Call your Senators

Daily Kos has information for Monday

Hagel: Bush “Can’t Unilaterally Decide That A 1978 Law Is Out of Date And…Violate The Law” [Read more here]

{{MIST}}

You are UP on it today GF! TY!

IMPEACH THEM ALL!!!!!!!!

By 51 percent to 35 percent, Americans said they preferred to go in the direction outlined by congressional Democrats rather than the direction established by the president.

Now if only someone could tell us what direction that is!

"Al Gore is back. Back from the political abyss. Back from the brink of the cavern into which so many crestfallen people tumble."

Gore, who was the American people's choice for president in 2000 -- he won the popular vote but lost to George W. Bush in the all-important Electoral College balloting -- now calls himself a "recovering politician." But his resurrection has actually lifted Gore to a much loftier height.
..........
"The new Al Gore is a cross between Theodore Roosevelt, the environmentalist president, and Mariah Carey, the sultry songstress whose music career recently recovered from a big tumble."

~SNIPs~ from The Town Talk

Wickham: Al Gore returns to save the planet Earth

YAY AL!!

We are winning on populist appeal, but clearly the media is not helping get the message out.

The bulldozing of the Press by Republican talking points is nothing short of breathtaking.

alito = filibuster

Posted by newbie on January 29, 2006 at 01:21 PM

the direction is LEFT and the instructions are all OVER the front of THIS and MOST OTHER DEMOCRAT WEBSITES

just paruse the covers of the DNC, Reid, Conyers, Boxer, Kennedy, Kerry, DFA and many many others. We all stand for the same values. AND they are VAST AND WONDERFUL VALUES....

Not everyone talks in 3 minutes sound bites for the grade schoolers but we're learning to lower our length and breath..... we know the PUGS can't read or comprehend big words.

Filibuster Alito Show

Malloy scheduled to be on.

alito = filibuster

If you DARE to have an ethic or moral, you have no place in the Bush administration!!!!!!

They were loyal conservatives, and Bush appointees. They fought a quiet battle to rein in the president's power in the war on terror. And they paid a price for it. A NEWSWEEK investigation.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/012906Y.shtml

rj

i've been trying to get the young turks on my player but it won't work. is the server too busy, or is my version of the player too old? ack!

are you connected and listening?

Ohioans:

Sign petition against HB3

pam @ 1:39

here is the link to the newsweek story...

an interesting aside, the federal judge that presided over some guilty verdicts in the East St. Louis voter fraud case is now the number two guy, replacing the one with integrity (Patrick Fitzgerald's buddy) who left...

Pentagon Can Now Fund Foreign Militaries Great.

Now if only someone could tell us what direction that is!

Posted by newbie on January 29, 2006 at 01:21 PM

LMAO

Posted by PamB on January 29, 2006 at 01:39 PM

Ohh man Pammy my head is spinnin!! The way this thing is twisting and turning it's like a BAD ride at the fair! Making me nauseous at each and every yank to the right or left.

ugh (round and round I go, thud, hitting the floor)

lol

If you DARE to have an ethic or moral, you have no place in the Bush administration!!!!!!

***

Thx Pam - this article was mentioned on the Young Turks but I couldn't find it on their web site.

Thx Pam - this article was mentioned on the Young Turks but I couldn't find it on their web site.

Posted by rjsnj on January 29, 2006 at 01:49 PM

i posted it at 1:45...but you had to be a mind reader to know what i was saying...sorry.

These poll numbers are great. They prove that despite the spin machine saying we aren't making waves and gaining support, we indeed are.

My heart goes out to the news anchor (Woodruff) and his collegue who were seriously wounded in Iraq earlier today.

Journalist are not so fortunate these days in other countries. I was sickened watching the Matthews sham AND McLaughlin Group as well today. Trying to spin positive things around the BUSH MESS yet again. And saying over and over how weak DEMS look because of it?

Wholey untrue!! They need to get the hell out of their bubbles!! Chris just needs to get OFF the air period!

Im out to do other things for awhile. I've frustrated myself.

Peace!

Change the course.

Posted by Tim Tagaris at 12:56 PM

Is the lack of a "FILIBUSTER" thread the caution so typically embraced by the DLC? Are we playing to the center here, too?

I'm a little perplexed by the fact that our party is in fragmented little subdivisions on what is, arguably, the most critical issue in front of us.

just sayin'...has Dean come out to support the filibuster wholeheartedly? or not? i'd love to see him say that, in plain english, right here. otherwise...mmmmm i'm pretty sure Donna Brazile has too much influence.

wonkette has some very incriminating statements of Ms. Donna on her blog...where she just gushes over how Mr. Bush has been so gracious toward the people in New Orleans...

hope she had a nice time at that CNN dinner...

(round and round I go, thud, hitting the floor)

Politically Direct on Air America with Gov. Dean

Is the lack of a "FILIBUSTER" thread the caution so typically embraced by the DLC? Are we playing to the center here, too?

***

The DLC took a typical non-position position. After I read it, I said damn that sounds exactly like what Reid was initially saying - let's vote NO on Alito but no filibuster. Reid changed his positioo later.

