the DLC is just another move toward expanding her political appeal as she ponders a presidential bid," Roll Call reports (subscription only). As recently as last March, Hillary was not listed in the DLC's New Democratic Directory of elected officials. Now she is.

Link

((Amanda)), thanks for the link. I bookmarked it. I try not to memorize anything unless it's mandatory ;-)

Posted by Jaline on June 29, 2005 at 04:04 PM

Jaline, I hope you don't take offense to this, but your ex was a shitbag.

Thanks for the beautiful kids and all dude, get out. I'm glad you got rid of him.

Try link again.

Link

Sure got quiet here. Is it that everyone is tired of the sign-in bug? Maybe there's a new open thread, though I didn't see one the last time I looked?

Posted by Chuck on June 29, 2005 at 04:34 PM

Chuck, you are not freaking kidding. We are outnumbered and the Democrat numbers are dropping. And yes, the right-wingers are complete maniacs, and that's why I think that board is a good source of education for everyone here (HEAR THAT everyone here?). You can't blog constantly on a preaching-to-the-choir basis and think you understand what you're up against. It's not even enough to hear what right-wing pundits and organizers have to say, though that's important too. If we're going to talk about changing people's votes, we have to know, really KNOW, what they think RIGHT NOW.

I want us to get the numbers up over there. Maybe you could post a link to it on your blog?

I would really like the DNC to create a forum like that right here. I think our organizing should be under the auspices of our party's website. But until they do that (Josh?!), we need to get people over there.

HOUSTON, Texas (AP) -- A chemistry teacher who was at least three months behind on her car payments gave passing grades to two failing students who stole and burned her car so she could collect insurance money, a fire investigator said.
Aldine Senior High School teacher Tramesha Lashon Fox, 32, was charged with insurance fraud and arson, and the two students were charged with arson.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/06/29/chemistry.teacher.ap/index.html

I see Bush’s stompin grounds have put his No Child Left Behind plan into action…

An Email from Bill Nelson:

Not only for FL residents, we all have a stake in this Race !

Dear Friend:

June 30th is an important date in my re-election campaign for the United States Senate.

All candidates for federal office must file detailed financial reports with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). These reports show the amount raised, spent and how much “cash-on-hand” is in the bank

The FEC reports are public information and they are scrutinized by the press, the national political parties political operatives (in state and across the country) as the basis for evaluating a candidate’s strength . . . . or weakness.

You can help us show our campaign's strength today:

www.BillNelsonforSenate.com/deadline.html

A strong FEC report is a critically important component to a victory against my likely opponent – Cong. Katherine Harris.

A strong FEC filing creates a snowball effect for the campaign that literally causes an avalanche of donations during the entire campaign cycle but a weak report will have “the sharks circling.”

Can I count your help? Please use this link to send your contribution in time to be counted in this important FEC filing. It will make a world of difference. Every single dollar I can raise in the next 48 hours is extremely helpful:

www.BillNelsonforSenate.com/deadline.html

I remember the good ol days when we would complain about the rollover...sniff..I miss that.

I've been patiently trying to give Hillary the benefit of the doubt. No more. She and her centrist cronies are polluting this party.

Pffffftt!!

Democrats are criticizing President Bush for raising the Sept. 11 attacks while he defends his plan to keep US troops in Iraq as long as it takes to ensure peace in the country.

The president, urging patience on an American public showing doubts about his Iraq policy, mentioned the deadly 2001 terrorist attacks five times during a 28-minute address Tuesday night at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Some Democrats accused him of falsely reviving the link that he originally used to help justify launching strikes against Baghdad.

"The president's frequent references to the terrorist attacks of September 11 show the weakness of his arguments," House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said. "He is willing to exploit the sacred ground of 9/11, knowing that there is no connection between 9/11 and the war in Iraq."

Link

What did she do Rose? I certainly don't think she should be our candidate for Prez, but I like most of what she stands for.

Just a matter of time, before China passes the US in Economy and Power

Guangzhou, China - A line of Chinese-made cars began rolling onto a ship here Friday, bound for Europe. The cars, made at a gleaming new Honda factory on the outskirts of this sprawling city near Hong Kong, signal the latest move by China to follow Japan and South Korea in building itself into a global competitor in one of the cornerstones of the industrial economy.

Link

DeLay inquiry set to move; GOP ethics chairman backs down

Semper Fi

GW will be coming out to tell you how great the economy is, with false figures. The Labor Board said that 300,000 fathers are staying home while the wife works. 270,000 jobs lost in June and 77,000 the last two weeks. G.W. will change this figure and lie. Consumers are down 37% from the last month in spending, but you will hear Greenspan say how great economy is and inflation
is down and it is actually the highest it has
been.
Posted by wackat on June 29, 2005 at 03:05 PM

Um, yeah. They're just making up the GDP numbers. I suppose the Tin Foil Hat helps there, doesn't it?

Bush and his administration would not know the truth if it bit them in the behind. Nor would they be able to utter the truth lest they lose their rightful place in hell.

Blue, didja see Pam's 5:35? She's joining in with the DLC. She'll be a DINO just like Lieberman. Yech!

Don't forget to catch Howard on Hardball at 7PM. I hope he gives Matthews hell!