Last night I read an odd post by Ed Kilgore of DLC. He said the "horses are out of the barn" so now we need to have a good showing on a filibuster. Okay ... hardly a fervent endorsement but a change.

I second the motion to put a filibuster thread up!

First time posting here. Have been a life long Demo, Liberal before we were labeled as Liberal. Where are the Democratic members of congress? Where is their plan. I am tired of losing to neocons on security. Why don't you use the border issue. Whether you realize it or not, we want our borders secured, no guest worker passes. A lot of people have lost jobs to lower paid illegal immigrants. Why aren't you talking about that. My job, along with a lot of other peoples' jobs went to Mexico, or the far east. Why aren't you talking about that. Our soldiers don't have protective gear in Iraq and getting wounded or killed. Why aren't you talking about that. Where are the tough guys. Where are the shock troopers. Stop pussyfooting with the neocons and all those republicans who don't want to lose their power. I don't care what the polls say this time. I want a Democratic legislative branch, then I want a Democratic President. I am sick and tired of these crooks we have running things now.

Is the lack of a "FILIBUSTER" thread the caution so typically embraced by the DLC?

I third the motion to put up a filibuster thread!!

Democrats are too easy to dump on and the consequences are too light! Democracy means that all Democrats believes everyone has a right to their own beliefs according to the way they have judged things to be as long as it isn't against the Law Of The Land.

While Republicans want to control the people according to their own beliefs. And the people that are true Republicans believe it is alright for their representive to control them and make them abide by the representive's beliefs.

I have never understood why Republicans believe in adultry? God gave the children of Israel the death penalty for that act. Yet we don't have a law against it. And there isn't a Law of Moses against abortion? It's like gambeling it isn't covered if a woman causes herself to miscarry.
On gambeling in Ecclesiastes 9-11 God said of the race, wealth, battle, ETC., time and chance happeneth to them all. Being in the right place at the right time and taking a chance. What do you think, taking a chance means?
I wish we could all be like minded about Liberty and Justice. Why should one group control another group? Why can't we live and let live, as my parents would say?

Democrats are too easy to dump on and the consequences are too light! Democracy means that all Democrats believes everyone has a right to their own beliefs according to the way they have judged things to be as long as it isn't against the Law Of The Land.

While Republicans want to control the people according to their own beliefs. And the people that are true Republicans believe it is alright for their representive to control them and make them abide by the representive's beliefs.

I have never understood why Republicans believe in adultry? God gave the children of Israel the death penalty for that act. Yet we don't have a law against it. And there isn't a Law of Moses against abortion? It's like gambeling it isn't covered if a woman causes herself to miscarry.
On gambeling in Ecclesiastes 9-11 God said of the race, wealth, battle, ETC., time and chance happeneth to them all. Being in the right place at the right time and taking a chance. What do you think, taking a chance means?
I wish we could all be like minded about Liberty and Justice. Why should one group control another group? Why can't we live and let live, as my parents would say?

Bruce S. Gordon, President & CEO, the NAACP, today said that every parliamentary means available to the U.S. Senate, including the filibuster, should be used to defeat the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Samuel Alito.

“Judge Alito has a track record that is clear and consistent. He does not support the underlying principles of the civil rights movement. I genuinely believe that the people represented by the NAACP are at risk if he becomes an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.”

Gordon said, “I believe we are at a point where we should fight Judge Alito’s nomination using any means necessary. That includes the filibuster. The following overview justifies why this step should be taken.”

Alito co-authored briefs during the Reagan administration that attacked affirmative action. Alito once wrote that he was “particularly proud” of his role in helping the government in its assault on affirmative action;
In a 1985 job application for a position with the Reagan Administration, Alito disagreed in writing with the Warren Court’s reapportionment decisions now known as “one man, one vote”, which are among the Court’s most widely accepted decisions on civil rights and equal representation. The “one man, one vote” theory is also one of the basic tenets of Voting Rights for which the NAACP fought;
In the 1993 case, Grant v. Shalala, Alito ruled against a class action alleging racial and other bias by an administrative law judge when determining Social Security benefits, arguing that the Court of Appeals lacked the authority to conduct a trial and make independent findings on actions taken by an Administrative Law Judge for the Social Security Agency.
In the 1997 case, Bray v. Marriot Hotels, Alito strongly dissented from a Third Circuit ruling and made it clear that he supported impossibly high barriers for victims of discrimination to have their cases heard;
In a separate 1997 case, Riley v. Taylor, Alito held that a prosecutor was not motivated by race in striking all African Americans from the jury of a death penalty case involving an African American defendant. When the defense produced statistical evidence showing the prosecution repeatedly disqualified African Americans from juries, Alito contended that this was irrelevant and likened it to a study showing that a disproportionate number of recent Presidents have been left-handed;
In 2000, Alito voted to uphold an anti-affirmative action decision of a lower court;
In a 2004 case, Doe v. Grody, Alito dissented from a ruling against police officers who had strip-searched a woman and her 10-year-old daughter while executing a search warrant authorizing the search of her husband and their home.
Gordon said: “There are people who claim to support civil rights and social justice in this country. Shame on them if they are unwilling to match their words with their deeds. Shame on them if they are unwilling to take the right steps when we need them the most. Shame on those who pass on the opportunity to demonstrate courage and commitment instead of comfort and convenience. Through their actions they make themselves eligible to receive the NAACP Badge of Shame that our members will deliver to them in the next 24 hours.“

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its half-million adult and youth members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

Interesting ... kos is reporting that Biden is for the filibuster ... The following Senators are filibustering (even though they may not think it will work, blah, blah, blah):

Barbara Boxer (D- CA)
Dianne Feinstein (D- CA)
Christopher J. Dodd (D- CT)
Richard J. Durbin (D- IL)
John F. Kerry (D- MA)
Edward M. Kennedy (D- MA)
Paul S. Sarbanes (D- MD)
Debbie A. Stabenow (D- MI)
Harry Reid (D- NV)
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D- NY)
Charles Schumer (D- NY)
Ron Wyden (D- OR)
Russell D. Feingold (D- WI)
Barack Obama (D-IL)
Joe Biden (D-DE)
Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/1/28/1420/46748

bluejersey.net is convinced that Menendez is filibustering. Keep on emailing/faxing/phoning (though Wash. vmails are filled, the local offices may not be).

alito = filibuster

{{lizzy and rj}}

you triggered two old childhood memories that make me smile...

"your barndoor is open" used to mean, zip up! and is a good analagy to what is wrong here. put it out there or put it away. don't tempt me to get more graphic, either...there's too much i could do with this...

the other is the joke, "what goes ha, ha, ha, thud?--me laughing my head off"

it's nice to see that i'm not the only one concerned about this missed opportunity. the DLC will soon find out that we, of the say what we mean persuasion, put our money where our mouths are.

there's PFAW, moveon, Act for Change, etc.

they speak for me, and if Democrats don't, so be it.

it's very easy for that fifty state strategy to go up in flames, unless the grass roots grow...hello?

i don't mean to sound like i'm threatening...i'm tellin' it like it is...we are not the left-wing lunatic fringe...

we know the truth...

Click my name for a great site with lots of information to assist in the filibuster war. It has the phone numbers for the local district offices of the Senators.

it's very easy for that fifty state strategy to go up in flames, unless the grass roots grow...hello?

***

fade, you are saying the truth! If the party wants to get people motivated, they can't ignore their opinion! Otherwise, people feel that it makes no difference whom you support. It's a two-way street - we work for the politicos and they work for us.

How many senators does is take to launch a filibuster? If you said 41, you'd be wrong. It takes only one.

The term, filibuster, from a Dutch word meaning "pirate," describes a hallowed tradition of unlimited debate in the Senate based on the principle that any senator has the right to talk his head off for as long as he wants on any issue. That is, until at least 60 senators vote to shut him up

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/012906X.shtml

The 3:46 post, reiterates the fact that you should also now be telling Senators, "IF you will not support a filibuster, then stay Away from congress on Monday and Tuesday". (that way, they are not drawn into any votes to stop the filibuster.)

Yep, Biden is for the filibuster though he made a silly qualified remark ...

Senators, I have a tip for you - just say "I thought it over and hell yeah I'll filibuster that right wing extremist Alito!".

alito = filibuster

I think we should start out the filibuster with a rousing rendition of "MY PET GOAT"

I think we should start out the filibuster with a rousing rendition of "MY PET GOAT"

Ok, finally able to respond...lost my sip of coffee on that one...and had to clean it up.

DPD, I think that is an excellent idea!

I think we should start out the filibuster with a rousing rendition of "MY PET GOAT"
***

I love it! LOL

Followed by 1984

Even the Repubs want this out in the open! Does not make any of them look good, to have the white House hiding their contacts.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican lawmakers said Sunday that President Bush should publicly disclose White House contacts with Jack Abramoff, the lobbyist who has pleaded guilty to felony charges in an influence-peddling case.

Releasing the records would help eliminate suspicions that Abramoff, a top fundraiser for Bush's re-election campaign, had undue influence on the White House, the Republicans said.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/29/bush.abramoff.ap/index.html

The Constitution and Bill of Rights need reading a few times!

Mark Pryor says he won't filibuster Alito because there is no "smoking gun". There are at least a dozen of them!

Backwards, in Pig Latin.

They don't mean a thing to the Pugs, anyway.

Isn't is amazing, that the Hamas vote is being called a "Protest Vote", while those of us who voted for Kerry last year, were told we were part of the "anybody but Bush" crowd and that was a Bad thing?

But 51 percent of those polled said they were more likely to vote for a candidate in congressional elections who opposes Bush, while 40 percent said they were likely to vote for a candidate who backs the president.

And must be they included wealthy CEOs, like the owner of Exxon in their poll. What group other than the Rich have seen things improve?????

And 64 percent said things in the United States have gotten worse in the past five years, while 28 percent said things have improved.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/26/bush.poll/index.html

THIS MARK PRYOR?? WELL, WE KNOW WHAT TO DO

Let's blast him with e-mails.

I say we get all the "Dukes of Hazzard" scripts and read those too.

Let's blast him with e-mails.

***

That's the man!

John Kerry should be our next president is he is our leader. He is right to insist on another nominee for Supreme Court. Alito is a fine man whose wife aspires to star on soap operas. I wish him well. The Supreme Court cannot survive another political appointee. Historically this will be the worst Supreme Court in history. Alito should want no part of it. We are your friends Sam.
This is a great time for Senatorial conversation. There are so many pertinent issues to be entered into the congressional log.
It is a great time to loose. Loose we will. We will loose along with a great group of people.
Half a league, half a league, half a league onward.

Abramoff story.

I wonder what this means?

It was Chris Matthews I think this morning, who said he would bet that Martha Ann Alito will be sitting up in the balcony with Laura on Tuesday night ! Two Stepford wives, how appropriate !

Because it effected me, here's an article on stop-loss in the Army.

Thank you for honoring your contract, here's more!!

This irks me. Why can we not filibuster? It's a good idea, yet you got these fools, Biden and Obama (somebody I like a lot) saying this crap. I hope this is some sort of "strategy" to catch the pugs off guard. But nontheless it still pisses me off.

C'mon guys!!

It means that the Chimp was trying to pad the DOJ with even MORE corrupt lackeys. Bubble Boy is stacking the deck in his favor. Too bad his guy on the inside was frog marched out of a job.

Is there any wonder why the Chimp is scrambling to scrub those pictures, like Stalin?

Abramoff has them, and is blackmailing someone in the White House.

This will be so much worse than Watergate X 10.

Posted by DPD on January 29, 2006 at 04:38 PM

I know!! My mouth is watering like I've got a plate of El Pollo Loco sittin' in front of me. I cannot wait for this Abramoff thing to hit full steam. It begs to ask, How many Pugs will we see indicted because of this?

Tom Hartmann is on the Young Turks right now. Malloy by 6PM EST.

Wow, the web site must be getting overwhelmed as I lost the stream a couple of times!

alito = filibuster

Abramoff story.

I wonder what this means?

***

David Safavian provided "sensitive and confidential information" about four subsidiaries of Tyco International to Abramoff regarding internal deliberations at the General Services Administration, say the court papers filed Friday in a criminal case against Safavian.

Abramoff has pleaded guilty to conspiracy, tax evasion and mail fraud in a burgeoning bribery probe centered on Capitol Hill but also involving the Interior Department.
***

This means criminal charges against the Bush administration! It's criminal conspiracy. The question is was anyone other than Safavian involved ... i.e., the big rat Bush Junior.

I am thinking that the Bush White House is into as much illegal stuff as the Grant White House was in the Teapot Dome scandal. When the links between Abramoff, Safavian and Bush are know, the Prez may face criminal conspiracy charges.

Can you say impeachment!

Posted by rjsnj on January 29, 2006 at 04:51 PM

Seriously, it gets better and better.

Acting on the information that Abramoff provided the company in November 2003, Tyco lawyer Timothy Flanigan, a former assistant attorney general in the Bush administration, contacted the general counsel to the GSA and asked for an opportunity to address the suspension.

The company revealed Flanigan's role in a statement.

In October, Flanigan withdrew his nomination to be Bush's deputy attorney general. His confirmation was delayed due to questions about his dealings with Abramoff when Abramoff was a Tyco lobbyist.

***
Talk about a revolting door!

Flanigan worked for the WH and then he went to Tyco as a lawyer and was using contacts at the WH to help out Tyco with a little problem. Then the WH wanted to hired him back for an even higher position.

How freakin corrupt is that!

hi guys,

until we get rid of this Republican majority in the Senate and House, we will not be able to pursue impeachment proceedings! They are all too afraid to cross Bush, Cheney and Rove !

Posted by PamB on January 29, 2006 at 05:02 PM

Can you blame them? I honestly can't. Those wackos will do just about anything to remain in power.

Seriously, it gets better and better.

***

I read completely. This is mind blowing. It's literally corporate corruption at the top of the White House. If Bush or anyone else other than Safavian can be tied to this, they are finished!

until we get rid of this Republican majority in the Senate and House, we will not be able to pursue impeachment proceedings! They are all too afraid to cross Bush, Cheney and Rove !

***

One exception - if they did something that is actually tied to a crime ... similar to Agnew's tax evasion problem. You didn't need to impeach him, he had to step down.

The ENRON song and dance is starting soon, too. How much you want to bet that those secret "Energy Policy Task Force" meetings come up.

Bushco has already hidden the docs in his Fathers Presidential Library, so they can't be released for 12 years AFTER the Chimp leaves office.

Bush ALSO fired the Gov't official responsible for oversight of ALL presidential papers early into his appointment and installed another croney so there's NO hope of seeing those papers (or his Texas ANG papers either).

Then, W changed the rules so the Reagan and Poppy papers will NEVER see the light of day. (Iran / Contra, and the Hostage taking come immediately to mind).

Bushco has already hidden the docs in his Fathers Presidential Library, so they can't be released for 12 years AFTER the Chimp leaves office.

***

Giving himself plenty time to get out of town!

This is the most criminal administration ever.

FYI to anyone who is interested. State of Belief is on right now on Air America...
--
Esther Kaplan, author of With God On Their Side: George W. Bush and the Christian Right, tells us how the Christian Right got so powerful - and what scares her most about them.

Plus, what to expect from Bush's State of the Union address, a look at the Pope's first encyclical (and what the heck an encyclical is!), and the religious side of the White House Hurricane Katrina stonewall.

http://www.airamericaradio.com/stateofbelief/

BBIAB

Pope's first encyclical
***

In the ancient Church, an encyclical was a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area. At that time, the word could be used of a letter sent out by any bishop. The word comes from Latin encyclia meaning "general" or "encircling", which is also the origin of the word "encyclopedia".

The Roman Catholic Church generally only uses this term for papal encyclicals, but the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion retain the older usage.

newbie said: "Now if only someone could tell us what direction that is!"

Ask and you shall receive.

"One, American jobs that will stay in America using energy independence to generate those jobs. Two, a strong national defense based on telling the truth to our citizens, our soldiers and our allies. Three, honesty and integrity to be restored to government. Four, a health care system that works for everybody just like they have 36 in other countries. And five, a strong public education system so we can have optimism and opportunity back in America."

- Howard Dean on "The Today Show" this week

The Pet Goat from the Memory Hole and a review

Next time the trolls love to Rant that the Democrats are Anti-American, read them this article. Their King is the greatest Anti-American there is!!!!!

Forget the war on terrorism. President Bush is engaged in a full-blown war on Americanism.

Ridiculous? Unthinkable? The idea that an American president could epitomize anti-Americanism is certainly counterintuitive. But it's a lot less shocking if we consider just what defines this country's core values.

And if that list includes such essentials as freedom, responsibility, justice, humanity, respect and fairness - and doesn't it? - if that's what it means to be American, then George Bush is indeed at war

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/012906H.shtml

The Party is looking for real leadership, too. Some of our Senators are showing it, others aren't. And the Alito filibuster is becoming a referendum on who's a real Democrat and who is just a Vichy Dem, collaborating as the neocons move the nation towards fascism.

Anyone who wants to lobby our Senators to support the filibuster, there's a comprehensive resource at http://vichydems.blogspot.com. It has the positions of all the key Senators, their DC and District contact numbers (even the smaller District offices), fax numbers, webmail links, etc. all in one place.

Monday morning it'll have a game plan for the final hours before the cloture vote. Please check there first thing, and spend some time on the phone in the morning to save democracy.

Thanks!

Quiet night , hope everybody doing something fun.

blog ya all tomorrow.

I think Dr. Dan needs to stick to one problem at a time and hammer away on it. Ignore the questions asked by the media whores and stick to that one idea. I know each of the issues we are trying to confront them on are horrible, but we are diluting our message.

They are sticking to natonal security. I say we stick with incompetence.

They are incompetent even with national security....went into Iraq (and blew that) instead of beefing up security at home or finishing off Bin Lauden in Afganistan.

This also fits in well with the public's contempt over how the Katrina disaster relief was handled. If they want to push the fear button, we can do the same thing with FEMA, the NSA and the Pentagon. When there is another terrorist attack, does anyone in this country believe the survivors will be safe? Our phones might be tapped, but will there be enough medicine and National Guard troops to distribute them?

And, think about it, if the President can't even handle getting a warrant from the courts 3 days after the NSA taps a phone line, how can they be be trusted to get water and food to people 3 days after a dirty bomb knocks out a nuclear facility or the outbreak of a small pox epidemic?

Why can't this Republican government respond in three days to any emergency. Because they are incompetent -- they can't handle problems and must break laws to do any job and then it never produces results. Abu Graibe/Gitmo/the European gulags and the Patriot Act have produced no convictions. None. The terrorists are running wild and winning elections.

The Republican can no longer be allowed to put this nation in peril like they did with 9/11 and Katrina. (Let us not forget that Gulliai and NYPD/NYFD were on their own for several days; not one fighter jet was sent out to intercept any of those planes.)

The Republican Congress is so wrapped up with influence peddling/taking bibes and their other pork barrel projects that they have not responded at any of the concerns people have about our national security. They didn't even slap FEMA on the wrist; they failed to implement any of the recommendations made by the 9/11 commission.

Instead the Republican Congress screwed senior citzen with a perscription drug "benefit" that puts many at risk, while passing tax breaks for the wealthy and handouts for corporate interests instead. Pure incompetence.

There is only one message to the Americsn people: You live in a post-Katrina, Republican world of incompetence.

This might be an interesting to look into dealing with who we are as a people and what we have become as a nation:

Author Q&A: Bernard-Henri Levy

By John Freeman
SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH
01/29/2006

"French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy may be the only intellectual in the world more famous for his wardrobe than for what he does in it, but he does roll up his shirt sleeves on occasion.

At the request of the Atlantic Monthly, the raven-locked social critic set out on a modern-day retracing of the 1831 travels of French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville. Levy may not have been on the road as long as his predecessor, but he is equally eclectic"

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/stories.nsf/books/story/CCC2BF5B64981D47862571020037A1F3?OpenDocument

Among his observations, those in our South still refer to "The War" not as WWI or II or even Vietnam or Iraq....but the Civil War. There is a cult of memory as he calls it.

He also noted that we had a huge population of petty delinquents in jails...that we treat our prisons as a way to handle social problems instead of confronting the problems that created them....a large number of underemployed.

That poor people in America (like many of the older democracies in Europe like Italy) do not vote, while in new democracies in Asia and South America they do... and thus create large social and economic changes as a result.

It was Chris Matthews I think this morning, who said he would bet that Martha Ann Alito will be sitting up in the balcony with Laura on Tuesday night ! Two Stepford wives, how appropriate !

Posted by PamB on January 29, 2006 at 04:32 PM

I wonder if she would have cried if any of the Senators had brought up that case where her husband ruled it was OK for male police officers to strip search 12-year-old little girl?

FILIBUSTER ALITO!!!!!!!!!!!1

IMPEACH THEM ALL!!!!!!!!

good evening all dems!

Hi, skye!!

I have to say I did not think that we would get this far with the filibuster, and *WOW* I am on when there are other people on! yes! sitting back having a cold, well slushy beer on that one.

Wicked weather here, 40+ below for the last few days, no school for the girl, but work for me! Faxed, e-mailed and called. I have to say the grassroots sprouted.

My cat got the "Night Crazies" and decided to "explore". She started knocking things over, and just generally making a lot of noise (including turning on the radio).

So, I'll be up for a while, until I'm tired again.

DPD, How are you? I do enjoy your posts! I get to read the blog more than I can post!

I'm OK. Can't really complain. I have my Chips A'Hoys and a big ol' glass of milk, so all is good.

I think this filibuster may be doable. I hope so.

Well welcome it's a balmy 3o some odd below and the heater is working and the truck started! YEH! It is 12:02 am and the child is sleeping and everything else is as done as it is going to get!

It's been weird here in Chicago. It's been getting near 50 everyday. Later this week it may actually turn into Winter, but who knows?

It scares me I have to admit, it may really be a real thing. So many years of no spine, it will be a change to see some. lol, I like that from my reading the blogs had just a bit to do with it!

This is the first "winter" in a while, we have all been whining up a storm, but I remmember my first thanksgiving here, 48+ below, 3 month old daughter and living in a trailer outside of town, luck the husband lived thru that winter. lol

lucky, the spelling is the first to go!

Our dog gets crazies also, we call them irrational puppy moments, he rips the house apart! Blue heeler 8 months.

Fine DPD,I'll come here.Is anyone even here?

Me and akskye, so far.

Oh okay.Well,what is your opinion of my opinion of red state democrats selling out the Democratic Party?

I say cut their money

cut their money is a good start, or.....how do we turn that state blue so it is not a re-election issue for them?

We keep running TRUE Blue candidates. We don't need any more liebermans backing the Pugs every chance they get. And that Nelson in Nebraska has GOT to go. Landreiu, too. (Although she's as good as gone anyway).

I saw a map last week put out by United Van Lines that shows the migration patterns of people moving from Blue States to Red. Some of those close ones are turning Bluer by the week.

DPD, damn, I have got to sign off, daughter to school in the am, and a meeting. Just as a great thread develops. I hope to get on earlier tommorow as the day is all am until she gets out of school. Talk to you then? Have a great night and pet the kitty, (he)she will settle down.

cut their money is a good start, or.....how do we turn that state blue so it is not a re-election issue for them?

Posted by akskye on January 30, 2006 at 04:43 AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By telling the friggen truth.If they stop letting the republicans define our party by saying "Everything we're for,they are against" and them laying claim to all the mainstream ideas leaving the Democrats with a reputation of Sodom and Gomorah,then maybe the American people will start to realize that Democrats really are for the same thing republicans are....Just for ALL the people as opposed to just rich,white, christian old men.The Democrats need to start pointing that out more and more.

OK, G'Nite, skye. I finally got her on her Lazy Boy, so she should be good for the night.

Posted by akskye
Bye.

are turning Bluer by the week.

Posted by DPD on January 30, 2006 at 04:47 AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Where did you get that info? What was it about?That's excellent news nonetheless.

I'll try to find the link.

Here it is, from the January 22, 2006 QT Column in the Chicago Sun-Times:

Out of the blue, in the red

QT Political Analysis and Trends Update (cont'd):

The Tom McMahon weblog at www.tommcmahon.net compares two maps of the United States:

*A map from United Van Lines showing recent American migrations.

*A map of the blue states and the red states.

The comparison shows that Americans are leaving the blue states.

Which means the red states are growing in strength.

Or it could mean the red states are turning blue.

Which could mean the blue states might turn red.

Or might not.

But it is clear what this portends for 2008.

Oh, well that cleared things up for me.LOL

It's all how you look at things. People won't be changing their Politics overnight just because they changed their zip codes. Also, most of those people fleeing the North for warmer climates are older, and when that Donut Hole hits, (sometime in the Summer), they will be P.O.'d.

Here's the map and analysis:

United Van Lines Migration Map

Well, G'Nite, Dems.

Thanks, Good Night

Well, the country may be ready for Democratic leadership, but our Democratic Senators don't seem up to it. This essay by Professor Savoy should give them a back-bone on Alito. The evidence he provides for why Alito is not qualified is irrefutable.

If that's not enough, consider this:

I suppose one could argue that a judicial applicant claiming a right to remain silent is a radical elaboration of the Fifth Ammendment's protection against self-incrimination, but Professor Savoy's thesis seems entirely adequate to reach the conclusion that Judge Alito has flunked the qualification process for the Supreme Court.

That the Supreme Court decision he cites contains a dissent by Justice Ginsberg may be ironic, but it helps make the case. Democrats can agree that the nomination process followed in her selection was not adequate. But then, that's what usually happens when women are being considered for anything. Nobody pays close attention to them.

internet weekly:

daddy doom

bush really did destroy fema as he is destroying so much of the government that took two hunderd years to build and whose purpose is to serve the people of the united states ( there are still 3200 missing from katrina ):

Interior Offered Extensive Katrina Aid
FEMA Ignored Proposals or Didn't Use Resources Effectively, Department Says

By Joby Warrick
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, January 30, 2006; Page A03

Hundreds of federal search-and-rescue workers and large numbers of boats, aircraft and bulldozers were offered to FEMA in the hours immediately after Hurricane Katrina hit, but the aid proposals were either ignored or not effectively used, newly released documents show.

The Interior Department, which made the offers, also proposed dispatching as many as 400 of its law enforcement officers to provide security in Gulf Coast cities ravaged by flooding and looting. But nearly a month would pass before the Federal Emergency Management Agency put the officers to work, according to an Interior document obtained by The Washington Post.

great job brownie

Krugman:

----over the past few weeks a number of journalists, ranging from The Washington Post's ombudsman to the "Today" show's Katie Couric, have declared that Mr. Abramoff gave money to both parties. In each case the journalists or their news organization, when challenged, grudgingly conceded that Mr. Abramoff himself hasn't given a penny to Democrats. But in each case they claimed that this is only a technical point, because Mr. Abramoff's clients -- those Indian tribes -- gave money to Democrats as well as Republicans, money the news organizations say he "directed" to Democrats.

But the tribes were already giving money to Democrats before Mr. Abramoff entered the picture; he persuaded them to reduce those Democratic donations, while giving much more money to Republicans.

(snip)

So the reluctance of some journalists to report facts that, in this case, happen to have an anti-Republican agenda is a serious matter. It's not a stretch to say that these journalists are acting as enablers for the rampant corruption that has emerged in Washington over the last decade.

hope the democratic senators get some heart and decide to raise a little hell this week. and if not they should wear paper bags over their heads at shit for brains snakes of the nation speech and on the paper bags it should say " i was elected to serve the people but it is much easier serving myself".

rjsnj, good morning. i am hoping the indictments will clear up this little matter. unless of course the justice department is in mothballs off the coast somewhere with all those old ww2 ships.

A diary on Kos:

Breaking News: Cloture vote too close to call - Alito may be blocked
by Will the Organizer
Sun Jan 29, 2006 at 10:37:49 PM PDT
In a matter of two weeks American grassroots patriots have rallied a filibuster from what was suppose to be a shoe-in.

Annatopia says we are only two votes shy of sustaining the filibuster. The story of the day on Sunday Talk should have been just how close we are to extending debate. The story of the day shoudl have been Alito confirmation in trouble. Two votes! We have already flipped more than two to our side, we can get two more.

Instead we heard more of the same, "Alito is a sure thing, nothing to see here." Oh yeah and Kerry was in Switzerland, that was supposed to really matter and be very bad for some reason.

Others have come to this conclusion long ago but today I saw for myself that sunday talk, and the opinion and debate shows are dead. Irrelevent.

Will the Organizer's diary :: ::
I'm realizing more and more how hopeless this media is and how the media is our biggest enemy. I really wish we had our own cable news network. In the meantime maybe we can at least get equal time with conservatives, and some new liberal spokespersons. It is amazing how much we have been able to accomplish with the whole of the traditional media arrayed against us.

I am proud of Senators Kerry & Kennedy and they don't know how much I appreciate what they are doing. Day after day our hand has grown stronger, and we have been able to sway the declared opinions of several senators. I beleive we will have the votes tomorrow. We have to have the votes tomorrow. We have come too far, built to much momentum. We are so close. Victory will be so sweet.

I must sleep now, for tomorrow many phone calls need to be made.
***

Please phone/fax/email Senators today to filibuster Alito:

Alito 48

alito = filibuster

gregg, good morning. It's hard to cut through the White House lies, propaganda and suppression of information. But, the truth does seem to be coming out - slowly but surely!

this from a study published in the wp that indicates----surprise!!!!!republicans are more biased than democrats---:

For their study, Nosek, Banaji and social psychologist Erik Thompson culled self-acknowledged views about blacks from nearly 130,000 whites, who volunteered online to participate in a widely used test of racial bias that measures the speed of people's associations between black or white faces and positive or negative words. The researchers examined correlations between explicit and implicit attitudes and voting behavior in all 435 congressional districts.

The analysis found that substantial majorities of Americans, liberals and conservatives, found it more difficult to associate black faces with positive concepts than white faces -- evidence of implicit bias. But districts that registered higher levels of bias systematically produced more votes for Bush.

"Obviously, such research does not speak at all to the question of the prejudice level of the president," said Banaji, "but it does show that George W. Bush is appealing as a leader to those Americans who harbor greater anti-black prejudice."

been down so long it looks like up

rjsnj- wow that is amazing! i will get on the phone and fax while you get some shut eye.

"but it does show that George W. Bush is appealing as a leader to those Americans who harbor greater anti-black prejudice."
***

I believe it! It's a new quiet racism. They deflect it very well by having minorities in the cabinet. But, the Pugs leadership plays to racism.

I still hear people claim they support Republicans because they are the party of the "white male". Just tune in the Michael Savage show some day (if you can stomach it!). Awful stuff.

fowarded the alito 48 note to a list of about 20 activists that send me stuff. also called menedez's office.

its gonna be funny watching the republicans try to make a scientific response to that piece on bias. looks like it is a pretty elegant piece of research. see even if you believe you have transcended reality you have to descend back down to it to deal with any thing that smells of fact....and thats the fact jack!

Morning, Dems! Click my name for today's filibuster instructions. Keep the pressure on! We are nearly there.

Monday, January 30, 2006

MONDAY ALITO FILIBUSTER GAMEPLAN: URGE ABSTINENCE!

This is very current info. I've been waiting to see something other than ego-driven foolishness from our "leaders" and what Biden on Imus just demonstrated is exactly that.

They don't want to follow Kerry. Petty, schoolyard politics. Where is our "filibuster" thread, Tim, Joe?

Okay, that's enough of that. Listened to the Young Turks most of the night. It's much more encouraging than I expected. We can do this, but we need to prod our "leaders". [What's wrong with this picture?]

Dean, what's your position? When these cats want cash, bwahahahaha. Democrats.com has a nice list, and I'll donate accordingly.

Larissa from Raw Story was on the Filibuster show last night. She's working on something wonderful, and check up on Raw Story for the Olin Corporation and Federalist Society ties to this seat. Yesterday, I posted that dorky photo of him from the Princeton yearbook, where Alito says he wants to warm a seat on the Supreme Court. Let's assume he didn't want to sit there and pass gas...

current tally is 15 on filibuster...

Good morning, all.

For those who believe in setting priorities:

There's got to be a reason

By Joan Chittister, OSB

http://nationalcatholicreporter.org/fwis/fw012706.htm

just called the tallahassee (sp?) office of senator nelson. the woman there said he would vote no on alito but go with the up or down vote. i pointed out that this would assure alito getting on the court.

the number is 850-942-8415

In Alito, G.O.P. Reaps Harvest Planted in '82

=================================================
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK

Published: January 30, 2006

~snip~

"We boxed them in," one lawyer present during the strategy meetings said with pride in an interview over the weekend. This lawyer and others present who described the meeting were granted anonymity because the meetings were confidential and because the team had told its allies not to exult publicly until the confirmation vote was cast.

~snip~

alito = filibuster

exhilerated, and ready to roll, y'all...have a fruitful day...

alot of full mailboxes out there at the senators offices.

hey if yer on your way to work in your car don't feel bad about the price of gas....mobil/exxon has a great year and the word is they are sending a key chain to every american that says "thanks suckers":

Exxon profit surges 27 pct, capping record year 8:18am ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp. , the world's largest publicly traded oil company, on Monday reported quarterly profit surged 27 percent, capping a record year dominated by soaring oil and gas prices.

tim, we either need a new thread or an investigation into who ran off with all the bloggers?

Mark Pryor (D-AR) opposes a filibuster because "there is not a smoking gun in his past." Well, we just found a SMOKING CANNON.

Karl Rove's ho at the NY Times, David Kirkpatrick, reports Alito's nomination was entirely engineered by the treasonous Federalist Society - the same people who brought us "legal" torture and "legal" wiretapping - and is the culmination of a plan to push federal courts to the far right that began as a conspiracy at Yale in 1982. Three points: (1) Do Alito's Democratic supporters in the Senate - and the swing votes - know that Alito's nomination was engineered by the Federalist Society? (2) Did David Kirkpatrick tell Bill Keller about this before today, and if so, why did Keller withhold this crucial information from NY Times readers? Is he treating his readers as suckers yet again? (3) Let's take the fizz out the Federalist Society's champagne by launching a successful filibuster!

Filibuster Alito!!!
Filibuster Alito!!!
Filibuster Alito!!!

Lying In The National Interest

Jan. 28, 2006

(Christian Science Monitor) This column was written by Daniel Schorr.

One of the inherent powers of the president, apparently, is the right to lie in the perceived national interest.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/01/27/opinion/main1247736.shtml

Apparently, the MSM and the Republicans are correct...we are divided...between two open threads.

Tim, this has been a recurring problem of late. Please make sure that a new thread is posted as such instead of adding a subjec/theme to the head. It's confusing. You can add your subject ideas in the comment section under the headline.

Thanks.

Palace Revolt

They were loyal conservatives, and Bush appointees. They fought a quiet battle to rein in the president's power in the war on terror. And they paid a price for it. A NEWSWEEK investigation.

Yeah, why isn't there an open morning thread?

That's what makes it confusing.

Then again, why couldn't we have a filibuster thread?

Oh well ...

New open thread!